Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 473 - Just Watch the Show.

“Oh? Lord Zheng, what brings you here in your free time?”

Yanzhao Prince’s Residence.

Prince Yan, Wu Dengmin, watched as the Minister of Judicial Review hurried toward him. He quickly stepped forward to greet him, afraid of appearing negligent.

“Your Highness, you’re joking,” Zheng Liu said hastily. “I have a matter at hand and truly do not know how to handle it. That is why I have come uninvited. If I have disturbed you in any way, I ask for your forgiveness.”

Prince Yan waved his hand with a broad smile. “Lord Zheng, just speak your mind. As long as it’s within my power, I will certainly help. Our relationship is solid—you can rest assured.”

“It’s like this...” Zheng Liu’s eyes flickered as he organized his words, then slowly continued, “My son was staying in Huaibei just fine, but for some reason, I only found out today that he had come to Wudu.”

Prince Yan chuckled. “Perhaps he simply wanted to see you. That would be perfectly normal.”

Zheng Liu inwardly cursed the old fox but pressed on, “The problem isn’t just that my son came to Wudu. The issue is that today, he got into a conflict with the Jinyiwei and has now been taken into custody. What should I do?”

“Eh?”

Wu Dengmin looked at Zheng Liu in apparent disbelief. freēwēbnovel.com

“Your son was arrested by the Jinyiwei? Well, now that’s a real problem. You and I both know what kind of people they are. This won’t be easy to handle.”

“That’s exactly the issue.” Zheng Liu nodded. “Which is why I have no choice but to come and ask for your help.”

Wu Dengmin nodded. “May I ask, what exactly did your son do?”

Zheng Liu swallowed hard. “He forcibly took a commoner’s daughter.”

Wu Dengmin: “...”

He looked at Zheng Liu with an ambiguous smile. “Lord Zheng, you of all people should know—even the esteemed Young Master Xu Zheng of the Xu Family in the capital dares not cross the line too far. Even when he harasses common women, he only dares to do so in the countryside.”

“Wait—if I remember correctly, the current Commander of the Jinyiwei, our dear Zhuangyuan Lang (Top Scholar) Xu Ming... wasn’t his mother once taken in by the Xu Family under similar circumstances?”

“This old fox! Even now, he’s taking a jab at Xu Ming!” Zheng Liu thought bitterly.

Of course, his frustration wasn’t out of sympathy for Xu Ming but rather because Wu Dengmin kept dodging the issue and playing games with him.

As for Xu Ming—the man who had shaken not only Wu Kingdom but the entire world—Zheng Liu had neither a fondness for him nor any particular dislike. Their paths had never crossed.

But the same couldn’t be said for the Prince of Yan. This man had long harbored ambitions of marrying his son to Wu Yanhán, but the Emperor had no interest in his son whatsoever.

“Lord Zheng,” Wu Dengmin sighed, looking helpless. “It’s not that I don’t want to help you, but how should I put it? I don’t exactly have many connections within the Jinyiwei.”

Zheng Liu watched Wu Dengmin’s performance and felt a pang of irritation.

But in the end, he forced himself to remain calm. With a level voice, he said, “There are some things I wish to discuss privately with Your Highness. Would that be possible?”

Wu Dengmin glanced around before waving his hand. “You all, step outside for now.”

“Yes.”

The maids serving at his side bowed and left the courtyard.

“You may speak freely now, Lord Zheng,” Wu Dengmin said with a smile.

Zheng Liu took a deep breath, lowered his voice instinctively, and said, “Your Highness... my son was likely lured to Wudu by that person, wasn’t he?”

Wu Dengmin’s body tensed immediately. His brows furrowed as he sat upright, his expression turning serious.

“Lord Zheng, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Zheng Liu chuckled. “Your Highness, there’s no need to feign ignorance. In all of Wudu, how many people would dare to openly challenge the Jinyiwei? Not to mention, Lord Xu’s influence is at its peak right now.

I’ll admit, I owe that esteemed man a great debt. The position I hold today is entirely thanks to his grace. There are countless ties between the Jingzhao Bureau and our Court of Judicial Review. Many within Jingzhao Bureau have long harbored resentment toward the Jinyiwei, ever since their authority was diminished by them.

So, if this matter escalated into a conflict, it wouldn’t surprise anyone.

But, Your Highness—this is my only son we’re talking about. That esteemed man orchestrated all of this without even informing me. Isn’t that going a bit too far?”

“Heh... heh heh heh...”

Prince Yan’s expression shifted. The feigned helplessness was gone, replaced by an amused smirk as he looked at Zheng Liu.

“Since you’ve already laid everything out so plainly, I won’t bother playing coy with you anymore.

Yes—your son was indeed summoned to Wudu by that esteemed man.

And everything happening now is part of the plan he set in motion.

Just as you said, the position you hold today is entirely thanks to him.

For all these years, he hasn’t asked anything of you. But now—it’s time for you to repay your debt.”

Prince Yan patted Zheng Liu on the shoulder. “Don’t even think about resisting. The same man who put you in this position can just as easily take it away.

It’s just a son—don’t throw away your entire future over this.

If I recall correctly, you have quite a few illegitimate children outside, don’t you? It’s just that your wife is too fierce, and you don’t dare let her find out.”

Zheng Liu: “...”

Prince Yan turned away, picking up a pair of scissors and resuming the careful trimming of the courtyard’s flowers. “It’s getting late. You’d best head to the Jinyiwei headquarters now. If you delay and disrupt that esteemed man’s plan... well, that would be a real problem.”

Zheng Liu stood motionless, fists clenched. After a long, deep breath, his grip loosened. As if resigning himself to fate, he said, “I understand. I’ll go to the Jinyiwei now. But tell me, Your Highness—what exactly does that esteemed man want me to do?”

Prince Yan didn’t even turn his head. “It’s simple—you’re a father who loves his son. He’s your only child. You’ll do anything to get him back. Do you understand?”

Zheng Liu: “...”

“Relax—you’ll be fine. Your position will be fine. This matter even involves our nation’s Grand Pillar himself.”

Prince Yan let out a small laugh. With a snip, the scissors cut through the stem of a flower, letting it fall to the ground.

He crouched down, picked up the fallen orchid, and brought it close, inhaling its fragrance.

“This time,” he murmured, “we’ll finally get to see a proper spectacle.

Let’s find out—is Lord Xu’s head harder, or is the Grand Pillar’s fist stronger?”

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