Ji Mo was completely bewildered. What had he done to bring disaster upon himself?
Had he ever said he would oppose His Highness the Crown Prince?
It was utterly inexplicable.
If you have the guts, go bother Ying Tianbao. What does it have to do with me?
This scoundrel probably didn't dare to lay a hand on Ying Tianbao, so he picked on the easy target and deliberately picked a fight, didn't he?
"Xiao Bao, your slap doesn't seem to have been loud enough."
Ji Mo hinted.
Since you, Wang Guang, dare to frame me, I won't indulge you. Let Ying Tianbao slap you.
"Understood, Brother Mo, listen carefully."
Ying Tianbao responded, then swung his palm and immediately gave Wang Guang a harsh slap.
Wang Guang dared not resist and could only endure the resounding slap, half his face turning red.
This was truly humiliating, yet he dared not retaliate. His lungs were about to explode with anger.
"This is not over."
Wang Guang gritted his teeth and left those words behind. He mounted his horse and hastily led the Iron Cavalry Guards away.
Staying would only lead to further humiliation. He chose to endure this disgrace and seek revenge later.
He had arrived with great momentum, but left like a stray dog. Wang Guang had truly lost face this time.
"If you dare to talk back to this prince again, I'll slap you again, you coward."
Ying Tianbao shouted triumphantly at Wang Guang's retreating back.
For the first time in his life, he felt so proud and uplifted.
"A petty man in temporary power."
Yao Weiwei rolled her eyes.
She thought that if Ji Mo hadn't held the situation steady, the fates of Ying Tianbao and Wang Guang would likely have been reversed.
What happened here spread throughout Wangjing like wildfire.
"Did you hear? The Ninth Prince's roar scared hundreds of Iron Cavalry Guards into disarray."
"What? Thousands of Iron Cavalry Guards tried to cause trouble but were defeated and forced to beg for mercy by His Highness the Ninth Prince!"
"Extra! Extra! Ninth Prince severely beats Chang Sheng Hou Wang Guang, declares war on the Crown Prince, aiming for the throne!"
...
The rumors grew more and more exaggerated, eventually spawning multiple versions.
"His Highness the Ninth Prince, in a fit of rage for a beauty, is willing to fight his own brother for the throne in order to win the Crown Princess."
This version was the most popular, as common folk enjoyed such tales of royal scandal.
Moreover, since Crown Prince Ying Tianci had a poor reputation and was unpopular, these rumors spread even more widely.
The entire city of Wangjing was abuzz. Most people seemed to believe it was true, as the struggle for power and beauty had always been this way.
When Ying Tianbao and his entourage returned to the mansion.
Old Butler Fu Bo had already led the servants to await them.
"Your Highness, you've finally come to your senses. We can indeed contend for the throne. As long as we win over the Crown Princess who hasn't yet married, great things can be achieved."
Fu Bo was in tears, looking at Ying Tianbao with the joy of a prodigal son returning.
Ying Tianbao had lost his mother at a young age, and Fu Bo had raised him. His affection for Ying Tianbao was deep.
Over the years, Ying Tianbao had been bullied by the Crown Prince, and had even nearly lost his life several times. Fu Bo harbored deep resentment.
He had also repeatedly advised Ying Tianbao to contend for the position of Crown Prince, because once Ying Tianci ascended the throne, he would never let Ying Tianbao off the hook.
But Ying Tianbao lacked ambition and did not covet power, and refused to listen to advice.
Now, hearing the rumors circulating outside that Ying Tianbao intended to seize the Crown Princess and contend for the throne, the old butler was so excited that tears streamed down his face.
What?
Seize the Crown Princess?
Contend for the throne?
When did I ever say that?
Ying Tianbao was stunned.
The chosen Crown Princess was Li Qiufeng, the beloved daughter of Prime Minister Li Xiu. She was exceptionally beautiful, knowledgeable, and virtuous. He had indeed had thoughts about her.
But he had never thought of seizing her, as he could not bring himself to snatch his future sister-in-law.
And what was this about contending for the throne?
"Good heavens, Xiao Bao, I never knew you were this kind of person, coveting your own sister-in-law. No wonder your elder brother wants to kill you."
Ji Mo was shocked.
He had always thought Ying Tianbao was pitiful, being targeted by his wicked brother, never imagining it was like this.
He had been fooled by Ying Tianbao and came to Wangjing with him, getting caught up in such a storm. It was a miscalculation.
"Scumbag, shameless!"
Yao Weiwei's face was filled with disdain. It turned out Ying Tianbao was even more of a scumbag than she had imagined.
"I'm being wronged, I haven't done anything."
Ying Tianbao felt unjustly accused, more wronged than Dou E.
After a conversation with Fu Bo.
He learned that it was all the fault of the rumors.
"That damned person, to slander and smear me like this, if I find out who it is, I'll castrate him and make him a eunuch."
Ying Tianbao gritted his teeth in anger.
Once such rumors spread, how would he ever be able to show his face again?
Moreover, rumors about contending for the throne could cause great trouble.
If Ying Tianci heard about this, wouldn't he be even more determined to kill him?
"Your Highness, since things have come to this, why not make the best of it? This old servant will arrange everything and help you navigate the situation. Let's seize the Li family's daughter first."
Fu Bo said excitedly.
His Highness had been content with his lot since childhood. This time, it was heaven's will, forcing him to contend.
"Fu Bo, don't mess with me. I won't do it."
Ying Tianbao refused, unwilling to do so. He only wished to be a carefree prince.
Similarly, these rumors also reached the Crown Prince's mansion at an astonishing speed.
Ying Tianci was so enraged that he smashed a room full of objects again.
"Ninth brother, you've been hiding your true colors well. Your fox's tail has finally been revealed. I knew you weren't a good person. Indeed, you not only covet my throne, but also my woman..."
Ying Tianci's veins bulged on his face, showing a sense of righteous indignation.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is merely gossip and should not be taken seriously."
The advisor, Wu Yong, had a clearer perspective. Because there were many rumors with different versions, they were simply unbelievable.
Furthermore, no one had ever heard of someone openly declaring their intention to seize the Crown Princess and contend for the throne.
These rumors sounded false. He didn't understand why the Crown Prince took them so seriously.
"Mr. Wu Yong, do not attribute the intentions of a gentleman to a villain. Ninth brother is precisely that kind of person. He appears harmless on the surface, but his heart is truly dirty. He hid it well before, but now that he has someone named Ji supporting him, he's finally stopped pretending."
Ying Tianci was stubborn and only believed his own thoughts.
"What the Crown Prince says is true. Ying Tianbao is that kind of person. You don't know how arrogant he was outside the city gates just now, accusing me of rebellion and slapping me."
Wang Guang spoke, like a child who had been beaten and was complaining to his parents.
"General Wang, you have interacted with that man named Ji. What do you think of him?"
Wu Yong, fanning himself with his paper fan, focused solely on Ji Mo.
He knew in his heart that Ying Tianbao was not the person Ying Tianci and Wang Guang described. If he had such deep cunning, how could the position of Crown Prince have fallen to Ying Tianci?
And if there had truly been a change, the biggest variable would be that man named Ji.
He was truly curious, what was this person's background?