Chapter 831: Being Discovered

The Crown Prince’s eyes flashed with a hint of mockery. “It’s too late to realize it now.”

Upon hearing his admission, not only Lu Xiao but also Zu An, who was hidden in the shadows, was utterly stunned.

Although he had harbored similar suspicions, he still found it hard to believe the truth when it was revealed.

In fact, he had felt something was odd before and after entering the secret realm. The emperor had assigned him to protect the Crown Prince in secret. Setting aside whether he could handle the people from Prince Qi’s mansion, even if he could, did the emperor trust him that much?

Later, inside the secret realm, witnessing Prince Qi’s various elaborate and cunning schemes, he simultaneously admired Prince Qi and disdained the emperor for being completely oblivious. He thought it was no wonder the emperor hadn’t dealt with Prince Qi for so many years, realizing now how much their planning abilities differed.

It turned out he was the clown all along!

But how could the Crown Prince be the emperor? Zu An simply couldn't connect the image of the foolish, chubby man with the formidable and majestic Crown Prince.

At this moment, Lu Xiao harbored the same doubt. He cried out, “Impossible, impossible, how could you be the emperor?”

The Crown Prince looked at him indifferently, with no intention of explaining.

Lu Xiao suddenly had an epiphany. “I understand now! You used the soul possession method! Back then, you asked Mi Lianying to find a method for immortality for you. He failed several times before bringing back a soul possession technique as a last resort, for which you severely punished him. Now that I think about it, you secretly practiced that soul possession method!”

“Soul possession?” Zu An’s heart skipped a beat. He was all too familiar with this; Old Man Mi had also intended to possess his body. Listening to Lu Xiao, it seemed Old Man Mi knew this technique because he had searched for it on behalf of the emperor.

Lu Xiao’s voice continued, “The Crown Prince wasn’t initially a fool. He became suddenly dull after a serious illness in his childhood. Everyone in the capital believed Prince Qi was behind it, a mystery that even Prince Qi couldn't solve. We all knew it wasn't Prince Qi’s doing. Now, it seems you must have used the soul possession method on the Crown Prince back then, damaging his soul and causing him to become more foolish than ordinary people.”

A hint of approval appeared in the Crown Prince’s eyes. “You are very clever. No wonder you became the top retainer under Zhao Jing. It’s a pity you didn't know when to adapt and chose the wrong allegiance.”

Lu Xiao let out a bitter laugh. “To receive a word of praise from His Majesty, this Lu’s life has not been lived in vain. However, there’s one thing I don’t understand: Since you performed soul possession, how can both His Majesty and the Crown Prince exist simultaneously?”

Being subtly flattered, the Crown Prince’s expression softened slightly, evidently feeling quite relaxed. “I can answer your question, but first, you must answer a few questions I have about Prince Qi.”

Lu Xiao showed hesitation, but still nodded. “Please speak, Your Majesty.”

After realizing that the Crown Prince was the emperor, he understood that Prince Qi was doomed. Whether he spoke or not, the outcome wouldn’t change, so he might as well die knowing the truth.

“Was the Libationer involved in this secret realm affair?” The Crown Prince’s gaze was incredibly sharp. He had originally trusted the Libationer, but with Prince Qi bringing so many people in this time, the Imperial Academy could not possibly be uninvolved.

Lu Xiao shook his head. “If Lord Libationer were willing to join forces with Prince Qi, why would Prince Qi need to resort to such elaborate schemes?”

“Three years ago, when the academy’s secret realm opened, the person responsible for the entrance was Master Yin Shi, the Eleventh Master.”

Although he didn't elaborate, it was enough.

“Yin Shi!” Silence filled the Crown Prince’s eyes; he had clearly already condemned the person to death in his mind.

Zu An secretly breathed a sigh of relief. When he first heard that the academy was involved, he was very worried. Teachers like Jiang Luofu and Qi Yaoguang were from the back mountain, and the Jiang family leaned towards Prince Qi’s faction. He was truly concerned that Jiang Luofu might have orchestrated it, in which case he wouldn’t know how to save him.

Even if it wasn't Jiang Luofu, but people like Wang Weiyang or Hei Baizi, he would have been in a difficult position. These people had been good to him. Fortunately, it was that contrarian Yin Shi.

Zu An knew that such a thought was somewhat unkind, but in this situation, it was a matter of sacrificing others for one’s own survival.

“Aside from sending you in, does Zhao Jing have any other contingencies for this operation?” the Crown Prince continued to ask.

Lu Xiao shook his head. “None. Originally, with our strength, eliminating the Crown Prince’s group would have been effortless. In fact, at first, we even grumbled among ourselves, wondering why the Prince was making such a big fuss when any one retainer could have completed the task. It was only after encountering Zu An that we truly admired Prince Qi’s foresight. However, despite all his meticulous planning, he never anticipated that he would ultimately fall into His Majesty’s trap.”

Zu An’s face turned ashen. The emperor had been in the group all along, yet he had stood by and watched as people from various noble families sacrificed themselves to protect him, never once intervening.

Although the other party didn't explicitly state it, he understood the emperor’s calculations: first, the matter of possessing the Crown Prince absolutely could not be revealed; second, Prince Qi had enjoyed a reputation as a virtuous prince for years, admired by both court and commoners. If the emperor wanted to act against him, he needed an undeniable accusation. Clearly, massacring the children of noble families and openly plotting to murder the Crown Prince and Crown Princess—once these incidents were revealed, Prince Qi’s reputation as a virtuous prince, cultivated over so many years, would be utterly destroyed, and no one would come to his aid.

Indeed, 'one general’s success is built upon ten thousand bones.'

What a bitter irony it was that those young masters, who had fought to take down enemies with them even in their dying moments, could never have foreseen that the very person they desperately protected wished for them to die as miserably as possible.

The Crown Prince asked Lu Xiao a few more questions, which Lu Xiao answered one by one, then timidly asked, “Your Majesty, I have told you everything I know. Could you now resolve my doubts?”

Seeing his hopeful yet fearful eyes, the Crown Prince sneered, “You needn't worry. Would I ever go back on my word?”

Hearing his words, Zu An secretly sneered, “Heh, this treacherous old fox has no doubt deceived and betrayed countless people, and now he wants to appear virtuous after all his misdeeds.”

At this point, the Crown Prince slowly began, “Years ago, I ordered Mi Lianying to lead a search for a method of immortality. He spent decades scouring the land and eventually found a soul possession technique. Initially, I dismissed it. However, as Mi Lianying consistently failed to find the elixir of immortality and I felt the onset of the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, I had no choice but to begin studying that soul possession method.”

“Soul possession goes against the natural order, and its success rate is very low. There are only two ways to improve it: one is to practice the same cultivation method, and the other is through direct blood relatives. Thus, Ruizhi was the primary target,” the Crown Prince said, a look of recollection on his face. “However, Zhao Jing was constantly lurking nearby, and I had to suppress him at all times, making it inconvenient to perform the possession too early. Yet, I also dared not wait until my final days, as failure then would mean eternal damnation. Later, I conceived a perfect plan: to first separate a wisp of my soul and inject it into Ruizhi’s body.”

“Humans possess three spiritual souls and seven corporeal souls. The seven corporeal souls represent joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hate, and desire, while the three spiritual souls are the Celestial Soul, Earth Soul, and Life Soul.”

“The experiment was a complete success. A wisp of my divided soul successfully entered Ruizhi’s body, replacing his own Life Soul. However, I couldn't control his body at all times; normally, it lay dormant. Since the Life Soul governs thought and wisdom, with his own Life Soul damaged, he appeared somewhat dull in his daily demeanor.”

“I guessed that Zhao Jing would certainly have a scheme for this secret realm examination, but I wasn't sure what his exact plan was. Therefore, I bestowed upon Linglong a wisp of energy to use for self-preservation in times of crisis. Once she used it, this wisp of my divided soul would awaken smoothly. That way, no matter what Zhao Jing’s plan was, I could still assert control over the entire situation.”

Zu An listened, utterly dumbfounded. Indeed, what a treacherous old fox! What he bestowed upon Bi Linglong wasn't a life-saving measure at all; it was entirely a “WAKE-UP CALL” to awaken him. Bi Linglong had been kept in the dark from beginning to end.

Lu Xiao also sighed deeply. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for clearing my doubts.”

The Crown Prince stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a satisfied smile on his face. “You needn't thank me. The main reason is that my proud schemes of many years could never be shared with anyone, which truly felt like wearing fine clothes in the dark of night. Today, I finally have an audience, and my thoughts have found release.”

Lu Xiao’s expression changed. He knew he was doomed after that statement. Just as he was about to speak, perhaps to try to switch allegiances, the other party raised a hand and pointed. A blood-red hole instantly appeared between his eyebrows, and his life force was extinguished in a flash.

After dealing with Lu Xiao, the Crown Prince walked over to Piao Duandiao and Jiao Sigun. “Hm, they’re still alive.”

After speaking, he raised his hand, clearly intending to silence them.

Seeing this, Zu An’s heart involuntarily leaped. Just then, the Crown Prince suddenly turned his head, staring in his direction. “Who’s there?”