Chapter 551 - 365: The Crisis of the Peng Family!

Chapter 551: Chapter 365: The Crisis of the Peng Family!

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

Prince Lu Xuhua, seated in the main seat, frowned, his hands pressing on the armrests.

His deep voice broke the silence: "The Imperial Guards escorting the Crown Prince returned to the palace to report three days ago..."

"However..." Lu Xuhua paused meaningfully, "it seems three special individuals are missing."

Lu Xuyang’s previously triumphant expression instantly stiffened.

Standing in the center aisle, he snapped his folding fan shut with a "pa" sound.

"Special individuals?" Prince Lu Xuen exclaimed in surprise, nearly spilling his teacup.

The princes exchanged shocked glances.

They were not surprised by the disappearance of the Imperial Guards, but by their second brother’s ability to grasp such secretive information.

It’s important to know that the whereabouts of the Imperial Guards have always been accountable only to the Emperor!

"Second Brother’s intelligence is indeed impressive."

Prince Lu Xuqiong slowly stood up, his corpulent body surprisingly agile as he moved around the table.

His squinting eyes sparkled with a keen light: "It’s Lu Yi and those three... who have disappeared."

As these words were spoken, the shadows on the faces of the princes flickered, just like their murky and uncertain thoughts at the moment...

Lu Yi and his group, the strongest Imperial Guards, exist as Grandmasters in martial arts, yet they too have vanished without a trace.

Strange indeed...

"What’s happening on the East Palace’s side...?"

Prince Lu Xuzhen suddenly spoke, his voice low like a rumbling thunder.

His sharp gaze pierced straight at Prince Lu Xuyang.

While the question appeared casual, every prince present perked up their ears.

It’s known that the East Palace has always been an impenetrable fortress.

The entire royal family understood clearly that the high walls of the East Palace were like a fortified bastion, strengthened by the supreme authority granted by successive emperors.

The rest of the princes spent countless silver coins, placing their trusted followers, whether disguised as servants or guards.

In as little as an hour and no more than three days, they’d vanish like stones sinking into the sea, leaving not even a scrap of clothing or a single strand of hair behind.

Only Prince Lu Xuyang could effortlessly produce secret messages from the East Palace.

The contents of the neatly written silk scrolls were so precise, even specifying which incense the Crown Prince used in the morning.

Under the burning gaze of everyone present, Lu Xuyang leisurely unfolded his folding fan.

On the fan’s surface, four large gilt characters, "Lofty as a Mountain," were particularly noticeable to the other princes.

"Why rush, Fourth Brother?"

He chuckled lightly, yet without a trace of humor in his eyes: "The East Palace has been quite peaceful lately... only the silk tree that Big Brother loved the most has suddenly dried up for some unknown reason."

Upon hearing this, Prince Lu Xuhua’s jade ring cracked with several fine lines.

A shadow flickered across Lu Xuqiong’s corpulent face.

Everyone understood the insinuation.

The silk tree symbolized the Crown Prince, and its sudden withering... was a terrible omen!

"Ninth Brother!"

Prince Lu Xuhua suddenly interrupted harshly, veins bulging on his forehead. Some things are better left unsaid.

Moreover, what they wanted to know was not these trivial matters.

Indeed, how could a tree imbued with symbolic meaning affect the grand scheme?

But their Ninth Brother’s understanding of the East Palace was, perhaps... too thorough.

The eyes of the seven princes met, intertwining suspicion and apprehension.

Each time Lu Xuyang casually handed over a secret report from the East Palace, they were deeply astonished.

These incredible methods made the seven princes doubtful.

Could the inexplicable disappearance of spies be due to their Ninth Brother’s doing?

After all, only his eyes and ears could survive peacefully in the East Palace, inevitably leading to thoughts of the parable of the sandpiper and the clam.

Lu Xuhua even suspected that Lu Xuyang and the Crown Prince might have a prior understanding.

The so-called intelligence exchange could just be a meticulously crafted trap, deliberately luring them into revealing vulnerabilities.

After months of undercurrent surging within their hearts, one stormy night, the princes finally confronted each other at Lu Xuhua’s villa.

Just as they were about to unite in action, Lu Xuyang calmly offered: "If my brothers do not trust me, I’m willing to provide intelligence free of charge starting tomorrow."

"Of course, if doing this still fails to earn my brothers’ trust, I could withdraw all agents from the East Palace."

"But then..." Lu Xuyang deliberately paused, watching the faces of his seven brothers change dramatically.

"Our dear eldest brother, the Crown Prince’s new developments, would be beyond anyone’s anticipation."

These words struck the hearts of everyone like a heavy hammer.

After weighing their options, they had no choice but to loosen their grip on the declaration of war.

In the treacherous and turbulent struggle for succession, it was more useful to have tangible intelligence on the East Palace than unverified suspicions.

Ever since that day, seven pairs of eyes watched Lu Xuyang closely as if thorns were growing in their backs, yet he continued to hand over secret messages with a lingering smile.

As if completely oblivious to the fact that he had already become someone both feared and relied upon by everyone.

The gilded beast-head incense burner in the hall emitted tendrils of Dragon’s Saliva Fragrance, yet it couldn’t suppress the tense atmosphere in the air.

Prince Lu Xuhua flicked the foam from the teacup, the sound of the jade cup clashing against the table producing a clear ring.

He glanced at the Ninth Prince Lu Xuyang standing below: "Ninth Brother, you know, we do not wish to know about this matter."

"What we wish to know..." Lu Xuhua suddenly paused, and the entire hall held its breath.

After a long moment, he slowly uttered five words: "The Crown Prince’s situation!"

Lu Xuyang suddenly tilted his head back and let out a cold laugh, the hem of his yellow python robes moving without wind.

He tapped his palm lightly with the folding fan, his eyes flickering with a cynical gleam: "Hmph, I don’t know."