The Demon Lords

Chapter 833 183: Arrogance (Part 3)

When it came to Zheng Fan, Ji Chengjue was completely at ease.

The Eldest Prince added:

"I've heard there's been some talk in court recently about your partiality with the finances, using public funds for personal gains, and supporting your own confidants."

"Oh, the wind really is strong, it's even blown to your ears, hasn't it, brother?"

"There's no smoke without fire, besides, you've already told me before that you really did do it."

"Yes, yes, I really did it. But so what? When you hold power, if you don't give your people some extra benefits, who's willing to work for you or be loyal?

Even these officials who are impeaching me now will stand on my side when the time comes, because they know that following me means having meat to eat."

"Ha, you don't try to hide it in front of me anymore?"

"If I kept hiding it, it would be too distant. Besides, hiding all the time is exhausting."

The Eldest Prince hesitated for a moment,

but still said:

"This impeachment against you, it probably wasn't done by the Second Prince."

"Of course it wasn't done by Second Brother. After all, his painstaking efforts for the alliance were used as toilet paper, why would he be stupid enough to pop up now?

As for me, I have to work hard now. By autumn, when the money and grain are escorted to the capital, I need to present a satisfactory report to our father.

And for him, since doing more means more mistakes, it's better to do less, or even nothing at all. My dear second brother here, his only flaw is being too stable.

Stable to the point of being boring."

"How can you speak like that about your own brother?"

"Isn't it so?

Oh, right, brother, there's another matter I need to discuss with you seriously."

"What matter?"

Ji Chengjue took out a letter from his pocket and placed it on the table, saying:

"This is a confidential letter from Hui Wenzu, the general of Nanwang City, to me."

Upon hearing this, the Eldest Prince's eyes involuntarily squinted, and he said:

"As a prince..."

Ji Chengjue quickly responded:

"As a prince, is one supposed to wait for death without colluding with the military?"

The Eldest Prince was momentarily speechless but quickly replied, "If I remember correctly, Hui Wenzu is from Beifeng Prefecture. Though in the early years, he stood against the Earl of North Border in court, during the major war two years ago, he stopped the Qian State's border army from a surprise attack in Nanwang City, proving he's not a useless person, so..."

Competent people generally disdain to be fair-weather friends.

"No matter who he belonged to before, now that the Earl of North Border has relinquished his military power, Hui Wenzu is now a court official.

Court officials are those we can recruit. To be honest, my connection with Hui Wenzu was facilitated through Zheng Fan, who has a good personal relationship with him."

"Sixth Brother, you're playing with fire."

"Then who put me on the roasting rack?"

Ji Chengjue tapped the envelope with his finger and said to the Eldest Prince:

"Brother, do you want to see it?"

"I won't look. It's not that I'm afraid, but it's not suitable for me to see."

"See, see, we are becoming distant, aren't we?"

"Sixth Brother, I've noticed you're never afraid of the Second Brother?"

"Afraid of him? Why should I be afraid?"

Ji Chengjue stood up from his chair, stretched lazily, and said:

"Because he's our father's eldest son? Because he's the Earl of North Border's son-in-law? Because he's Lord Jingnan's nephew?

Ha, the Earl of North Border is somewhat respectable, but hasn't the marriage not happened yet?

As for our father, our Lord Jingnan, which of them truly cherishes family ties?"

Ji Chengjue took a deep breath and exhaled slowly:

"Brother, don't think I'm too reckless. Whether I live or die, it doesn't depend on how modestly or arrogantly I behave;

My humility, my arrogance, have nothing to do with whether I can keep my life."

"Then what does it depend on?"

"Uh..."

Ji Chengjue let out a long sound,

laughing to himself,

and pointing outside the door,

he said:

"Brother, isn't it funny? My life depends on the sentiments of the sovereign of Qian State and the regent of Chu State.

If they can't manage and are swept away by our father, then my best possible ending is finding my third brother at the lakeside pavilion for poetry contests.

If they can hold on, even if I took a sword to court tomorrow, our father would have to pretend not to see it.

Hiss...

Precisely because I realized this early on, I find it absurd;

Direct Thief,

Should I hope those two are wise rulers or incompetent fools?"

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Don't worry, there will be another chapter tonight, around two, but everyone should try not to stay up late.