Chapter 404: Beside My Bed

y faithfully for decades, what I hate most is seeing the country and its people suffer. Since Your Highness is so sincere, then this old man is willing to give it a try with Your Highness."It's done!L...Chapter 404: Beside the Bed of Death

"I'm here."

Su Jinping woke up Li Chen.

Li Chen opened his eyes and stretched before stepping out of the carriage.

After a brief nap, Li Chen turned to Su Jinpa with a refreshed mind and said, "Next time I get sleepy, I'll find you."

Su Jinpa, listening to this, glared angrily at him and tossed out a "Dream on" before running away as if escaping.

Upon entering the General's Mansion, Li Chen didn't go to tease Su Jinpa any further. Instead, he had someone call for Su Zhentig and went straight to his study, a place no one dared to enter, as if he were familiar with it.

When Su Zhen Ting arrived, Li Chen was engrossed in reading several official documents on his desk.

These documents, if shown to just anyone, would be punishable by death. But in Li Chen's view, it was perfectly natural.

Su Zhen Ting bowed. "Your Highness."

Nodding, he put down the official document and said to Su Zhen'ting, "General, please have a seat."

Such a designation means that this conversation is between the Crown Prince and the Grand General, a matter of official business.

Su Zheting nodded and sat in the guest seat.

No one thought anything was wrong.

Li Chen's eyes were calm as he said, "Do you know anything about Wen Wang, General"

Su Zhen Ting nodded and said, “Yes.”

“The emperor was the fourth son of the late emperor, while Wen Wang was the seventh. During the late emperor’s lifetime, he favored Wen Wang especially. Of his nine sons, including the emperor, all the princes were raised by their biological mothers and then brought together to study under a teacher after they grew up. Only Wen Wang was personally taught by the late emperor.”

"In the late years of the previous emperor, the succession dispute caused a great stir. King Wen's reputation and public opinion were above the emperor's, and many believed that the previous emperor would pass on the throne to King Wen."

"But when the Nine Dragons' struggle for succession broke out, Wen Wang ultimately angered the previous emperor for reasons unknown. Even so, the previous emperor bestowed upon Wen Wang the esteemed title of King Wen. After being enfeoffed, Wen Wang was granted the finest lands, but from this point onwards, he declared his detachment from the throne. In the end, under the support of Zhao Xuanji and others, the current emperor ascended to the throne, securing victory."

“Since the emperor ascended the throne, he has shown great care for King Wen. King Wen has always been very respectful and obedient. He never delays in paying the taxes and silver due to the court, and he readily responds to any requests from the imperial court. Furthermore, on every festival, he sends gifts and greetings to the emperor. This alone has earned him countless praises, surpassing all other vassal kings.”

Even though he had a good reputation and was always well-behaved for many years, it couldn't change the fact that King Wen was extremely powerful among the vassal kings. Not only was he wealthy, but King Wen had never given up his military power over the years. Especially in recent years, as the imperial court's control over the local areas weakened, King Wen's military strength had already exceeded the limits allowed by the court. Even though this was accepted by both the vassal kings and the imperial court, among all the vassal kings, King Wen's military power was the strongest.

"Although he was from the south and unlike other princes, his army wasn't composed of valiant soldiers, his immense wealth could compensate for many shortcomings. Therefore, when the Emperor was lucid, he always considered Prince Wen a potential threat."

Even the Emperor once said, "By my side on the bed rests Wenwang."

Speaking of which, Su Zhen Ting drew a breath and clasped his hands together, asking respectfully, "Your Highness, has Wen Wang shown any signs of unusual activity"

Under Su Zhen's introduction, Li Chen finally had a general understanding of Wenwang.

He nodded slowly and said, "Prince Wen of the Wen Dynasty, today marks a change from his low-key style of recent years. Today, under the guise of a poetry gathering at Yimeiyuan, he has summoned many prominent officials' descendants in the capital to form an assembly called Wenyuanhui."ime will directly determine the morale and status of the court. It will also decide whether those ambitious individuals can see through the weakness of the court and pounce on it, pushing this dynasty...