Chapter Ninety-Two: Splitting into Two Routes

Although Chen Pingwu had his own dissatisfaction with Lu Jue, Fang Yehwu was present at the moment, and if the two truly came to blows, it would surely be difficult for them to continue getting along in the future.

“We are about to reach Martial Display County. Your Majesty, what do you think we should do?”

Fang Yehwu glanced at Lu Jue, whose posture was bristling with hostility, and knew that the two of them could not conveniently continue traveling with Chen Pingwu and Yang Guang.

They were far from the capital now, and even sending messages back would likely not be simple.

With a faint smile, Fang Yehwu said to Chen Pingwu, “We have come to Martial Display Town to investigate this time, and I must ask the prince for a favor.”

Chen Pingwu had no resistance at all to Fang Yehwu’s smile and hurriedly dismounted to bow.

“Just give the order, Your Majesty!”

Fang Yehwu nodded and said to him, “You, as the prince, will openly probe the county magistrate. Lu Jue and I will investigate Li Ru’s home in secret. We will split into two groups. What do you think?”

After hearing this, Chen Pingwu thought of having to separate from Fang Yehwu and could not help feeling a little reluctant, but lingering over it now would be improper, so he nodded and agreed.

Afterward, Chen Pingwu changed his clothes in the woods and led Yang Guang swaggeringly into Martial Display County.

Watching the two of them leave, the anger on Lu Jue’s face vanished at once, and he said calmly, “Your Majesty, do you think Chen Pingwu is connected to this case?”

His earlier fury had only been feigned, merely to give the two of them a reason to leave.

Fang Yehwu still had some doubts about Chen Pingwu. By letting him go forward openly this time, if he truly had a problem, the county magistrate would certainly respond.

With a slight sigh, Fang Yehwu said, “Whether Chen Pingwu is involved in this matter cannot yet be determined. At the very least, one thing is certain: Li Ru was probably not killed by Yang Guang.”

Yang Guang’s earlier move had deeply shaken Fang Yehwu. With such skill, once he fought against the King of Changwu in the future, who knew how many soldiers would perish by his hand?

After parting from Fang Yehwu, Yang Guang followed behind Chen Pingwu. Once he confirmed the distance was sufficient, he said expressionlessly, “Your Highness, if we kill the emperor now, I am seventy percent certain I can still ensure your safe withdrawal.”

Clearly, Yang Guang, loyal to the King of Changwu, had already developed murderous intent toward Fang Yehwu.

This was also why, when the assassins earlier surrounded the group, Yang Guang had not made a move for so long.

As long as Chen Pingwu had given even the slightest signal then, Yang Guang could have taken advantage of the chaos and killed Fang Yehwu on the spot. In the end, it was only when Lu Jue pointed it out with his words that the opportunity was lost.

Chen Pingwu heard Yang Guang’s words and did not turn around. He only knitted his brows slightly, his expression complicated.

Though Yang Guang had always stayed by his side, Chen Pingwu understood that Yang Guang truly obeyed only the orders of the King of Changwu.

As for other matters, Chen Pingwu could ignore them all. But with regard to Fang Yehwu, he would never allow Yang Guang to harm him.

After a moment of silence, Chen Pingwu glanced sideways and cautioned him, “Yang Guang, you may do as you please in other matters, but the emperor must never be touched!”

Hearing this, Yang Guang looked up and caught the edge of Chen Pingwu’s gaze, and he was stunned.

Having grown up with Chen Pingwu since childhood, Yang Guang had always known him as humble, steady, and considerate of the bigger picture.

But the Chen Pingwu before him now bore an expression Yang Guang had never seen: sinister, vicious, and murderous, as though a true wolf were staring back at him.

Yang Guang gave a slight nod and said nothing more.

Only after seeing Yang Guang’s reaction did Chen Pingwu withdraw that harsh expression and return to the appearance of a refined gentleman.

Raised from childhood under the teachings of the King of Changwu, Chen Pingwu had always been schooled in imperial etiquette. It was plain to see that the King of Changwu’s ambitions were far from small, and Chen Pingwu’s heart had long been wrapped in layers of ceremony and restraint.

Only when he met Fang Yehwu did Chen Pingwu feel, for the first time, that his heart had come alive.

In that evening glow of the capital, beneath the afterglow of sunset, the northern snow that had accompanied his growth was swept clean away the moment Fang Yehwu’s long hair drifted free.

Upon learning that the prince of the King of Changwu had arrived, the county magistrate of Martial Display County led the people of the entire county to offer a grand welcome. Chen Pingwu rode his horse, waving to the common folk on either side with a kindly and approachable smile.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the crowd, as everyone’s attention focused on Chen Pingwu entering the county, Lu Jue and Fang Yehwu kept their heads lowered and threaded through the bustling throng.

On the other side, Wang Jia leaned against a pillar behind the front hall, gazing at the dead leaves falling all over the courtyard, feeling a touch of sorrow.

So much time had passed, yet there had still been no news from the prince’s residence, and countless thoughts crowded Wang Jia’s mind.

Chen Pingwu’s gentle, elegant smile kept recurring before her eyes.

Suddenly, a rush of hurried footsteps jolted her awake. Wang Jia saw a woman walking quickly toward the front hall.

Who was this person? She did not seem to be from the residence.

Suspicion rose in Wang Jia’s heart, and she quietly followed after her.

Zhao Xiyan was usually extremely cautious, but this matter had come so suddenly and so urgently that she had actually forgotten to muffle her steps.

If she truly had the intent to conceal herself, Wang Jia, who knew no martial arts, might not have discovered her.

After Wang Jia reached the rear of the front hall, she heard Wang Changgeng’s low rebuke.

“Why did you come so hastily? If someone were to discover you, what then?”

Wang Changgeng’s brows were not tightly furrowed, but his face was full of reproach as he looked at Zhao Xiyan.

Zhao Xiyan was helpless. The assassins sent to kill Fang Yehwu had suffered disastrous losses; the two grandmasters of the Sea-Embracing Pavilion and more than a dozen elite fighters had gone out and never returned. How could she possibly remain calm?

“My lord, something happened unexpectedly. The elites of the Sea-Embracing Pavilion were all deployed, yet there has been no news of them at all.”

Wang Changgeng was instantly shocked and asked again in disbelief, “Are you certain? Wasn’t it said there were only four of them, Wang Changgeng, Yang Guang, Fang Yehwu, and Lu Jue? Why would the entire group be lost?”

Wang Changgeng knew the strength of the Sea-Embracing Pavilion well enough. Even against Lu Jue’s grandmaster-level cultivation, he was confident they could make him fall.

Zhao Xiyan had no answer. After all, not a single survivor had returned, and the Sea-Embracing Pavilion’s other informants had reported that the prince of the King of Changwu had entered the city.

Hearing this from Zhao Xiyan, Wang Changgeng’s expression shifted repeatedly.

“You mean the one who entered the city was only the prince and his attendants? Fang Yehwu and Lu Jue are nowhere to be seen?”

Zhao Xiyan naturally understood the hidden meaning behind Wang Changgeng’s words, but she could only helplessly shatter his last shred of hope.

“After the prince entered the city, the Sea-Embracing Pavilion’s covert scouts went to the dense forest outside Martial Display County. They found only the bodies of our elite men. No one else was there.”

A chill swept through Wang Changgeng’s heart. Clearly, Fang Yehwu and Lu Jue had already infiltrated Martial Display County in secret.

And behind the front hall, Wang Jia, having heard every word of the conversation, was utterly shaken.

Her father had sent assassins to kill Young Master Chen, and even the current emperor.

Her mind went blank at once. Having lived in comfort and privilege for so long, she now looked at such methods from Wang Changgeng and felt that her father at this moment was entirely different from the one she had known before.

In panic and unease, Wang Jia quietly returned to her own chamber, and even when her maid asked her questions, she heard none of it.

In the front hall of the Peaceward King’s Residence, Wang Changgeng, who had remained silent for a long time, finally said to Zhao Xiyan, who was awaiting orders on the side, “You may go. This king will set out at once for the fief.”