The crown prince was frightened and absolutely unnerved.
It was a nerve-wracking experience. He could be beheaded at any time. The possibility was already seared in the crown prince's mind that thinking about it filled him with a sense of dread which led to unstoppable weeping.
Truly, security could hardly be maintained, even if he had employed Ling Xiaozui or Dugu Chou as his escorts when he was faced with the unexpected ambush of five top assassins simultaneously. Even when his chaperones were remarkable and could safeguard him temporarily, could they guard him for life?
What was more, the grudge the crown prince had established with Hen Bieli and group was irreconcilable and irreversible!
Ten thousand assassins had been killed. They had died in the hands of the martial artists, but the last strike from His Highness was enough for the five ace killers to focus all their resentment on the crown prince and deeply at that.
The crown princess sighed and gazed at the crown prince sympathetically.
'You knew it couldn't be done but you kept the improper desire and refused to step back. Now that you have struggled until the brink of death, they've severed all your escape routes.'
'Even your many plans for survival have been foiled. What can you do?'
'Who can be blamed when the situation has deteriorated so badly?'
"It's not entirely a lost cause right now." The crown princess sighed. "Right now, there's still one person who can turn this situation around and save you and me."
His Highness perked up. "Who? Father? If it was father you meant, he can't move Hen Bieli and the others!"
The crown princess spoke slowly, "I don't mean father but Yun Yang, Young Master Yun."
Her words were earth-shattering, shocking the crown prince to silence.
"Is His Highness here to visit?" Yun Yang looked at Lao Mei, surprise hanging off the tip of his brows.
"Yes."
"Invite him in then." There was a meaningful smile at the corners of Yun Yang's lips.
The visitor was unexpected, but after thinking further, why should he be surprised?
Yun Xiaoyao glanced at Yun Yang; his lips moved, but he sighed in the end, saying, "Take care of it. I'll sit this one out."
What if the crown prince begged him, hugging his leg? Whatever the case was, he was his uncle - his biological uncle. Although it was said that a man needed his face while a tree needed its bark, there was also the saying that conscience would be lost in a dead-end; conscience was also humility - what could not be done if one were to appeal to that?
An upturn that could pass off as a smile or perhaps something else altogether hung on Yun Yang's face. "Might as well. Let this be at your convenience."
He continued leisurely. "I have had ample experience in handling this fellow..."
"As long as you stay alive?" Yun Yang's gaze was thoughtful when he looked at the crown prince before him.
The crown prince of Yutang currently looked like a rooster that had lost its fight. There was no sense of vigor and ambition left in the man whatsoever.
"Yes."
The crown prince's eyes were empty and his face sculpted. It had only been two nights but His Highness who had initially been full of grace had suddenly aged three to five decades; even the stems of his sideburns and hair were dotted in white.
He thought that the target he had fought and worked for the better half of his life was within his reach, so near to his grasp, but it was all gone in a single night.
His Highness had never been known to be a perseverant man; faced with such a heavy blow, it was only natural that he was unable to take it. If Yun Yang had not been presented as a possible solution, he would have either committed suicide as an easy way out or go crazy from depression if this went on for a few more days.
"Stay alive…" Yun Yang mumbled.
The crown prince spoke up, "I've already written the legal paper to request for the dismissal of the position of crown prince. I've even found myself excuses - talentless and characterless, rebellious and defiant, disrespectful and wayward, abusive and harassing, plagued by men's ailments, so on and so forth…"
The crown prince had truly given it his all. He had even resorted to using an excuse like 'plagued by men's ailments'. He was evidently sincere, but he had no other choice.
The emperor had agreed to allow the martial world to do battle in the city's east, but he had intervened with a command. He had been framed but the crown prince knew that he could not escape the accusations.
The cooperation of so many people, the collaboration of the military and civil sides, was enough to tell him that even if it were black, it had to be white. There was no need for evidence. There was no leeway.
His Highness wore a vacant look. "I only ask that Young Master Yun secure my life. Everything else is secondary."
"I've seen Your Highness' sincerity, but you still haven't admitted to one offense. Just this one sin alone shows your lack of sincerity," Yun Yang said faintly.
His Highness' head came up abruptly. "What crime? What charge is it? Say it and I'll admit as well!"
"Why have you not said a word about conspiring against the Nine Supremes? Even when you've stated all sorts of criminal acts, you said nothing about this one. What sincerity is there to be spoken of?" Yun Yang's gaze was unforgiving like a lightning bolt, his words piercing as a sword.
It was like the crown prince had been struck by a thunderbolt when he heard Yun Yang's words. Hit by vertigo, his mouth was agape without any words coming out from it for some time. His gaze towards Yun Yang was full of terror, his face was drained of color.
Yun Yang's chilling eyes pierced right into the crown prince's own, as he said, "Don't misunderstand this as my ambush. The conspiracy against the Nine Supremes had reached a conclusion after the investigation from many parties. Whichever it is, it has bits and pieces to do with you."
"Although, you were only being used by all sorts of forces throughout the process, becoming a puppet who was deceived by the Four Seasons Tower, who regarded himself too highly, who thought he was scheming and calculative, who assumed that they manipulated the big picture… You thought that you led the battle at Tianxuan Cliff, but in reality, your every move and plan was being pushed by someone else, whether intentionally or otherwise… Though, you've done it still. Your malicious intentions towards the Nine Supremes isn't a pretense. It's genuine."
"I…" The crown prince's face was as pale as a sheet; panic colored his gaze.
"I only have this question for you - why did you conspire against the Nine Supremes? What's your reason? " Yun Yang asked in a low growl.
"As the crown prince, no matter how masterly the Nine Supremes are, no matter how great their reputation is, the land they made into territories will ultimately be yours! Basically, they're fighting for your empire," Yun Yang said in puzzlement, "Why are you destroying your own spine? Give me a reason!"
This was what Yun Yang could not figure out.
The Four Seasons Tower had plotted the Nine Supremes' murder with an obvious aim. Their opposing stances were more than adequate reason.
However, the crown prince's effort in the Nine Supremes' fall was dragging his country into the sinking mud, almost sending it spiraling into ruin. This was unreasonable. It truly boggled one's mind.
The crown prince lowered his head. After a long time, he spoke hoarsely, "I… That new year - I saw my eldest brother… I…"
Yun Yang frowned.
The crown prince covered his face.
"Back then, father spread the news a few years ago that my eldest brother had passed from an illness… but I saw my eldest brother - alive - outside father's study…"
"I was shocked then, I was shocked for a long time…"
"That night, father drank himself into intoxication. He looked at him, his gaze full of indignation and unwillingness… He said something, then he passed out thoroughly."
"What did His Majesty say?" Yun Yang sucked in a deep breath.
"Father said in a low murmur… When the Nine Supremes reins this world then, are you willing to hand over this throne?"