Chapter 21: Grand Plan

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 21: Grand Plan

Prince Li Ling was waiting for an answer. He fell silent when he heard Ding Ning's reply.

Was Falling Parasol such a lowly place that this young owner of the wine shop did not even know who he was?

He frowned slightly and considered how to speak.

Ding Ning seemed to read his mind and said calmly, "Don't even think about showing off your status to me. I know that if you say a word, you can easily fill my wine shop with gold, and with one more word, over a hundred cultivators will behead themselves to die for you.”

“Then why… since you've refused so cleanly, you must have your reasons.” Prince Li Ling did not show any angry expression. He simply looked at Ding Ning curiously and said warmly, “I thought you would at least discuss it with Miss Zhangsun and ask for her opinion.”

Ding Ning shook his head and said, “I already said I wouldn't agree, so I don't need to listen to her opinion. As for the reason… do you really expect me to state my reasons?”

Prince Li Ling's expression remained unchanged. He said calmly and warmly, “Please speak.”

The onlookers in the alley all held their breath, eager to hear Ding Ning's reasoning.

Ding Ning said seriously without hesitation, “Your father, the monarch of the Chu Dynasty, has been on the throne for thirty-two years. In these thirty-two years, according to what an outsider like me knows, he has had sixty-five women who were considered and given titles as consorts and concubines. On average, he has two each year, and there is still one remaining. With these titled consorts and concubines, he has seventeen princes and twenty-three princesses. Your father has truly been busy these years.”

The surrounding onlookers heard Ding Ning say this, and their thoughts immediately flashed, “You actually dare to say this.” Although the entire world knew that the Emperor of Chu, Emperor Wu Lie, was extremely lustful, and they all aspired to be like him. However, it was truly inappropriate to say all this directly in front of his son.

Prince Li Ling's eyebrows raised slightly, and he said in a slightly heavier voice, “A gentleman should not sweat the small stuff. No one is perfect. Even though my father-emperor has many shortcomings, this does not prevent him from being a great monarch.”

To the ears of many onlookers, his words sounded logical.

Although the Emperor of Chu’s appetites were renowned throughout the world, he was also a great cultivator and a powerful ruler. During his thirty-two years of reign, the Chu Dynasty had waged wars north and south without suffering major losses. At this time, the Chu Dynasty shone like the sun at noon, boasting more renowned cultivators than the Qin Dynasty. The items the Chu Dynasty used in their daily lives were more refined than those elsewhere, and their clothing and decorations were imitated by other dynasties.

Ding Ning did not refute him.

He looked at Prince Li Ling and said calmly, “I heard that all of your father's favorite consorts were beautiful women, each with her own unique talents. Some were skilled in music, others in dance, some were very understanding, and some were skilled in cooking. But among so many consorts, the one he favored most was the one from the Zhao Dynasty, Consort Zhao Xiang.”

Hearing the words ‘Consort Zhao Xiang’, Prince Li Ling’s eyes turned slightly cold but his expression remained calm and gentle.

He maintained an elegant silence.

“What does he want to say?”

The onlookers in the alley became increasingly curious.

Consort Zhao Xiang was another topic frequently discussed by the Qin people. This famous woman came from a poor noble family in the Zhao Dynasty. It was said that she was born with seductive bones, and was the most tempting beauty in the world. Her body was fragrant and soft, her skin smooth as milk, and she was skilled in the arts of the bedroom. Even though the Emperor of Chu was lustful, she had captivated him over the past few years. She decided more than half of all matters and could be considered the most powerful person in the Chu Dynasty after the Emperor of Chu.

In the Chu Dynasty, most people feared and hated Consort Zhao Xiang, secretly calling her ‘Demon Consort Zhao’.

Only in Changling would an ordinary young man dare to speak her name openly. If this had happened in Chu and an ordinary young man had dared to speak about her matters in public, he would have drowned in the river the next day.

“Your father-emperor has many children, but he and his most beloved consort have yet to have a child. Your Chu Dynasty has yet to crown a crown prince. I wonder if your father is dissatisfied with the current princes or if he wants to wait for her son to appear,” Ding Ning showed no fear as he calmly said.

“Prince Li Ling, your reputation in Changling has been excellent over the years. I think if the people of Chu are not blind, they will see your talent and ability. If you return to him now, he shouldn't hate you as much as before. And if you appear before him with a woman who can charm him, the outcome will be very different.

“With your father-emperor's history, he might not even care about that woman's relationship with you. But he might even feel a little guilty towards you for taking away your beloved consort.

“Consort Zhao Xiang has no children. If your father-emperor makes someone else crown prince, she will eventually lose power one day. Anyone in her position wouldn’t want that day to come. She has no children, and you have no mother. You are a prince, so you and she are a perfect pairing. If she is willing to speak for you, and you are not so dislikable in your father-emperor’s eyes, everything may change.

“You might become crown prince of the Chu Dynasty, and become a great emperor like your father-emperor. And if there is some other prince who he doesn’t want to see will come to our Cangling and take your position.”

The autumn wind was still blowing, but every corner of the alley suddenly felt extremely cold.

Most of the onlookers were poor, uneducated people, but Ding Ning's explanation was logical and clear. They completely understood.

But could something as important as this be said openly on the streets?

Ding Ning… was too daring.

He did not seem to even consider Prince Li Ling's feelings..

But after the shock passed, these onlookers became proud and arrogant.

No matter how outstanding and powerful Prince Li Ling was, he was a Chu person.

Why should a Qin person care about a Chu person's feelings.

Ding Ning's actions were those of a true Qin person.

Prince Li Ling's expression showed neither anger nor surprise, but his brows furrowed deeply.

He slowly raised his head, looking at Ding Ning, and said seriously, “If everything is as you say, if I truly have the potential to become emperor of the Chu Dynasty, then shouldn't you consider my request even more?”

“Become one of your father-emperor’s consorts?” Hearing those words, Ding Ning's expression began to turn frosty.

The arrival of Prince Li Ling and Chen Moli had disrupted his plans. He was already unhappy, but he remained as patient as ever. He knew that calmly changing his plans was more important than anger.

At this moment, he was truly displeased.

“In your view, this is a rare opportunity, isn’t it? We should be grateful for your guidance and generosity, given the opportunity to obtain satin clothes and jade food and a better life in the future? Are we as lowly as you imagine?”

He stared coldly at Prince Li Ling and said slowly and clearly, “We were doing well in Changling. Do you think I would let my aunt follow you and do such a thing just for a mere possibility?”

Prince Li Ling’s expression was calm, but a fire burned in the depths of his eyes. He said calmly, “For a person of a country, this isn’t just a rare opportunity. You don’t care, you’re not interested, but others might find this a significant matter. It’s better than making wine here and ultimately marrying a merchant.”

“You’re insulting my aunt.” Ding Ning laughed. He looked at Prince Li Ling and said very seriously, “Look at me, I’m already like this… my aunt is even colder than me. The things I look down on… she will look down on them even more.”

Everything he said was true.

Zhangsun Qianxue was prouder and colder than most people imagined.

Prince Li Ling’s eyes seemed to burn but he still did not lose his composure.

“If that's the case, then I've disturbed you.”

He bowed slightly and then gracefully turned to walk towards his carriage.

Prince Li Ling had the demeanor of a gentleman, but Chen Moli could not maintain his composure. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles white with force. He sighed as he left, as if speaking to himself, "Some opportunities will disappear in an instant and never return. If one can't grasp them, when one grows old, they will sigh that their life hasn't been spectacular enough.”

Hearing Chen Moli seemingly speak to him, Ding Ning grimaced and thought to himself, “Is my life not spectacular enough? I wish it were more ordinary and less spectacular.”

When the carriage curtain fell, blocking out the outside world, Prince Li Ling's expression became sad and cold.

He was certain that Ding Ning was a true genius.

Just by using the rumors in the street of the city, this young owner of the wine shop possessed such clear and frightening judgment. He even saw the situation of the Chu Dynasty far more clearly than he did.

However, a genius who could not be utilized by him caused that genius to be disliked.

A genius he could not use was someone who could become an enemy in the future.

The carriage began to move.

As the wheels rolled on the stone bricks, the carriage shook slightly.

He closed his eyes, his cold expression growing even more stern.

The conversation just now had made him realize many things. It made him clearly feel the urgency of this matter.

Ding Ning did not know, but he did. His father-emperor, the mighty and lustful emperor of the Chu Dynasty, was in declining health.

The rivers and mountains were far away, and the journey home was arduous and long.

However, no matter how long the journey, it could not extinguish the fire in his heart.

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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