"My Lord, do not forget, I owe you nothing," Chu Chen said with a cold smile, his lips curling slightly. "If you dare to disrespect me again, I cannot guarantee what I might do."
"Arrogant fool! Do you truly believe I have no way to deal with you?" Qin Yunhai roared, his figure blurring into an afterimage as he lunged, his palm striking towards Chu Chen's head.
Chu Chen's eyes suddenly turned chilling, and his body vanished from its original spot with incredible speed.
"Bang!" Qin Yunhai's palm slammed into the ground, cracking the hard bluestone tiles. Chu Chen, however, had already disappeared without a trace.
"Where is he?" His face changed drastically as he searched his surroundings for Chu Chen, but he could detect no sign of him.
Qin Yunhai looked around, a sense of unease growing within him. He felt a dangerous aura enveloping him, as if it could erupt at any moment.
A faint whistling sound cut through the air. A dark shadow, like a phantom, attacked, and a dagger accurately pierced Qin Yunhai's abdomen, blood splattering.
Chu Chen expressionlessly withdrew the dagger and said coldly, "If you dare to bark nonsense again, I will make you pay."
"Ah!" Qin Yunhai clutched his bleeding abdomen and cried out in pain.
"Chu Chen, you dare to lay hands on a Marquis! Do you know you have committed a grave crime of treason!" a nearby guard shouted, rushing to Qin Yunhai's side to support him.
Chu Chen said indifferently, "Who gave you permission to speak?"
"You..." The guard's face flushed red, his eyes bloodshot. He gritted his teeth and said, "Chu Chen! Don't be so arrogant!"
Chu Chen, deeming these people mere trash, turned and left.
"My Lord, your subordinate requests that he be imprisoned!" the guard said respectfully.
"No need," Qin Yunhai took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the people around him. He said in a deep voice, "Anyone who leaks today's events will face my wrath!"
"My Lord, you are too serious. My Lord is the dignified Marquis of Wu'an, who would dare to gossip?"
"Indeed, my Lord is wise and mighty. How could a mere commoner contend with my Lord?"
"My Lord is wise!"
The guards all chimed in, their faces wearing flattering smiles.
Seeing their sycophantic behavior, Qin Yunhai nodded in satisfaction. He then waved his hand and, with his guards, departed grandly.
Chu Chen returned to the courtyard and walked directly towards his room.
"Master, you have suffered," Ye Nantian followed him, sighing.
"It's nothing. In the months I was gone, you didn't cause him any trouble, did you?" Chu Chen asked. Before he left, he had instructed Ye Nantian to be careful.
"No, the Marquis hasn't bothered me during this time. However, the Third Prince has been frequently talking to me, seemingly trying to win me over." Ye Nantian replied.
"The Third Prince?" Chu Chen's eyebrows rose, and a tall, burly figure appeared in his mind.
Chu Chen snorted, "I remember I promised the Third Prince that once he ascended the throne, I would help him seize the position of Crown Prince. It seems about time."
"Master, you mean..." Ye Nantian frowned, a grave expression appearing on his face.
Chu Chen waved his hand and chuckled, "Let's not talk about that for now. We should enter the palace first."
"Alright," Ye Nantian nodded.
Chu Chen's plan had officially begun!
"Master, are we truly going to deal with the Crown Prince?" Ye Nantian asked.
"Not us," Chu Chen shook his head and explained, "The Third Prince and the Crown Prince have been rivals for centuries, locked in a fierce struggle. They will eventually determine a victor."
"As for me, I will stand with the Third Prince, help him ascend the throne, and eliminate the Crown Prince!"
"The Crown Prince?" Ye Nantian was astonished. "The Third Prince is less than twenty years old, how can he secure the empire?"
"Although young, his strength is formidable, and he is ambitious. I believe he is not merely vying for the throne," Chu Chen said with a smile.
"The Third Prince's aspirations are high, which is not a bad thing. If we can assist him in ascending the throne, Master will undoubtedly achieve great merit, even being enfeoffed as a king and appointed as a minister!"
Ye Nantian smiled. Chu Chen was the only non-royal king of the Chu state. If he could assist the Third Prince in ascending the throne, he would naturally also be a king of the Chu state, a glory that was extremely rare!
"Forget about being enfeoffed as a king and appointed as a minister. I have no interest in such power," Chu Chen said with a faint smile.
Outside the Golden Luan Hall of the imperial palace, Chu Chen prostrated himself on the ground, his hands placed on his forehead, appearing exceptionally devout.
After a moment, a majestic and resonant voice slowly drifted over, "Chu Chen, I heard you killed the Shadow Guards I dispatched..."
Hearing this voice, Chu Chen quickly raised his head and looked towards the dragon throne. A man in dragon robes sat upon it.
Chu Chen's gaze fell upon the man on the dragon throne. His eyes narrowed, and his pupils suddenly contracted, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"Your humble subject Chu Chen pays his respects to Your Majesty!" Chu Chen bowed respectfully, his attitude exceedingly humble.
"You are very bold, not even obeying my commands." Long Kun stared at the young man in white kneeling below, his voice filled with icy coldness, as if it could freeze the soul.
Chu Chen's expression was calm. He said dismissively, "Your Majesty misunderstands. This subject merely disciplined a dog-like servant and did not violate the imperial decree."
Upon hearing this, Long Kun's face instantly darkened, and he roared, "Chu Chen, do you know what you are saying?"
Long Kun's anger caused the temperature in the entire Golden Luan Hall to plummet. Everyone held their breath, their hearts pounding violently, not daring to breathe.
"Your humble subject knows what he is saying, knows well what he should do, and knows his identity," Chu Chen's voice was low.
"You still know your identity?" Long Kun's gaze became even sharper, a chilling killing intent radiating outwards.
"This subject only pledges loyalty to Your Majesty, not to the imperial clan. If Your Majesty believes this subject has overstepped, feel free to punish me," Chu Chen's face remained calm, showing no fear.
"Chu Chen, you are simply rebellious!" Long Kun roared. Never had anyone dared to defy his will. Even after his death, Chu Chen was the first.
"Your Majesty, Chu Chen is, after all, a member of the Chu family. Is it not too much for you to say this?" At this moment, a detached voice sounded, and an old man walked in from outside the door.
The old man was hunched, his beard and hair entirely white, exuding an aura of age. However, his eyes were bright and sharp, flashing with keen brilliance.
"Prime Minister, you have also arrived." Long Kun looked at the newcomer, his expression softening slightly.
The Prime Minister glanced at Chu Chen and said, "Since you have decided to pledge allegiance to the Third Prince, you must complete your mission even if it means death."
Long Kun nodded and said, "Chu Chen, I hope you do not disappoint me."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, your humble subject will not fail in his mission," Chu Chen replied respectfully, thinking to himself, "It seems this Prime Minister has a close relationship with the Third Prince."