625 Prince (1/2)
Fang Wenshi had arranged everything regarding the meeting between the Dragon King and the Khan and had also brought back some information about the hostage prince.
The prince's name was Duodun, and wasn't as old as he looked. He was twenty-six years old and was one of the youngest sons of the Khan. The last batch of the Khan's sons and daughters were all born one after another in the last half month, and even the Khan himself couldn't remember who was the youngest.
Prince Duodun, who had been favored and living with his father, had fallen out of favor at the age of seventeen because of a reckless act. After nearly ten years, the insiders still had to hold back their smiles and keep their voices down when mentioning the incident.
Duodun was said to be very bold, even at a young age of three or four years old he would catch snakes with his bare hands and put them into his mouth. As soon as he learned to ride and shoot, he wanted to hunt wolves. He finally realized his wish by the time he was nine years old. But his boldest act was the crazy bet of the summer when he was seventeen years old.
He was drunk and reckless back then, but that couldn't be used as an excuse. Because for ordinary Norland people, even if they were dead drunk, deep at heart, they would still have a bit of respect for the Khan, and would never dare to act like Prince Duodun had. They would not dare to even think about it.
When nobody was looking, Duodun had replaced a full wine pot with urine, just to prove that a bunch of drunkards, including his father, the old Khan, could not tell the difference between alcohol and urine when they were drunk.
He had lost the bet. Although several nobles noticed the prank after a second sip, the old Khan immediately knew it wasn't right after sniffing it.
Of course, this was the story told by the Norland people. By convention, the Khan always found the problems beforehand and solved them through his intelligence.
The details were unimportant here. Either way, the Khan was furious. Not since he had slaughtered those five tribes against him at the age of forty-three had he been so angry.
The one who proposed the bet was dismembered, and the prince himself was sent to the southern frontier as an ordinary cavalryman, and was only allowed to return to the Dragon Court after five years, though he could no longer live with his father, and could not even meet the Khan.
”He was said to have become obedient and remained obscure from then on. So when the Dragon King needed a hostage, he was chosen. Everyone said that it was a punishment from the old Khan, who hadn't forgotten the incident of the urine prank.”
The situation immediately changed when news that the Dragon King was to be summoned tomorrow came. Fang Wenshi found that the officials of the Norland became friendly again, that they were doubly as friendly, and all of them warmly offered information without even asking for a bribe.
”It is also possible that the Khan hasn't forgotten this son and has placed great expectations on him. But Duodun has a large disadvantage. He has no background and no supporters. His mother is a slave, unlike the other kings whose mothers are all from important tribes. This prince Duodun, however, has a rabble of friends, but none of them are really powerful and not many of them are even ordinary nobles.”
Fang Wenshi finished talking and looked at the Dragon King. Seeing that the other side still didn't say anything, he gave his judgment first. ”It would be difficult for the Khan to hand over the throne to Duodun. But the Norland is a country where only real power matters. It's not enough to just have the bloodline of the Khan. I'm not looking down on the Dragon King, but to be honest, with our present strength, it is far from enough to support a foundationless prince.”
Gu Shenwei asked him, ”How about the Second Consort? How's their relationship?”
”There are few rumors about them. Just going by age, Duodun was only one or two years old when the Second Consort married the Khan. Since he grew up with his father, he should have been very familiar with the Second Consort.”
”The Second Consort said that she would marry the new Khan.”
”Huh, then it will be more unlikely for this Duodun to…” Fang Wenshi found that he had made a mistake so he corrected himself in time. ”It is possible for the royal family. Such things have happened in many countries before, but the key is whether the old Khan is willing to allow it to happen or not. If Duodun is really his chosen heir, why would he leave the new Khan to be controlled by the Second Consort?”
”I may know the answer after meeting with the Khan tomorrow.”
Fang Wenshi's face turned pale with fear. ”Dragon King, you are not going to ask the Khan about this directly, are you? It is as dangerous as… stroking a tiger's whiskers.”
”I'll act accordingly.”
”Well, if the Dragon King is right, all the kings' efforts will be in vain. What else can I do for the Dragon King?”
”Now that the people of the Norland are willing to talk, go ask if there are any messengers of the Dragon Army that were intercepted.”
”Yes, there has been no news from the Western Regions for too long.”
”And—” Gu Shenwei thought for a moment before saying, ”Duodun has a rabble of friends. I want to know where they are.”
”The Dragon King suspects that they've been sent to the Western Regions too?”
”Hmm, the Shule Kingdom is ruined, and the Dragon Army is too weak. The Norland seems to have no need to deploy such a large army there. In short, try to figure out all these things as soon as possible.”
It was already dark outside when Fang Wenshi took his leave. Gu Shenwei then spent some time directing his internal Qi. After the cold Qi was subdued and channeled back to his Dantian, he practiced the newly created Frostpalm Power for several times. He found that there was still much room for improvement; specifically, he needed a complete set of palm techniques to exert the frosty Qi.
Old Man Mu was the most appropriate one to help remedy this issue.
But Gu Shenwei temporarily put the idea of creating a set palm technique aside. Something big was going to happen in the Royal Court, and he had to get ready at once.
Liman brought in the news of King Rizhu. Beside him was Wild Horse, who looked quite cold. He was very reluctant to protect the one he hated, especially after seeing the Dragon King's kung fu skills in the competition, which made him jealous and even broke his killer's composure.
”My lord said that the siege in the forbidden zone was a plan made by the Khan and all the kings had to cooperate. No one dared to reveal anything in advance. He hoped the Dragon King would understand that.”
”I understand King Rizhu's difficulty.”
”And the lord also said that the Dragon King is a risk-taker. Now that danger is right there, when will the Dragon King make a move?”