Chen Zhian felt like he was going crazy.
Turns out, what they call time,
is just locking him up in a small room, letting him fend for himself.
The room was so rudimentary it was beyond belief.
There was only one lonely stone bed, nothing else.
This damn place was worse than being in prison.
At least in prison, there were two jailers to accompany him, and he could have a sip of wine.
The only comfort this small dark room could provide him with was probably the continuously flowing Qi.
The abundance of Qi here was ten times more than outside.
It didn't even need him to actively absorb it.
At this moment, Chen Zhian lay on the bed, letting Qi surge into his body from all directions, only to be shattered into blood Qi flowing along the small stream...
He didn't know how long it had been.
Because there was no time here, no sun, and no round moon...
From initial astonishment, ecstasy, sadness, irritability, to numbness in the end, he had gone crazy now.
His hollow eyes stared at the pitch-black ceiling: "I'm really stupid, truly..."
"System... how many days have passed now..."
Dead silence, the System offered no response.
"I give up... refund... let me out!"
The System remained silent.
"Hehe, I'm really stupid, truly..."
...
The Crown Prince's Mansion.
Zhuzi, holding a feather fan, picked up a bamboo fish from Yueya Lake, and smiled, "Today, I heard a few interesting words."
"Oh? Please tell me more!"
Li Chengding's eyes flashed with displeasure, having been in the military for many years, he was straightforward and disliked these advisors who put on airs.
But as the Crown Prince, he had to suppress his emotions, and in many cases, he appeared patient.
"Watching him build high towers, watching him feast his guests, watching him... until the tower collapses!"
Zhuzi slowly revealed, with a faint smile on his lips, "Your Highness, do you know who said this?"
"Just speak!"
Li Chengding couldn't be bothered to guess, his fist slightly clenched, his expression gradually turning grim.
He had assigned Zhuzi a task over three months ago, to investigate Chen Liujia's background or find a way to discreetly kill Chen Zhian, shift the blame onto the second, third, or fourth prince, or even onto the infallible Emperor.
Yet this guy had done nothing, and now he had the audacity to act smart in front of him?
If he wasn't so bad at strategy, he really wanted to teach this guy a lesson in respecting the wise and virtuous.
Sensing the hidden anger in his boss, Zhuzi didn't beat around the bush anymore, and promptly said, "This was said by the young Marquis at Yueya Lake.
The towers on Yueya Lake are rising gradually, and in a few days, Zhi'an Tower is going to open."
"What's that useless guy building a tower for, to open a brothel?"
Li Chengding looked down on Chen Zhian and the whole Chen Liujia family.
If he didn't fear Chen Liujia, he would have wiped out the Chen Liujia family long ago.
The main reason why he was so determined to kill Chen Zhian was to probe into Chen Liujia's background.
"The Crown Prince's insight is unmatched. That useless guy is indeed opening a brothel!"
Zhuzi chuckled, "Watching him build high towers, watching him feast his guests, watching him... until the tower collapses!"
On the day of Zhi'an Tower's opening, Yueya Lake will be filled with all sorts of people, and there might be many people in the mud who are jealous of his tower being built too high and might take desperate measures...
Even if the Qilin child has died, Your Highness, do you think Chen Aman can still sit still?
When a commoner is enraged, blood will splatter five steps.
When Chen Aman dares to move eight hundred Chen Liujia into the capital again, even if His Majesty is angry and wants to execute him, it will be meaningless for those who are already dead!"
Li Chengding's expression changed slightly. He poured a glass of wine for Zhuzi and asked softly, "Have you figured out how to get my Crown Prince's Mansion out of this?"
"If Chen Aman disregards everything and moves troops into the capital, even if His Majesty is furious and decimates his family, it will be meaningless for those who are already dead."
"The gentleman should understand... it's easy to kill a useless person, but who lends the blade is the most important."
Zhuzi stroked his beard and smiled.
"A few days ago, Chen Zhian bought Yueya Lake with seven hundred taels of silver...
Zhang Fugui is a nobody, but he spread the news everywhere, and it accidentally reached the Fourth Prince's ears.
Yueya Lake is adjacent to Fox Mountain, and Fox Mountain is the hunting ground bestowed by His Majesty to the Fourth Prince.
There are many secrets inside.
In the past, it didn't matter much since Yueya Lake was rarely visited, but if a brothel opens there, with many people and eyes around, the secrets of Fox Mountain won't be secrets anymore.
By one's bed, one can't allow others to snore!
So, Zhang Xiao'er, the jailer who already had a grudge against Chen Zhian, is sharpening his knife, ready to sacrifice himself for a future!"
Li Chengding furrowed his brows slightly. Would the Fourth Prince be so foolish as to kill a duke's son for a mere lake?
Although the Fourth Prince probably didn't know about the terror of Duke Chen Liu, it was normal to casually kill a useless person, but wasn't this conspiracy a bit too hasty?
Zhuzi lightly waved his feather fan, smiled mysteriously, and said, "Your Highness, do you think the Fourth Prince is acting too casually?
Actually, not at all.
Do you know, Your Highness, that the chief counselor of the Fourth Prince, Pang Yuanshi, is a close friend of mine? With him around, anything foolish the Fourth Prince does is possible..."
Li Chengding turned around abruptly to look at his strategist.
Zhuzi, who was considered one of the most talented strategists of the time, and Pang Yuanshi were actually close friends...
"Sir, is Yuanshi willing to join me?"
Li Chengding's heart was on fire. If Pang Yuanshi also joined his side...
He would have both the dragon and phoenix talents under his command!
The future could be anticipated, oh, anticipated!
Zhuzi stroked his beard and chuckled lightly, saying, "Your Highness, Yuanshi has always been yours!
Years ago, the two of us observed the stars at night, glimpsed the signs of a wise ruler's descent, and decided to come out of seclusion together.
For these years, one in the light and one in the dark, we have cleared obstacles for the wise ruler and awaited the day of change.
To assist the wise ruler in ascending to the pinnacle and bringing peace to the world!"
Haha!
Hahahaha!
Li Chengding laughed heartily, his laughter echoing far and wide.
He, who was not good at strategy, unexpectedly had the assistance of two great talents like the Dragon and Phoenix.
This world, rightfully belongs to me!
After laughing for a while, Li Chengding personally poured wine for Zhuzi and asked, "Even if the Fourth Prince takes action, he is qualified to be the scapegoat, but I still feel uneasy...
A lion pouncing on a rabbit still uses all its strength. Can a mere jailer kill Chen Zhian?"
"Of course not!"
Zhuzi said quietly, "Wei Zixian's fate is uncertain. Recently, the Wei family of Hejian has sent a Qi Refining realm cultivator to the capital. Many people have seen him enter the Second Prince's mansion. If Chen Zhian is first injured by the Wei family of Hejian, who has lost his son, and then assassinated by the humiliated jailer..."
"In this way, there will be no mistakes!"
Li Chengding was overjoyed. "Sir's talents are unmatched, I am not worthy!
This plan is seamless, like a snake made of straw...
It seems to be the revenge of the jailer and the Wei family of Hejian, but it is actually at the instigation of the Second and Fourth Princes. Chen Aman is a nobody and can at most only find out up to this point.
Let him rack his brains, he won't understand. In reality, all these things were done by me!
Haha!
Marvelous!"
"Hehe, it's just some petty tricks, nothing worth mentioning!"
Zhuzi modestly smiled, "There is another layer to this plan. The chaos will start from the proprietors of the brothels in Chang'an City."
"Ah!"
Li Chengding exclaimed in admiration, "In this way, we can rest assured. Watching him build high towers, watching him feast his guests, watching him... until the tower collapses...
Sir, I was wrong about you before!
When Chen Liu enters the capital, I will have a drink with you and watch the heads roll..."