While the others were talking about Yu Shan, a blonde-haired man immediately greeted him upon his arrival, "Brother Yu Shan, I'm glad you're able to attend tonight's banquet."
Yu Shan looked at him and smiled.
"It's been a while, Fourth Prince."
The blonde-haired man was none other than the fourth prince. The fourth prince was wearing an eye-catching royal robe, making him stand out among the crowd. Just a single look and one could immediately tell that he came from a very wealthy family or something.
The fourth prince let out a small laugh. The two continued to exchange pleasantries for a few minutes until the fourth prince eventually said, "Brother, I really wanted to accompany you for a while longer but I still have other guests to entertain..."
Yu Shan nodded, giving him a look of understanding.
"It's alright Fourth Prince. It's part of your job as the host."
The fourth prince briefly checked the time and frowned.
"The main event will be starting in twenty minutes. I can only ask Brother Yu Shan to wait until then," he said apologetically.
"Twenty minutes is nothing much."
"Well, allow me to send you to your seat at least," the fourth prince offered.
"I'll have to thank Fourth Prince then."
Yu Shan had no reason to decline his kind intention.
The fourth prince brought Yu Shan into the most unique table in the place. Its size was bigger than the rest of the tables and was the one with the most beautiful designs. Aside from that, there were only three chairs prepared around it compared to the others which had five. Seeing this, Yu Shan gave the fourth prince a knowing smile.
Afterward, the two continued to talk for a while more before the fourth prince left.
Yu Shan's smile instantly faded when he left. His gaze turned serious as he watched the fourth prince's back cynically.
"Fourth Prince, huh?" Yu Shan muttered to himself.
From his observation, the fourth prince was the weakest one among the emperor's heir whether it comes to power or authority, but he was also the one with the greatest ambition.
A weak person having great ambition wasn't something to be concerned about. However, an incompetent royal prince having great ambition, that's a disaster waiting to happen in the royal court.
There weren't many good points he could think of regarding the fourth prince. When it comes to cultivation, anyone in the banquet far surpasses him. When it comes to authority, even the heir of clans and big families would totally beat him. Regarding wealth, some of the people here at the banquet were wealthier than him. The only thing he was good for...
'He only knows how to scheme,' Yu Shan frowned.
An emperor must know how to scheme or else they will be schemed upon. However, he must not only know how to scheme. An emperor must have power, charisma, wisdom, and unbreakable will. He must know how to be kind to his subjects and cruel when the situation calls for it.
If there was an emperor that only knows how to scheme, their empire wouldn't be far from ruin.
Yu Shan finally removed his gaze from the fourth prince's back. He leaned back on the chair as he closed his eyes in silence, trying to ignore his surroundings.
"Fourth Prince, that Yu Shan seems to not look at you favorably," one of the fourth prince's supporters who had been observing the two the whole time said to him.
The smile that the fourth prince was wearing the whole time he spoke with Yu Shan disappeared. His face turned serious as he glanced at Yu Shan from the corner of his eyes.
"Yeah, I already know that."
"Isn't that bad for you? I thought you wanted to get the support of the clan heirs in the capital?"
In order to compete for the throne, getting the support from the clan heirs would be beneficial for the fourth prince. These clan heirs might not be of much help in the royal court for now, but in the future, when these heirs inherit the clan master position in their clan, he will finally be able to go against the crown prince for the throne.
It was by no means a complicated plan. Even the other princes have thought of it and were doing it.
The fourth prince smiled sardonically.
"What choice do I have? No matter what I do, I will never get his support. He and his family have already chosen to support my brother, the crown prince. His father is even the unit commander of the empire's army. The least I can do is maintain friendly relations with him and not antagonize him."
Yu Shan's father was named Yu Yinye. He was the unit commander of the Jin Empire's army, the highest rank someone could have in the military. As a unit commander, the influence Yu Yinye have over the army was great, almost on par with the emperor himself. However, even with that kind of power and authority, the emperor never felt threatened because of his unconditional trust in him.
Yu Yinye, and the emperor have gone through many life and death situations together. Had Yu Yinye had the slightest thought of even rebelling, he would've become the emperor a long time ago. Every time the emperor's life had been put in danger, Yu Yinye would always be the first one to rush out to save the emperor even if it costs him his life.
With the influence that Yu Shan's father has, it is safe to say that whoever it is that they support will certainly become the emperor in the future. They had the military power. If anyone in the royal court disobeys, kill!
Getting the Yu Clan's support was impossible however for the fourth prince. The Yu Clan were the most loyal to the emperor. Whoever the emperor wanted to support, the Yu Clan would also support that person. In this case, it was the crown prince.
"If Fourth Prince can't get the heir of the Yu Clan's support, then how about the Yun Clan's?" one of the fourth prince's men suggested.
The fourth prince furrowed his brows.
"Yun Clan, huh?"