Chapter 46.2
Zong Luo couldn’t help but admire.
Indeed, he had made his own decision in mind about seizing the throne.
With the memories of his previous life, and watching the other princes fighting openly and secretly, Zong Luo only felt that there was really no need to engage in such internal friction.
To become the crown prince, it would be impossible to bypass the Witch Sacrificial Ceremony where the Great Witch would observe the heavens and predict the fate of the country.
In his previous life, what exactly happened at the Witch Sacrificial Ceremony, what was exactly written on the wooden plaque that observed his future fate, and finally, the sudden hostility of Emperor Yuan towards him, these were the primary issues he really needed to care about.
And his own death.
Zong Luo smelled a different taste from Yu Beizhou’s unusual attitude, and he even vaguely suspected that things were not as simple as he imagined.
At the moment, he just needed a starting point for a breakthrough.
“After much thought, this subject still decided to offer a plan.”
“Let’s hear it.” Zong Luo became interested.
“This subject believes that, since His Highness has already made a decision, there would naturally be no room left on your side, therefore it won’t be easy to arrange.”
In fact, it was none other than a lack of trust, and having no intention of taking care of him as an idler.
Gongsun You was well aware of this.
Then again, he was a conceited and arrogant person, if his Lord wouldn’t take precautions against him and directly hand over the power with full trust, Gongsun You, instead, may doubt whether he had found the wrong person. The more Zong Luo was like this, the more competitive spirit he would have, wanting to show himself well in front of his Lord whom he couldn’t see through, so that his Lord could look at him with admiration.
Of course, it was impossible to expose one’s shortcomings. Therefore Gongsun You only said euphemistically, “Now that Your Highness has regained his identity, there is Imperial Censor Xue in the court, and the subordinate General Mu, there is no shortage of people to use. But my foundation is still shallow. Others also seem to have entered the Great Yuan for the first time, haven’t made a name for themselves, and are eagerly seeking refuge to be one’s Menkes, which is actually a godsend opportunity. Why don’t I serve as a scout for His Highness in the other prince’s mansions.”
When Zong Luo heard it, he was immediately pleased.
Isn’t this the method that Gongsun You used under Yu Beizhou’s hands in his previous life?
Ambushes to other princes’ Menkes, exerting checks and balances, and making them wander between a tightrope.
Gongsun You was worthy of being a disciple born in a Hermit aristocratic family for decades, and his professional ability, there’s really nothing more to say about it. In the previous life, with Yu Beizhou’s subordinates, it was akin to a strong person added with forces and becoming stronger, and all the princes were kept in the dark.
“It’s shameful to say this, but this subject is only imitating the method from Su Jizi, the “Taigong Yinfu” which was obtained through enlightenment.”
Seeing that Zong Luo hadn’t responded for a long time, Gongsun You thought that his Lord felt that his plan was unreliable, and quickly explained, “Although it is not as good as Sir Jizi’s checks and balances of the six countries’ power, but with two or three forces, it will still be possible.”
Su Jizi was a famous figure hundreds of years ago in the Great Wilderness. Having a commoner identity, he combined vertically the six countries, lobbied the countries to unite against one country, and finally wore the six countries’ seal as its witness. But in actuality, he secretly asked the junior brother that had come out of Ghost Valley to go to that country to perform the technique of Lianheng. The two appeared to be enemies on the surface, but cooperated secretly in private, playing the entire Great Wilderness’ various countries in the palm of their hands, and completely striking out Ghost Valley’s reputation, considering it as honorary alumni.
(t/n: Combined verticality is a concept put forward by Su Qin (Jizi) in the Warring States Period. Originated in the Warring States Period, it originally refers to the alliance strategy of Su Qin (Jizi) lobbying the princes of the six countries to jointly reject Qin.)
(t/n: Lian Heng-a diplomatic strategy of the Warring States period, proposed by Zhang Yi, and it is also used to refer to alliances in general.)
“Hm, I think this method is very good.” Zong Luo affirmed.
Not only good, it can also help him keep an eye on the other princes, while not needing him to arrange it at the same time.
Above all things, people should not be placed at one’s own side at will, which perfectly avoided Zong Luo’s psychological difficulty in delivering trust to Gongsun You. The wave of Gongsun You trying to figure it out was very up to standard, and he had positioned himself very accurately. No wonder he was able to stay so long beside the suspicious and cautious Yu Beizhou who often went crazy in his previous life.
After getting his Lord’s approval, Gongsun You’s expression eased a lot.
“By the way, my Lord, the Wei Country proton may be a hidden danger.”
He remembered the scene he saw at the La Ri Qingsi, thus he couldn’t help but remind Zong Luo.
In any case, Ye Linghan did indeed bear the burden of humiliation, and such a disposition, it rather led Gongsun Yougao to think highly of him at a glance.
Zong Luo was about to speak when he suddenly heard a servant sent by the doorman delivering a message, “Your Highness, a guest has arrived.”
He had already made preparations to have guests from morning to night today, and now that he had time to spare, he said without asking who it was, “Then bring them in.”
Seeing this, Gongsun You tactfully gave a salute and resigned.
When he came out of the study, it just so happened that the person who just arrived scraped their shoulders, he also caught a glimpse of an iron armor from the corner of his eye.
“Maybe I’m thinking too much.” Gongsun You left from the back door of the Prince’s Mansion, contemplating from the bottom of his heart.
He was also considered one of the best when it came to observing words and expressions.
Gongsun You always felt that the new Lord did not seem to be as suspicious as the current emperor. However, he instead became the opposite only to him, difficult in delivering trust.
This kind of defensive distrust was obviously difficult to achieve overnight.
But there shouldn’t be any reason for that.
Prior to this, Gongsun You had been learning knowledge and skills in the Hermit aristocratic family since he was born, and was not allowed to step into the world until he completed his studies. In the past twenty years, he hadn’t even left the mountain gate, and it’s even more unlikely to have met the Third Prince.
“How strange, how strange.”
He shook his head and walked away quickly.
On the other side, Zong Luo welcomed the first guest of the day.
Unexpectedly, this guest was not Mu Yuanlong as Zong Luo had guessed at the beginning, nor was it the loyal and dedicated Imperial Censor Xue, nor even the other princes who had their own ulterior motives.
But it was Gu Ziyuan.
This great Confucian who often wore a moon-white gown, that stood in the cold wind, with a high fever on his face that had not faded. When he saw him, his eyes suddenly lit up, but was soon covered with frustration again.
Whoever woke up and heard that their little friend had become a prince. their mood would fluctuate. What’s more, he had only recently realized that he seemed to be a little different to that little friend. Although Gu Ziyuan himself didn’t think clearly about the difference, it didn’t prevent him from dragging his sick body to stand in front of the Third Prince’s Mansion early in the morning.
But when he finally saw him, he didn’t know what to say.
Gu Ziyuan lowered his head, his tone depressed, “Third Highness.”
