The Prince of Dongping finally displayed a calmness and composure beyond his years. He pressed his lips together and glanced coldly at Han Cheng, then lifted his robe and sat down, sitting upright and straight, even his tone peculiarly flat: “Then tell me, what kind of chaos?”

He was truly utterly disappointed in his mother. Before, there might have been a trace of satisfaction in his heart that his mother could manipulate men into being devoted to her unto death, but when the dust settled, when things came to a head, that trace of satisfaction completely transformed into disgust.

He was heaven’s favored son, an imperial grandson cherished and doted upon by the Crown Prince for so many years. Originally, even if he didn’t compete for that position, he would still have his own prospects. But just because of his mother’s greedy ignorance, and because of Han Zhengqing’s foolish delusions, both his father’s and his own reputations were about to be destroyed in an instant.

Seeing the Prince of Dongping completely calm down and apparently able to listen to reason, Han Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. Time was urgent at present. Moreover, though his coming to Hubei was secret, after all there were no walls without cracks in this world, and Cui Yingshu was also very difficult to deal with. To persuade the Prince of Dongping, naturally the faster the better. Thinking of this, he could no longer keep them in suspense. In one breath he told them of Han Zhengqing’s plans. Seeing the several people in the room including the Prince of Dongping all stunned speechless, he even coughed a few times to cough them back to their senses before enthusiastically painting a picture of the future for the Prince of Dongping: “You see, as long as you leave with us, won’t the court descend into great chaos?”

Qian Ying and Chen Dezhong exchanged glances, both seeing the ashen pallor on each other’s faces—according to what Han Cheng said, Prince Gong was actually planning to rebel?! And the one colluding with Prince Gong and providing him support was actually Han Zhengqing?!

Had Prince Gong gone mad? Han Zhengqing was also a commander in Datong!

Even cunning as Chen Dezhong was, he only felt a wave of dizziness, suddenly feeling his death was imminent. He glanced at the Prince of Dongping, afraid the Prince of Dongping would be moved—once the Prince of Dongping truly decided to go with them, then as the Prince of Dongping’s trusted confidants, they would of course definitely have to follow. If they didn’t follow, Han Cheng couldn’t possibly let them live. But once they followed, what about their families? What about their wives, children, relatives, and friends?! Without even saying more, Chen Dezhong felt his throat itch faintly, nearly coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood, yet he forcibly held it back and looked at Han Cheng.

Seeing he had intimidated everyone, Han Cheng completely relaxed and continued in one breath: “Our Marquis is also thinking of the prince’s safety. If not for the prince, we would have already started the uprising. We’re just afraid that when the time comes, someone will discover the prince’s relationship with him and it will be disadvantageous to you, which is why he sent us rushing here at full speed, precisely to fetch you to Jinzhong.”

As he spoke, he breathed a sigh of relief and looked earnestly at the Prince of Dongping: “Even a vicious tiger won’t eat its cubs—how could our Marquis be disadvantageous to you? Even that matter with the old ginseng last time, actually he only dared let you present it after having a thorough plan. Your future prospects, he’s already planned them out for you. In the future… in the future when Prince Gong gains power, with our Marquis’s contributions, he’ll surely be enfeoffed as a prince and become prime minister. At that time, you won’t be much different from now.” He blinked and swallowed, gesturing for the Prince of Dongping to come closer.

Qian Ying’s and Huang Yiqing’s hearts rose to their throats. The breath they had just managed to ease immediately blocked up in their chests again, making them feel stifled and uncomfortable. These plans of Han Zhengqing’s were no different from thunderbolts from a clear sky for them—simply unbelievable.

But the matter had indeed happened. Han Zhengqing truly planned to become a rebellious traitor and assist Prince Gong in rebellion. How incredibly stupid—to actually do such foolish things!

If the Prince of Dongping agreed… the Prince of Dongping might well agree. Qian Ying and Huang Yiqing exchanged worried glances and both closed their eyes.

The Prince of Dongping indeed walked forward two steps and stood beside Han Cheng. Chen Dezhong swallowed the words “Your Highness” back into his stomach and sighed deeply.

Han Cheng quietly leaned close to the Prince of Dongping’s ear: “Your Highness need not regret losing your imperial status. The Marquis says as long as you want it, there will be opportunities in the future. Whatever you want, he will give you.”

In Han Cheng’s view, his elder brother truly had nothing more to say about this son, the Prince of Dongping. He had been decent enough to Han Zhi, but that was only decent. Compared to the Prince of Dongping, it really didn’t measure up—for the Prince of Dongping’s sake, he was even willing to do things like rebellion, practically staking his very life.

The Prince of Dongping lowered his eyes and stepped back a few paces. In an instant, without any warning, he raised his foot and heavily kicked Han Cheng in the chest.

Han Cheng was kicked senseless, completely unaware of what wind the Prince of Dongping had caught. He was sent by the Prince of Dongping’s biological father—did the Prince of Dongping even understand the seriousness of the matter?!

Really, speaking nicely and speaking harshly, why couldn’t he understand? Han Cheng truly couldn’t hold back anymore. Though his hands were bound behind his back and he couldn’t raise them or easily sit up, he still couldn’t help but shout: “Your Highness the Prince! Can’t you see the situation clearly? Right now, aside from our Marquis’s place, where else do you have a way to live?! My appearing here means you won’t be able to explain yourself even if you had a mouth full of mouths! Cui Yingshu is like a fox—he can’t miss the slightest disturbance. I’m afraid before long he’ll come over. How do you plan to explain to him then?! You should hurry and leave with us!”

The Prince of Dongping looked expressionlessly at Chen Dezhong: “Gag his mouth!”

Chen Dezhong silently complied, without the slightest hesitation. Turning back to look at the Prince of Dongping, he seemed to want to speak but hesitated: “Your Highness, though this man speaks nonsense, one thing he said is correct. Minister Cui’s nose has always been keener than a dog’s…”

After they came to Hubei, they first resolved the matter of the Wei father and son, then followed Cui Yingshu in disaster relief. Though they couldn’t be said to have conflicts, their natural positions were different. Cui Yingshu was a natural Grand Prince partisan, with people watching them at all times.

Han Cheng and his group entering his door—he probably knew about it immediately.

This was also another layer of Han Zhengqing’s plan, wasn’t it? Afraid soft methods wouldn’t work, he planned to use hard ones, employing both threats and enticements.

At this moment, the Prince of Dongping instead found clarity, feeling his thoughts had never been so lucid. He waved his hand at Chen Dezhong and asked straightforwardly: “According to Lord Chen’s meaning, should this prince follow him?”

Following them would make them rebellious traitors, to be punished by everyone in the future. Their parents and relatives—none could possibly be preserved. Chen Dezhong of course didn’t want to, but still, that same saying—if they didn’t follow, now they had also been pushed into a pit of fire because of Han Zhengqing. How could the court tolerate them? No matter what they did, it was simply the same word: death.