Chapter 311: Chapter 311. The Internal Conflict of the Royal Family
"Of course not, Your Highness," Amon answered.
"Hm... Like usual, I can’t read you," Huang San said. "I hope you are telling the truth. Since I have protected you, I will be in trouble if they produce direct evidence later."
"I didn’t expect you to be one of this kingdom’s princes," Amon remarked. "But that explains a lot about how you have such influence at such a young age."
"Please address His Highness with his honorary title!" Xa Jien rebuked Amon.
Huang San waved him off. "I prefer he kept addressing
as normal. I prefer my identity to remain hidden from other students. Otherwise, I won’t be able to move freely."
"Please excuse . I need to go back to prepare a report to the principal regarding this incident," Lao Zen said.
"I will reactivate this house’s enchantnt on my way out," Yong Baili said. He followed Lao Zen out.
After they left, Amon asked Huang San, "Do you think Pu Zhang will cause trouble? You ntioned he serves your fourth brother. He is the crown prince, right?"
"I’m surprised you know the hierarchy of the royal family," Huang San praised.
"I think it is necessary to understand the political power of the country I live in," Amon said. "That said, there is only a little information I can find in general."
Huang San nodded. "My father does like to keep the information about our family secret. He said this makes it harder for our enemies to target us. My fourth brother is indeed the crown prince. That’s because my first and third brothers have passed away. My father’s second child is a daughter, so the line of succession falls to my fourth brother."
"Considering your action, I take it you won’t just lie down and let this succession play out on its own?" Amon asked. "I guess there is a hidden struggle for the throne of this kingdom?"
Huang San chuckled. "I did say I was looking for allies, didn’t I?"
His face turned serious after that. "You are right. My father is nearing his lifespan. If he doesn’t achieve any breakthrough in his cultivation, he won’t live for long. Due to this, a clear competition has surfaced in a bid for his throne."
"Your Highness, are you sure you want to tell him this?" Xa Jien asked.
"I have decided for him to be my ally. If I can’t trust my allies, I won’t have enough power to face my brothers and sister."
"Sister? I thought your father’s daughter doesn’t have a claim on the succession?" Amon asked.
"Traditionally, it is so, but my second sister doesn’t fall into a traditional princess. She works hard to gather influence. Currently, the biggest contender to the throne can be divided into three parties. The most favorable is the party led by the fourth son, the crown prince. He has support from half of the military faction, especially from the old generals.
"The second contender is the second daughter. She claid my fourth brother’s status as the crown prince was illicit. She claid the fourth prince was the most likely to be the mastermind behind the first and third princes’ demise. Of course, the fourth prince denied it. Their conflict was so fierce that it was almost impossible to keep hidden. My father ended up banning them from getting near each other. He placed them in opposite sections of the royal palace. She is supported by most of the ministers, but so, like Pu Zhang, endorse the crown prince.
"The third candidate to most likely have claim over the throne is the eighth prince. Compared to the others, he is the most militaristic. He rarely spends his ti in the royal court. Most of his ti is spent on war campaigns, either against the rebels or the barbarians from the North. He is always on the front line. Because of this, he is very popular among the younger military officers. He has the other half of the military support."
"So, you are not even considered a worthy contender to the three of them," Amon remarked.
Xa Jien was visibly vexed by the remark, while Huang San simply laughed at it.
"That is true. Most of the other princes and princesses resigned to giving their support to either of those three. They know they don’t have the power or influence to challenge the three. Their best bet is to express support and hope to gain benefit when their supported candidates ascend to the throne."
"But not you," Amon said.
Huang San smiled. "To be honest, I do not do this out of ambition. I do not resign my life to fate because I have seen the outco of one following that path."
Huang San’s face displayed great sadness when he ntioned that, but that expression was gone as soon as it appeared. He smiled at Amon and said, "That’s why I ca here and started building my power."
Pu Zhang ntioned about this city being given autonomy. Huang San was also awfully invested in the stability of this city. Amon could now understand why. Huang San was not only studying to advance his cultivation in the Royal Academy but was also building his force using this city as his base.
"Hm... In that case, this ans I am betting my future on an underdog," Amon remarked.
"If you feel that way, just leave!" Xa Jien scolded. "See how you fare without His Highness’ protection."
"Xa Jien, no need to get so worked up. You are unlike your usual self," Huang San said. "Lin Mo didn’t an his words as an insult."
"Heh," Amon grinned. "That’s right. Betting on an underdog has its benefits. If I win, I win big. Being an underdog ans you are in dire need of allies. As one who is willing to be your ally, I can request more demands. When you ascend, I will be bestowed more rewards since I support you from when you are still overlooked."
"As long as your demands are not too overboard, I don’t mind. An underdog has its limits, after all," Huang San said. "Plus, you must be exceptional to support an underdog. Otherwise, we will both be swept by our opponents, who are much more powerful than us. If you have such competence, naturally, you deserve all the rewards once we achieve our goals."
"Don’t worry. I told you before that I can help you climb to higher status in the kingdom. Even if that status ans the pinnacle, I won’t change my statent. With my assistance, the throne is as good as yours."
"Hmph! Boastful words," Xa Jien ridiculed.
"I can differentiate between people who boast and people who are truly confident of their words," Huang San said. "He is the latter. Of course, I can only hope you are not confident because you are delusional."
"Don’t worry. I know what I am doing. Now that I know your identity and goal, it is easier for
to plan my support," Amon said. "By the way, thank you for driving that senior minister and Yan Clan away. I will find a way to repay you."
"Since you are my ally, it is only natural I protect you. Repay
by fulfilling what you claid you could do. Help
sit on the throne of this kingdom!"
"Very well. You can rest assured that will be one of my goals from now on," Amon replied.
*
Outside, Yan Wang and the others left the Royal Academy’s ground.
"Father! We can’t just let Lin Mo off like this!" Yan Dose couldn’t keep quiet any longer. "He murdered Yan Ning and Uncle Yan Fan. We must avenge them!"
"Do you have proof of those claims?" Pu Zhang asked.
"I... I don’t...," Yan Dose said weakly.
"Then stop demanding things," Pu Zhang admonished.
"Still, Yan Dose is right," Wei Linkun said. "We can’t just let this go. Yan Fan is one of my closest friends. I won’t be satisfied if knowing the person responsible for his disappearance is at large. I know Lin Mo is that person! I must avenge him sohow. Now that I know he is the most likely suspect who uses black blood poison, I can safely say he was the one responsible for murdering my clan mber. I will stalk him and ambush him when an opportunity arises. Blood for blood!"
"That’s easier said than done," Yan Wang said. "Do you think my clan and the Highwayn hadn’t tried that before? He is almost impossible to stalk."
Wei Linkun lowered his head. He knew that as well. He and Yan Fan had tried doing that in the past with little success. Now, after they had revealed their enmity, Amon would surely be more careful than before.
"Fuck!" Yan Dose cursed. "If we can’t get him. Let’s waste his friends. Those demon Gang people and his Vicious Faction. Let’s kill them all!"
"Are you implying you want to ignore the law and perform indiscriminate killing in front of a kingdom official," Pu Zhang asked. These words shut Yan Dose up and caused his face to turn pale.
"I... I don’t dare...!" Yan Dose stamred.
"I suggest you don’t do that. This city is the thirteenth prince’s turf. You will just get your clan into trouble by pulling a stunt like that. However, your suggestion is not bad," Pu Zhang said. A sinister expression was seen on his face. "That boy has angered
as well. How dare he humiliate . I will make him pay. Yes, I will make him suffer the loss of his loved ones."
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