Records of Mysterious Things in the Southern Dynasties

Chapter 522 Figure it out
Princess Yongkang sighed upon seeing this.

"Sorry, I've let you down."

To her surprise, the palace servants were not comforted by her words; instead, they looked at her warily.

Are you really a princess?

"A true princess never apologizes!" Xiahou Li drew her sword with a swift motion, pointing it at her and demanding, "Speak! Who are you?!"

The princess couldn't help but chuckle, surprised that her excessive politeness had been seen through. She was indeed not the real person, but rather an illusion created by Ren Yuan.

But it doesn't matter if they see through it; we can just make them believe again. Ren Yuan then parted her lips slightly and used her divine power: "I am the princess. Sigh, I've suffered a lot this past year because of my lack of manners."

"I see." The god-level 'lie becomes believer' was indeed extraordinary; even Xiahou Li, who had already opened her nine orifices, believed it without a doubt.
"The princess has really suffered; her voice is almost as rough as mine now."

"Of course!" Ren Yuan rolled his eyes and nodded in a high-pitched voice, "Now I know that there's no place like home. Let's hurry back to the palace."

"Alright!" the palace servants responded excitedly, ordering someone to quickly report the good news to the palace and promptly send a boat to fetch the princess back to the palace...

~~
After waiting for quite some time, a ship from the palace arrived. Accompanying her on board was her third brother, Prince Xiao Gang of Jin'an.

"The Prince of Jin'an has arrived," Ren Yuan telepathically informed his teammates off the field.

"Don't worry, the princess said she has a very cold relationship with the third prince." A moment later, Chen Lingzhi thought to himself, "No matter how warm he is to you, just keep a cold face and be as sarcastic as possible."

'Is he really that despicable?' Ren Yuan wondered to himself.

"He wouldn't have done that before, but now is a crucial moment for him," Chen Lingzhi explained. "The position of heir apparent in the Great Liang is vacant, and Xiao Yan is hesitating whether to appoint the eldest son or the legitimate heir."

"I understand." Ren Yuan suddenly realized. The so-called "establishing the eldest son" meant establishing him, the oldest living prince; as for establishing the legitimate heir, it meant establishing Xiao Huan, the eldest son of Crown Prince Zhaoming.

Clearly, Xiao Gang wanted his third sister to put in a good word for him with their father, at least to prevent him from ruining his plans...

"Third Sister, you're finally back!" Sure enough, Prince Jin'an jumped off the boat excitedly and ran towards him, tripping in the process. "We were so worried about you."

"Are you worried that no one will help you prolong your lives?" Ren Yuan said coldly, mimicking Xiao Yuhuan's tone.

"Look at what Third Sister is saying, I've never had that kind of thought," Xiao Gang said awkwardly. "Third Sister hasn't changed at all."

"I'm an old man, what's there to change?" Ren Yuan glanced at Xiao Gang: "But you, Third Brother, have changed so much that I hardly recognize you."

"Why?" Xiao Gang asked, trying to sound amused. "Is he more pleasing to the eye than before?"

"Not exactly pleasing to the eye, but I don't like lapdogs," Ren Yuan said calmly.

"..." Xiao Gang's lips twitched, and he forced a smile as he suppressed his anger, "Third Sister is so funny. Let's talk slowly on the boat, Father must be getting impatient."

"Father is now focused on chanting Buddhist scriptures. Does he still have any affection for his children?" Ren Yuan sneered.

"Of course he has. He's mentioned Third Sister countless times this year." Xiao Gang helped Ren Yuan onto the boat, then solicitously invited her to take a seat and even personally served her tea...

Ren Yuan sized up Xiao Gang, who remained unperturbed no matter how much he was rebuked, and slowly asked, "Do you need something from me?"

"No," Xiao Gang denied instinctively. "Then please refrain from speaking again." Ren Yuan easily controlled Prince Jin'an. Actually, this was nothing unusual; once someone speaks to you in such a humble manner, anyone could easily control them.

"Actually, there is something, but it's a long story. I'll tell you in detail later, Third Sister," Xiao Gang said awkwardly.

“Speak now,” the 'princess' said domineeringly.

"Well, alright. Third Sister knows that it has been many years since Eldest Brother passed away. Under the urging of the court officials, Father has finally put the matter of establishing an heir on the agenda. Father's idea is that since the country is not yet settled, the eldest son should be chosen."

"So that means I'll make you my heir?" Ren Yuan teased.

"Yes, my eldest and second eldest brothers are gone. All these years, I've been fulfilling the duties of the eldest son." Xiao Gang nodded and sighed.

"But there are always those old scholars and conservatives who clamor that the eldest son of the legitimate wife is superior to the eldest son, and that the legitimate son should be established, otherwise it will shake the foundation of the country. It's really absurd. My elder brother is clearly also a son of a concubine, so how come his son is more noble than the emperor's son?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Ren Yuan frowned and said in a high-pitched voice, "You just want to compete with your nephew, don't you?"

"It's not that I covet power and position, but I have an inescapable responsibility. My father is so old and devoted to Buddhism. Are we to entrust the affairs of state to an eleven or twelve-year-old child? Wouldn't that make the Northern barbarians laugh themselves to death?"

“That makes sense.” Ren Yuan nodded. Xiao Gang was overjoyed and was about to seize the opportunity to ask his third sister for help, but then he changed the subject:

"But speaking of national affairs, I heard that Chen Qingzhi is going to be executed?"

"Yes, Third Sister is also concerned about this matter."

"How can we not care? The White Robe Northern Expedition is an unprecedented feat in a century, it really boosts our morale!" the 'princess' said excitedly.

"Chen Qingzhi is a guardian general bestowed upon the Great Liang by Heaven, and he has always been loyal to my father. Killing him would be like destroying our own Great Wall. I rushed back to save him; otherwise, I wouldn't bother seeing you."

"This matter has generated a great deal of public reaction?" Xiao Gang asked, frowning.

"Of course. The common people are saying that Father Emperor has gone mad from practicing Buddhism, and now he wants to kill Chen Qingzhi. It seems that Great Liang is going to follow in the footsteps of Song and Qi." Ren Yuan said with an air of seriousness.

"Anyone who dares to spread rumors and mislead the public must be severely punished!" Xiao Gang roared in anger.

"That's what the common people are saying, how can you possibly arrest them all?" Ren Yuan sneered, then said seriously, "Third brother, I don't object to you becoming the crown prince, but you must handle this matter properly. Besides, you've won the hearts of the people and even shown favor to Chen Qingzhi, so why not?"

To Xiao Gang, this was Xiao Yuhuan setting her price, but the matter was of great importance, and he didn't even dare to boast. He couldn't help but smile wryly and say, "I'm at a crucial moment right now, so I can't say anything reckless."

"Tch, no sense of responsibility whatsoever, how can he be the Crown Prince?" Ren Yuan was completely in the zone, speaking in a teasy tone, "Don't worry. Once this is done, I'll put in a good word for you with the Emperor, and I guarantee you'll get what you want."

"That's great!" Xiao Gang was initially delighted, but then dejected, "It really won't work..."

“Then I still support my nephew to be the crown prince.” Ren Yuan put his hands on his hips, having Xiao Gang completely under his control.

"No, sister!" Xiao Gang was frantic and said in a low voice, "I really can't get involved! This matter was pressured on Father Emperor by the higher-ups, and Father Emperor had no choice but to do it!"

"Huh? Really?" The princess looked surprised.

“Of course it’s true. How could Father not know that Chen Qingzhi has no troops and no power, and it’s impossible for him to rebel? But what can Father do if the higher-ups want to kill him?” Xiao Gang said helplessly.

(End of this chapter)