Chapter 1185: Chapter 1021: Wishing Each Other Well

The Crown Prince glanced at the hall. The other monks had already been dismissed to rest in a side chamber; at this moment, only he and the Third brother were present.

He walked to Liao Wu’s side and sat down. Seeing that the other paid him no heed, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

"Third Brother, you really have changed your nature. No wonder people often say that listening to Zen and reciting Buddhist scriptures can clear the mind of cluttered thoughts. Has Third Brother been transformed by the Buddhist Law?"

The Crown Prince wasn’t bothered by Liao Wu’s indifference. Gazing at the incense rising before him, he too cast aside his inner distractions and lightly closed his eyes.

Listening to the wooden fish’s sound ringing in his ears, the Crown Prince felt unprecedentedly relaxed at this moment.

The Crown Prince recalled the bits and pieces over the past thirty-some years. It seemed that since he came to understand things, he had been calculating, never daring to relax for a moment.

He calculated how to win his father’s favor, calculated against his own brothers, calculated the courtiers, and sometimes even had to calculate against his mother.

Actually, he had once thought of living as a carefree and idle noble Prince, leading a life where his wife was virtuous and his sons were filial.

However, being born into the Royal Family left him no room for choice. Especially being the son of the Central Palace, refraining from competition would mean self-destruction.

Opportunities given by Heaven must not be missed, otherwise, you will be blamed. If he were the Fourth, such ambitions would not have germinated, but who told him to be born in the Central Palace?

"Third Brother, our father has passed, and I am about to inherit the realm. Yet my heart feels no joy at all; do you know why?"

Liao Wu’s hand did not pause in striking the wooden fish; he was as calm and composed as before.

"There is no kinship in the Royal Family, and I too am unwilling to lay hands on my siblings. I only hope we can each live well!"

The Crown Prince suddenly opened his eyes, a usually gentle face now frozen cold, with a piercing chill emanating from his gaze at Liao Wu.

Liao Wu sensed the coldness in the other’s eyes but remained unflustered.

"Your Highness! Past events are like smoke; now I am but a monk at Bao En Temple, known as Liao Wu! When all fireworks fade, it is all void; past events have dissipated with the wind. Why must Your Highness seek to probe further? The bustling world is but a few decades short; it’s best if each of us cherishes it well!"

Liao Wu paused the movement of his hand knocking on the wooden fish, turning his gaze back to the Crown Prince with a look of peace, unperturbed and clear.

The Crown Prince fixed his eyes on Liao Wu for a while before finally softening with a smile, "After all, I am still a man of the secular world, certainly not as detached as Third Brother. Some obsessions are, I suppose, normal. Third Brother, Father left a dying request for me to ensure your peace for a lifetime! Father still thought of you; otherwise, he wouldn’t have approved of my handling of you back then."

The Crown Prince stood up, gently patted Liao Wu on the shoulder.

Liao Wu stopped the rotating Buddha beads in his hand, paused for a moment without making a sound.

He looked back at the Crown Prince and suddenly reached out a hand towards the shoulder on which the other hand rested.

"Clang!" The sound of a sword leaving its sheath immediately echoed in the hall as a Hidden Guard in dark robes appeared behind the Crown Prince, watching that outstretched hand with intense vigilance.

Liao Wu felt a chill in his heart and withdrew his hand, "Remember, since childhood, Your Highness has shown the demeanor of an elder brother, as is your tolerance towards your brothers now. Father appointed Your Highness as the Crown Prince because he had unique foresight; no one can find fault with it."

The Crown Prince hastily dismissed the Hidden Guard. Glancing at Liao Wu’s retracted hand, he reminisced about the Third Brother of his childhood.

Since Princes could not live with their consort mothers from a young age, they were allocated separate residences in the palace as soon as they could walk.

In childhood, Third Brother was fondest of sticking to him since Third Brother was naturally timid. When he could barely walk, it was usually him who led the way.

Looking back, they once were like brothers in any ordinary family, living harmoniously. But as they grew up, it became fratricidal, with brothers fighting until one or the other met their end.

"Your Highness! Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Gu requests an audience!" De’an’s announcement from outside pulled the Crown Prince back from his reminiscence.

"Third Brother chants scriptures daily; it must be quite taxing, so take care of your health. Hereafter, I will often visit Bao En Temple to see you. Rong Jia mentioned your chess skills have improved again; let’s have a good game once free time permits."

Recalling the affectionate bond of their childhood, the Crown Prince’s tone naturally softened. After giving some instructions, he left the side hall.

Liao Wu watched the Crown Prince’s silhouette recede, then picked up the Buddha beads and resumed rotating them.

But a cold sneer had already crept onto the corner of his mouth. He had already renounced the secular life, yet still faced suspicion from the Crown Prince. The so-called dying words from their father were simply to probe him?

Rong Jia was right; it mattered not if he hid in a temple. Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, the reckoning will come.

Two years ago, to preserve his reputation, the Crown Prince ultimately spared him. But to cut off his aspirations, he was forced to become a monk.

Yet, the Crown Prince is ultimately too concerned with reputation. Even as a monk, what does it matter? Great achievements care not about your origin, nor about any sordid past you might have.

Victory makes you king, and defeat a bandit. As long as you win, history will be written as you wish.

Denying him the company of his wife and children, always having to worry about being settled with—it made life akin to death.

Even if Rong Jia hadn’t sought him out, he had already been secretly laying his plans. It’s just that the time is not yet ripe, some more patience is needed now.

"Your servant pays respects to Your Highness! There have been some developments regarding the assassins!"

Gu Chengyu arrived at the Eastern Palace and waited for nearly an hour before the Crown Prince finally came leisurely.

"No need for formalities, Mr. Gu! Have those assassins been caught? Such audacious villains, almost disregarding our Dayan Royal Family. If they escape, I will not be at ease!"

Speaking of the assassins, the Crown Prince was full of worries.

"Rest assured, Your Highness, this time my humble self captured thirteen assassins and has detained them in the Dali Temple, awaiting Your Highness’s decision!"

Hearing this, the Crown Prince was delighted, "And the mastermind, have they been captured?"

Gu Chengyu shook his head, "Not yet; these individuals must hold not insignificant positions in Da Xing, capturing them will certainly require more time."

At these words, the Crown Prince was somewhat disappointed, but he quickly put his mind to rest.

Catching the assassins themselves was no small feat. In such a vast Capital, finding these men was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Only someone as prudent and strategic as Gu Chengyu could manage, otherwise, those assassins might have roamed freely.

"Now that you’ve caught those assassins, news has leaked. Capturing the mastermind will now be difficult."

Gu Chengyu chuckled softly, "Capturing the mastermind isn’t hard, we shall continue searches in the city. As long as the Forbidden Guard Command Department secures the gates, we can trap them like turtles in a jar. Moreover, if they receive word, it will be timely to lure the snake out of the hole."

Actually, there was another method, but Gu Chengyu did not voice it out. This plan was somewhat treasonous, and as the heir to the realm, the Crown Prince could not be placed in danger.

"Then I must trouble Mr. Gu to oversee this matter." The Crown Prince, observing Gu Chengyu’s calm demeanor, suddenly recalled Shen Shikang’s suggestion.

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