If the emperor brought up the idea of selecting the crown prince through a competition at the beginning then they would have argued the same but it is a different matter if the prime minister insinuates it.

The court ended and once again throwing the inner palace into disarray, a competition means all the princes have a fair chance and that means not only the empress and imperial consort sons but also the sons of the lower ranking consorts except for the concubines without titles.

​​

"What! a competition!" the first prince exclaimed, overturning the table in front of him, he just got word from his mother who sent a servant to his mansion to deliver the news to him, he was enraged at his father's injustice, despite believing that his father has a reason for treating them the way he does.

"I am clearly the rightful heir to the throne and yet he will have me compete with my brothers!" with his anger just like his father's, he picked one of the vases gifted to him by his mother then shattered it to the ground and more and more while his helpless servant stood away from him.

"Your highness please calm down," his servant pleaded in fear that he might turn the entire mansion upside down.

"It is all because of him, Li Ruansong..." he growled, curling his fingers into a fist then slamming it against the wall.

Meanwhile, Li Ruansong had just moved into the new mansion bestowed upon him by the emperor, he was originally going to give him something more glamorous but he needed a place where he can operate secretly and renovate without anyone's knowledge so he requested the mansion far away from the palace.

He had already ordered Feng Shui to disguise some of the servants from the blossom valley as palace servants so he can choose them without being suspicious, the only people in his mansions are Xiaodi, Feng Shui, Meixiang, and a few servants from the blossom valley.

He made sure to decorate the mansion with flowers and a hot spring operating with a turbine like the blossom valley and paintings drawn by him.

"Your highness," Feng Shui called as he entered his room where he met the fourth prince playing chess all by himself.

"What is it?" the fourth prince asked with his eyes fixed on the chessboard.

"Madam Ju is here," he answered.

"Seems like you finished making the secret passageway faster than I thought, let her in," he flashed him a smile of satisfaction then continued arranging the pieces.

"Your highness," Madam Ju greeted with her head bowed as she entered the room while he gestures her to take her seat which she obliged to, she arranged her dress then lifted her veil with her crimson lips widening into a smile, without the need for an invitation, she picked one of the white pieces then placed it on the chessboard.

"Seems like your highness has already guessed the emperor's move or he told you himself," she remarked, placing another white piece after him, he smiled then dropped a black piece.

"The empress and imperial noble consort must be cursing me for foiling their plan but if I had known that they would be discussing the crowning of the prince, I wouldn't have returned yet," the current situation just disrupts his plan to watch the fight from the sidelines.

Madam Ju broadened her smile, playing after him.

"If the first prince succeeded in becoming the crown prince then it will only make your plans harder to execute, whether you like it or not, you are forever a thorn to him unless you have another candidate in mind," she flashed him a side glance, he raised his eyes to meet hers then nodded his head, this woman never failed to guess his thoughts.

"Indeed but my candidate is not interested in power, I don't want to drag him into this," he responded.

"Is it by any chance the seventh prince?" she asked with her brow raised.

The fourth prince was about to play but he dropped his black piece back into the round bowl then raised his gaze.

"Changlin is not fit to become the crown prince, he has no leadership skills but he makes a good follower, his martial skills are good but his dream is to live a peaceful life while roaming the world, I don't want him involved," he answered, showing deep sentiments on his face.

"Is there any other prince that doesn't hunger for power?"

"The sixth prince, Li QingZhao, since young, his interest has always laid in books and chess, nothing more and nothing less,"

"A bookworm, it seems," Madam Ju remarked.

"He is the perfect chess piece to put on the throne, he has always wanted to get close to me since young so he won't affect our plan and he possesses good qualities," he placed a black piece in a critical position on the chessboard.

"Seems like all your highness has helped the sixth prince win the competition them but from the information I gathered, the second prince excels over him in chess and he has poor martial art, he might be the best in terms of literary knowledge but the second prince has been accompanying the regional commander so he excels more in military strategy, seems like there is no hope for him," she commented, clearly expressing her disapproval in this chest piece of his as she placed another white piece which caused the fourth prince to move his black piece back.

"That is why I plan to ensure that no prince is crowned," he placed another piece of the board, Madam Ju and Feng Shui raised their brow at what he did.

"Checkmate," she remarked, glancing at the board then at him.

"A smart move, your highness," Feng Shui added, earning a smile from the fourth prince.

"Then what about your lover," Madam Ju asked with a tease, the fourth prince waved his black sleeve to return the chessboard to his spatial ring.

Feng Shui could barely hold his laughter at her tease.

"It won't be long before we meet," he responded in a serious tone, a servant entered the room with a teapot and cups, she poured them tea then exited the room.

Inside the large throne room of the blood moon sect, the sect leader sat on her throne with both arms on her crossed legs.

"Master," the three men in the room chorused, one being her disciple, Si Feng and the newly appointed left and right demon.

"You still haven't find the one who murdered the left the right demon?" she queried, their replacement might have been the best amongst the others but they are not as good and experienced as the dead left and right demons who have been with her for a long time.

"No master, it seems like they are very skilled itinerary masters," the newly appointed left demon answered.

"Master, the martial heroes contest is in a week and the emperor has announced that the crown princes will be chosen through a competition," Si Feng mentioned, hoping she doesn't dwell on the death of the left and right demon, after all, their death is to his advantage since they both of them look down on him and always create problems that he has to clean up.

"Hmmn....that I already know, the fourth prince is someone I am yet to unravel so for now we should focus on giving the sects and the court a grand surprise," an evil smirk formed on her lips, leaving the three to wonder what evil plan she has brewed in their absence.

The sects are already training their candidate's ass out just to bring their A-game to the competition, everyone in the Jianghu world already knows the competition is between the wind sect and the flame sect as no one knows just how powerful the flame sect is compared to their previous strength which is enough to make the other sects cower in fear but the other sects are not willing to back out, every sect wants to at least gain recognition.

Meanwhile, in the wind sect, Huo Lan was still trying to hone her power and with the help of Su Ci who has been hiding her declining health from her, she has managed to improve a bit but not enough to pass the test.

She has been going back into the spirit realm in the necklace to find her guardian but she hasn't seen him despite trying since the day they met, his beauty surpasses any man she has ever met including Lin Bohai whom she loves but has not been able to see her under the watchful eyes of his father and Meng Hui who is convinced that he has something to do with the explosion.

"Do you think I am going to do well?" Huo Lan asked as Su Ci washed her hair in the lake where both girls are taking a swim and bathing.

"You can and you will, I have confidence in you Huo Lan..."

{Even if I lose my life, I will make sure you leave this place,} she said to herself in her mind.

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