Nowadays, there was a rumor circulating in the streets about the current Great Liang Emperor. It was said that when the current emperor was still a prince, the late Nation Teacher, who had since passed away, met the Great Liang Emperor for the first time. The Nation Teacher boldly claimed that he wanted to give a white hat to the then-prince, who was now the Great Liang Emperor.
At that time, the young prince who would become the Great Liang Emperor, was frightened badly by this statement.
However, subsequent events proved that the Nation Teacher was not speaking empty words. During the Great Liang Emperor's uprising, the Nation Teacher played a crucial role. It could be said that without the Nation Teacher, the Great Liang Emperor would not have won the war at all.
Song Yingxu was naturally not an esteemed monk from the Deercry Monastery, nor did he study at the academy. In his earlier years, he gained favor from the late Crown Prince, allowing him to enter the Crown Prince's Manor as a subordinate official. This was an old practice in the Great Liang Dynasty – the crown prince had the privilege of recruiting subordinates to lay the foundation for his future reign. Song Yingxu was one of them. It was expected that once the late Crown Prince ascended, Song Yingxu would have a promising future in the Great Liang Dynasty. However, no one anticipated that the late Crown Prince failed to outlive Emperor Lingzong, passing away ahead of Emperor Lingzong. Fortunately, this group of Crown Prince's Manor subordinates was not forgotten and eventually succeeded in official positions.
Back then, Song Yingxu was not particularly outstanding among the subordinates of the Crown Prince's Manor. He had some talent in cultivation, but his aspirations did not lie in that direction. In comparison, he was nowhere near the level of the Nation Teacher of the Great Liang Dynasty.
If today's matter was accomplished, it would undoubtedly become a topic of discussion in the future.
However, before achieving this matter, Chen Chao's primary concern was whether he would live to see that day.
"I haven't lost anything, so naturally, there's nothing to reclaim."
Chen Chao looked at Song Yingxu, his attitude very resolute. In fact, back in the imperial city, after meeting with the Great Liang Emperor, he had said something similar. The world of Great Liang was never his, and he never had the intention of claiming the world.
Song Yingxu furrowed his brows and said, "Your Highness is the heir of the late Crown Prince, the brother of the deceased Emperor. Why would the world of Great Liang not belong to Your Highness?"
Chen Chao did not want to say more. He simply shook his head. While it was true he was the heir of the late Crown Prince, he was born out of wedlock. Even though he was the brother of the deposed emperor, there was no precedent for passing the throne to the younger brother, especially when the deposed emperor had his own heirs.
Although in the end, all of it dissipated between heaven and earth along with that great fire.
"In the bloodline of the Crown Prince, perhaps only Your Highness remains. Your Highness should take up the responsibility to reclaim what was lost. Only this way, can you console the spirits of the late Crown Prince and Emperor Lingzong."
Song Yingxu said, looking at the wine bowl in front of him and then at Chen Chao.
Chen Chao looked at the wine bowl in front of him, but he only saw his reflection in the wine bowl.
He was of imperial bloodline, this could not be changed no matter what.
But being of imperial bloodline might not necessarily be a good thing for Chen Chao himself.
The current Great Liang Emperor might refrain from taking action against Chen Chao due to the late Empress' thoughts, but he was older than Chen Chao, and there might come a time when he would leave this world. If, on the day of his departure, Chen Chao had not entered the Nepenthe Realm and become an indispensable figure in the Great Liang Dynasty, after the new emperor ascended the throne, would he make a move against him?
It was hard to say.
This was something Chen Chao had always known, and that was why he worked hard on his cultivation, and it was not necessarily without consideration in this regard.
But maybe even if he had already become that kind of remarkable figure, he might not be able to have a safe and sound life.
Facing an entire dynasty with the strength of one person was never an easy thing.
To change the current situation, the best way was to take ownership of authority back into your own hands.
Yes, to contend for the throne, to sit on that dragon throne, to become the master of this dynasty; then his destiny would be in his own hands.
Yes, in this world, most people were pawns. Those who did not want to be pawns could only become the players.
Song Yingxu had come to find Chen Chao to guide him onto a new path. As a subordinate official of the late Crown Prince, he could be said to be the most loyal follower of the late Crown Prince. He saw the chaos in the Divine Capital, so he plotted something major
Chen Chao thought carefully for a long time and shook his head.
He looked at Song Yingxu and said, "Have you ever thought that the current Divine Capital is a trap?"
Song Yingxu replied indifferently, "This subject has naturally considered that. However, there's always a way to resolve even the most troublesome trap. If Your Highness agrees today, we can leave the Divine Capital right now and discuss this at further length."
Chen Chao shook his head, "Can you still leave the Divine Capital now?"
Song Yingxu was indeed a Nepenthe Realm cultivator; otherwise, he would not have frightened that old nun into revealing the truth about the past when he appeared in the nunnery. However, even for a Nepenthe Realm cultivator, they were not invincible in this Divine Capital. Even if the Great Liang Emperor was absent, it did not mean there was not someone capable of suppressing him.
Song Yingxu looked at Chen Chao and said, "This subject will definitely protect Your Highness and kill our way out of the Divine Capital. Your Highness need not worry."
Chen Chao shook his head and expressed his decision, "I've never thought about becoming the emperor. I never considered it before, not now, and I won't in the future."
Regardless of who stood behind Song Yingxu or how powerful that force was, it was something that Chen Chao did not want to do. Even if someone presented the throne to him, telling him that he could sit on it as long as he nodded, he would not accept it.
Song Yingxu frowned, "As the sole surviving bloodline of the late Crown Prince, how can Your Highness have such thoughts? Moreover, this world was originally snatched by him from Your Highness' family. Shouldn't you take it back?"c
Chen Chao did not speak.
A disappointed expression gradually appeared on Song Yingxu's face. "Your Highness is so similar to the Crown Prince. You're both brimming with a heroic spirit, but why is your temperament so weak?"
All the subjects who experienced the reign of Emperor Lingzong knew that Emperor Lingzong favored the Crown Prince not just because he was the eldest son but also because of his excellent talents. In handling state affairs, the Crown Prince was adept; practically not losing to Emperor Lingzong. In terms of cultivation talent, he was outstanding; and recognized as someone who would definitely enter the Nepenthe Realm within fifty years. His temperament was resilient, unrivaled among the princes.
Even the current Emperor had never been placed in the same tier as the late Crown Prince back in the day.
At that time, the Crown Prince was the perfect successor of the Great Liang Dynasty. It was also precisely because of this that after his sudden death, Emperor Lingzong appointed the eldest son of the Crown Prince as the Crown Heir, rather than choosing the best of the other princes to succeed the throne.
Of course, the heir of the Crown Prince was ultimately not the Crown Prince. He was not necessarily as perfect as the Crown Prince was. By overlooking other princes and passing the throne to him, Emperor Lingzong planted the seeds of disaster.
Chen Chao was different from his late brother, who perished in the great fire. They had no similarities. Chen Chao lacked the other's hypocrisy and schemingness.
He was more like the late Crown Prince.
The actions Chen Chao had taken before had already proven this point.
Song Yingxu had thought the same way before, but the answer he received now left him extremely disappointed.
He felt that Chen Chao should shoulder the responsibility and take back the throne. But Chen Chao did not want to do these things.
This was not what Chen Chao should think about.
Chen Chao said calmly, "In this world, shouldn't people have the right to make their own choices? Must one live according to others' expectations?"
Song Yingxu said unhappily, "Wanting to live freely means that it's bound to be selfish."
Because when a person was born in this world, there were naturally responsibilities on their shoulders. These responsibilities would guide their paths. Seeking absolute freedom meant abandoning these responsibilities, which was the so-called selfishness.
Chen Chao said, "Perhaps, but it doesn't make sense for you to apply it to this matter of seizing the throne."
Song Yingxu was slightly angry as he said, "Your Highness bears the bloodline of the imperial clan, you're the heir of the late Crown Prince. Without a doubt, you must shoulder such responsibilities."
Chen Chao fell silent for a moment and asked, "If I refuse to take on this responsibility, what will you do? Kill me?"
He spoke slowly, enunciating each word clearly for everyone to hear.
Upon hearing this, Song Yingxu's eyes revealed many emotions. He smiled bitterly and said, "How could this subject kill Your Highness? Your Highness is the heir of His Highness the Crown Prince..."
Upon hearing this, Chen Chao did not intend to listen further. He quickly stood up, ready to leave the small tavern.
Seeing his action, Song Yingxu could not help but say, "Your Highness, don't you want to avenge His Highness the Crown Prince?"
Chen Chao countered, "Father died of illness, not at the hands of His Majesty. Why would I need to avenge him?"
Song Yingxu said anxiously, "Perhaps there were tricks employed by that person during this period. It's not an impossibility!"
Chen Chao responded, "Evidence."
Song Yingxu frowned but remained silent.
The silence was equivalent to lacking evidence.
Chen Chao did not speak. If the Great Liang Emperor was truly the culprit who killed his father, then only one of them would survive.
Although the Great Liang Emperor was strong, Chen Chao would attempt to kill him too.
Song Yingxu added, "Since His Highness the Crown Prince was a cultivator with such great talent, how could he just suddenly drop dead without cause?!"
Chen Chao was silent.
He naturally did not suddenly drop dead for no reason.
However, linking this matter to the Great Liang Emperor had no logical basis.
Chen Chao did not speak, turning to leave the tavern.
At some point, the woman who had been dozing off had awakened. She looked at the young man with some emotion.
Was this the Crown Prince's sole surviving bloodline?
Suddenly, Song Yingxu said, "Your Highness, you cannot leave."
He looked at Chen Chao's back view and repeated, "Your Highness, you cannot leave."
Chen Chao stopped, his hand already on his saber hilt.
He began to adjust his breathing.
