Chapter 57: Appearing Foolish While Possessing Great Wisdom

"Seize them!"

At Gao Changsheng’s command, Han Cong and Shi Meng moved first.

Yet the soldiers hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Dou Yuan.

“What are you waiting for? Take action!” Dou Yuan snapped, snapping back to attention. He no longer cared about Gao Changsheng’s intentions—action was the only way forward.

With Dou Yuan’s order, the troops no longer wavered. Over a thousand soldiers raised their weapons, encircling Lang Qingzao and the Qingwu Guards.

“A perfect crime: murder to silence, deceiving His Majesty,” one whispered.

“The Sixth Prince truly is as cunning as the rumors say!” another murmured.

Lang Qingzao suddenly laughed aloud. Behind his mask, no one could see his expression, but his tone mocked Gao Changsheng unmistakably.

“Bah! You only allow the Qingwu Guards to accuse others, but not to be accused yourselves?” Dou Yuan retorted fiercely. “Lang Qingzao, it must be bitter to be falsely accused!”

Dou Yuan threw caution aside, having already offended Lang Qingzao. He might as well vent his spite fully.

“So what?” Lang Qingzao scoffed arrogantly. “His Majesty trusts me above all others. A mere thousand insignificant lives—do you really think the Grand General and Sixth Prince believe His Majesty cares?”

His arrogance was palpable.

But this time, Lang Qingzao’s words sent a cold sweat down Gao Changsheng’s back. A thousand lives were worth less than grass and weeds in the eyes of the Divine Martial Emperor.

It was clear from Lang Qingzao’s tone that the Emperor cared nothing for the truth hidden behind these thousand Qingwu Guards.

Perhaps the Emperor already knew the truth and was thus so indifferent.

Either possibility was enough to make Gao Changsheng’s heart race with fear.

“So the most terrifying figure in the entire Dayong Dynasty is the Emperor himself,” Gao Changsheng muttered under his breath.

Though he had never underestimated the Divine Martial Emperor, witnessing his true cunning was a far cry from mere conjecture.

From the depths of the inner palace, the Emperor controlled everything; his scheming and intellect far exceeded Gao Changsheng’s imagination.

No wonder Lang Qingzao was so brazen!

“It seems the Sixth Prince has grasped this truth well—no wonder His Majesty holds such hopes for him,” Lang Qingzao said with a nod of approval.

Hopes?

Hearing this, Gao Changsheng forced a bitter smile.

The so-called hope was merely a hollow title sent across thousands of miles, while the unseen hand in the palace permitted assassinations against him with impunity.

If this was the Emperor’s hope, Gao Changsheng would rather have none.

“Bring the double-pearl golden crown bestowed by His Majesty to Your Highness,” Lang Qingzao said calmly.

A Qingwu Guard then presented a splendid brocade robe and a golden crown adorned with two dazzling pearls—the symbol of a prince.

Gao Changsheng stood frozen.

When the Qingwu Guard placed the crown and robe before him, he bitterly thought, This isn’t an escort for a criminal—it’s Lang Qingzao sent to intimidate me!

He had hoped to conceal his actions from the Divine Martial Emperor, but every move was already under the Emperor’s control.

This Emperor was practically a living spirit!

“Then let Lang Qingzao thank Father Emperor on my behalf!” Gao Changsheng reluctantly submitted to the Emperor’s overwhelming authority.

The title of Double-Pearl Prince sounded glorious but was a scorching hot potato for Gao Changsheng.

It was as if the Divine Martial Emperor had set a bullseye on him, forcing the Crown Prince and two princes to shoot arrows at him.

The old devil’s intentions were far from good!

“General, will you still arrest me?” Lang Qingzao looked to Dou Yuan, chuckling softly.

“Hmph!” Dou Yuan was no fool. The delivery of the double-pearl crown clearly indicated this was the Emperor’s will.

To make things difficult for Lang Qingzao now would be to oppose the Emperor.

Just as Dou Yuan was about to release him, Gao Changsheng appeared beside him unexpectedly.

“Of course I will arrest you,” Gao Changsheng said with a wry smile.

His words stunned Dou Yuan and Lang Qingzao alike.

Knowing full well that Lang Qingzao represented the Emperor, Gao Changsheng still insisted on arresting him.

What game was he playing?

“I repeat: without a sacred decree, arbitrarily killing an imperial criminal is deliberate murder to silence witnesses,” Gao Changsheng declared.

“I am grateful to the Master of Surveillance for delivering the double-pearl crown on behalf of Father Emperor.”

“But neither this crown nor the robe contains any proof that Father Emperor consents to the Qingwu Guards’ unauthorized killings.”

“However, Master of Surveillance, rest assured,” Gao Changsheng added lightly.

“The General will immediately dispatch messengers to Jingyong City. Once the Emperor’s decree arrives, we will release them at once!”

At these words, Dou Yuan and Lang Qingzao immediately understood Gao Changsheng’s intention.

He was feigning ignorance, pretending not to grasp the hidden intrigue.

Since Lang Qingzao could not produce the sacred decree, that alone was a fatal flaw.

On the surface, Gao Changsheng’s stance was unassailable.

Yet it helped Dou Yuan restore his prestige within the army.

In truth, if not for Dou Yuan’s sake, Gao Changsheng would never have dared offend Lang Qingzao.

But there was no choice.

With the northern border close at hand, allowing Dou Yuan to lose face now would surely weaken the troops’ fighting spirit.

No matter how unwilling, Gao Changsheng had to think of the greater good.

“What are you all standing there for? Seize them!” Dou Yuan, understanding Gao Changsheng’s careful plan, no longer hesitated.

Unexpectedly, Lang Qingzao said nothing further, as if anticipating this outcome.

“Damn it! Though we’ve won this round, I still feel like we’re being manipulated,” Gao Changsheng muttered, exasperated.

The place that had held the imperial criminals now became a prison for Lang Qingzao and his men.

The bloodstains on the ground were cleaned away, and peace returned.

The group returned to their tents, all wearing worried expressions.

“The army will set out tomorrow. I propose leaving a detachment under Your Highness’s command,” Dou Yuan suggested.

“Once the Emperor’s decree arrives, Your Highness can proceed to the northern border without delay.”

“No need,” Gao Changsheng shook his head.

“You and I both know Lang Qingzao volunteered to be detained.”

“Even without guards, he would not flee.”

“Have the county magistrate of Fengxi send men to keep watch. There is no need for us to be distracted here any longer.”

Having come to terms with the situation, Gao Changsheng felt relieved.

Since everything was already within the Divine Martial Emperor’s design, why waste effort opposing him?

He admitted he could not defeat the Emperor for now.

But the Emperor was human, not a god.

He might control the Dayong Dynasty, but not Beiqi.

Once the army reached the northern border and war with Beiqi began, no matter how powerful the Emperor was, he could not dictate the outcome.

Freed from the Emperor’s grasp, Gao Changsheng would seize the opportunity to cultivate his own power base.

At the very least, he needed a faction strong enough to rival the Empress to have a chance at the throne.