Song of Adolescence

Chapter 346 Prince of the Sea

"You’ve finished reading the Golden Lists." Ji Xue rolled up the Golden Lists and offered it to Ye Ruoyi. "Keep it well."

Ye Ruoyi nodded. "Thank you very much."

"Thank me for what?" Ji Xue said evenly.

"The Golden Lists reminded us of many things, and have also informed all under Heaven about many things," Ye Ruoyi said meaningfully.

Ji Xue was also noncommittal, turning to look at Xiao Se. "Regarding the next piece of information, only you and I need to know."

Yong'an Prince Residence. Council Chamber.

This was the first time he’d opened the door to the Council Chamber. Xiao Se was used to gathering everyone together to discuss matters. This was the first time he had to have a private conversation.

"What exactly is the item you mentioned? Did you find something?" Xiao Se got right to the point and asked.

"It's the Dragon-Sealed Scroll." Ji Xue also answered straight to the point.

Xiao Se was not surprised at all, and he nodded. "I had a hunch, and the name on the scroll must be Langya wang-shu’s. That year, his name must have been written on the previous emperor’s Dragon-Sealed Scrolls. When they killed their way to the Hall of Calming Purity, Langya wang-shu snatched the Emperor’s scroll and immediately destroyed it. But, the scroll that should have been sent to the Directorate of Astronomy went missing. Zhuo Qing Gonggong must have secretly hidden it away."

"Yes. At the time, Langya Prince tore up the scroll openly with his own hands and not even the Five Grand Eunuchs could stop him. But, a few years later, Langya Prince had achieved numerous military merits, winning the hearts of the people. If that scroll were to appear again, even if Langya Prince did not want to be the Emperor, everyone in the military, the imperial court, and even the commoners, more and more people would have forced him to be the Emperor. Zhuo Qing Gonggong hid the scroll because he was waiting for that day. He wanted to use the scroll to turn the two brothers against each other and from there, achieve his own ambitions," Ji Xue said. "But he didn’t expect the final outcome to be like that. Mingde Emperor immediately convicted Langya Prince, and the Imperial Censorate didn’t even hold a trial, immediately sentencing Langya Prince the death penalty. Even before the scroll could come to light, Langya Prince had already died on the execution ground."

Xiao Se frowned and said, "So, Zhuo Qing Gonggong was killed by shifu that year?"

"No, after Zhou Qing Gonggong and Father fought that battle, both of them were seriously injured. He snuck back to the Imperial Mausoleum. The next day, Mingde Emperor visited the Imperial Mausoleum, and after that, Zhuo Qing Gonggong died of illness. My guess is, even Mingde Emperor could no longer stand by. He lost his most beloved brother, exiled his most beloved prince, and it was time for Zhuo Qing Gonggong, the one responsible for all this, to pay the price," Ji Xue said.

"Was it really necessary to go that far? If Langya wang-shu didn’t die, all under Heaven would have rebelled?" Xiao Se asked.

"Yes. Back then, the Beili Army was at its highest glory. The Pillar of State General Lei Mengsha was dead, the golden general became the highest ranking man in the army under Langya Prince. All the generals under him were also loyal to Langya Prince. If it weren’t for Langya Prince suppressing it himself, they were ready to revolt and push Langya Prince to be the Emperor. If that scroll had appeared, no amount of power could have suppressed it. According to the situation at the time, if Ye Xiaoying had led his Ye Banner Battalion to storm the imperial palace and beheaded Mingde Emperor, then gave themselves up and admit their guilt, it was not impossible for them to force Langya Prince to take the throne,” Ji Xue continued, “Langya Prince himself did not expect that by governing the army well, by defending the country successfully, his merits would be so high that it would threaten the seat of the Emperor. But, even then, he didn’t mind and Mingde Emperor didn’t mind, but that didn’t mean all under Heaven hadn’t noticed.”

Xiao Se pondered this news for a long time, his forehead furrowed in a frown. Slowly, he asked, "Where’s the scroll now?"

"I don't know. Zhuo Qing Gonggong hid the scroll himself, and not even his martial brothers knew where it was. But, there’s a possibility that the scroll may be in the General’s Residence," Ji Xue said.

"Why?" Xiao Se was shocked. If the scroll fell into Ye Xiaoying's hand, that would definitely be the worst outcome.

"You have always been Langya Prince’s most esteemed and closest prince. Compared to Xiao Chong and Xiao Yu, you are Ye Xiaoying’s best choice. However, the premise is that there’s no better choice, but what if a better choice presented itself?" Ji Xue said tacitly, "After you returned to Heavenly Revelations, he should have come to greet you as soon as possible, but even after the city lockdown order was lifted, he didn’t come to see you. Why is that so?"

"Xiao Lingchen," Xiao Se said the three words slowly.

"Over the last few days, over ten groups of Ye Xiaoying's men have set off one after another. There’s no mistake, they’re looking for Xiao Lingchen. Who is now the current Langya Prince!" Ji Xue said solemnly.

"Why does he know so much?" Xiao Se frowned.

"There must be someone supporting Ye Xiaoying behind the scenes. They’ve reached a certain consensus with Ye Xiaoying and they’ve even provided Ye Xiaoying with information about the scroll as well as Xiao Lingchen’s whereabouts. Now Ye Xiaoying wants to welcome Xiao Lingchen back to the capital, and together with that scroll, he’ll take advantage of Mingde Emperor’s illness to…" Ji Xue slowed down, then continued, "Force the Emperor to abdicate!"

Xiao Se exhaled a sigh. "In the end, this is still unavoidable."

"That's all I wanted to tell you. I will be leaving Heavenly Revelations today. I must find Xiao Lingchen before them." Ji Xue's eyes were cold.

Xiao Se saw the chill in her eyes and said, "You must not kill him."

"Whether or not I kill him depends on how he answers me." Ji Xue turned around. "That's the reason why I have to talk to you about this alone. These matters, the less people know the better. As for me leaving Heavenly Revelations, tell no one."

"I understand." Xiao Se nodded.

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Far away at sea, a pirate captain dressed in fluttering white robes was lying on the deck and lazily basking in the sun. He stretched out his palm, looked at the gleaming jade ring on his finger and muttered, "Uncle Wang, are we sick of being at sea?"

Wang Pichuan, who was once ranked among the three heavenly generals of the Beili Central Army and was invincible on the battlefield, scratched his neck. "Everything else, I can still tolerate. It’s just this rash that keeps coming back. It’s uncomfortable."

"Sigh, I miss Heavenly Revelations." Although he was Langya Prince, he had a lazy air about him, no different from the frail and aristocratic noble sons of Heavenly Revelations. Xiao Lingchen sat up and scratched his head. "I want to go gambling in Grand Golden Terrace, go drinking in Diaolou Mansion, and spend a night at Caiyun Zhuiyue Pavilion."

"Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling." Wang Pichuan aimed a kick at Xiao Lingchen. "How did the Prince give birth to a son like you?"

Xiao Lingchen laughed. "I’m just saying, okay? Let’s see, which ship shall we plunder today? Let’s aim for a big whale!"

"Have you become addicted to being a pirate?" Wang Pichuan lowered his head and began to sharpen his spear intently. "Not afraid that you won’t be able to turn yourself back in future?"

"Can we really turn ourselves back in the future?" Xiao Lingchen yawned and picked up his folding fan beside him. "Wait for Xiao Se to become the Emperor and summon us back? Don’t expect too much. Xiao Se, that fellow, is not the most reliable."

"We can go back on our own," Wang Pichuan said evenly. "A few days ago, the news we received was that Mingde Emperor has recently been so ill that he’s bedridden."

"So ill that he’s bedridden," Xiao Lingchen repeated obliquely.

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