Chapter 9: The Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss, Soaring to the Nine Heavens

Chapter 9: The Hidden Dragon Emerges from the Abyss, Soaring to the Nine Heavens

Xiao Ce said, “His words are not a joke. He spoke in front of all the civil and military officials, how could he go back on his word!”

Prince of Zhenguo shook his head and said, “It’s not that simple. Tomorrow, you will know! Take it, there’s no need to be polite with This Prince. Common folk have a saying about traveling with enough funds, let alone you, who are now going to your fiefdom to ‘rule the state’. The Northern Desert is a barren place to begin with, without money you won’t be able to move a single step.”

“Fortunately, His Majesty gave you the authority to raise an army. The money given to you should be enough for you to form a force to protect yourself.”

“Alright, This Prince has already instructed Uncle Zhong! When the time comes, he will assist you.”

Seeing Prince of Zhenguo make such plans for him, Xiao Ce was moved and said, “Ninth Uncle, thank you.”

Prince of Zhenguo waved his hand and said, “Alright, take them and go back. I won’t come to see you off when you leave tomorrow. Take care on your journey.”

Xiao Ce bowed, then said, “Then Ninth Uncle, take care.”

Prince of Zhenguo’s expression flickered slightly. It was clear he was trying his best to control his emotions.

Xiao Ce walked a few steps, then turned his head back.

“Ninth Uncle, before I leave, can I ask a question that has been hidden in my heart for over ten years?”

Prince of Zhenguo nodded.

Xiao Ce then spoke, “Are you my birth father?”

After hearing this, Prince of Zhenguo said sternly, “I did indeed admire your mother, but we never acted improperly. You are His Majesty’s own flesh and blood. Crown Prince, I beg you not to believe rumors.”

Xiao Ce was somewhat disappointed and said, “Then why does he try so hard to torment me. From now on, you are my birth father!”

Prince of Zhenguo quickly said, “Crown Prince, be careful with your words.”

Xiao Ce said with a smile, “Alright, Ninth Uncle, said it. From now on, call me the King of Northern Desert!”

…

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Imperial Palace.

“Imperial Father, are you really going to give that trash so much money and grain? Isn’t our goal to make him die?” Xiao Yang asked.

A consort gently massaged his head from behind the Emperor.

Xiao Dingbang spoke unhurriedly, slowly, “Yang’er, you are still too inexperienced. Even if we want to get rid of him, we cannot give others a handle against us!”

Xiao Yang looked puzzled and said, “Imperial Father, even so. You shouldn’t help him.”

Consort Hui beside him said, “Yang’er, His Majesty did promise! But, when to give the money is up to the Treasury Department, the Military Affairs Department, and various other departments to decide!”

Listening, Xiao Dingbang gently patted Consort Hui’s hand behind him and said with a smile, “Yang’er, you are not as good as your mother.”

“So, Imperial Father, you never intended to give him the money at all?”

Xiao Dingbang snorted coldly and said, “Make me give that trash money? Do you think my money grows on trees? The rewards I gave him today have probably already flown out like they grew wings by now.”

“If the White Lotus Sect and those rebels find out. They will be scrambling to intercept Xiao Ce’s convoy. They won’t have peace on the road either.”

“Even if he manages to reach the Northern Desert by luck, I said I would give them money and grain, part of it for him to reward the troops with. When the time comes, if he doesn’t have the money to hand out, the anger of the border garrison soldiers will be enough to give him a hard time.”

Xiao Yang listened, his face lighting up with excitement, “Imperial Father, how wise you are. So, the three thousand elite soldiers you mentioned are…”

Xiao Dingbang said, “Recently, the Department of Justice and Punishment has a batch of death row prisoners to be exiled, exactly three thousand people. Let’s give them to Xiao Ce.”

Xiao Yang heard this and couldn’t stop grinning, “Imperial Father, you are still the wisest. With this, it would be a miracle if he survives to the Northern Desert. With your plan, we don’t even need to send assassins. Someone else will do the job for us.”

Consort Hui said, “Yang’er, His Majesty’s strategy is once in a thousand years. You must learn well from your Imperial Father. If you can learn even one ten-thousandth of what your Imperial Father knows, it will be enough to benefit you for life.”

Hearing such praise, Xiao Dingbang laughed heartily.

…

In the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

After hearing from Yin Weiyong about the Emperor’s trick, Yin Pan’er stood up and was about to go out.

Yin Weiyong said, “Pan’er, what are you going to do?”

Yin Pan’er said, “Father, of course I’m going to tell the Crown Prince… no, His Highness the King of Northern Desert. To let him prepare early.”

Yin Weiyong waved his hand and said, “If he can’t even handle these matters, how could I feel at ease entrusting you to him. If tomorrow he cannot handle things properly, I will not agree to let you go with him. He has over three thousand death row prisoners with him. If he cannot control those prisoners, you could be in danger too.”

Yin Pan’er nodded and said, “Father, then you are destined to be disappointed. Besides, didn’t you have Sister Nie Bing accompany me on the journey?”

Yin Weiyong said, “Although Nie Bing’s skills are good, two fists are no match for four hands. The path Xiao Ce chose is one with little chance of survival.”

Yin Pan’er said, “Father, I think just based on his courage, it is enough to prove his strength. Daughter believes he is a hidden dragon emerging from the abyss, destined to soar to the nine heavens.”

…

Xiao Ce returned to the Crown Prince’s Mansion with Lin Zhong, Uncle Zhong, and Da Lei.

Da Lei saw the empty, quiet Crown Prince’s Mansion and was clearly surprised.

Xiao Ce said to the two of them, “You’ll have to make do and sleep here for the night.”

Then Xiao Ce said to Lin Zhong, “Uncle Zhong, how are your relationships with the wealthy families and nobles in the Capital?”

Lin Zhong nodded and said, “I have ties with them. Does the Prince have any instructions?”

Xiao Ce’s eyes rolled, “Tomorrow, go invite them over. Say the Crown Prince is hosting a banquet and auctioning off the Crown Prince’s Mansion.”

Lin Zhong looked astonished and said, “Crown Prince, this is not appropriate.”

Xiao Ce said, “I have thought it over. That Dog Emperor is dying for me to perish. I’m afraid that money and grain won’t reach my hands. If he gives me the full amount of money and grain tomorrow, then there’s no need to sell. If he withholds the money and grain, then we’ll sell the mansion.”

“I’ve even thought of the reason for you. We’ll say I am tearfully selling off the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and all the silver obtained will be used to fight against the Turkic and resist foreign humiliation! Even if His Majesty knows, he won’t be able to say anything!”

Hearing this, Lin Zhong couldn’t help but clasp his hands and said, “Alright, Prince, I will go take care of it later.”

Xiao Ce said, “Go and sort through things again! See what else we can sell! We’ll sell everything together then.”

Then, he got paper, ink, and a brush, ready to write a list.

But he hadn’t written more than a few strokes when the characters looked as if they were chewed by a dog.

Lin Zhong really couldn’t bear to watch and said, “Prince, if you please, why don’t you speak and I will write for you?”

Looking at the disobedient brush in his hand, Xiao Ce said with a smile, “That’s very good!”

“I’ll speak and you write it down.”

“Sugar, coarse salt, rice, wheat…”

…

They wrote for a full half an hour.

Looking at the items written on several pages of paper, Lin Zhong was somewhat confused.

“Prince, what are you trying to do with these?”

Pointing at the things on the paper, Xiao Ce replied with a mysterious smile, “Buy everything written here! Especially the ones with check marks, buy as much as you can.”

“May I ask what the Prince wants these things for?” Lin Zhong asked, puzzled.

Xiao Ce said, “To make money, of course?”

Lin Zhong became even more confused, “Prince, the things you wrote are sold everywhere. Moreover, prices in the Capital are higher than in other places. If you want to resell them, I’m afraid you’ll only lose money.”

Xiao Ce showed a thought-provoking expression, “Uncle Zhong, just do as This Prince says! This Prince naturally has the ability to turn stone into gold! You’ll see!”

Xiao Ce’s idea was simple!

The first step for everything was to make money!

This was also what he was best at in his previous life!