Chapter 646: A Courtly Fiasco

"What?!" The entire court was in an uproar.

The king of the realm asked, "What happened? How did he suddenly die? Why was there no news about this from the Wang clan?"

Right after the ninth prince claimed that the Wang clan's Wang Jian was the assassin, the Wang clan head announced that Wang Jian had died at home. Did he think everyone present was an idiot?

The Wang clan head sighed and clutched Wang Jian's blade tightly in his hands. Gritting his teeth, he called out, "Wang Jian was poisoned to death! I'm enraged and heartbroken at the death of my nephew—they'll fear the retribution of the Wang clan!"

The third prince sighed. "What a pity! I could hardly have expected the Wang bladewielder would die so suddenly..."

The ninth prince snorted. "This is farcical. With Wang Jian's strength, how could he have died in the Wang manor? Why was there no news of his death beforehand? Do you dare present the corpse to court so that his identity can be determined?"

The third prince retorted coldly, "Ninth brother, you're asking for far too much. Do you intend to dishonor Wang Jian so flagrantly as to reveal his corpse to one and all?"

The Wang clan head added, "To preserve the Wang clan's name, we've chosen not to publicize the death of our bladewielder. Even among the clan, very few know of Wang Jian's death. It would be an embarrassment for the world at large to know that we couldn't even protect our own bladewielder."

Suddenly, as though he had just realized something, the third prince called out, "Ah, I understand now! No wonder the ninth prince's unknown master could have defeated the renowned bladewielder of the Wang clan—he had to have been a fake!"

The crown prince chuckled coldly. "I'm just wary that the person who died in the Wang manor wasn't Wang Jian, but rather an innocent."

The head of the Wang clan lifted his head up high. "What are you implying, crown prince? Don't you think the Wang clan can recognize its own?"

The crown prince strode forward. "Indeed, only the Wang clan knows whether this is truth or deception."

"Crown prince, you make it sound as though the Wang clan's trying to hoodwink his majesty with a fake corpse! We know nothing of the ninth prince's attempted assassination. Even if the killer were Wang Jian, he surely did so of his own accord. The Wang clan cannot be held responsible."

The crown prince sighed. "What a pity for Wang Jian! All his life, he killed and bled for the Wang clan—but in death, the Wang clan is severing all their connections with him. A pitiful dog, surely?"

The Wang clan head gritted his teeth, but he didn't dare contradict the crown prince.

However, the third prince did. "Eldest brother, whatever could you mean? We still can't be confident that the mastermind behind the ninth prince's assassination attempt was Wang Jian. Do you have evidence to back up your claims?"

The crown prince bowed toward the king of the realm. "Your majesty, I will surely do my best to investigate the assassination attempt directed at my ninth brother. To do anything else would be to invite ruin and disrepute to the court. If the mastermind strikes again, their next target might not be the ninth prince—perhaps they might strike at me, or even at you, your majesty!"

The second prince folded his arms. "Eldest brother, do you mean to suggest that there are people plotting a coup?"

The third prince turned to the king and bowed as well. "Your majesty, I agree that there is a pressing need to resolve this matter to its fullest extent and to cleanse the Wang clan's tarnished name. I am likewise willing to devote my attention to this case."

The crown prince hurriedly added, "Your majesty, I assure you that I won't let the mastermind behind this deed go unpunished."

The king of the realm nodded. "I'm very pleased by both princes' willingness to help out their brother. I leave the investigation in your hands."

"Yes, your majesty," the crown and third princes said simultaneously. They glanced at each other, and a spark seemed to ignite in the air between them.

The Wang clan head's neck was already beading with sweat. He requested, "Your majesty, may I bring this sword back to my clan? This is the Wang clan's sword, after all, and it had once been Wang Jian's possession. I think his parents would be very happy to see it returned to their son."

The king of the realm replied indolently, "Since it belongs to the Wang clan, the Wang clan may certainly reclaim it."

The Wang clan head nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, your majesty, for your benevolence."

Before he could finish, however, the king of the realm's half-closed eyes suddenly shot open. He stared coldly at the Wang clan head, and the temperature of the air in the court suddenly seemed to fall.

"You may bring the blade back this once, but if it ever appears in front of me again—then it shall become imperial property."

Upon sensing the king of the realm's jaw-dropping authority and strength, the Wang clan head's legs turned to jelly. He knelt down on the ground, his head pressed against the floor. "Yes, your majesty!"

The king of the realm continued, "The court's hunt begins in two days. Princes, prepare to participate. Ninth prince, I believe you're old enough to participate in this year's hunt as well."

The ninth prince excitedly bowed. "Yes, your majesty!"

The implication was that the king of the realm had deemed him of age.

The king continued, "Have this master of yours accompany you at that time. I'll see if he's qualified to be the master of a prince."

"Yes, your majesty."

"Very well. Court dismissed. How old I'm getting—even half a day's worth of court is starting to be too much for me to handle."

The officials of the court and gathered princes all bowed as they watched the king of the realm depart.

As the ninth prince strode out of court, the third prince commented acidly from behind, "That country bumpkin you call your teacher has no place being the master of a prince, not even of an inadequate one like you. If you don't want an accident to happen during the hunt, you'd best avoid bringing him with you."

The ninth prince looked back at the third prince. "Thank you for your advice, third brother, but I have my own plans. I hope you'll be more careful in the future."

The third prince's eyes went round. "What do you mean?!"

The crown prince laughed as he too stepped out of court, his hands behind his back. "Do you intend to keep bullying our ninth brother, third brother? Aren't you afraid the court officials will laugh at you?"

Upon seeing the crown prince walking over, the third prince snorted again and stalked off into the distance.

The crown prince patted the ninth prince warmly on the shoulder. "I didn't expect you would be so daring on your rare occasions at court. Excellent performance, ninth brother. I remember my first appearance at court—I was ten or so, and I was so scared I could barely speak."

The ninth prince laughed. "You must be joking, eldest brother. Your performance at court is still an example for us all. My tutors have often impressed upon me the skill and deftness with which you handled your initial appearance."

The crown prince waved a hand. "Ha! It was nothing worth speaking of. Ninth brother, I hadn't expected you would be so pleasant to speak to. We should converse more often."

The ninth prince smiled dryly.

"Tell me more about what happened. I want to learn more about your account of events so that I can help find the culprit."

The ninth prince recounted what had happened that fateful day.

To be frank, the crown prince knew who the assassin was—it was evident the moment the ninth prince revealed the assassin's weapon to the court. He simply didn't know if he had enough evidence to indict the third prince.

What he was about to face was a heated battle—whether the crown prince would be able to conjure up evidence more quickly than the third prince could get rid of it.

When the ninth prince returned to his chambers in the palace, he let out a long sigh. He tossed his clothes to the ground as he slumped.

"Why are you so upset?"

The ninth prince jumped up in shock. He should have been the only one in his chambers; even if any of the palace maids were to come by, they would only do a cursory sweep of the room before leaving.

Because of how low his status within the palace was, the palace maids even frequently forgot about his existence.

Who was this mysterious person in his chambers—could it be another assassin?!