Chapter 180: Chapter 84: One Wrong Step Leads to Miscalculation at Every Turn! (Please Subscribe)_6
 

Emperor Zhou of Great Zhou sat upright on his throne.

His expression was majestic, stern, and he did not engage in careless chit-chat.

One hand supported his chin as he silently watched the countless court ministers below him.

The massive columns of the hall were carved with ancient inscriptions and deep, meaningful patterns. Sunlight streamed through the glazed tiles on the roof, casting light in every corner of the hall, making the entire space even more resplendent with gold and jade.

The court officials stood solemnly on the red carpet, aligned in neat rows like silent statues.

Under the bright light, their faces appeared even more solemn and focused. Though they were silent, the slight shaking of their forms and the beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads betrayed the immense pressure they were feeling.

As time ticked away, Emperor Zhou of Great Zhou did not say anything to the ministers; his gaze drifted outside the hall.

Tap, tap, tap.

Outside the hall.

Cheng Zhihai walked with measured steps, appearing respectfully and greeting Emperor Zhou of Great Zhou with a bow.

“Your Majesty.”

Emperor Zhou subtly nodded and asked, “Have you found out anything?”

Cheng Zhihai slightly shook his head.

“The barriers constructed beneath that canal are not something that the Devil Clan could accomplish overnight. Someone was involved. However, the Devils have been there for quite a while, and almost all traces of the person who helped the Devil Emperor with the barrier have been erased. It’s almost impossible to confirm who assisted the Devil Emperor.”

Emperor Zhou wasn’t surprised and nodded in acknowledgement. His majestic gaze swept across the assembled officials. The grand hall returned to a state of eerie silence, yet the pressure was even more palpable than before, bearing down on every official’s heart.

Emperor Zhou looked at the officials for a long while before waving his hand, “You all may leave now. Zhihai, come with me.”

Emperor Zhou stood and walked towards the side chamber.

Only when Emperor Zhou’s figure disappeared from the grand hall did the officials feel a weight lifted from them; they exhaled in relief and the chatter began.

“What’s wrong with His Majesty? Why such a gloomy face this early in the morning?”

“His Majesty is very unhappy about last night’s incident with the Devil Emperor. Just by himself, the Devil Emperor wouldn’t have been able to set up those barriers beneath the canal, nor could he have hidden so many of the Devil Clan under the canals near the Capital city without being detected for so long.”

“Does that mean we have a traitor from the Devil Clan here in the Capital city?”

“It seems so. His Majesty just doesn’t know who it is yet. It’s likely the crown prince.”

“But wasn’t the crown prince reported missing?”

“Yes, and that’s why the most urgent task at hand is to find the crown prince. Look, His Majesty has just summoned Cheng Zhihai again.”

“Speaking of which, how were the Devil Clan exposed?”

“It wasn’t the Devil Clan who exposed themselves, but Cheng Zhihai who took the initiative to report to His Majesty. It’s said that the Princely Heir of Duke Zhen’s Mansion discovered the whereabouts of the Devil Clan…”

“Hiss… The Princely Heir of Duke Zhen’s Mansion? Can that Princely Heir really be so capable…?”

“That’s what I’m saying. I just heard it from others. The Bureau of the Lamp wouldn’t lie about this. Perhaps it really was the Crown Prince’s doing…”

The court officials chattered endlessly, many glancing at Cheng Zhihai’s departing figure, feeling a mix of emotions as he walked towards the side chamber.

“If Cheng Zhihai manages to find the whereabouts of the crown prince, his power and influence are certain to increase.”

“But if Cheng Zhihai fails to find the crown prince, I’m afraid the situation won’t end so easily.”

“Considering that the Town-Nation Duke’s Heir managed to detect the Devil Clan’s movements this time, who’s to say he won’t be able to locate the crown prince in the future?”

“That’s impossible. How many years has it been since the crown prince was last seen? Even we court officials have almost forgotten his face. He’s been gone for so long that if it hadn’t been recently mentioned, I would have thought the crown prince was already dead.”

“Perhaps Qian Siyuan and others from the Bureau of the Lamp might still have a chance to find him, but the Crown Prince likely doesn’t have much opportunity. Let’s hope they find him soon, or else the skies over Great Zhou may well change.”

“Hush! Watch your words!”

The murmuring of the court officials gradually subsided as they each left the grand hall.

Meanwhile, amidst the discussions of the court, Cheng Zhihai entered the side chamber.

Inside the side chamber.

Emperor Zhou of Great Zhou sat at a tea table, pouring steaming hot tea. The clear water sent forth a unique fragrance of tea leaves, which diffused into the surrounding air.

“Zhihai, come, have a seat.”

Emperor Zhou gestured with his hand.

After respectfully bowing, Cheng Zhihai sat down.

Emperor Zhou sipped his tea, his authoritative gaze resting on Cheng Zhihai’s face.

“Who do you think could have been involved in this matter with the Devil Clan?”

“And which of them might be connected to the crown prince?”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhihai’s face showed a hint of surprise; Emperor Zhou’s questioning was too sharp.

Cheng Zhihai suspected that as soon as he uttered a name, Emperor Zhou would immediately have him raid homes and conduct investigations, preferring to wrongly kill than to let anyone slip through.

Cheng Zhihai’s brows furrowed tightly as he pondered for a long time. Slowly lifting his head, he replied, “Your servant, does not know.”

Emperor Zhou’s majestic gaze flicked over Cheng Zhihai’s stern and respectful face and couldn’t help but shake his head with a chuckle.

“Zhihai, you are too cautious. In the current situation, without breaking, nothing can be established. The crown prince has hidden too deeply, and there must still be those within the court who are loyal to him.”

As he spoke, a sorrowful expression crept into the imposing eyes of Emperor Zhou.

“My father chose the crown prince to be the emperor, but under his leadership, Great Zhou almost perished. If it weren’t for Duke Zhen and the Empress Dowager’s support for me as emperor, how could Great Zhou be in its current state?”

“Since ascending the throne, I have been diligent and devoted to the country and its people, never slacking off in the slightest. Yet, there are still those in the court who do not accept me.”

“They all think that I am not the true Son of Heaven.”

Upon hearing these words, Cheng Zhihai felt a jolt in his heart and hastily stood up, respectfully saying, “Your Majesty, you mustn’t think such things.”

Emperor Zhou’s brow softened slightly as he raised his hand gently, pressing it down, “Sit.”

Cheng Zhihai reseated himself.

Emperor Zhou took another sip of his tea, closed his eyes, and took a moment to collect himself. The expression on his face slowly turned icy.

“However, I am ultimately the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the ruler of the Great Zhou Imperial Family.”

“The crown prince, a dead man who refuses to collapse, has come back to ally with the Devil Clan and cause chaos in Great Zhou. I cannot tolerate this.”

“Zhihai, in your investigation of the crown prince, do not overlook anyone related to him. Find one, exterminate ten clans, extend the punishment to all associated. Leave none behind!”

Cheng Zhihai felt a slight shock but nodded slightly in agreement.

“A month’s time, and the Imperial Family’s ceremonial rites will soon begin.”

Emperor Zhou said, opening his eyes slightly and looking towards Cheng Zhihai, his tone becoming a bit more lenient.

“If you resolve the matter of the crown prince before then, I will not move against your Bureau of the Lamp.”

By saying this, Emperor Zhou effectively provided Cheng Zhihai with a reassurance.

As long as the matter of the crown prince is resolved before the Imperial Family’s ceremonial rites, as long as Cheng Zhihai is around, the Bureau of the Lamp shall remain under Cheng Zhihai’s control.

Zhao Jin, who stood by Emperor Zhou’s side, also glanced sideways upon hearing this, observing Cheng Zhihai a few more times.

But he didn’t dwell on it too much.

In Zhao Jin’s view, Cheng Zhihai had already been extremely fortunate to uncover the affair of the Devil Clan. The Devil Clan’s hiding place was so deeply concealed, that if it hadn’t been for the Crown Prince’s coincidental discovery of the Devil Clan’s location, Cheng Zhihai might still be unaware of the anomaly in that place.

Waiting for Cheng Zhihai to find the crown prince by himself, well, that probably wouldn’t happen.

Perhaps they would have to rely once more on Cheng Guang, the Princely Heir.

To see if the Princely Heir could have another stroke of great luck…

Thinking this, Zhao Jin almost imperceptibly shook his head with a wry smile.

Having one stroke of luck was already quite difficult for the Princely Heir; how could he be fortunate twice over?

Within a month’s time, it was simply impossible to find the crown prince.

Speaking of which…

Why did the crown prince collude with the Devil Clan? Was it just to assassinate the Princely Heir and disrupt the Great Zhou and Great Wei’s martial competition?

Or was there another purpose?

Zhao Jin was no fool and had already begun to ponder this.

While Zhao Jin mused, Cheng Zhihai, after hearing Emperor Zhou’s words, remained unflustered and simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Seeing Cheng Zhihai’s respectful demeanor, Emperor Zhou sighed, aware that there was already some estrangement between him and Cheng Zhihai.

Such is the way of emperors.

Emperors have no friends.

Cheng Zhihai is his subject, his brother-in-law, and also his friend.

The relationships compounded.

Yet the bond as a subject took the greater part.

Emperor Zhou waved his hand, “You may leave.”

Cheng Zhihai bowed respectfully once more and then turned to depart.

After Cheng Zhihai had left.

Emperor Zhou stood up, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed toward the slowly rising sun in the east, silent.