Chapter 32 (1/2)
Chapter 32: Warning
Jun Huang looked at the Senior Grandmaster. She could see he was wavering. She gave him a few moments to think before she continued her explanation. ”Among the princes in the imperial court, sir, I believe only the fourth prince Qi Yun could a.s.sume this heavy mantle.”
”The fourth prince?” The Senior Grandmaster thought back to the handsome young man who helped him in the palace that day. With a slight frame and delicate features like that – would he really be able to stay on the throne if he was crowned?
”The fourth prince is an extraordinary genius. Northern Qi must be lead by him.” Jun Huang's tone was determined and unhesitant. Steely, even. Which made it difficult to deny what she said.
The Senior Grandmaster fell silent. He was inclined to agree with her, but Qi Chen was the one who made him who he was today. He couldn't reconcile with the fact that he would ever turn on his benefactor.
He couldn't settle on a decision.
Jun Huang could see right through him. ”Do you really think that the fact you owe him a debt is enough justification for him to take leaders.h.i.+p of the country? Shouldn't you choose a good emperor for the people?”
The Senior Grandmaster's head snapped up, his eyebrows furrowed, ”Gentleman Feng mentioned a good emperor, but how do you know the fourth prince will be the right candidate? It's all guesswork, both for me, and for you.”
”It's common knowledge that the fourth prince cares deeply about the people. If not for what the mothers of the crown prince and the second prince did, he wouldn't have been trapped in his manor. In your heart you already know what the right thing to do is. I cannot stay any longer. Allow me to take my leave.” Jun Huang cupped her hands and left without letting him argue.
The Senior Grandmaster considered the matter in the tavern for a long time. Still he could not make a decision. In the end he did choose Qi Yun, but that happened later.
When Jun Huang returned to Prince Chen Manor, she was stopped by Wei Qian before she could get in. Jun Huang stared at her with a frown. ”What's the matter?”
”The prince asked for you.” It seemed that Wei Qian wanted to say more, but chose not to in the end. She only said that Qi Chen had been waiting for her in the main hall for long, and asked her to see him once she was back.
Jun Huang didn't know what he wanted, but for now she couldn't afford to offend him. So she followed Wei Qian to the main hall.
Her worries were not unfounded. Qi Chen sat on the main seat with a dark expression, his fingers tight around the teacup. Any moment the teacup could break.
”Does Your Highness have any urgent matter?” Jun Huang asked while approaching.
Qi Chen looked up at her. ”Where did brother Feng go?”
Jun Huang didn't falter. ”Just wandering about.” She was sure that no one had seen her at the tavern, so she didn't hesitate before answering.
Qi Chen looked at Jun Huang's bright eyes as if he was going to look into her soul, but he saw nothing unusual. He put down the teacup. ”I heard that recently brother Feng had been going out quite frequently. Is something the matter?”
Jun Huang shook her head. ”Thank you for your concerns, Your Highness, but this gentleman was just enjoying the good view of the imperial city.” She knew that she could not let this conversation go on in this direction, lest Qi Chen notice something amiss. She changed the topic. ”I heard that the crown prince has been quite rude to Your Highness recently. Is that true?”
Jun Huang must have hit a nerve; Qi Chen forgot to ask what Jun Huang had been busy with and broke the teacup in his hand.
Jun Huang watched him calmly. Qi Chen's distorted face was a horrifying sight, but if she was affected at all, it didn't show.
After a good while, Qi Chen looked up at Jun Huang and asked, ”The crown prince has crossed the line. First he shamed me in public. Then he acted like he was better than I am several times, embarra.s.sing me. Yes, he is the crown prince, but that's only because he is my older brother. Someone like him cannot shoulder such a responsibility.”
”What does Your Highness have in mind?” Jun Huang s.h.i.+fted her eyes to him, waiting for him to tell her what ambition he had.
Qi Chen looked back at her. A murderous gleam flashed through his eyes. ”I want to teach the crown prince a lesson.”
Jun Huang scoffed inwardly. Qi Chen's ambition was still too petty. She thought for a moment with her eyes downcast. Then, reaching a conclusion, she smiled, leaned into him, and murmured, ”Your Highness, if this gentleman has a plan for you to eliminate this trouble of yours once and for all, what do you say?”
That caught Qi Chen off guard. He looked around at the servants and maids nervously, but at the same time he felt an adrenaline rush. He told everyone to leave the room and asked Jun Huang to sit down.
When the room was cleared, Qi Chen said, ”It sounds like the gentleman has a plan already.”
His voice was light. He even forgot to call her his brother. Instead, he held her hand in his, trembling with excitement. Even his eyes were brighter than usual.