novelraw Chapter 65 – King Qin Jiang Yan
Chapter 65 – King Qin Jiang Yan
King Qin Jiang Yan... Lin Qiushui whispered, a hint of contemplation in her eyes. "Jiang Yan, I know of him. He was the crown prince most favored by the late emperor, the one appointed as heir. But then, a month before the late emperor's passing, for reasons unknown, he was stripped of his title, and his brother, now Emperor Yuanjing, was chosen to inherit the throne."
"Stripping the title just a month before his passing?"
Chen Shi was slightly taken aback.
Though not well-versed in history, he knew this was highly irregular.
The heir is the foundation of the nation.
Once seated in the Eastern Palace, they become the focal point for countless civil and military officials, noble families vying for favor. Over time, the interests involved are immense, and even the emperor cannot easily revoke such a title. Even if it were to be revoked, it wouldn't be done so hastily.
He pondered for a moment and asked, "Big Sister, do you know why Jiang Yan was deposed?"
Lin Qiushui replied, "They said it was due to a loss of virtue."
Realizing the crown prince's loss of virtue only when death was near?
That reason seemed too perfunctory.
She shook her head.
Chen Shi posed another question: "What about Jiang Xun?"
At the mention of Jiang Xun.
A rare trace of disdain appeared on Lin Qiushui's beautiful face. "He is King Qin's only offspring, in his twenties, and a notorious playboy. He often relies on the power of Qin King's Manor to commit many outrageous acts. Recently, I heard he even went to the Hehuan Sect to cultivate with a female cultivator."
Chen Shi fell into deep thought.
Jiang Xun was definitely not as worthless as Lin Qiushui described.
If he were truly a playboy, he wouldn't be pushed to the forefront by the Mastermind sixty years later.
These father and son, one with the potential to revive Great Wei, the other capable of inciting conflict between mysterious demon cultivators and the ancestors of the four major sects, were not simple characters.
However...
After the last simulation incident.
A question had been lingering in Chen Shi's mind.
If there really were two Masterminds.
One an unknown identity.
One a royal member, who would learn of "Journey to the West" in three years, deduce his identity as a transmigrator, and take his life.
Then sixty years later.
The Mastermind who collaborated with King Qin to kill him.
Was it the transmigrator with intelligence-type golden fingers?
Or the royal transmigrator?
Even...
Did King Qin really collaborate with the Mastermind?
"Big Sister, can a prince be addressed as 'Your Highness'?" Chen Shi suddenly asked.
"Yes, 'Your Highness' is a respectful title for the Empress, Crown Prince, Princesses, and various princes." Lin Qiushui, born into an official family, with her father as the Minister of Rites, answered such questions about etiquette almost without thinking.
Upon hearing this.
Chen Shi's heart sank.
He realized he might have been misled by the simulator.
The simulated text always described the Mastermind with a young voice, leading him to believe the person might be a prince or heir apparent. But this is a fantasy world; even at a hundred years old, with profound cultivation, one can maintain a youthful appearance.
King Qin Jiang Yan...
Chen Shi now strongly suspected he was the royal transmigrator.
And the one who would take his life sixty years later. The reason being, sixty years later, only Jiang Yan had the last laugh, and he was the greatest beneficiary.
Using the Heir Apparent of King Qin.
To have the royal mysterious demon cultivator and the ancestors of the four major sects perish together.
Finally, with an invincible stance.
Ascend to the throne.
In the simulation, Jiang Yan's reform measures exuded the aura of a fellow transmigrator.
Previously, he hadn't suspected Jiang Yan, purely because he believed there was only one Mastermind. Based on the fact that only a True Lake Stage warrior was sent to intercept the escort team, he deduced that the Mastermind's status wasn't high, and couldn't be someone like King Qin, who could decide his life and death with a word.
Until the last simulation.
He heard "Your Highness."
If it really was King Qin Jiang Yan.
Then,
Everything seemed to make sense...
From activating the simulator until now, Chen Shi had undergone eight simulations, at least three of which ended with his death at Jiang Yan's hands.
The fourth simulation, he died mysteriously in the Inner Court.
The seventh simulation, he left Medicine King Valley and died in the Great Wei Palace.
The eighth simulation, he left the Cursed Land and possibly died in a secret chamber in Qin King's Manor.
The remaining five times.
He likely died due to the unknown identity of the Mastermind.
Strictly speaking, King Qin couldn't even be considered the Mastermind, because the power disparity was too great. With his status, once he discovered Chen Shi, Chen Shi was almost certainly doomed.
However, this was just Chen Shi's speculation for now.
This answer.
Still needed verification in the simulation.
The method of verification was simple: in reality, meet King Qin once, remember his appearance, and with the "Restless Spirit" talent, he could directly recognize him in the next simulation. Once King Qin's identity was confirmed, he could prepare early in the simulation, such as staying away from court institutions, the Spirit Sword Sect, and the Song family.
Otherwise, he was almost certainly doomed in three years.
Refreshing powerful talents would be a waste, with no chance to grow.
Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
Unless he received a purple or even gold-level divine talent to defy fate, or at least a talent like Sword Maniac's high comprehension, allowing him to hide in the deep mountains and forests, study swordsmanship, and perhaps survive for decades without cultivating.
Otherwise, it would be utterly useless.
Without the resources of a major power, achieving success in cultivation on one's own was a fool's dream.
In the lower five realms, he could still hide in the Cursed Land.
In the upper four realms, he would be completely useless.
However, given his status, meeting King Qin Jiang Yan in reality was quite challenging and too dangerous.
"Big Sister, have you ever met King Qin?" Chen Shi asked.
Lin Qiushui was slightly taken aback, her tone somewhat nostalgic. "I have, but that was over twenty years ago. Back then, I was young and accompanied my father to the palace for a banquet, where I met him a few times."
"Then, Big Sister, can you try to recall King Qin's appearance?" Chen Shi gazed intently at Lin Qiushui, his tone somber. "Or even... draw him?"