TFWYH – Chapter 687 Doing a Favor

Ling Chen had no choice. Looking at his elder brother pitifully, he said:

“Big Brother, I—”

“Four hours,” Ling Yu interrupted.

“No, Big Brother, I—”

“Five hours.”

“Waaahhh!”

Ling Chen burst into tears and ran away crying.

At that moment, Yu Ziqing came out as well. Watching the boy flee into the distance, he nudged Ling Yu.

“Your brother is only ten years old, isn’t he? You’re making him take the martial examinations? Let me tell you, the competitors are all experts. Sending a ten-year-old child to compete is ridiculous. What if something happens to him? Who’s responsible then?”

Ling Yu replied calmly:

“He’s not that young. Ten years old is already an adult.”

Yu Ziqing: “…”

Adult my foot!

When I was ten, I was still throwing tantrums and pestering my mother for pocket money!

This guy’s a monster!

After sparing a second of sympathy for Ling Chen, Yu Ziqing immediately slung an arm around Ling Yu’s shoulders and got down to serious business.

Based on Ling Yu’s analysis, the First Prince would come looking for him within the next few days.

Yu Ziqing didn’t believe that at all.

Who was the First Prince?

The man responsible for the deaths of Su Qing’s son and daughter.

That was a blood feud.

How could Ling Yu, as Su Qing’s son-in-law, possibly side with the First Prince?

Ling Yu nodded.

“Correct. I won’t follow the First Prince. The one who will follow him is you.”

“Huh?”

Yu Ziqing was so shocked he thought he’d misheard.

Ling Yu smiled.

“No. To be precise, you’re not following the First Prince. You’re using him as a stepping stone to get close to Her Majesty the Empress.”

Yu Ziqing: ?

What kind of nonsense is that?

Everyone knew that the Empress and the First Prince were extremely close.

Though he wasn’t her biological son, she treated him even better than one.

Wasn’t getting close to the Empress through the First Prince basically the same thing?

Wait.

He almost got led astray by Ling Yu.

He was the heir of the Wenxuan Marquis’s household.

The Wenxuan Marquis’s household!

The First Prince was their political enemy!

An enemy, understand?

How could he possibly align himself with the First Prince?

Even if he wanted to, the First Prince probably wouldn’t accept him.

His expression shifted between green and white as he struggled to process it all. After a long moment, he finally managed to squeeze out:

“Have you lost your mind?”

Ling Yu merely smiled and beckoned.

“Brother Yu, come closer.”

Though suspicious, Yu Ziqing leaned in.

Ling Yu whispered something into his ear.

Yu Ziqing’s eyes flew wide open.

He froze completely.

Ling Yu raised an eyebrow.

“Do you understand now?”

“My heavens…”

It took Yu Ziqing quite some time to find his voice again.

He didn’t even know how to describe it.

Those people actually dared to do something like that?

This is… this is…

They’re treating the Emperor with utter contempt!

Ling Yu smiled.

“As long as you find evidence, even the First Prince won’t be worth fearing. As for the Third Prince, he’s incapable of handling state affairs. He cannot become Crown Prince.”

“At that point…”

“The Emperor will have only one choice left—the Second Prince.”

“I understand now.”

Yu Ziqing immediately stood up and gave Ling Yu a solemn bow.

“Thank you, Brother Ling. I’ll begin investigating right away.”

Without another word, he hurried off, not even stopping to freeload a meal.

If what Ling Yu had told him was true, it would be a scandal of imperial proportions.

And at the same time, he would owe Ling Yu an enormous favor.

The late Empress Yuan had truly suffered a tragic fate.

If they could seize hold of this weakness, what was there to fear from the First Prince?

The late Empress Yuan was the current Emperor’s greatest taboo—his untouchable reverse scale.

Anyone who touched it, even the First Prince himself, would face only one outcome.

Of course, Yu Ziqing still needed to verify everything.

He had to investigate thoroughly.

This matter couldn’t afford even the slightest mistake.

Ling Yu watched him leave.

Then he turned his gaze toward the direction of the Grand Princess’s residence.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Your Highness the Grand Princess, I’m helping you here.

You won’t disappoint me, will you?

Whether the late Empress Yuan can finally receive justice…

That largely depends on you.