Chapter 988: Chapter 988

If it were within the Daqian territory, even at the same tier, it would be suppressed by Emperor Qian single-handedly.

No one understands a father better than his son. The Crown Prince had simply never thought about these things before, nor had he ever imagined that Emperor Qian would take the initiative to abdicate.

The time had been so long, so long that no one ever considered such a thing.

But once it was pointed out, the Crown Prince understood that this was not mere speculation—it was a very real possibility.

The Crown Prince had been restless, always unable to understand why, besides maintaining the nation's stability and political steadiness, Emperor Qian would handle things so lightly.

And it wasn't absurd at all; it was particularly in line with Emperor Qian's character.

The so-called royal affections, the Crown Prince had understood at the age of ten that it was best to pretend they didn't exist.

Even if they did, they were just performances for outsiders, used to stabilize the political situation.

When things were going well, perhaps there was a bit of sincerity.

But at critical moments, when the pain was heart-wrenching and there was great reluctance, there was no hesitation at all when the time came to raise the butcher's knife.

The Crown Prince said nothing, which was as good as an acknowledgment; otherwise, he would have refuted it.

The New Five said no more, the timing was just right.

The Crown Prince indeed needed their help.

The forces extended by the organization, the forces they indirectly influenced, were capable of many things.

The certainty of success wasn't necessarily eighty to ninety percent, but the certainty of failure was absolutely one hundred percent.

After pondering for a long time, the Crown Prince suddenly asked a question.

"How much is that Dragon Talisman actually involved?"

"It seems Your Highness truly doesn't know..." The New Five smoothly changed the address.

"That Fierce Beast was forcibly pieced together with a Curse using the Four True Bloodlines.

The involvement is immense, and deeper places I am not very sure of, nor do I dare investigate or know.

Your Highness was careless."

With this statement, the New Five, the Crown Prince closed his eyes, with a vague suspicion forming in his heart.

He became more and more certain of his previous speculation.

Father, are you really just using me for a moment?

Even if you let me ascend the throne, is it just to use me for a moment? ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾※𝙣𝙚𝙩

"Is there anyone left in Langya Institute?"

"Since No.3's fall, there has been no one left in Langya Institute; that place is indeed difficult to infiltrate.

However, if we were to show up, we would only spoil things, yet if Your Highness personally makes a move and does something, it would actually be much easier.

There have been many falls within Langya Institute recently, and this news can no longer be suppressed.

No matter how much I say, it's not as good as having Your Highness see it with your own eyes and investigate it personally.

Besides the matter of Langya Institute, if Your Highness needs any help, feel free to ask."

After saying this, the New Five quietly departed.

Leaving the side courtyard's secret chamber, he slipped along the road and glanced back.

He sighed slightly within, though merely intending to stoke the fire and test the waters, he indeed found those words easy to believe.

When he first heard it from Yu Ziqing, he was shocked.

For he had never thought that Emperor Qian would dare to abandon the throne.

But upon deeper reflection, it seemed to make quite a bit of sense.

On the other side, the Crown Prince, after pondering alone for a long time, indeed grew more and more alarmed.

The Dragon Talisman, not given to him by White Water Egg's people, was really obtained from Langya Institute.

He had originally regarded it as just one of the many failed products of Langya Institute, just something a bit special.

What if this matter was also orchestrated by Emperor Qian?

Thinking of the recent situation in Langya Institute, he gritted his teeth and had a message sent to Cheng Jing.

He wanted to understand what was truly going on.

Getting the message, Cheng Jing was invited by the Crown Prince to rendezvous in a secluded side courtyard unknown to the public.

Cheng Jing glanced at the Dragon Tiger Daoist beside him, whose expression was as heavy as water.

"Go meet him, and judge the timing for yourself."

Cheng Jing nodded and went to meet the Crown Prince.

Upon meeting, the Crown Prince spoke directly.

"I've heard that there has been unrest and instability recently within Langya Institute.

By my father's order, I am to oversee the nation, and Langya Institute is the most important place of the Divine Dynasty; it's unavoidable for me to inquire."

"What Your Highness says is very true."

"I wonder how the former Dean has been lately?"

"Everything is as usual."

"That's good. The former Dean once gifted me a treasure, which I liked very much, and I have not seen him recently, so I couldn't help but inquire."

The Crown Prince's tone was calm, seemingly without any feeling of a greeting, but rather a kind of indescribable feeling.

Hearing this, Cheng Jing recalled what the Dragon Tiger Daoist had told him earlier, and his heart suddenly dropped.

The Crown Prince took action so swiftly, they had only just learned a bit of the situation and hadn't yet found any clues.

The Crown Prince had already sold out the former Dean.

If it hadn't come from the Crown Prince's mouth, Cheng Jing himself wouldn't believe that the former Dean, who was busy with his own research, was involved in such matters.

What had happened that would cause the Crown Prince to sell out the former Dean directly?

Even at the cost of exposing that the Crown Prince might really be linked to the White Water Egg, or implicated with them?

Cheng Jing truly hadn't expected things to develop this way.

"I hadn't paid much attention to that treasure and directly gave it away.

Only recently did I come to understand its significant implications and wanted to contact the former Dean for clarification.

If the former Dean is too busy, then let it be."

This time, the Crown Prince was being overtly explicit.

Cheng Jing couldn't comprehend the Crown Prince's self-exposure; after pondering over it, he could only assume that the Crown Prince might sacrifice small matters for greater justice. This increased his respect for him, restoring much of the goodwill.

He stood up and bowed.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for informing me. If there are any results, I won't keep them from Your Highness."

"Thank you." The Crown Prince rose and returned the courtesy.

Cheng Jing hurried back to Langya Institute, discussed with the Dragon Tiger Daoist, and that very day, quietly detained the visibly scholarly type Dean.