Chapter 794: What's Different

Arriving at the East Palace, the Prince Consort was inside discussing matters with ministers. Zuan, meanwhile, was outside chatting idly with Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun.

"Hey, why do you two look so worried?" Zuan asked, noticing their low spirits.

Pu Duandiao cautiously glanced around. Seeing no one was paying attention, he lowered his voice and said, "Not long ago, the Prince Consort informed us that we'll be accompanying the Crown Prince during his big assessment. While it's our duty as East Palace guards to assist him, it's just that..." He trailed off.

Jiao Sigun, standing nearby, scoffed, "Don't be so dramatic. We're not outsiders; no need for polite talk. The main point is, everyone knows this assessment won't be easy. Prince Qi's faction will definitely seize this opportunity. While we might not face certain death, it's definitely going to be very dangerous. We're worried we might not make it back alive."

Zuan patted their shoulders. "It's natural to have such worries when you both have families; don't blame yourselves. By the way, has the format for the Crown Prince's assessment been finalized?"

Speaking of which, the Emperor had asked him to come up with ideas before, but Zuan hadn't paid him any mind recently. Ever since that night in Kunning Palace, he no longer felt the same trepidation towards the Emperor.

Furthermore, the Emperor hadn't pressed him recently, seemingly having forgotten about it, and Zuan was perfectly happy to play dumb.

"It has been decided," they replied, shaking their heads. "But we don't know the exact format."

Just then, the ministers who had been inside deliberating started to emerge. A eunuch came to summon Zuan. Zuan patted their shoulders. "Don't worry, I'll look out for you when the time comes."

Watching him leave, Pu Duandiao gave his companion a strange look and nudged him with his shoulder. "Where does Brother Zuan get such confidence?"

Jiao Sigun added, "Exactly. While his cultivation isn't bad, Prince Qi will surely send all his top experts, and who knows how many of them have higher cultivation than him."

"Forget it, let's not dampen his confidence."

"Yeah, I agree."

Zuan had now arrived at the study. The Crown Prince's study didn't actually have the Crown Prince in it; the plump prince was outside playing games with eunuchs. However, the beautiful Prince Consort was present in the study.

"It's been a few days, Prince Consort, and you've grown even more beautiful," Zuan said with a smile.

Bi Linglong's face flushed slightly. "Sir Zuan, you're always so casual with your words. If others heard you, it would surely lead to more gossip."

Zuan looked indifferent. "We are honorable and upright; why should we fear what others say?"

"'Honorable and upright'?" Bi Linglong couldn't help but recall the scene of them embracing, unclothed. She secretly scoffed to herself, "This man really has the nerve to say that."

"I hear the Crown Prince's major assessment has been confirmed?" Zuan asked.

Bi Linglong nodded. "Yes. In three days, the National Royal Academy will open its back mountain secret realm. The Crown Prince will enter to slay the Quantian Azure Moon Serpent-Dragon to prove his ability."

"A Quantian Azure Moon Serpent-Dragon?" Zuan was taken aback. That name alone sounded ominous.

"It's a seventh-rank ferocious beast," Bi Linglong said with a worried expression. "It's significantly weaker than a true dragon but much stronger than ordinary ferocious beasts."

Zuan looked utterly bewildered. "Isn't that just sending him to his death?"

He had been to secret realms a few times, and almost every time he'd narrowly escaped death. Of course, his experiences involved 'unknowable places,' unlike the common secret realms in this world. But even common secret realms held considerable dangers.

As for the Crown Prince, to put it nicely, he was naive; to put it bluntly, he was an imbecile who couldn't take care of himself. If he entered a secret realm, he'd likely never come out, even if he did nothing, let alone having to kill a seventh-rank ferocious beast.

Although seventh-rank wasn't the highest, could the Crown Prince really handle it? He'd be more like a snack for the beast.

Bi Linglong explained, "This was initially suggested by Prince Qi's ministers. Naturally, we refused. Someone argued that the Crown Prince, as a future ruler, isn't a general meant for charging into battle. His ability to lead subordinates is more important than fighting alone. So, we proposed forming a team for the Crown Prince to lead in completing the task."

"That was clever of you," Zuan chuckled. "But Prince Qi's side wouldn't agree to that, would they? Otherwise, you could just send top experts to protect him throughout, and the Crown Prince would easily complete the task."

Bi Linglong nodded. "Exactly, that's what they said, claiming it would defeat the purpose of testing the Crown Prince's ability. So, after a lot of debate, a compromise was reached. Prince Qi's side agreed to let the Crown Prince bring others in, but their cultivation levels must be below seventh-rank, and they cannot be strictly trained Embroidered Uniform Guards or military personnel who understand coordinated formations."

Zuan nodded to himself. "That seems reasonable enough."

It's important to remember that the cultivation ranks of ferocious beasts and humans are not equivalent; a seventh-rank ferocious beast is far more powerful than a seventh-rank human.

While the Crown Prince's side couldn't bring anyone above seventh-rank in cultivation, they had the advantage of numbers. They would surely select people with specialized skills. In this way, hunting the Quantian Azure Moon Serpent-Dragon, though dangerous, would be within a controllable range.

No wonder the Crown Prince's faction agreed to this.

"But would Prince Qi be so kind?" Zuan couldn't help but wonder. This assessment was crucial; if the Crown Prince successfully passed it, Prince Qi's faction would have no grounds to question his abilities in the future.

From every perspective, Prince Qi's faction wouldn't easily agree to what appeared to be a relatively fair assessment.

"We also believe they'll definitely tamper with the secret realm, but we can't figure out how," Bi Linglong said, her delicate brows furrowed. "The opening of the secret realm this time is overseen by His Excellency the Chancellor. He will only allow our people in as agreed, and the Emperor is also watching. Prince Qi's people can't even enter. So how will they tamper with it?"

Zuan couldn't help but ask, "Could the Chancellor be secretly colluding with Prince Qi?"

Bi Linglong shook her head. "No, you might not have been in the capital long, so you might not know the Chancellor's transcendent status. He doesn't need to side with anyone; he's on equal footing with both the Emperor and Prince Qi. Why would he take such a huge risk? Besides, the Emperor trusts the Chancellor, and he wouldn't be mistaken."

Even that suspicious old fox trusts the Chancellor, so his neutrality must be beyond doubt, Zuan thought to himself. "But Prince Qi will definitely not stand by idly during this assessment," he said aloud.

"Precisely," Bi Linglong said, looking at Zuan. "That's why I need to bring in as many trustworthy people as possible, and you... are the best choice."

"Me?" Zuan didn't have time to dwell on her trust in him. "But my cultivation is already beyond the seventh-rank. I probably can't enter the secret realm."

Bi Linglong bit her lip. "That is a bit of a problem. But you're only slightly above seventh-rank; it's not by much. I'll think of a way to get you in."

*I'm more than 'a bit' over now,* Zuan thought to himself. *You probably won't be able to squeeze me in.*

Bi Linglong suddenly looked up, her beautiful eyes fixed intensely on him. "Are you willing to help me?"

Zuan smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I'll help you."

Upon receiving his affirmative answer, Bi Linglong beamed, her previous worries and gloom vanishing. The entire room seemed to blossom.

Even Zuan, accustomed to seeing many breathtaking beauties, found himself momentarily captivated.

Noticing his gaze, a hint of blush appeared on the Prince Consort's cheeks, yet she didn't scold him. An ambiguous atmosphere filled the room.

Just then, there was a knock on the door from Rong Mo, a maidservant. "Prince Consort, His Majesty has summoned Sir Zu... Sir Zuan."

Bi Linglong came back to her senses, uncomfortably turning slightly to avoid his gaze. "His Majesty wants to see you. You should go quickly."

"Alright." Zuan stood up, preparing to leave.

"Oh, right," Bi Linglong suddenly asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. "Why does His Majesty summon you so often?"

"Maybe I'm just naturally popular," Zuan chuckled, then disappeared outside the door.

"That man is truly shameless," Rong Mo said, walking over to Bi Linglong with a hint of displeasure.

Bi Linglong didn't reply, instead falling into deep thought. Based on her understanding of the Emperor, there was no reason for him to summon an official of Zuan's rank so frequently.

At this point, Rong Mo continued, "Your Highness, are you really choosing him to accompany you? I could go too, my cultivation isn't inferior to his."

"But you're already seventh-rank, exceeding the limit for entering the secret realm."

"He's also beyond seventh-rank."

"That's different."

"How is it different?"

"For instance... he's a man?"

Meanwhile, Zuan arrived at the Imperial Study. Eunuch Wen gave him a significant look, causing Zuan's heart to tense. It seemed the Emperor was in a bad mood today.

As expected, right after Zuan paid his respects upon entering, the Emperor immediately delivered a stern warning: "The task I assigned you some days ago, have you not completed it?"

"I'm not sure which matter Your Majesty is referring to?" Zuan thought, a cold sneer forming inwardly. He had already seen through the Emperor's psychological ploys. While they might be effective against others in this world, they wouldn't influence someone who had no concept of imperial authority in their mind, especially once that person stepped outside the game itself.

"Of course, it was the matter of you coming up with ideas for the Crown Prince. Now, the Crown Prince's grand assessment has been decided. Do you admit your guilt?" The Emperor stared at him with sharp eyes, an oppressive aura radiating from him, as if he had perceived Zuan's nonchalance.