"Yun'er, since you could say such things, I assume you have already learned some of the circumstances from your Imperial Consort and uncle."
"Then tell me, do you blame your father?" the Emperor asked bluntly.
"I do not," Chu Yun replied.
"Do you not blame me, or do you not dare to?"
"This son truly does not blame Father!"
"Father is the ruler of a nation and must take the overall situation of the entire imperial dynasty into account. This son understands Father very well and therefore harbors not the slightest resentment," Chu Yun answered earnestly.
The Emperor was deeply gratified upon hearing this. "Yun'er, then how do you intend to investigate? And how do you plan to... settle accounts with those people?"
Chu Yun understood from this that the Emperor did not oppose him. More than that, the Emperor could provide him with tremendous support to a great extent.
The Emperor's guilt toward Chu Yun was one reason.
The second was that he clearly understood the current structure of the Imperial City. The Crown Prince Faction stood alone at the top, and that was not what he wished to see.
"Reporting to Father, this son has not yet formulated a specific plan."
"However, since those hidden masterminds from back then were capable of stealing this son away from the Imperial Palace, it is clear that their web of connections must stretch extremely far and wide."
"If this son investigates alone, not only would it be laborious and time-consuming, it would likely drag on for ages."
"Therefore, this son boldly asks Father to recommend several capable experts. This son will personally visit them and invite them, doing everything possible to have them assist me."
As Meng Changzhong and the Emperor listened to Chu Yun's words, they both guessed his true purpose.
The two of them both knew perfectly well who the masterminds behind that year's events were.
Chu Yun's request was merely an excuse to build a network of connections that belonged solely to himself.
Moreover, the main reason he had phrased it this way was that as long as his father agreed—
—it would mean he had gained the Son of Heaven's support.
That way, he would have several more chances of success in winning over those other factions.
The Emperor fell silent for a moment. Finally, he looked at him and asked meaningfully, "Yun'er, are you confident in this matter?"
"Father, in this son's view, some things are still a struggle even if one does not fight for them. Since that is the case, why not give it everything and take a gamble?"
"As for confidence—if this son says I have it, is Father willing to believe me?"
This exchange between father and son made Meng Changzhong's expression shift slightly. He thought to himself, This Ninth Prince is rather interesting.
"Hahahaha!"
"Of course I believe you."
"Prime Minister, you happen to be here."
"Then from today onward, help Old Ninth investigate those matters from back then. Are you willing?"
The Emperor laughed heartily, then directly addressed Meng Changzhong.
Chu Yun could not help but turn his gaze toward Meng Changzhong.
All of them understood that the Emperor was telling Meng Changzhong to take Chu Yun's side!
Once the Prime Minister's Residence declared its stance and stood with the Ninth Prince—
—his influence in the Imperial City would rise several levels at once.
One had to know that Meng Changzhong was the foremost powerful minister in the entire court. His influence was in no way comparable to figures like the Black Iron King and King of Beishan Commandery.
After hearing the Emperor's words, Meng Changzhong smiled faintly. "This subject naturally obeys Your Majesty's command."
"To have the chance to assist a heaven-blessed genius like the Ninth Prince is not without its good fortune."
Chu Yun clasped his hands toward him. "Prime Minister, you flatter me. If there is anything Chu Yun does not understand in the future, I will need to seek the Prime Minister's guidance often."
Meng Changzhong smiled lightly. "I will tell you all I know, without holding anything back."
Not long afterward, Chu Yun excused himself first and left the Imperial Palace.
"How was that boy?"
After he left, the Emperor directly asked Meng Changzhong.
"He possesses the air of an emperor, and his cultivation talent is exceptionally high. His mind is shrewd, his actions decisive. He is nearly a perfect heir."
By saying this, Meng Changzhong had already shown that he held a very favorable impression of Chu Yun.
"Yun'er truly is outstanding."
"In my eyes, he is also the most suitable person to inherit the throne."
"But unfortunately, appointing a Crown Prince is easy. Deposing one... is not so simple."
The Emperor paused, then sighed softly.
Meng Changzhong did not refute him. At present, some of the court officials belonged to the Empress Faction.
If they proposed deposing the Crown Prince, those people would certainly leap out to stop it. The court would then fall into turmoil, and chaos might even erupt.
Moreover, even if they wished to depose the Crown Prince, they needed a reason. The Crown Prince had to commit a grave error.
As the saying went, an army must have a just cause!
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince already understands that his opponent is the Crown Prince and the faction behind him."
"Since Your Majesty has asked this subject to help him, why not make the commotion a little bigger?"
"Let this conflict escalate quickly?" Meng Changzhong said.
The Emperor looked at him suspiciously. "What devilish idea do you have now?"
Meng Changzhong smiled faintly. "Use some people to sound a warning bell for the Eastern Palace and the Empress's side."
The Emperor understood his meaning. "Since that is the case, go do it."
"Yes."
By the time Chu Yun and Luo Feng returned to the Prince's Mansion, it was already close to afternoon.
This trip into the palace had brought him great gains.
Not only had he gained a major ally like Meng Changzhong, he had also obtained his father's covert support!
He was in an excellent mood. Upon returning to his room, he immediately summoned Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter to eat hotpot and chat with him...
Nightfall.
"Your Highness?"
"Cough, cough..."
Luo Feng stood outside the door somewhat awkwardly and said softly, "Your Highness, people from the Wangxian Dao Sect have arrived. They said they have something to deliver to Your Highness."
Only after a while did Chu Yun's voice emerge from within. "Understood. Take them to the reception hall and have them wait for me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After Luo Feng left, Chu Yun washed up with Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter assisting him, dressed himself, and immediately headed for the reception hall.
Inside the reception hall.
Commander Luo Feng was receiving two men from the Wangxian Dao Sect.
One of them was Yang Muqian, the Wangxian Dao Sect's Seventh Elder whom they had met before.
The other was also an elderly man. He was tall and thin, and his aura was even more formidable than Yang Muqian's.
This man was the Wangxian Dao Sect's Third Elder, Fang Ziling, a cultivator at the Nirvana Realm Peak.
Not long afterward, Chu Yun entered.
"Ninth Prince!"
Yang Muqian immediately rose to his feet with a smile.
"Elder Yang?"
"And this is?"
Chu Yun was somewhat surprised to see that the visitor was actually an old acquaintance.
Luo Feng stepped forward and introduced him. "Your Highness, this is Elder Fang Ziling of the Wangxian Dao Sect."
"Ninth Prince, it is a pleasure to meet you." Fang Ziling smiled faintly.
"So you are Elder Fang. I have long admired your name."
"Come, sit, all of you."
After Chu Yun and the others had taken their seats—
"Your Highness, the Third Elder and I have come primarily to return certain things to their rightful owner."
Yang Muqian then took out three storage rings and placed them before Chu Yun.
"Return them to their rightful owner?"
"What does Elder Yang mean?" Chu Yun asked in confusion.
"Your Highness, these items belonged to the Nine Splendor Sect and the Ye Family. After our Wangxian Dao Sect collected them, we personally packed the contents inside and brought them here to return to Your Highness," Yang Muqian explained.
Only then did Chu Yun remember. He nodded. "You have been most thoughtful."
Then, his soul consciousness entered the three storage rings.
Good heavens!
If he had not inspected them, he would never have known. The moment he did, he was shocked out of his wits!
Before you continue