Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 802 - 638: Mastery Reached

"I have reiterated many times that this matter must be foolproof. How did you guarantee it back then? The situation now is beyond my control. What punishment do you deserve?"

The pale, handsome young man gripped the brush in his hand, the whiteness of his fingertips revealing the force he exerted.

He looked at the man in black kneeling below, finishing his words, and then helplessly put down the brush.

The man in black, kneeling below, turned pale at these words. "Please punish me, Your Highness! This matter indeed went awry on my end."

"An accident? I heard that the Eldest Prince left the palace with few men. Even if the person you mentioned who later came to his aid is very skilled, it was just one person."

Prince Jing walked to the window and looked at the dark night sky outside, sighing uncontrollably in his heart.

If only Gu Chengyu could assist him, he wouldn’t be worried about these issues. These people accomplish nothing and ruin everything.

Gu Chengyu was both scholarly and adept in martial arts, brave and resourceful, and certainly wouldn’t abandon things halfway.

"Back when Captain Tang recommended you, he said you were highly skilled in martial arts and cautious in your actions. Over the years, I have been quite satisfied with you. But this time, with such a major issue, you messed it up. You must understand, we’re already on the same boat. Your actions this time have greatly disappointed me."

Prince Jing looked back at the man, his gaze resting on the man’s arm, which was bandaged with a strip of cloth, soaked with some blood.

This man was introduced by Captain Tang, a Jianghu practitioner named Lin Han, who was once closely related to a Jianghu Sect.

He initially accepted him due to his excellent martial arts skills and promised that once he ascended the throne, there would naturally be no lack of high positions and generous rewards.

However, this person lacked loyalty. If he had exerted his full effort, he didn’t believe things would end like this.

As for why he believed this person didn’t exert full effort, one only needed to look at the wound on his arm.

He could see that the wound on the arm was not severe; moreover, if he had put in his full effort, how could there only be one injury?

Didn’t it mean he was afraid of death and didn’t have the courage?

"Your Highness! That person was truly formidable; I was no match and retreated. Otherwise, I might have been caught, dragging you down with me!"

Lin Han’s face flushed slightly, knowing his retreating behavior caused displeasure in the Prince’s heart.

But who in this world wouldn’t cherish life? Knowing he was no match and still rushing to die, wouldn’t that be foolish?

Prince Jing laughed in exasperation at Lin Han’s words, surprised that this person dared to brush him off so casually.

He wasn’t demanding that the other party fight to the death, as if the people under him were all brave but witless, he would have no one to use.

However, he couldn’t stand this person’s indifferent attitude towards him, realizing that over the years, Lin Han had mistaken his leniency for weakness.

He indeed valued him usually, precisely because of Lin Han’s decent martial arts, so he often sent him to handle many affairs.

Since he worked hard for him, he naturally had to be accommodating.

Unexpectedly, this nurtured the person’s arrogance, and at this moment, Prince Jing’s heart surged with a killing intent.

There was no need to keep someone who didn’t follow orders and didn’t respect him.

However, it was not the right time to kill him now.

He had been running errands for him for many years; if he were eliminated after failing the assassination, it might chill the hearts of the subordinates.

He had ways to make someone vanish without a trace, so there was no rush for that matter.

"Now that Father has ordered a thorough investigation into this matter, with Third Brother taking the heat, Father won’t suspect me for the moment. But Father’s wisdom means he will eventually suspect me. Mr. Hu, do you have any good suggestions?"

Prince Jing no longer looked at the kneeling Lin Han and turned instead to another man in the room.

If Gu Chengyu were here, he would surely be greatly shocked—wasn’t this man Hu Maoshen?

"Your Highness need not worry; although the assassination failed, the Emperor certainly has no evidence proving it was your handiwork. All related people have been properly settled, ensuring that no one will find them."

Hu Maoshen was not overly concerned about this, especially since they had already sent the doctor far away.

Even if the Emperor suspected, Prince Jing was so low-key in court; even during the last court struggle for succession, Prince Jing’s side remained silent.

Even if the Emperor had suspicions, he should focus on the Second Prince first.

Upon hearing this, Prince Jing’s eyes flashed. Naturally, no one would find them.

"This time, the Eldest Prince went to the Hejian Prefecture because of our scheme. Will the Emperor find any clues afterward?"

Adviser Guo Jing in the residence was somewhat worried. The reason for the Eldest Prince’s return to his hometown was clear to everyone, fearing the Emperor might discover something.

Hu Maoshen furrowed his brow tightly in response and glanced at Prince Jing, sighing silently.

He had joined Prince Jing’s faction out of helplessness—after the Wan Xue Nian incident, he felt his efforts of the past two years had gone to waste, developing a deep grievance against the Eldest Prince.

Furthermore, because of this incident, he had seriously offended the Eldest Prince. With the Emperor already elderly, he naturally had to choose a wise ruler to serve.

Otherwise, if the Eldest Prince gained power, what good would come his way?

The Third Prince he had never even considered; while the Third Prince had some strategies, his temperament was too impulsive and self-serving.

Being so heartless as to discard those relying on him without hesitation in times of trouble meant he naturally couldn’t consider him.

As for Prince Jing, who showed no signs, he didn’t consider him initially, with his only option being the Second Prince.

While the Second Prince’s abilities were somewhat inferior to the Eldest Prince, the Second Prince was loyal, kind, and respectful to capable people, making him his chosen candidate.

Fate, however, intervened—he once encountered Prince Jing by chance at a tavern. That encounter made him change his mind.

He admitted to having ambitions, always thinking the Second Prince lacked capability and fearing he couldn’t compete with the Eldest Prince.

He wanted to back the underdog when Prince Jing was in decline, so Prince Jing would appreciate him later.

The more he interacted with Prince Jing, the more he realized he was gravely mistaken.

Decline? That was utterly baseless.

Over the years, Prince Jing’s covert operations had shocked him, with many court affairs secretly orchestrated by him.

Previously, he had thought Prince Jing frail and reclusive, believing him disengaged from matters!

Unexpectedly, this person controlled court affairs from his tranquil manor, leaving his mark on many things, including the Eldest Prince’s trip to Hejian Prefecture.

Sometimes, he found Prince Jing terrifying, with traps woven to perfection.