The Ninth Prince's Ambition

In a little garden filled with blooming flowers, Xie Huizhou was happily barbecuing, the meat in his hands giving off an enticing aroma.

Not long ago, Zhang Lanhe's impression of Xie Huizhou had still been that of a refined, romantic prince skilled at painting. Seeing him grill meat himself now overturned that image.

He was actually far more vivid than when he put on his usual affected airs.

Zhang Lanhe studied Xie Huizhou's still-rosy face thoughtfully. "You call this being at death's door? Ninth Prince, you're even more interesting than I imagined."

Few people dared repeatedly feign illness in front of him without mending their ways. Xie Huizhou was the only one so far.

On the surface, Xie Huizhou seemed timid, but in fact, he was remarkably bold and quite at ease in his presence.

Zhang Lanhe concluded that Xie Huizhou did not fear his formidable reputation as others did. Instead, he was hiding some secret and worried that too much contact with him would expose it.

What could it be?

Zhang Lanhe wanted to get to the bottom of it, to find out just what other secrets the ninth prince, Xie Huizhou, was keeping from him.

Caught feigning illness on the spot, Xie Huizhou found the little garden filled with an awkward atmosphere.

Xie Huizhou glared at the gatekeeper, thinking, He was sent by the old emperor, after all. He still won't do as I say. Someone barged in, and he didn't even announce it.

Who exactly is the master here?

Later, he would have to find a way to drive out these people who would not obey him. Once he had driven away the old emperor's spies, he would have the Shadow Guards find him some trustworthy people.

"Why can't someone at death's door eat? Only with a full stomach will I have the strength to fight my illness. Faced with serious illness, I can't let good food go to waste."

Seeing that he had been exposed, Xie Huizhou stopped pretending altogether and picked up the pace of his eating.

The usually refined man was now eating heartily, enjoyment written across his face and a light in his eyes. He looked utterly unconcerned, with eyes for nothing but the food.

Even having the notoriously vicious Zhang Lanhe beside him did not affect the speed of his eating in the slightest.

Zhang Lanhe froze for a moment.

This was the first time he had met someone who did not fear him. Hearing his twisted reasoning, he smiled. "This is the first time I've heard such an explanation."

Xie Huizhou was someone who brought a little more amusement to other people's dull days. With someone so lively and interesting around, it was no wonder Zhang Lanhe's younger cousin Li Xu spent time with their group.

Without blushing or missing a beat, Xie Huizhou continued explaining. "It's precisely because I'm at death's door that I need to seize the time to eat. The doctor said that, in my condition, I should eat whatever I want. Please be understanding, Imperial Preceptor."

Xie Huizhou had never deprived himself when it came to food. He continued eating as though no one else were there and even boldly invited the Imperial Preceptor to join him.

"Why don't you try my cooking, Imperial Preceptor? These are my special seasonings. Very few people ever get to taste them. You'll regret missing out."

Xie Huizhou usually enjoyed sharing good food with his friends. He was utterly confident in his cooking. No one could refuse his invitation!

Zhang Lanhe had initially refused. He lived in luxury; what had he not seen? Besides, this was nothing more than ordinary-looking grilled meat. A mere desire for food was hardly worth mentioning.

But it really did smell good.

The sauce was a kind he had never seen before.

Looking at Xie Huizhou's expectant gaze and how proud he was of his cooking, he dubiously gave it a try.

That single taste made his eyes light up.

"Delicious. What is this?"

It was spicy.

Pleased by the praise, Xie Huizhou thought, Even the main villain has fallen before my cooking.

"These are chili peppers, an absolutely wonderful seasoning from overseas." Xie Huizhou excitedly shared his treasures. "I sent people overseas to find them. There are plenty of other interesting crops too. They're still in the experimental fields."

For instance, various high-yield grain seeds.

To prevent himself from ending up reduced to farming and starving to death someday, Xie Huizhou had already made several backup plans.

It never hurt to have more skills.

Who would have thought it? Xie Huizhou had also acquired properties overseas. That way, whatever happened in the future, he would always have food to eat.

"Ninth Prince, your ambitions are far from small," Zhang Lanhe said.

He knew as soon as he heard it just how great a change these things would bring to the Great Xia Dynasty if they were introduced to the world.

Someone like this could not possibly have failed to prepare to make his mark.

Xie Huizhou was not entirely without ambition, either. Human ambition and desire were the easiest things to exploit. For what they wanted, people would stop at nothing and follow his plans.

Zhang Lanhe wanted to know exactly what Xie Huizhou aspired to. Was he after that position too?

"Perhaps."

Xie Huizhou felt that he was terribly greedy. He wanted to get out unscathed and keep living as a carefree wealthy man.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhang Lanhe stated the purpose of his visit. "Your Highness, why won't you move into the National Preceptor's Residence? My place isn't that frightening."

Being refused time and again only made him increasingly persistent.

Zhang Lanhe was accustomed to keeping everything under his control. Anything beyond his control concerned him.

Everyone else clamored for the chance. What was Xie Huizhou refusing?

Xie Huizhou tried to decline. "I'm slow-witted, and I have a taste for men. I'll anger you to death, Imperial Preceptor. I suggest you withdraw your order and choose another prince. My elder brothers are all more capable than I am."

"Don't worry. I will make you the sharpest sword, Your Highness. No one will compare to you." Zhang Lanhe's words were half temptation, half threat. "In other people's eyes, we're already one. If you don't grow quickly, Your Highness, they'll tear you apart."

Xie Huizhou would have to board this pirate ship whether he wanted to or not.

Zhang Lanhe enjoyed turning worthless people whom no one thought well of into lethal divine weapons.

Hearing this, Xie Huizhou felt that it did make some sense. That damned old emperor kept pushing him toward his death.

Zhang Lanhe and Xie Huizhou went back and forth for a long time. Xie Huizhou knew that if he did not get a satisfactory answer today, he would not leave.

After struggling for a moment, Xie Huizhou compromised. "I can get up early and stay out late to come over myself, but moving in would be rather inconvenient."

He could go there and slack off, but living there was far too dangerous. He would not move in even if it killed him.

As long as the snake marking on his waist remained unresolved, he could not rest easy.

He had already sent the Shadow Guards to inquire which temple had the ability to solve this sort of mystical problem.

Only after receiving a satisfactory answer did Zhang Lanhe leave contentedly.

"Then I shall respectfully await your arrival, Your Highness."

"Keep an eye on the Ninth Prince. I still feel I've overlooked something important." Zhang Lanhe's instincts told him that he certainly had. "Let me see just how many more secrets he's hiding."

Every time he saw Xie Huizhou, there was a new surprise. It was truly interesting.

After boarding his carriage, Zhang Lanhe sat alone inside. With no one around him daring to speak, he began to feel bored again.

Had he known it would be like this, he might as well have stayed and teased Xie Huizhou a little longer, to see just how long that good temper would last before he grew angry.

Zhang Lanhe suddenly remembered another source of amusement. "How are things with the Eighth Prince?"

It was time to find some entertainment.

As soon as the eighth prince, Xie Tingchun, had refused his request to hand over the man, Zhang Lanhe had begun doing everything he could to ruin him. Seeing him under attack, the other princes had been all the more eager to kick him while he was down.

The Eighth Prince was now in quite a miserable state.

Zhang Lanhe was calculating just how long the Eighth Prince's love for that Shadow Guard could last. If he could stubbornly hold on to the end, Zhang Lanhe would call him a true man.

His subordinate replied, "Judging by the time, he should be close to his limit."

No sooner had the words fallen than Zhang Lanhe encountered the Eighth Prince's men along the way, inviting him to the Eighth Prince's Residence.

"Imperial Preceptor, the Eighth Prince has an important matter to discuss with you. Please come with us."