Chapter 573 - 279: Chen Sheng’s Weakness

Chapter 573: Chapter 279: Chen Sheng’s Weakness

The White Tiger Hall typically delegated intelligence gathering on matters below the Golden Core level to its subordinates.

However, there were exceptions.

For instance, for individuals with sufficiently high status, powerful backgrounds, and extensive dealings with the White Tiger Hall, once their Cultivation reached the late stage of Profound Mastery and they developed Divine Sense, the White Tiger Hall would gift them a Sound Transmission Magical Artifact.

Princess Consort Xiang was one such case.

She was not only Princess Consort Xiang but also the legitimate daughter of the great Yu Clan of Yunzhou. She had dealt with the White Tiger Hall on numerous occasions, and now she needed to quickly uncover Chen Sheng’s background.

She could only turn to the White Tiger Hall for help.

And the information she wanted was very simple.

What did Chen Sheng like?

What was Chen Sheng’s weakness?!

Only by figuring these things out would she have a chance to sleep with Chen Sheng and win him over.

Just after she made the deal, before she had even received a reply from the White Tiger Hall, Prince Xiang contacted her.

"My lady, what is the situation?"

"Your Highness is too impatient. Chengxiang and I have only just arrived in Ning’an. We plan to visit Chen Sheng tomorrow."

"Thank you for your hard work, my lady."

The voice of Prince Xiang, Zhao Zhen, came from the Magical Artifact:

"If that Chen Sheng truly proves uncooperative, you don’t need to be too subservient."

"But what if this matter gets exposed?"

Princess Consort Xiang frowned.

"I have looked into it carefully. The incident in Chen County can only prove a connection to Prince Xiang’s Mansion, but it’s impossible for Chen Sheng to obtain concrete evidence. At worst..."

"At worst, I will confess to the Holy Emperor. Perhaps... the situation isn’t as bad as we imagine."

Without concrete evidence, Prince Xiang’s Mansion might not actually be punished. After all, the political situation at court had changed ever since the great chaos in Yunzhou.

The power of Vassal Princes and members of the Royal Family like them had been gradually expanding.

It might be possible to deceive their way through it.

But Yu Nanzhi did not agree with Prince Xiang’s words:

"No, Your Highness, absolutely not! The Holy Emperor is deeply suspicious. Once this matter is exposed, the higher-ups will certainly dispatch powerful experts to investigate."

"If they uncover anything, the Prince’s Mansion will be in danger of being overturned!"

"What’s more, this matter also involves the Taiping Dao. Although Your Highness has not colluded with the Taiping Dao and merely had some dealings with them, will the Holy Emperor believe that?"

If Prince Xiang’s Mansion were to be convicted, as members of the Royal Family, Zhao Zhen and the others might be spared.

But the Yu Clan would absolutely suffer because of it.

After all, this was tantamount to treason!

The one supporting Prince Xiang’s Mansion’s secret rebellion from behind was none other than the Yu Clan. Her marriage alliance was also a result of this.

As the legitimate daughter of the Yu Clan, Yu Nanzhi would absolutely not allow this to happen.

For this, she was willing to pay any price.

Because she wasn’t just on the side of Prince Xiang’s Mansion; she was, in fact, on the side of her clan.

"Then... then let’s do as you say, my lady."

Prince Xiang Zhao Zhen was silent for a moment and did not argue further.

’Yes.’

’The matter of secretly expanding the army might be covered up. I could use the excuse that it was for stabilizing the region.’

’But how could I explain colluding with the Taiping Dao?’

’Even if I explained, would my fourth brother believe me?’

Although he hadn’t truly colluded with the Taiping Dao, it now seemed impossible to explain it away clearly.

Thinking of this, Prince Xiang Zhao Zhen felt a hint of regret.

Back then, when he used the Yu Family’s power to expand his own strength, he truly had no intention of colluding with the Taiping Dao. He was thinking of self-preservation and the chance to contend for the throne in the future.

He wasn’t trying to overthrow the Zhao Family’s empire.

Who knew how it happened, but somehow Prince Xiang’s Mansion inexplicably started doing business with the Taiping Dao. By the time he belatedly found out, it was already too late.

Coupled with wishful thinking, their dealings with the Taiping Dao had gradually deepened.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. I will certainly handle this matter well. Your Highness just needs to prepare a banquet for my return at the mansion."

Princess Consort Xiang said reassuringly.

"Hahaha... good."

Seeing the Princess Consort’s confidence, the Prince said no more and stated directly:

"Then I shall prepare the celebratory Spirit Wine in advance."

"To celebrate your triumphant return!"

...

「Meanwhile.」

After taking his leave, the Heir of Prince Xiang, Zhao Chengxiang, did not return to his room to rest. Instead, under the pretext of gathering information about Chen Sheng, he left the Wang Family’s residence and went straight to the Initial Saint Sect to request a meeting with Chen Sheng.

With a letter of introduction from Ouyang Ke, he felt that getting a meeting with Chen Sheng shouldn’t be a problem.

As long as they met, he could gauge Chen Sheng’s attitude and figure out a solution from there.

His earlier scolding of Patriarch Wang was, in reality, just a facade.

Chen Sheng, who was cultivating in the Initial Saint Sect, paused to think after hearing the report that a young man was outside requesting a meeting with a letter of introduction from Ouyang Ke, the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. He did not refuse and agreed to the meeting.

His goal was the Three-Color Treasure Lotus from Prince Xiang’s Mansion.

’It doesn’t matter who comes.’

’What matters is who can give me the Three-Color Treasure Lotus.’

「In the main hall.」

Chen Sheng studied the young man before him and nodded slightly.

"And you are?"

"I am Zhao Chengxiang, Heir of Prince Xiang. I am a good friend of Ouyang from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect and have come specially to pay my respects to Lord Chen."

Zhao Chengxiang was extremely polite, a smile on his face from the moment they met.

"Ah, so it’s the Young Master."

Chen Sheng nodded and gestured for him to sit.

"The Crown Prince is away from Xiangyang Prefecture. What brings you to my Ning’an?"

Hearing Chen Sheng’s question, Zhao Chengxiang was momentarily unable to figure out what the other man was thinking.

’Could it be that Chen Sheng hasn’t connected the confiscated items to Prince Xiang’s Mansion?’

’If that’s the case, and I bring it up...’

’...won’t that just make things worse?’

So he decided to change the subject and try to subtly gauge Chen Sheng’s thoughts.

But since Zhao Chengxiang didn’t bring up the matter, Chen Sheng was in no hurry to mention it either.

He went along with it and started making small talk.

After a quarter of an hour, Chen Sheng grew impatient.

’Where did this simpleton come from?’

’Doesn’t he understand the first thing about asking for a favor?’

"I have official duties to attend to. If the Crown Prince is bored, you may rest here in the sect for a while. I can entertain you another day." Chen Sheng had no interest in playing along any further.

’He’s not talking business, just bullshitting.’

’Is Prince Xiang’s Mansion truly this brazen, or do they have some other plan?’

Chen Sheng needed to think this through carefully.

Little did he know, Zhao Chengxiang was also extremely anxious. He was worried about making things worse if he spoke up, but also afraid that Chen Sheng was being deliberate, so he didn’t dare broach the main topic.

It wasn’t until he saw Chen Sheng about to leave that Zhao Chengxiang finally said cautiously:

"Lord Chen, wait. I have heard that the Ning’an Jingwu Bureau confiscated a batch of military equipment and forbidden Cultivation Resources in Chen County?"

"That did happen. Why? Does the Crown Prince have some guidance for me?"

Chen Sheng retorted.

"I wouldn’t dare offer guidance. I just wanted to ask, how does Lord Chen plan to handle this matter?"

Zhao Chengxiang’s heart tightened.

"Naturally, I’ll report it to the State Government Office! Smuggling military equipment and forbidden resources is a crime of treason. What’s more, this matter involves the bandits of the Taiping Dao. It must be reported directly to the Holy Emperor!"

Chen Sheng declared righteously.

"This... this... Lord Chen, could you... could you suppress this matter?"

Zhao Chengxiang was flustered.

If this matter reached the Holy Emperor, Prince Xiang’s Mansion would be truly finished.

And he, the Crown Prince, would be finished too.

"Suppress this matter? So you’re saying the ones colluding with the Taiping Dao bandits are you, from Prince Xiang’s Mansion?"

Chen Sheng’s eyes narrowed as he silently activated the Memory Stone.

"No, no, no... uh... I... I was just..."

Pressed by Chen Sheng, Zhao Chengxiang grew even more flustered.

He understood that Chen Sheng definitely knew the truth.

But even if the other man knew, he couldn’t possibly admit it.

"If it has nothing to do with Prince Xiang’s Mansion, then please see yourself out, Crown Prince."

Chen Sheng waved his hand dismissively.

"Lord Chen, this matter... so long as you can suppress it, Prince Xiang’s Mansion will be eternally grateful!" Seeing Chen Sheng’s grim expression, Zhao Chengxiang could only implicitly admit to it.

At the same time, he presented a prepared Storage Magical Artifact with both hands, placing it on Chen Sheng’s desk.

"As long as Lord Chen is willing to be lenient, I, Chengxiang, and indeed the entire Prince Xiang’s Mansion, will owe you a favor."

Chen Sheng picked up the Storage Magical Artifact and swept it with his Divine Sense. His expression remained calm and unmoved. He casually tossed the Magical Artifact back onto the desk, leaned back slightly into his mahogany chair, and said coolly:

"Is the Crown Prince trying to test my integrity with just this?!"

Zhao Chengxiang was stunned.

’This isn’t enough?’

’There are nearly a thousand Elemental Crystals in there!’

’Does Chen Sheng have such a huge appetite?’

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