Chapter 1455: 711

“He’s just a mere student from Canglan Academy, what does his life have to do with me? Why should I even care?”

After the monarch and the Little Princesses had left, Xiao Hen also led little Jing Kong back to the neighboring Canglan Academy.

Han Ye, the Crown Prince of Han, stepped out from a private room on the second floor of a tea house near Lingbo Academy, intending to go to Canglan Academy to capture someone, when suddenly a guard from the Han Family rode up to him at a gallop, stopped in front of him, dismounted, and reported, “Your Highness, the old master summons you home! There are urgent matters to discuss!”

The old master, the current head of the Han Family, was Han Ye’s paternal grandfather.

Watching Xiao Hen’s retreating figure, Han Ye frowned and muttered, “Lucky for you!”

Han Ye hastened back to Han Family compound without delay.

The Han Family held a solemn family meeting, with the old patriarch, the five family elders, his father, and his uncle all present. They were discussing how to divide up the military power of the Nangong Family.

As the heir of the Nangong Family, Nangong Li’s death had dealt an irreparable blow to the family. Although the old master of the Nangong Family was still alive, his age was advanced. Nangong Li’s elder brother was no good either, and although there were a few outstanding youths among the children and nephews, internal strife had arisen with the Han Family fanning the flames from behind.

In short, the Nangong Family was in complete disarray at this point.

If the chance to divide their military power wasn’t seized now, once the Nangong Family overcame this difficult period and united as one, shaking their position would become much harder.

As a junior, Han Ye didn’t have much of a say in front of his grandfather and the senior elders; he just listened quietly.

His participation wasn’t about offering strategies, but as a future successor of the family, he had the right and duty to be informed of any changes within the family.

A disagreement arose among the old patriarch and the elders. Some advocated for action now, proposing a direct appeal to His Majesty to reassign the Han Family’s younger generation to Nangong Li’s former positions in the military; others suggested waiting and watching, allowing the Nangong Family to recommend their own, while they sabotaged them in secret to solidify the fact of the Nangong Family’s lack of a worthy successor, and then ask the Crown Prince to intercede for the Han Family.

Han Ye thought to himself, what use was this infighting now? If the Crown Prince’s position is not secure, it’s not just the Nangong Family’s military power that would be forfeited, but Han Family’s as well.

Han Ye was someone who could keep his cool, and he didn’t blurt out about Xiao Liulang simply because he felt they were fighting over the wrong issues.

After a full two hours of relentless arguing, spitting fire, the old men still couldn’t reach a conclusion and decided to continue the quarreling the next day.

Once all the elders had left, Han Ye finally set out to return to his own courtyard.

His trusted guard approached with care and reported in a low voice, “Your Highness, an official close to the Crown Prince has come and insists that you visit the Crown Prince’s palace tonight.”

Han Ye avoided everyone’s eyes and headed towards the Crown Prince’s palace.

It was deep into the night, yet the Crown Prince had not yet retired to rest.

“Your Highness,”

Inside the study room, Han Ye lowered the hood of his black cloak and gave a bow to the Crown Prince, who stood by the window gazing at the bright moon.

The Crown Prince waved his hand, turning around, “No need for formalities. How did things go today? Did His Majesty meet him?”

“He did,” said Han Ye.

The Crown Prince’s expression shifted, stepping forward, “Then…”

Han Ye continued, “He also saw His Majesty, but judging from their reactions, it seems His Majesty did not recognize him.”

Xiao Liulang was dressed in the uniform of the female students from Canglan Academy, with his face concealed by a veil; no one could possibly recognize him in such a disguise.

The Crown Prince inquired, “What about Xiao Liulang? How did he react when he saw His Majesty?”

Han Ye said, “No reaction.”

The Crown Prince frowned, “No reaction?”

Reflecting on the scene he had witnessed, Han Ye remarked, “He’s a calm person, which is indeed noteworthy.”

The aura of the monarch was incredibly imposing; there were very few who could meet the National Master’s eyes without flinching.

The Crown Prince pressed on, “He didn’t speak to His Majesty?”

Han Ye shook his head, “No, they didn’t speak. His Majesty was sitting in the carriage; he was standing at the entrance of Lingbo Academy.”

The Crown Prince mused, “If he saw him, why didn’t he speak?”

Han Ye theorized, “I suppose either he is completely unaware of his own identity, or even if he is aware, he didn’t recognize His Majesty.”

The Crown Prince clenched his fist, resting it on the windowsill, his gaze distant, “We cannot let him meet His Majesty. If he tells His Majesty about Nangong Li’s attempt to assassinate him and implicates me, my position as the Crown Prince might well be at its end.”

The monarch could disregard or even kill the Princess, or more royal blood, but that did not mean others could do the same; the power over life and death would always be in the hands of the monarch alone!