Chen An felt a bit guilty.
In the past few months, he had almost depleted this treasure land, and now it no longer had the appearance of a treasure land.
That was also the reason why he decided to leave.
Since he had drained this place dry, there was no reason for him to stay here.
Although it was called a treasure land, in reality, the surroundings were just endless mines, with many dark and gloomy areas, devoid of sunlight, and extremely harsh conditions.
Who would willingly come to such a place if it wasn't for cultivation and survival?
Now that this place was ruined, Chen An couldn't possibly stay here to mine, right?
"Well, it's fine."
The guide didn't think much about it and accepted Chen An's decision: "In that case, Lord Chen, you should go back first. If you need anything in the future, you can always come back."
He smiled and remarked, "It's rare to see someone in this place. Lord Chen seems to be quite close to it as well."
"Definitely, definitely."
Chen An could only smile, unsure of what to say.
He couldn't possibly say that he definitely wouldn't come back in the future.
Not only himself, but probably no one else would come to this place either in the future.
You might not have to stay here anymore in the future.
After all, when this place was no longer a treasure land, there would be no need for dedicated guards to protect it.
These people could go elsewhere and didn't have to stay in this barren wilderness, essentially being exiled.
Of course, he only thought this in his mind and couldn't say it out loud.
After exchanging greetings with a few familiar people, Chen An left the place and headed towards Shengjing.
Riding forward, he reached the official road and saw knights galloping around, with messengers rushing urgently from afar.
It seemed like there was some urgent matter that needed to be delivered.
And their direction seemed to be towards Shengjing.
Chen An had already seen many of these messengers along the way.
A different and unusual atmosphere enveloped the surroundings.
Even the courier stations seemed more tense than usual.
Chen An observed all this and then rode forward, determined to head towards Shengjing.
Time passed slowly.
Due to traveling alone, Chen An's speed was much faster than when he arrived. In just a few days, he had returned to Shengjing.
Upon reaching Shengjing, his first task was to return to his residence and prepare to find the Fourth Princess.
Compared to others, the Fourth Princess was definitely among the most well-informed individuals. Asking the Fourth Princess for information about recent events was the best idea.
However, to his surprise, the Fourth Princess was not in her mansion at the moment.
But despite the absence of the princess, the steward Liu Zhong was still there.
From him, Chen An also obtained a lot of information.
"What? The Emperor is critically ill!"
In the courtyard, Chen An was shocked: "The Crown Prince leading the army back to the capital?"
"Yes."
In the mansion of the Fourth Princess, Liu Zhong sighed with a worried expression: "Her Highness has already entered the palace to take care of the Emperor."
"I thought the Emperor was always in good health? How did this suddenly happen..."
Chen An furrowed his brows, feeling perplexed.
The founder of Dahua was known for his martial prowess, and even the subsequent Emperors, despite not having good aptitude, usually had the habit of martial arts practice.
The current Emperor was no exception. Although he hadn't reached the realm of inner qi, with the support of abundant rare treasures, he had cultivated a strong physique. His health should have been robust.
Before Chen An left, it was said that the Emperor was in good health. So how could this happen in just half a year?
"That's right."
Liu Zhong also wore a concerned expression as he spoke, "With the Emperor's illness, Her Highness doesn't know what to do."
With the Emperor critically ill, the people in the Fourth Princess's mansion could clearly sense the changes.
Unlike before, the people in the Fourth Princess's mansion now wore worried expressions, appearing concerned about the Emperor's condition.
Of course, this wasn't out of loyalty to the Emperor but rather due to concerns about their own future.
This was quite understandable.
The reason why the Fourth Princess held her position was solely due to the Emperor's favor.
The people in the Fourth Princess's mansion benefited from her favor and enjoyed privileges from various quarters.
But if the Emperor was no longer there, the Fourth Princess's future would be uncertain.
Without the Emperor's favor, their future would not be as good as before.
And if the situation worsened, it would be even more difficult.
In the past, the Fourth Princess had made enemies with many people.
So it was understandable that the people in the Fourth Princess's mansion were concerned.
Even Liu Zhong, a staunch supporter of the Fourth Princess, felt this way.
Chen An pondered the changes in Shengjing.
With the Emperor critically ill, it indicated that various complications would arise in Shengjing.
It was hard to predict how the situation would unfold next.
After confirming that the Fourth Princess was not in her mansion, Chen An didn't hesitate and went straight to the Third Prince's mansion.
Upon arriving at the Third Prince's mansion, he found out that the Third Prince was also not present at the moment, reportedly out for official business.
Chen An wasn't surprised by this.
Among the princes, the Third Prince was known for his strong work ethic. It wasn't unusual for him to be engrossed in official matters even on regular days.
At this moment, there was no special occasion, so the Third Prince not being in his mansion wasn't surprising.
Chen An wasn't anxious and waited in the Third Prince's mansion.
After a little over an hour, the Third Prince finally returned.
"Chang An!"
Meeting after half a year, Cheng Zheng was visibly excited to see Chen An and immediately grabbed his hand: "When did you come back? Why didn't you inform us beforehand?"
"I just arrived today."
Seeing Cheng Zheng's enthusiasm, Chen An felt a bit helpless but replied, "Your Highness, how is the situation in Shengjing now?"
"It's quite complicated."
Glancing around, the Third Prince suggested, "Let's go inside and talk."
"Sure."
Chen An agreed as they entered the mansion, and Cheng Zheng explained the current situation to him.
Compared to the information Chen An had gathered outside, as a prince, Cheng Zheng was privy to much more information.
Thus, Chen An learned more details.
Roughly in March, the Emperor of Dahua suddenly fell critically ill and went into a coma.
Subsequently, the Crown Prince hastily returned to Shengjing with his army, changing the banners overnight.
Clearly, he had thoughts of returning to the capital to secure his position.
If something happened to the Emperor, the Crown Prince could ascend to the throne promptly.
However, the Second Prince was not one to be underestimated.
While the Crown Prince had a strong reputation and military prowess, the Second Prince had a firm grip on power in Shengjing after years of presence. Supported by figures like the Duke of Chen, his influence was deeply rooted.
During this period, the two princes fought vehemently in Shengjing, setting a tense atmosphere throughout the city.
The courtiers were left with no choice but to align themselves with one of the princes, either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, with very few remaining neutral factions.
Shengjing was now plunged into this intense conflict, leaving people fearful and anxious.
"Chang An, what should we do now?"
The Third Prince seemed uneasy, looking at Chen An with a furrowed brow.
Originally, they had planned to methodically observe and make preparations while the Crown Prince and the Second Prince engaged in their power struggle, silently amassing their strength in the background.
However, with the Emperor's sudden critical illness, the power struggle had escalated into a fiery battle.
The original plan now seemed ill-timed.
"Your Highness, to what extent is the Emperor's condition?"
Chen An asked seriously, emphasizing the importance of the question.
"Well..."
The Third Prince hesitated, seeming unsure how to answer: "The moment the Emperor fell gravely ill, the palace was sealed off, and all information was tightly controlled."
"Even if I wanted to see the Emperor in person, I could only glimpse him from afar, unable to get close."
"Even you, Your Highness, don't know the Emperor's condition?"
Chen An's expression turned grave: "And now, we only have two options."
"What are they?"
The Third Prince hurriedly inquired.
"The first option, if the Emperor is truly on the brink of death, unable to govern, then to achieve our goals, we must battle against the two princes."
Chen An's expression was solemn as he continued, "Your Highness can actively align with either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, lend them a hand, wait for the right moment, and deliver a decisive blow when they least expect it."
This path involved catching them off guard.
In the past, Cheng Zheng had maintained a low profile, and the Crown Prince and the Second Prince didn't pay much attention to him. So if Cheng Zheng actively approached them, they probably wouldn't be wary and would accept him readily.
Cheng Zheng could assist one side to victory, gain their trust during the process, and then unleash all his hidden power at a critical moment to eliminate their competitors.
Cheng Zheng got up and immersed himself in contemplation.
The key to this path was catching them off guard.
There was only one chance.
If the plan failed, there would be no second opportunity.
But if executed well, with the power he held, there was a chance to make a move.
"And the other option?"
Cheng Zheng asked again, seeking Chen An's guidance.
"The other option..."
Chen An took a deep breath, "Then please lead the loyal courtiers who remain faithful to the Emperor, stand by the Emperor's side, and fight against both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince."
"In this way, if the Emperor manages to recover from his illness. . ."
Cheng Zheng suddenly understood.
Despite the current upheaval, it seemed that the future wouldn't necessarily fall into the hands of the Crown Prince or the Second Prince. Rather, the one who held the most power in Shengjing was still the Emperor.
As long as the Emperor could recover, wake up again, all the discordant voices would fade away.
(End of this chapter)
Chen An felt a bit guilty.
In the past few months, he had almost depleted this treasure land, and now it no longer had the appearance of a treasure land.
That was also the reason why he decided to leave.
Since he had drained this place dry, there was no reason for him to stay here.
Although it was called a treasure land, in reality, the surroundings were just endless mines, with many dark and gloomy areas, devoid of sunlight, and extremely harsh conditions.
Who would willingly come to such a place if it wasn't for cultivation and survival?
Now that this place was ruined, Chen An couldn't possibly stay here to mine, right?
"Well, it's fine."
The guide didn't think much about it and accepted Chen An's decision: "In that case, Lord Chen, you should go back first. If you need anything in the future, you can always come back."
He smiled and remarked, "It's rare to see someone in this place. Lord Chen seems to be quite close to it as well."
"Definitely, definitely."
Chen An could only smile, unsure of what to say.
He couldn't possibly say that he definitely wouldn't come back in the future.
Not only himself, but probably no one else would come to this place either in the future.
You might not have to stay here anymore in the future.
After all, when this place was no longer a treasure land, there would be no need for dedicated guards to protect it.
These people could go elsewhere and didn't have to stay in this barren wilderness, essentially being exiled.
Of course, he only thought this in his mind and couldn't say it out loud.
After exchanging greetings with a few familiar people, Chen An left the place and headed towards Shengjing.
Riding forward, he reached the official road and saw knights galloping around, with messengers rushing urgently from afar.
It seemed like there was some urgent matter that needed to be delivered.
And their direction seemed to be towards Shengjing.
Chen An had already seen many of these messengers along the way.
A different and unusual atmosphere enveloped the surroundings.
Even the courier stations seemed more tense than usual.
Chen An observed all this and then rode forward, determined to head towards Shengjing.
Time passed slowly.
Due to traveling alone, Chen An's speed was much faster than when he arrived. In just a few days, he had returned to Shengjing.
Upon reaching Shengjing, his first task was to return to his residence and prepare to find the Fourth Princess.
Compared to others, the Fourth Princess was definitely among the most well-informed individuals. Asking the Fourth Princess for information about recent events was the best idea.
However, to his surprise, the Fourth Princess was not in her mansion at the moment.
But despite the absence of the princess, the steward Liu Zhong was still there.
From him, Chen An also obtained a lot of information.
"What? The Emperor is critically ill!"
In the courtyard, Chen An was shocked: "The Crown Prince leading the army back to the capital?"
"Yes."
In the mansion of the Fourth Princess, Liu Zhong sighed with a worried expression: "Her Highness has already entered the palace to take care of the Emperor."
"I thought the Emperor was always in good health? How did this suddenly happen..."
Chen An furrowed his brows, feeling perplexed.
The founder of Dahua was known for his martial prowess, and even the subsequent Emperors, despite not having good aptitude, usually had the habit of martial arts practice.
The current Emperor was no exception. Although he hadn't reached the realm of inner qi, with the support of abundant rare treasures, he had cultivated a strong physique. His health should have been robust.
Before Chen An left, it was said that the Emperor was in good health. So how could this happen in just half a year?
"That's right."
Liu Zhong also wore a concerned expression as he spoke, "With the Emperor's illness, Her Highness doesn't know what to do."
With the Emperor critically ill, the people in the Fourth Princess's mansion could clearly sense the changes.
Unlike before, the people in the Fourth Princess's mansion now wore worried expressions, appearing concerned about the Emperor's condition.
Of course, this wasn't out of loyalty to the Emperor but rather due to concerns about their own future.
This was quite understandable.
The reason why the Fourth Princess held her position was solely due to the Emperor's favor.
The people in the Fourth Princess's mansion benefited from her favor and enjoyed privileges from various quarters.
But if the Emperor was no longer there, the Fourth Princess's future would be uncertain.
Without the Emperor's favor, their future would not be as good as before.
And if the situation worsened, it would be even more difficult.
In the past, the Fourth Princess had made enemies with many people.
So it was understandable that the people in the Fourth Princess's mansion were concerned.
Even Liu Zhong, a staunch supporter of the Fourth Princess, felt this way.
Chen An pondered the changes in Shengjing.
With the Emperor critically ill, it indicated that various complications would arise in Shengjing.
It was hard to predict how the situation would unfold next.
After confirming that the Fourth Princess was not in her mansion, Chen An didn't hesitate and went straight to the Third Prince's mansion.
Upon arriving at the Third Prince's mansion, he found out that the Third Prince was also not present at the moment, reportedly out for official business.
Chen An wasn't surprised by this.
Among the princes, the Third Prince was known for his strong work ethic. It wasn't unusual for him to be engrossed in official matters even on regular days.
At this moment, there was no special occasion, so the Third Prince not being in his mansion wasn't surprising.
Chen An wasn't anxious and waited in the Third Prince's mansion.
After a little over an hour, the Third Prince finally returned.
"Chang An!"
Meeting after half a year, Cheng Zheng was visibly excited to see Chen An and immediately grabbed his hand: "When did you come back? Why didn't you inform us beforehand?"
"I just arrived today."
Seeing Cheng Zheng's enthusiasm, Chen An felt a bit helpless but replied, "Your Highness, how is the situation in Shengjing now?"
"It's quite complicated."
Glancing around, the Third Prince suggested, "Let's go inside and talk."
"Sure."
Chen An agreed as they entered the mansion, and Cheng Zheng explained the current situation to him.
Compared to the information Chen An had gathered outside, as a prince, Cheng Zheng was privy to much more information.
Thus, Chen An learned more details.
Roughly in March, the Emperor of Dahua suddenly fell critically ill and went into a coma.
Subsequently, the Crown Prince hastily returned to Shengjing with his army, changing the banners overnight.
Clearly, he had thoughts of returning to the capital to secure his position.
If something happened to the Emperor, the Crown Prince could ascend to the throne promptly.
However, the Second Prince was not one to be underestimated.
While the Crown Prince had a strong reputation and military prowess, the Second Prince had a firm grip on power in Shengjing after years of presence. Supported by figures like the Duke of Chen, his influence was deeply rooted.
During this period, the two princes fought vehemently in Shengjing, setting a tense atmosphere throughout the city.
The courtiers were left with no choice but to align themselves with one of the princes, either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, with very few remaining neutral factions.
Shengjing was now plunged into this intense conflict, leaving people fearful and anxious.
"Chang An, what should we do now?"
The Third Prince seemed uneasy, looking at Chen An with a furrowed brow.
Originally, they had planned to methodically observe and make preparations while the Crown Prince and the Second Prince engaged in their power struggle, silently amassing their strength in the background.
However, with the Emperor's sudden critical illness, the power struggle had escalated into a fiery battle.
The original plan now seemed ill-timed.
"Your Highness, to what extent is the Emperor's condition?"
Chen An asked seriously, emphasizing the importance of the question.
"Well..."
The Third Prince hesitated, seeming unsure how to answer: "The moment the Emperor fell gravely ill, the palace was sealed off, and all information was tightly controlled."
"Even if I wanted to see the Emperor in person, I could only glimpse him from afar, unable to get close."
"Even you, Your Highness, don't know the Emperor's condition?"
Chen An's expression turned grave: "And now, we only have two options."
"What are they?"
The Third Prince hurriedly inquired.
"The first option, if the Emperor is truly on the brink of death, unable to govern, then to achieve our goals, we must battle against the two princes."
Chen An's expression was solemn as he continued, "Your Highness can actively align with either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, lend them a hand, wait for the right moment, and deliver a decisive blow when they least expect it."
This path involved catching them off guard.
In the past, Cheng Zheng had maintained a low profile, and the Crown Prince and the Second Prince didn't pay much attention to him. So if Cheng Zheng actively approached them, they probably wouldn't be wary and would accept him readily.
Cheng Zheng could assist one side to victory, gain their trust during the process, and then unleash all his hidden power at a critical moment to eliminate their competitors.
Cheng Zheng got up and immersed himself in contemplation.
The key to this path was catching them off guard.
There was only one chance.
If the plan failed, there would be no second opportunity.
But if executed well, with the power he held, there was a chance to make a move.
"And the other option?"
Cheng Zheng asked again, seeking Chen An's guidance.
"The other option..."
Chen An took a deep breath, "Then please lead the loyal courtiers who remain faithful to the Emperor, stand by the Emperor's side, and fight against both the Crown Prince and the Second Prince."
"In this way, if the Emperor manages to recover from his illness. . ."
Cheng Zheng suddenly understood.
Despite the current upheaval, it seemed that the future wouldn't necessarily fall into the hands of the Crown Prince or the Second Prince. Rather, the one who held the most power in Shengjing was still the Emperor.
As long as the Emperor could recover, wake up again, all the discordant voices would fade away.
(End of this chapter)
