Rebirth As a Fatuous and Self-indulgent Ruler
chapter-344

Translator: Storm in a Teacup

However, Fang Shuoyang was almost unable to survive.

If it wasn’t for Lian Xiang, a palace maid, who had asked for the help of the Qinghuo Heavenly Master in time, Fang Shuoyang would never have been able to reach the Tianlong Dynasty.

Fang was only the son of the woman who looked like Zhou Suye’s mother. When there was a flesh and blood of that woman left, would Lord Zhou still care about Fang Shuoyang who was just a production of a stand-in? Definitely not!

As a matter of fact, the empress was aware of the existence of Zhou Suye all the time.

Back then, she also made an “agreement” with Lord Zhou.

The content of the agreement was nothing more than that she would no longer interfere with the existence of this prince.

However, this prince should not covet the position of the Crown Prince.

As for the death of the former empress, she would never admit that!

Even Lord Zhou had to say that she did have enough power to negotiate with him at that time.

However, after more than twenty years, the emperor, Lord Zhou, had already caught the imperial government in his own hands. Although the empress’s family was still powerful, it was no longer unshakeable for him. Everything had changed now.

So, this time, Lord Zhou recommended Zhou Suye.

Besides, Zhou Suye’s identity was the former first son!

Of course, the prince, who was recommended, didn’t need to have a “bad” past.

Therefore, people only knew that the former empress was still alive, but she had already converted to Buddhism by the time of being found. Lord Zhou could not bear to go against her willing of pursuing Buddhism.

However, they were still deeply in love, and even had their child, Zhou Suye.

Unfortunately, the former empress died in labor.

As for Zhou Suye, the former empress hoped that Zhou Suye’s future could be chosen by himself when he grew up–to enter the court or to be an idle prince outside the palace.

Because of his commitment to the former empress, Zhou Suye was raised outside the palace. And now it was time to find his origin for him.

Naturally, the appearance of Zhou Suye caused an uproar in the court.

Lord Zhou, on the other hand, immediately deployed him into the Ministry of Punishment after recommending Zhou Suye. Moreover, prevailing over all dissenting views, he made Zhou Suye the main person in charge of this hunt for the murderer!

After the court meeting, the empress was so angry that she smashed all the cups and plates in the palace after she heard the news.

All these years, in fact, she had long felt that the son of that bitchy former empress was a hidden threat, so she had ordered many people to kill this child secretly.

However, having learned a lesson from the death of the former empress, Lord Zhou was so careful in protecting his son that she couldn’t even find out where Zhou Suye was!

Unexpectedly, Lord Zhou, regardless of the agreement with her, recommended Zhou Suye now!

“Bitch! Bitch! I killed you! I am also able to kill your son!”

The empress was very angry, with fury in her eyes.

And at this time, Fang Shuoyang had returned to the Four Prince’ Mansion.

In the adytum, Fang Shuoyang exclaimed, “Wow! Big bro, you have guessed all of the thing correctly.”

Long Xiaoyuan smiled slightly. “It’s not hard to guess.”

Xu You said, “Bro, you’re awesome!”

Long Xiaoyuan patted Xu You’s head. “Are you admiring me?”

Xu You rolled his eyes. “Of course not! You think too much, bro!”

Long twitched his mouth slightly.

Shi said, “The Heaven Worship Festival on the Western Mountain will be held soon, Zhou Suye will definitely catch the murderer before then with his vigorous and resolute methods.”

“I guess Lord Zhou has already prepared the murderer’s candidate for him now.”

“But …” Long touched his nose. “I wonder if this the fifth prince knows that Lord Zhou has prepared so well for him…”

Shi slightly paused. “What do you want to do?”

“Since Lord Zhou is using the Crown Prince and Fang Shuoyang to train Zhou Suye, he will not tell him too much until he feels that Zhou Suye is qualified. Otherwise, Zhou Suye wouldn’t have to work so hard to gather talents all these years, right?” While he said so, Long smirked unpleasantly. As the one who knew him best, Shi raised his eyebrows immediately as soon as he saw Long’s smile.

“What do you want to do? Seek loopholes?”

“Bin-go. Although Lord Zhou has already prepared a murderer for him, we can still mislead him a bit, right?”

“How?” Xu You immediately said.

“If the real murderer appears, what do you think that the fifth prince will do?”

Fang Shuoyang’s eyes flickered and soon he understood. “Bro, you mean, Tianxiang Zi…”

“Yeah, anyway, Tianxiang Zi has mastered great martial arts skills, so it’s just a piece of cake for her to show up without getting caught by anyone else, right? Especially, she has so many good things to use.”

“But if Zhu Qingzi appears also, Tianxiang Zi’s strength will be compromised.” Shi lightly pointed out the hidden danger.

But Long was very relieved. “Zhu Qingzi? Haven’t you heard that she is working for the crown prince now? As we all know, it’s definitely the Crown Prince and the empress who want the death of the fifth prince the most.”

Fang Shuoyang said, “The Crown Prince probably will not help the fifth prince.”

Long clapped his hands. “Then why don’t we invite Miss Tianxiang Zi over to have a talk with her right now?”

Fang Shuoyang smiled and went to call Tianxiang Zi over.

Long thought about it for a second and then added. “Tianxiang Zi will show up, but she must appear at the right time. Preferably, she shows up exactly when the murderer arranged by Lord Zhou appears.”

Shi Qingzhou’s eyes lit up. “In that case, even if the murderer arranged by Lord Zhou is killed, the real murderer, Tianxiang Zi, or his accomplice still escapes. Therefore, Lord Zhou’s arrangement can be said to have been ruined.”

“That’s right.”

“But what if the person arranged by Lord Zhou is not an assassin, but a family in the court?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Long Xiaoyuan smiled slightly. “Although that family was the ringleader, but since the real murderer has escaped, both Zhou Suye and Lord Zhou would still be very humiliated even if he slaughtered all the family angrily!”

Xu You roared with laughter at the news. “Bro, you’re really too sarcastic, but I like it!”

Fang Shuoyang smiled helplessly and dragged Xu You out of the room.

After the two went out, Shi said slowly, “But, to a certain extent, Fang Shuoyang has been exposed.”

“No, it is not Fang Shuoyang who has been exposed, but the Crown Prince.” Long was very sure.

“Lord Zhou is not a fool, okay? He will be 100 percent sure that it was not the Crown Prince behind the whole thing.”

“Then let him think he is.” Long said indifferently.

Shi raised his eyebrows. “It’s not that easy as you think.”

“Oh, well, it depends on what the current empress does?”

“Em? What have you done?” Shi immediately realized something.

Long smiled mysteriously. “Do you really want to know? Then give me a kiss.”

Shi narrowed his eyes.

While Long looked at Shi persistently.

Shi lightly said, “I’ll find out eventually.” Then, he walked out…

Long looked at the back of Shi disappointedly… and then hurriedly chased after him…