Chapter 2264: Chapter 1954: I Feel She Cares Too Much About Her Reputation
Hearing Ji Yunmeng’s question, Prince Zhen Nan looked at Lu Chen, then revealed a kind smile and said, "We are family, so there’s no need to speak like outsiders. Soon you will be my daughter-in-law, and naturally, Zhen Nan Prince Manor cannot see its daughter-in-law being blamed."
Upon hearing Prince Zhen Nan say this, Ji Yunmeng actually felt pressure. If Prince Zhen Nan proposed any conditions, as long as she could satisfy what Zhen Nan Prince Manor asked, she wouldn’t owe them a favor in the future. But now Prince Zhen Nan didn’t ask for any conditions, which means she would always owe Zhen Nan Prince Manor a favor, and in this world, the hardest debt to repay is a debt of gratitude.
Ji Yunmeng calmed her emotions a bit and thought that Prince Zhen Nan had some point. Soon she would marry into Zhen Nan Prince Manor. By then, she would be part of the manor, and even if she owed them a debt of gratitude, she wouldn’t need to repay it.
If she really had to repay the debt of gratitude, she could simply bear more children for Lu Chen. After all, by that time, the entire Zhen Nan Prince Manor would be hers.
Ji Yunmeng then expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Prince Zhen Nan, thank you, Master Lu."
Prince Zhen Nan said, "Since the method to clear any blame has been decided, let’s get ready. There are many Earth Realm strong persons in the Capital city, and we have to proceed cautiously so as not to alert the Royal Family."
At this moment, Lu Chen asked, "Princess, besides you, who else in the Deceit Suppression Bureau knows that the five Earth Realm Stranges have already broken the seal?"
Ji Yunmeng replied, "Besides me, there are several division heads of the Deceit Suppression Bureau, two former commanders, and also a Deceit Suppressing Guard named Zeng Shuo, who is the person you sent to record what the Stranges look like."
Lu Chen said, "No wonder he didn’t return last night; it turns out he was detained at the Deceit Suppression Bureau."
This matter is too significant. To prevent the news from leaking out, they would surely block the information immediately.
Lu Chen thought for a moment and then said, "The higher-ups of the Deceit Suppression Bureau are tied to you, and they cannot bear the responsibility for the Earth Realm Stranges breaching the seal. So they likely won’t speak, and the key issue now is how to deceive the others in the Deceit Suppression Bureau."
"Once others hear that the Deceit Suppression Bureau’s five Earth Realm Stranges have broken the seal, they will definitely send people to probe the situation. That person in the palace will probably send the Royal Family’s tributors to investigate. If even the Deceit Suppressing Guards can’t be fooled, then there’s no hope of deceiving the Royal Family’s tributors."
Prince Zhen Nan asked, "Chen’er, what do you think should be done?"
At this, Lu Chen looked up at Prince Zhen Nan, with a slight smile, and said, "I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble Father to personally take action."
Hearing this, both Prince Zhen Nan and Ji Yunmeng were taken aback, especially Ji Yunmeng. She hadn’t expected Lu Chen to ask Prince Zhen Nan to personally act. Knowing that Prince Zhen Nan was already a dying man, if he were to act, wouldn’t it accelerate the backlash from the spiritual evil he harbored, causing him to die more quickly?
Lu Chen continued, "Father, the Black Evil in you is quite similar to the spiritual evil in the Stranges. If you act, it’s more likely that others will believe you to be the Earth Realm Strange."
Upon hearing this, Prince Zhen Nan realized that indeed, as long as he could suppress the death qi within him and release the Black Evil, without anyone seeing his face, people would surely suspect him to be the Earth Realm Strange.
As for suppressing the death qi, it’s not too difficult. One only needs to wear certain treasures that can conceal death qi to cover it up.
At this moment, Ji Yunmeng reminded from the side, "There’s no need to trouble Prince Zhen Nan for this, just borrow five Earth Realm entities from Zhen Nan Prince Manor for the Deceit Suppression Bureau."
Ji Yunmeng didn’t dare to let Prince Zhen Nan participate in this matter. If something happened to him, the entire Zhen Nan Prince Manor might bear a grudge against her, especially those strong persons in the manor. If they blamed Prince Zhen Nan’s death on her, how could she ever control Zhen Nan Prince Manor in the future?
Just after Ji Yunmeng spoke, Prince Zhen Nan said, "Chen’er is right. If I act, it will be easier to deceive others."
This...
Seeing that Prince Zhen Nan truly intended to act, Ji Yunmeng became worried instead.
Prince Zhen Nan, knowing what Ji Yunmeng was concerned about, continued, "Princess, don’t worry. This old body of mine can still hold on for a while; I won’t die so soon."
Hearing Prince Zhen Nan’s tone, Ji Yunmeng felt somewhat confused internally: Could Prince Zhen Nan really have found a way to temporarily suppress the spiritual evil backlash?
Though she was very curious, Ji Yunmeng also knew this was a secret of Zhen Nan Prince Manor, so she did not ask further.
Prince Zhen Nan continued, "Then the Princess should return to the Deceit Suppression Bureau to work on the layout. Once everything is ready, I will personally lead people to the bureau."
Seeing that Prince Zhen Nan had made up his mind, Ji Yunmeng couldn’t argue anymore. After all, it was Prince Zhen Nan who was helping the Deceit Suppression Bureau, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to make demands. Since Prince Zhen Nan insisted on acting, let him act.
Ji Yunmeng then stood up, thanked Prince Zhen Nan once more, and directly turned to leave Zhen Nan Prince Manor.
Watching Ji Yunmeng’s departing figure, Prince Zhen Nan looked at Lu Chen with comfort and said, "Chen’er, you’re now capable of handling matters on your own, and I can leave with peace of mind."
Upon hearing this, Lu Chen immediately said, "Father, what are you saying? With me helping you to extract the Black Evil in your body, living for several more thousand years is not a problem."
Prince Zhen Nan restrained his smile and sighed deeply, "The backlash of the spiritual evil is irreversible. Although you’ve helped me extract a large amount of Black Evil, reducing the spiritual evil’s backlash, my body still constantly generates Black Evil, and this Black Evil continues to devour my vitality."
"If I can’t break through to a higher realm, with your help, I might extend my life by a mere ten more years at most."
Prince Zhen Nan was self-aware. Even at his peak, he couldn’t break through to a higher realm, and now with his body exhausted, it was impossible to reach a higher realm.
He no longer harbored such fantasies. In his eyes, Lu Chen was already a perfect successor. As long as Lu Chen lived, under Lu Chen’s leadership, Zhen Nan Prince Manor would surely rise again, and thus he had no complaints.
At this moment, Prince Zhen Nan thought of something and reminded, "Princess Yun’an is not someone who settles easily. When she marries into Zhen Nan Prince Manor, you must be careful."
As an old fox living for over a thousand years, Prince Zhen Nan could clearly sense Ji Yunmeng’s greater ambitions. Initially, he believed Ji Yunmeng approached Zhen Nan Prince Manor under Emperor Zhou’s instruction, but thinking about it now, besides Emperor Zhou’s instruction, Ji Yunmeng likely had her own plans.
Hearing Prince Zhen Nan’s reminder, Lu Chen asked, "Oh? Did Father discover something?"
Prince Zhen Nan said, "It’s just my feeling. Such an important incident as the Earth Realm Stranges breaking the seal, she actually wants to hide it and not report it. She intends to rely on the Deceit Suppression Bureau and Zhen Nan Prince Manor to resolve the matter. I feel she is overly concerned about her reputation."
