CMWKSD -Chapter 253 The Game

Zhuo Mu sat in the armchair.

After all, having held high positions for many years, his presence was still intimidating.

He glanced at Zhuo Ya. “This matter must make Da Qi bear the consequences. If not, we’ll simply say it was Zhou Fang acting alone; I had nothing to do with it.”

Zhuo Ya didn’t react at all, only gave him a look. “The Fengyuan Emperor has already determined that both you and Zhou Fang were poisoned with a drug unique to Northern Barbarians.”

Zhuo Mu cast a sideways glance at Zhuo Ya. “So what?”

Even if it was self-inflicted, so what?

He paid no mind at all to the two bodyguard-like maids standing behind Zhuo Ya.

Zhuo Ya thought Zhuo Mu had really been raised too high by others—completely oblivious to reality.

“What if they discover that you intended to use that drug on Princess Xuyu? Your Highness, do you still not see the situation clearly?”

“And even if you truly knew, what does it matter?”

“Fengyuan Emperor—is it really, as you think, that his oil lamp has run out?”

“Is Da Qi really, as you imagine, completely finished?”

Zhuo Mu suddenly stood up. “Zhuo Ya!!!”

Zhuo Ya looked at him coldly. “Your Highness, it’s just the two of us here. What are you worried about?”

Zhuo Mu glared at her.

Zhuo Ya lightly pinched her own fingertips.

She had never really looked at herself before—always constrained by others.

Jiu Yue had told her she was truly beautiful.

Now, Zhuo Ya looked at her own fingers, so tender like spring onions, and her arms, soft and pale like lotus roots…

She realized she was indeed beautiful.

And all of this would become her weapons.

“Your Highness.”

Zhuo Ya lifted her eyes to Zhuo Mu.

Zhuo Mu gave a puzzled hum, not understanding why she suddenly seemed so calm and indifferent, as if nothing concerned her.

“There’s actually a way… to resolve Northern Barbarians’s current crisis perfectly.”

Zhuo Mu stared at Zhuo Ya, instinctively feeling he wouldn’t want to hear what she had to say next—but still asked, “What way?”

Zhuo Ya stood up. Her usually lively eyes now seemed to sparkle like stars.

“You die… in the Da Qi imperial palace!”

Zhuo Mu’s pupils constricted. He slammed the table and shouted angrily, “Zhuo Ya, do you even know what you’re saying?”

Zhuo Ya tilted her head. On her head was only a thin layer of hair, yet her expression—supposedly awkward and ridiculous—paired with her face, stunning enough to topple kingdoms, inexplicably exuded a different kind of sacred, alternative beauty.

“Your Highness, I know exactly what I’m saying.”

She turned her back, showing no emotion at all, as if the matter on her lips was not Zhuo Mu’s life and death, but that of an ant.

“This time, you’ve made such a grave mistake, humiliating Northern Barbarians in front of all nations, and even offended Da Qi.”

“This is an unforgivable crime. Even if you return safely to Northern Barbarians, what does it matter?”

“Father will never forgive you.”

Zhuo Mu, humiliated and angry, said, “That matter… that matter was never my…”

Zhuo Ya raised a hand to stop him. “No matter what the initial plan was, the result is exactly as I said—you have become Northern Barbarians’s sinner!”

Zhuo Mu panted roughly, because he knew. That was why he had been so flustered.

The original plan had never intended this outcome.

“Now both sides are negotiating. Northern Barbarians claims to be visiting Da Qi, but who can’t see that we’re under house arrest?”

“Instead of Northern Barbarians and Da Qi discussing some rules for our return, why not…”

Zhuo Ya turned to Zhuo Mu, speaking slowly, word by word: “You die! And before death, write a blood letter!”

“Say you were forced by the people of Da Qi…”

“Say you were tortured into confessing in Da Qi…”

“Say your death is of no regret, but let all the world see the true face of the Da Qi royal family.”

Then Zhuo Ya smiled lightly. “This way, when Northern Barbarians traveled thousands of miles as a guest and was persecuted, all the nations would side with Northern Barbarians, demanding justice against Da Qi.”

“Father will certainly be grateful. He might even posthumously appoint you crown prince, saying that Northern Barbarians’s crown prince was widely admired, but was secretly murdered by Da Qi.”

“Put the entire blame on Da Qi, saying this was a play they orchestrated, and you were the victim.”

Zhuo Mu stared at Zhuo Ya. It felt as if he was seeing her for the first time. “You’re insane!”

Zhuo Ya tilted her head in puzzlement. “Your Highness, why say that?”

“Think about it: Father and the Northern Barbarians envoys… if no one told me, how would I have come here?”

“Killing just a small Zhou Fang is far from enough. Da Qi would never admit that it was Zhou Fang’s doing.”

“They would say Northern Barbarians provoked intentionally, that you are merely a pawn of the Northern Barbarians emperor, meant to provoke Da Qi during this multi-nation congratulatory event.”

“To incite a dispute.”

“Everything depends on what you do now.”

Zhuo Mu collapsed back into the armchair.

Indeed, with Zhuo Ya’s seemingly innocent nature, how could she have said such things?

Someone must have taught her—or told her.

He was a Northern Barbarians, the firstborn of the Northern Barbarians emperor. He was the one who knew Northern Barbarians best.

Zhuo Ya was completely correct.

Something this major was a matter between two nations—and he was the key to breaking the deadlock.

He… would only be abandoned by Northern Barbarians.

Zhuo Ya finished preparing the medicine. She bent slightly toward Zhuo Mu. “Your Highness, think carefully. Perhaps you’ve grown too comfortable here, long forgetting that you are the crown prince of Northern Barbarians.”

“You’ve long forgotten the integrity of being a Northern Barbarians, and that you could have been the future emperor, the crown prince of Northern Barbarians.”

Zhuo Mu’s hands gripped the armrests of the chair tightly. Veins bulging, eyes bloodshot, staring at Zhuo Ya.

“So… should I die?”

Zhuo Ya’s lips curved in a faint, almost imperceptible smile. She looked at him calmly. “Your Highness, now that this has happened, as a Northern Barbarians, as the crown prince of Northern Barbarians, don’t you think you should die?”

After saying this, Zhuo Ya lowered her hands from the bow and turned to leave.

Only when the door closed did Zhuo Mu collapse weakly into the chair.

Northern Barbarians had abandoned him.

Zhuo Ya was right: no matter how he returned to Northern Barbarians, Father would never forgive him.

Northern Barbarians wanted him dead.

Perhaps Northern Barbarians never intended for him to return alive.

Now he was humiliation, he was unbearable…

Zhuo Mu quickly stood, straightened his clothing.

Imprisoned and humiliated—so what?

He was still the strategizing, world-dominating crown prince of Northern Barbarians.

But now he needed to find the right ally.

Zhuo Mu rose and slowly opened the door.

Looking at the guards outside, he said, “Go tell them I have something to say to the Fengyuan Emperor.”

The Northern Barbarians guards exchanged glances. “Your Highness.”

Zhuo Mu’s eyes swept coldly over them. “What? Am I now a prisoner that even you cannot obey my orders?”

The guards immediately left.