Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 713: Chapter 349 Prince Wei’s Plan

In the study of the Governor of Peng City, Prince Wei was leisurely drinking tea, but the Governor of Peng City, sitting below him, did not share his leisure. Though seated, the Governor was restless. His fat and round face was covered in sweat, and the front of his clothes was already drenched. He kept using a handkerchief to wipe off his sweat, but the more he wiped, the more it flowed.

Prince Wei seemed oblivious to the Governor’s nervous and uneasy demeanor, continuing to sip his tea in leisure.

The Governor of Peng City cautiously glanced up at Prince Wei, and seeing that Prince Wei continued to drink tea, ignoring him, he grew increasingly panicked.

He struggled internally for a moment and finally gritted his teeth, deciding to speak.

His body was too heavy for him to stand up directly. He gripped the arms of the chair with both hands, exerting great effort to stand up.

Once upright, he wobbled forward two steps, and then with a thud, he knelt before Prince Wei.

"Your Highness, I... should die for my sins..."

It seemed only then did Prince Wei notice the Governor of Peng City’s presence. He put down the teacup in his hand and revealed a hint of surprise on his face.

"Mr. Yan, what are you doing? Get up quickly." He verbally commanded Mr. Yan to rise but did not offer a hand to help the Governor of Peng City.

"Your Highness, I am guilty," the Governor said, bowing his head heavily to Prince Wei. A red mark immediately appeared on his broad forehead. "I am incompetent; I have failed to find any trace of Prince Chu."

"Mr. Yan, it is not my pardon you should seek for not finding Prince Chu, but the Crown Prince’s," Prince Wei suddenly changed his previously gentle attitude, his tone becoming stern, "The Crown Prince instructed you to eliminate Prince Chu without fail, yet you have not found him even now. You’ve certainly proven your competence."

These words frightened the Governor of Peng City, making his stout body tremble violently.

"I... I... have searched the entire Peng City, but..." He was so terrified he couldn’t form a complete sentence.

"But you still have not found him." Prince Wei thoughtfully finished the Governor’s unfinished sentence.

"Yes..." The Governor hung his head in defeat, not daring to look at Prince Wei.

In truth, the Governor felt greatly wronged. Since receiving the Crown Prince’s orders, he had persistently sent people to search for Prince Chu throughout Peng City. His men not only combed the earth but also searched house by house, yet still found no trace of Prince Chu, not even a single clue.

Sometimes, the Governor suspected Prince Chu might never have come to Peng City at all, as it was impossible not to find a single clue otherwise.

"Do you think Prince Chu didn’t come to Peng City?" Prince Wei, seeing the Governor’s expression, easily read his thoughts.

The Governor dared not respond.

Seeing the Governor’s silence, Prince Wei asked in a deep voice, "Is that so?"

The Governor shook violently and then stammered, "Yes..."

"Yes?"

Prince Wei’s tone sounded extremely dangerous. The Governor quickly defended himself, "Your Highness, I am not speaking carelessly. I... have been persistently searching for Prince Chu these past days, thoroughly searching every corner of Peng City several times, but no trace of Prince Chu was found..." He truly was not trying to shirk responsibility; he had genuinely sent people to search diligently for Prince Chu’s whereabouts.

"Your Highness, if Prince Chu were indeed in Peng City, it would be impossible not to find any traces at all. I..." The Governor’s face was full of tears as his voice choked, unable to continue.

"You are incompetent!" Prince Wei threw the teacup in his hand at the Governor’s head, which the Governor did not dare to avoid. With a crash, the teacup struck the Governor’s forehead hard, immediately causing blood to gush.

"The Crown Prince informed me that several days ago, Prince Chu had already infiltrated Peng City with his people." Prince Wei stood up and walked over to the Governor, then fiercely kicked him.

With a loud bang, the Governor’s stout body fell to the ground. He quickly scrambled up, obediently kneeling on the ground, disregarding the blood on his face, as he kowtowed fiercely while begging for forgiveness.

"Forgive me, Your Highness! Forgive me, Your Highness! Forgive me, Your Highness..."

Prince Wei raised his foot and stepped on the Governor’s back. Although Prince Wei was slender, he was quite strong. This step pinned the Governor to the floor, leaving him powerless to resist.

"Do you know what consequences will arise if Prince Chu investigates the truth behind the stolen copper?"

The Governor of Peng City showed a pained expression. He wanted to say something, but the pain rendered him speechless.

"Prince Chu has already been in Peng City for several days. Do you know what he has investigated, where he has looked, yet you’re completely unaware..."

The Governor desperately pleaded, "Your Highness... spare me..."

"Spare you? Even if I spare you, do you think the Crown Prince will?" Prince Wei angrily kicked the Governor in the stomach, making the Governor cry out in pain.

"If Prince Chu discovers anything, even ten heads wouldn’t be enough for you to lose." Prince Wei sat back in his chair.

The Governor scrambled and crawled to kneel before him, trembling.

"Save me, Your Highness..."

"You want me to save you?" Prince Wei smirked coldly, "How can I save you?"

"Your Highness, I am willing to do anything, just show me a way to survive." The Governor crawled to Prince Wei’s feet, clutching his legs and pleading pitiably.

Prince Wei did not kick the Governor away but looked down at him amusingly.

"Although I am the Crown Prince’s younger brother, if this matter is screwed up, I, too, will pay the price. I would like you to give me a way to survive, so I can report back to the Crown Prince."

"Your Highness, you must have a way... I am really willing to do anything, just as long as you ask..."

Guarding the door of the study, Yu Hai heard the pitiful pleas of the Governor and was inwardly gloating.

After some time, calm returned to the study, and then Prince Wei emerged, followed by the humble Governor.

As they exited the study, Prince Wei turned to the Governor, seriously instructing, "I will give you two days; otherwise, even Daluo Immortal won’t be able to save you."

The Governor nodded and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will get it done."

Prince Wei nodded, said nothing more, and left with Yu Hai.

After Prince Wei left, the Governor staggered a bit. If not for the guard’s timely support, he might have already fallen.

Prince Wei did not stay at the Governor’s residence but rather in a guesthouse in Peng City operated by Southern Wei people.

"Your Highness, I have already found out Prince Chu’s whereabouts. He has led his people to Mount Wuhua," Yu Hai respectfully reported to Prince Wei, "Your Highness, if Prince Chu has reached Mount Wuhua, he will quickly find out where the stolen copper is."

Prince Wei listened without surprise.

"If he couldn’t, I would have overestimated him."

Yu Hai asked, "Your Highness, should we stop Prince Chu? After all, some of the stolen copper is in our hands."

Prince Wei replied, "No need, let Prince Chu investigate. No matter what he discovers, we will not interfere."

"But, Your Highness, if the stolen copper’s weight doesn’t match, won’t we be exposed?" The Crown Prince’s people did not take all of the stolen copper; some were quietly moved elsewhere. "Prince Chu will surely suspect you."

"He has no evidence to prove it was I who took it." Prince Wei was not worried about this matter, "If the weight of the stolen copper doesn’t match, Father will only suspect that the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen did something. He won’t suspect anyone else, and Fourth Brother won’t report it was my doing."

"Your Highness, Prince Chu is your enemy. How could he not report to the Emperor?"

"He has no evidence and doesn’t dare speak lightly. Even if he claims it was my doing, Father would think it was the Crown Prince directing me." On the surface, Prince Wei had always been the Crown Prince’s ally, supporting him in all matters. Only Prince Chu knew otherwise. "Also, he won’t act against me now, just as I won’t act against him." Until the last moment, neither Prince Wei nor Prince Chu would act against the other.

Hearing this, Yu Hai felt at ease.

"Your Highness, speaking of which, Prince Chu is indeed capable. Until now, the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen still believe he is in Peng City, unaware that he left long ago."

Prince Wei chuckled, "The Crown Prince’s wits... what can he actually do? As for Duke Zhen, he is far away in the capital and can do nothing."

"Your Highness, Prince Chu has truly fooled the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen round and round," Yu Hai’s tone was full of schadenfreude.

"Everyone has underestimated Fourth Brother."

"Your Highness, by not stopping Prince Chu’s investigation of the stolen copper, I fear Duke Zhen won’t let you off. With his methods, he might even set you up as a scapegoat."

"I expected as much, and so I must orchestrate a performance." Prince Wei had long understood that the true purpose of sending him to Peng City was to prevent Prince Chu’s investigation on behalf of the Crown Prince and Duke Zhen. "Get ready; we’ll depart for Jinling later."

"Return to Jinling now?" Yu Hai was astounded. "Are we just going to leave Peng City matters alone?"

"The matters in Peng City will be handled by Governor Yan."

Yu Hai’s expression turned peculiar, "Your Highness, Governor Yan is just a blockhead; can he manage it properly?"

"If he wants to live, he must do as I say, or he faces a dead end."

"Your Highness, what have you asked Governor Yan to do?"

"You’ll find out in due course," Prince Wei stated without elaborating further, "now prepare to return to Jinling." He was somewhat worried about his tenth brother; going back to Jinling quickly was prudent.

"Yes, Your Highness." Yu Hai immediately went to make arrangements for the return to Jinling.

Two hours later, Prince Wei quietly set off from Peng City back to Jinling.