The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror-Chapter 446 - 195: Clouds in the Blue Sky, Water in the Bottle (Please Subscribe)

To outsiders, Prince Yu always appeared unflappable, never showing his anger or joy. His loss of composure this time had to do with a great scheme of his being ruined.

In his early years, he was impulsive and quick-tempered, but after being hammered by the old emperor for many years, he cultivated his deep strategic thinking.

Even so, he held considerable resentment toward the old emperor.

The old emperor was a devotee of the Dao, yet Prince Yu, in private, preferred to retreat into his secret chamber to recite Buddhist Scriptures, often accompanied by a string of prayer beads, which he would finger to calm his unsettled heart when agitated.

Now he fingered the prayer beads within his sleeve, his mood slowly returning to calm.

"Mr. Dai, what is to be done in a situation like this?"

Prince Yu’s Mansion had four trusted confidantes, codenamed "Jiangshan," "Blood Shadow," "Nianhua," and "Chasing Deer."

Jiangshan was this Mr. Dai, Prince Yu’s master strategist. They deliberated and decided many major issues together.

As for Shen Mo, Prince Yu’s Teacher, he was not involved in these matters.

Indeed, Prince Yu didn’t plan to consult Shen Mo about these issues.

Another advantage of Mr. Dai was that he had been falsely accused in his early years, leading to a hopeless Imperial Examination, which made him an ideal operative for Prince Yu.

Thanks to Mr. Dai’s schemes, Prince Yu had developed a vast hidden influence within the Court, solidifying his foundation. Without the title of Crown Prince, he nonetheless held the power of one.

In fact, Dongming Princess’s proposal to bear Xu Qing’s progeny had Mr. Dai’s covert planning and guidance behind it, though she was unaware of it.

Moreover, it was an almost insoluble open conspiracy.

If Xu Qing agreed now, it would plant a fuse.

Mr. Dai, with an impassive face, bowed to Prince Yu and said, "Your Highness, Xu Qing and Dongming Princess have agreed to consummate their marriage in three years. Our plan hasn’t failed; the result simply hasn’t been as good as expected."

With those words, he defined their situation and reassured Prince Yu.

Prince Yu: "Xu Qing has risen rapidly in just a few years. I fear in three more, he will become even less manageable."

The incident with Madam Sea Sand had indeed touched Prince Yu’s sore spot. He had already learned the truth but kept silent for the greater good of the Court.

Because Xu Qing was working for the cause of the Great Yu Dynasty’s Jiangshan.

He had no reason to oppose it.

Despite his frequent moves, when it came to such pivotal issues, the old man had a clear understanding and wouldn’t allow him to act recklessly.

In fact, he had made many unseen efforts to obtain the silver needed to implement the land registration, pacify the sea threats, and enforce the One Whip Law.

As far as Prince Yu was concerned, without Xu Qing, he could still open up maritime trade, enact land registration, enforce the One Whip Law, and be an unparalleled emperor in history.

Xu Qing’s existence could even affect his legacy.

But with the old emperor protecting Xu Qing, Prince Yu could only tolerate it.

Especially the old emperor’s favoritism towards Xu Qing, which incited jealousy in Prince Yu.

Look at the things Xu Qing has done; weren’t they enough to merit decapitation?

And yet?

The old emperor never found fault in these actions and became Xu Qing’s true backer.

Without the old emperor’s protection, and Elder Fang the dog’s safeguarding Xu Qing on the old emperor’s orders, Xu Qing’s actions would have gotten him killed several times already.

Of course, he understood that Xu Qing’s emergence happened to serve the old emperor’s interests.

Over the last few decades, plenty of people had shone under the old emperor’s hand, but they were not young and had fallen from grace.

Xu Qing was different; he wasn’t even a Scholar.

The old emperor pressed down on him and even kept Xu Qing as a tool for his use.

But Prince Yu didn’t appreciate such kindness.

He had been suppressed by the old emperor his whole life and did not want to live in the old emperor’s shadow after his death. Even if Xu Qing were Zhuge Liang, he refused to be the ineffective Prince A Dou.

He sought to be an emperor remembered through the ages, to right the chaos.

In his view, after the old emperor’s death, the legacy wouldn’t be high.

Thus, he, who would right the chaos, would be a completely different emperor.

He was the true sovereign chosen by heaven to revitalize the Great Yu Dynasty.

Mr. Dai, as Prince Yu’s master strategist, understood these thoughts thoroughly. He said calmly, "Your Highness, now is not the time to act against Xu Qing. Have you forgotten my words? Be patient. Wait another three to five years, then see."

"Patience, patience, how long must I be patient?" Prince Yu lifted his sleeve, revealing the prayer beads within.

He was too suppressed.

Mr. Dai: "Clouds scatter, and the bright moon shines; waters dry, and the pearl appears. Your Highness just needs to wait patiently, and everything will develop in a way that favors you."

Prince Yu crushed a bead in his hand, his demeanor becoming composed and calm, and said, "You’re right, Mr. Dai."

In his position, not making mistakes was more important than anything else.

Then, let Xu Gongming take care of the devious entanglements of the Sea Sand Gang himself.

Prince Yu chuckled coldly.

Mr. Dai picked up the broken pieces of the teacup methodically and approached Prince Yu, "Your Highness, the Longevity Festival is upon us again. Preparing a birthday gift for His Majesty carefully is the top priority."

Prince Yu: "Do you have any suggestions, Teacher?"

"With Your Highness’s filial piety moving heaven and earth, I believe a Blood Scripture handwritten by Your Highness would be unsurpassed."

"Oh that."

Prince Yu was startled, as Mr. Dai used a sharp shard of the teacup to cut Prince Yu’s fingertip.

Prince Yu then couldn’t help but laugh and started to write the Blood Scripture.

He didn’t dislike Mr. Dai’s actions; he even looked forward to the day when Mr. Dai would offer him a robe voluntarily.

What he would do to Mr. Dai afterward, only heaven knew.