“Reestablishing the heir apparent to the throne isn’t something you can achieve in a short period of time. Although the Fourth Prince is still young, but in a few more years, he will become eligible. By that time, the Crown Prince’s name would have fallen, and it would be the best time to push the Fourth Prince up.” Jun Wu Xie said calmly.
“Fourth Prince? You really think it’s him?” Hua Yao asked, his brow furrowed.
Jun Wu Xie nodded. “I would guess that Lei Chen knows it as well, or he would not have avoided the Fourth Prince so completely.”
Just because the Fourth Prince was in the Empress’ Palace, Lei Chen had even chosen to not go offer his greetings to the Empress. The level of loathing shown in that incident, couldn’t have been more obvious.
“But even if the Emperor were to have such intentions, I am thinking the Empress might not agree to it so readily. The Yan Country’s Empress’ family commands a high level of authourity and their power is rather prominent in the Yan Country. Lei Chen is the Empress’ biological son, so how could it be possible that the Empress would over an adopted Fourth Prince, allow the Emperor carry out a plot to harm her own son and not say a thing?” Fan Zhuo was still finding that some parts of the story were still missing.
Volume 9
Chapter 815 : “Secret Intricacies of the Imperial Harem (1)”
“Although there are still some inconsistencies, but that would not be too far from the truth.” Jun Wu Xie was fairly certain that her conclusion of the situation, regardless whether it was from the way the rumours were started or from Lei Chen’s words from the interrogation yesterday.
“In order to get the final answer to that, we will need Lei Chen to tell it to us himself. And to make him willing to open up to us, only an alliance with him will work.” Jun Wu Xie said, putting the cup of tea in her hands down.
Fan Zhuo nodded. “Hence, you first retreated to lure him in, and forced him to ally with you in the end.”
After yesterday events, Jun Wu Xie no longer thought of severing ties with Lei Chen. In order for them to find the map, the only option available for them was through Lei Chen. Everything that she did, was to tug at Lei Chen’s heartstrings to make him panic, making him see that he could not do without the Zephyr Academy.
Shortly after, Lei Chen came back in a hurry. And when he came in, he was holding a brocade box in his hand.
“What is that?” Rong Ruo asked.
The smile on Lei Chen’s face had disappeared. He opened the brocade box and inside it, was a letter written in blood. The red characters on the blood letter turned his eyes red and he brought it right before Jun Wu Xie and the others.
Jun Wu Xie glanced at the item, and her eyes appeared quizzical.
And the inconsistencies that did not link up in Jun Wu Xie’s and Fan Zhuo’s discussion earlier was soon be cleared up by this blood letter before them.
“Who gave this to you?” Jun Wu Xie asked, as she lifted her head to look at Lei Chen.
Lei Chen smiled bitterly: “A serving maid of the Empress, or should I say….. my biological mother.”
At Lei Chen’s words, Qiao Chu and the others who had not seen the contents of the blood letter suddenly widened their eyes.
Lei Chen said: “It’s rather funny to say it, but the Yan Country’s Crown Prince is actually an illegitimate child who has no blood links to the Imperial Family. My mother was actually a palace maid serving the Empress from a very young age. The Empress had given birth to a boy at that time and my mother had an illicit affair with a guard in the same period and gave birth to me. The Empress had wanted to execute her then, but the boy that the Empress had given birth to die a premature death a few days after his birth. In order to secure her position as the Empress, the Empress took possession and adopted me, taking me in as her child. All these years, I had thought that the Empress was my biological mother, until….. my Fourth Brother appeared. It was only then that I found out that everything had been one big lie.”
Lei Chen had not been born by the Empress. The Empress had only allowed him and his biological mother to remain alive to secure her position as the Empress. As he had been the only child she had, the Empress had in the early years showered Lei Chen with love and concern. Outsiders had always thought that the Emperor and the Empress shared a deep feelings for each other and no one knew that the girl the Emperor truly loved was in fact not the Empress, but a palace maid that had served the Emperor from young. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he transferred that palace maid into his harem as a concubine and showered her with favours and attention. That palace maid had then given birth to a boy more than ten years ago but she had died from complications in that difficult birth.
That baby boy had been adopted by the Empress in a highly generous gesture but her real intentions were actually to use the child to threaten the Emperor. Not long after that boy was taken away by the Empress, the Empress had soon drowned the boy in a lotus pond, and the current Fourth Prince Lei Fan, was in fact an illegitimate child, by the Empress and the Yan Country’s Prime Minister…..
The Yan Country’s Emperor did not know a single thing about it and had always thought of Lei Fan as the child he had with his most beloved woman. He had indulged and spoilt the boy from a young age and the Empress had seemed to like the boy as well, spoiling him equally. That had delighted the Emperor greatly which in turn made her position as the Empress more secure. However, with both the Emperor and the Empress’ attention and hopes all focused on Lei Fan, Lei Chen who had just been a tool of the Empress to secure her position suddenly turned into an eyesore for two people!
Volume 9
Chapter 816 : “Secret Intricacies of the Imperial Harem (2)”
The Emperor thinks that Lei Fan is his biological child and he had been displeased about naming Lei Chen as the Crown Prince all this time as he had selfishly wanted the child he had with his most beloved to be gifted with the position of Crown Prince which the Empress was only too glad to see happen. Only she was aware that Lei Chen was merely a bastard love child between the illicit affair between a palace maid and a guard while Lei Fan whom the Emperor favoured was the child of her and her lover. As the hatred from the many years of cold indifference she had suffered from the Emperor grew, the Empress only wished to make the Emperor suffer the consequences of his own actions.
And in the midst of the secret plotting and scheming between the two people, Lei Chen was turned into the resulting sacrifice from their secret conflict and intrigue.
With Lei Fan slowing growing up, and the Empress’ silent consent, the Emperor had begun to move against Lei Chen. Placing the entire hosting of the Spirit Battle Tournament in Lei Chen’s hands to organize this year, was merely the first step the Emperor had taken to overturn Lei Chen from his position.
Once Lei Chen made a mistake in the Spirit Battle Tournament in that year’s Spirit Battle Tournament, the Emperor would have a good and valid reason to use against him, and before Lei Fan came of age, Lei Chen would definitely be pulled off from his position of the Yan Country’s Crown Prince!
“This letter, was left behind by my biological mother before she died. She had remained by the Empress to serve her all that time but I had not been aware of it. In the countless times I have gone to the Empress’ Palace, I have not seen her once, not knowing that I have been acknowledging a murderer as my mother.” Lei Chen’s voice had turned somewhat raspy as he shook his head in bitter laughter at himself.
The Empress had been worried that the secret would be exposed and had pegged a non existent crime onto Lei Chen’s biological mother and beaten her to death several years ago. Till the point that his mother died, Lei Chen had still not known that that person was his biological mother. Lei Chen had still been staying within the Imperial Palace at that time and he would often go stay over at the Empress’ Palace. It was during one of those short stays at the Empress’ Palace that he discovered this letter hidden within his jade pillow and understood everything. He finall
y knew why after Lei Fan was born, the Empress was suddenly not so affable towards him…..
Hua Yao and the others all read the contents of the letter written in blood fully and they were saddened by the tragedy behind all the palace intrigue. They had not thought that there were be so much insidious scheming within the Imperial Harem and at that moment, they finally understood that Jun Wu Xie’s analysis of the situation had not been plucked out of nothing.
It was precisely because she had gone through the incident when Mo Qian Yuan had been victimised and she no longer saw such incidents as strange.
“Fighting to claim supreme power within the Imperial Harem has always been filled with nefarious plots and intrigue, but I find it so laughable, as I am not even a legitimate member of the Imperial Family, but because of the selfish desires of the Empress alone, I am dragged to be stuck in the middle of this muck.” After Lei Chen came to know the truth, he had begun to distance himself from the Empress and had made an excuse to move out from the Imperial Palace, to reside in the Crown Prince’s Residence outside of the palace’s walls.
“You seek to gain the throne?” Jun Wu Xie asked calmly, her tone without a ripple of shock.
“No! I do not care for any power or authourity! Even if it is given to me, I do not care for it! But I seek for the Emperor, the Empress, and Lei Fan to pay the price! I absolutely refuse to play a hapless puppet that can be manipulated and used by them!” Lei Chen’s eyes were overflowing with burning hatred.
“I will need help from all of you. The Emperor is now becoming more blatant with the way he is trying to discredit me. If I wait and do not move, there is only death in the future ahead for me. I refuse to give in! I plead for all of you to lend me your strength to resist them!” Lei Chen was starting right at Jun Wu Xie, he had shown his hand completely, hiding nothing today, to enlist the help from the youths before him.
“Alright.” Jun Wu Xie nodded.
Lei Chen suddenly heaved a huge sigh of relief, and a relieved smile came onto his face.
After having seen the powers from the disciples from the Zephyr Academy, he knew for sure. As long as he was able to win these people over to his side, the Spirit Battle Tournament would no longer pose a problem for him. These youths possessed power that could overwhelm all others within the Spirit Battle Tournament and even if the Emperor wanted to use the tournament against him, he would no longer stand a chance to succeed.
Volume 9
Chapter 817 : “Secret Intricacies of the Imperial Harem (3)”
After discussing it a little further with Lei Chen, Jun Wu Xie and the others left the Crown Prince’s Palace. While they made their way back, the events that unfolded that morning completely filled the minds of the companions.
All of it had really opened their eyes and revealed to the youths a prime example of the intricacies involved in the struggles within an Imperial Family.
“I had never realised that there would be so much scheming involved behind the facade of the prestigious Imperial House. Seeing all this is making me feel all the turmoil that Ning Rui kicked up before suddenly seem so trifling.” Fan Zhuo laughed despite himself, shaking his head. Compared to the Yan Country’s Empress, Ning Rui’s insidious deeds suddenly seem so simple and uncomplicated.
“But there is still one thing that I still think is rather strange.” Fan Zhuo said suddenly as he turned to look at Jun Wu Xie.
Jun Wu Xie looked at Fan Zhuo without a word.
“Although Little Xie you had plotted to lead Lei Chen into seeing that he had no other choice but to ally himself with us, but having him reveal all his darkest secrets so readily to all of us, wouldn’t it seem to be a little too careless and easy of Lei Chen? Would there be another ulterior motive hidden behind it?” Fan Zhuo asked in caution. Lei Chen had been too open with all the secrets he had revealed to the companions that day, and the only thing he did not do was to jump up and say it all himself personally.
Jun Wu Xie shook her head and said: “There wouldn’t be.”
“Why?”
“I made him say all that.” Jun Wu Xie replied calmly.
“…..” This time, not only Fan Zhuo was looking at Jun Wu Xie in puzzlement. All the other companions had suddenly turned to look at Jun Wu Xie with strange looks on their faces.
[She made Lei Chen say all that?]
“I prepared all that just before we left his chambers last night.” Jun Wu Xie looked back at all her companions, her eyes calm and collected.
The effects of hypnosis might have been rather useful, but the amount of things that Lei Chen knew about the map was too little. In order to allow them to take the next step towards getting the map, Jun Wu Xie needed to seal the alliance with Lei Chen as quickly as possible. But….. she really did not feel like spending too much time dallying back and forth with Lei Chen, so she had unilaterally decided to introduce into the hypnotised Lei Chen’s subconscious mind by way of suggestion, just before they left the chambers, for Lei Chen to subconsciously have absolute trust for Jun Xie.
Although the effects of such suggestions while under hypnosis were not obvious, but if the person held the slightest inclination towards the suggested action in his heart, the suggestion introduced into his subconscious mind amplify that endlessly, spreading from the root. That was what made Lei Chen reveal everything to Jun Wu Xie without holding anything back that morning.
In the end…..
They had all been taken in by Jun Wu Xie.
“Ahem. I swear, I will never go against Little Xie ever!” Qiao Chu raised up his right hand solemnly, his face serious as he sincerely swore to the Heavens above. The longer he was in Jun Wu Xie’s company, the more terrifying he realised the little lass really was. All those strange elixirs with their bizarre effects of hers already made her enemies helpless against her and to top it all off, she had that unbelievable little brain of her…..
Qiao Chu genuinely believed, that even if there were two of him, in Jun Wu Xie’s hands, would not be enough to last even single round.
“Concur.” Fei Yan agreed readily, in a rare display of actually being in complete agreement with Qiao Chu for once.
Rong Ruo said with a laugh: “Fortunately Little Xie is on our side, or we will be in deep trouble.”
Brains, finesse, and limitless potential beyond anyone else. The little lass had been born to wreck at other people’s confidence and self worth. Do not judge her just based on that tiny face with its icy demeanor. In reality, that face belonged to a wily fox that was able to trick and dupe you so quickly without even blinking, a most demonic devil in disguise.
Jun Wu Xie looked on as the others went on with their tirade before she calmly told them: “Rest assured, I will never use such things on you.”
Qiao Chu immediately smiled and was just about to jump up in joy when Jun Wu Xie’s words that came right after made all the smiles of their faces freeze in place.
“I don’t want to waste them.” Jun Wu Xie told them in all seriousness.
The companions immediately turned into stone right in their spots.
[Personal attacks like these are not allowed! !]
After admiring the crying and tearless expressions on the faces of her companions, Jun Wu Xie turned around and went into her room. Once her back was turned, the corner of her lips turned up in the slightest, showing the faintest tinge of a smile.
Having this bunch of clowns around, feels….. rather comforting.
Volume 9
Chapter 818 : “Don’t Ask for Death and You’ll Live (1)”
After confirming their alliance with Lei Chen, the rest of the Spirit Battle Tournament would be the time for Jun Wu Xie and her companions to shine.
However, when Jun Wu Xie stepped into the fourth round of the tournament, the unexpected happened once more. The youth who was supposed to battle Jun Wu Xie in that round had pulled out from the tournament just like the others before him, and it was even more serious this time!
The youth had not just s
imply failed to show up for the match, but had lost his very life in a corner of the Imperial Capital. This was the first time a murder had occurred at the Spirit Battle Tournament ever since the inception of the competition and that news had attracted the attention of all the contestants immediately!
The last few rounds of forfeiture had been connected to Jun Xie and the reason behind those disciples’ decision to pull out had already been heatedly debated by everyone. The incidents had also been linked to the Yan Country’s Crown Prince Lei Chen as well as everyone suspected that it was Lei Chen who was secretly pulling strings behind the scenes, forcing the youths to give up their chances in the tournament with both bribes and threats. But this time, things have gone too far.
Someone had actually lost his life for it!
The crowd at the arena had actually curious to know what was going to happen and they were now highly enraged! Those disciples who had advanced to the fifth round were indignant as all of them did not know who Jun Xie’s next opponent would be! It was obvious to them by now that Lei Chen had in order to let Jun Xie win, taken a life. Wasn’t that a message to all the rest of them that if they continued to compete in the tournament, the road forward for them would only be death! ?
When the matter that had still not be entirely clear to everyone, was suddenly stained with blood, fear rose within the disciples who had advanced and made them highly tensed and jittery. The incident had now come to a boil. The disciples from the various academies had initially only been despised the Zephyr Academy for ingratiating themselves with Lei Chen, but now, the Zephyr Academy was being mercilessly cursed at and spat upon.
Genius Doctor: Black Belly Miss Volume 9 Page 5
