Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

68. Just in Case

Translator: Antonia

Yuxing Tianrui was taken aback by his sudden approaching but didn’t stir his stiffened body, smiling, “Anyhow we’re on the same boat now. Even if you expose it, who will believe you?”

His eyes fell on the seal in Du Chuxuan’s hands, and his face bore a challenge look, which gave Du Chuxuan a current of heat in the lower belly. Du Chuxuan was enchanted by that look and surrendered.

“Your Highness surely knows that I won’t tell others, but I don’t see why you, already the Crown Prince of Shenglan, should hold such a dangerous thing in your own hand?”

No wonder Du Chuxuan suspected. In fact, in Shenglan, Yuxing Tianrui enjoyed a status unshakable. Even Shan Zhongli the contemptible scoundrel wasn’t much of a threat to him. However, under such circumstances, Yuxing Tianrui could lose the affection of the Emperor at any moment if the fact that he was in charge of a Wulin force was known to people with evil intentions.

Yuxing Tiarnui’s eyes gained a touch of ridicule, “I’ve no idea why grandfather has issued such an edict, but look at the current Shenglan court where officials gang together and cover up the dirty tricks for one another. Even when there’s no maternal relatives of the imperial family, there are the three major families that are able to shake the capital by a mere stir of their legs.

Father believes these elder officials are most loyal to the country, but I don’t think so.” His dark eyes were cast to the ground, as if trying to see it through, “There have been so many past lessons since ancient times. I’m doing it just in case.”

Du Chuxuan worked his arms to extend the distance between them. He carefully regarded Yuxing Tianrui’s expression and couldn’t help but feel surprised. A carefree proud young man had always been how Yuxing Tianrui impressed him. Yet, at this moment, he actually saw a tint of vicissitude in this youth.

The words also helped him better understood Yuxing Tianrui’s plan. He was going to deal with the three major families. Judging from what Shan Zhongli had done, it was true that the three major families weren’t as loyal and innocent as they appeared. Therefore, Du Chuxuan had to admit that Yuxing Tianrui’s preemptive move was truly a wise foresight.

Du Chuxuan laughed to break the stuffy air, “Since Your Highness has decided to let me manage such an important thing, why don’t you tell me what I can do with it and what I can do for you?” He then took off the jade necklace he had been wearing and carefully put on this seal.

Yuxing Tianrui’s heart was warmed by it. Although he knew Du Chuxuan would say yes but hadn’t expected it to be so pleasant to the ear like a heavenly music when he actually heard it.

“Sect Luo isn’t an ordinary organization. Since I attended court, I’ve started to build it. So far, though it’s not perfect in every way, three branches are developed. They are called: Light, Dark, and Flourish respectively.” Yuxing Tianrui told in an unhurried way.

Sure enough, people are jealous and pissed off when compared with others. They were of similar ages, but Yuxing Tianrui had set off to build Sect Luo when he was still foolishly hanging out and picking wild flowers in the mountains with his stupid sect-brother. Du Chuxuan briefly showed contempt to his own past and began to carefully organize all the information.

He was amazed at his little prince’s discreet and sophisticated brain. In case that the Sect grew too powerful and attracted the attention of the court or Wulin people, Sect Luo had been maintaining a status of invisibly merging with the folks. All the disciples were cultivated secretly and continued to lead a life as an ordinary person in all every industry.

The only means to contact them was the seal, which was kept by the leaders of different branches. The disciples only took orders from their own branch leaders, who took orders from Yuxing Tianrui.

Light operated legitimate businesses like shops, medical clinics and farmlands. Some of the disciples even passed exams and became officials in the court. These people altogether constituted the social foundation of the entire Sect Luo.

Dark was responsible for hitmen and the cultivation of men of sacrifice. Some of them followed around Yuxing Tianrui as his guards, while some others lived among folks as common people. There were still some others who appeared to live an idle life and wander about all day long to make a penny.

As for the last branch, it could be regarded as the most unique existence in Sect Luo. Everyone in the branch had their own special skills, so the branch was called Flourish. Take that Mr. Gong for example. He was actually from Sect Luo. Some famous Wulin people seeming to belong to other sects were actually from Luo.

Du Chuxuan couldn’t help suck his teeth in amazement by such a titanic organization, feeling that his prince was really daring to give such an important thing to him, a person good at nothing.

Yuxing Tianrui gently tapped on the table and made clicking sound. He said slowly, “So far, because of Shan Zhongli, the Mansion of Duke Ningyuan must have turned its back against us, and the original family of Duchess Ningyuan is the Zhao Family. I’m afraid it will give us a hard time soon.”

To this end, Du Chuxuan already knew Yuxing Tianrui’s meaning and turned the seal on his neck, “So you want to throw some troubles at them or…?”

This kind of things was merely a trifle for Yuxing Tianrui, but by letting Du Chuxuan handle it, he obviously wished to apply some tricks on these people. Du Chuxuan asked only to know to what extent Yuxing Tianrui wanted the effect of the tricks.

“It will be Falling Flowers Festival in two days and there will be a banquet in the palace which most of the ladies in the capital attend. I heard that this time a Turkic envoy will come too and want to take back a princess for the political marriage between the two countries.”

Du Chuxuan shook his head helplessly. Why did the Zhao Family choose to, of all things, play tough against Yuxing Tianrui? Maybe in their eyes, he was merely an immature birdie, but in fact, the Crown Prince was a fox not caring to show its claws. Anyone who dared to take things from him should weigh their own power first.

On the way to the outer palace, Du Chuxuan had been working on a plan for this matter with his eyes closed. The Emperor did have a few princesses, but it was clear that Yuxing Tianrui didn’t want any of them to fall prey of the political marriage. Naturally, the candidate could be only selected from the daughters of senior officials.

He remembered that the eldest Lady Zhao was beautiful and apt at everything from calligraphy, painting, to music and chess. He wondered which Turkic prince would marry the princess. If it was for his stupid sect-brother, then he had to be careful to pick a good one.