In Another World, Everyone Want to Kill Me!-Chapter 343: The Crown Secured

What he didn’t realize was that more than half of the palace servants around him had already become Shang Qinghua’s informants.

Some had been bought with money, while others had been newly planted altogether.

In the past few days, Rong Zishen had been completely consumed by thoughts of his identity, never once noticing how the people around him had quietly been replaced.

At last, Rong Zishen disappeared.

He had not been kidnapped, but taken away by Keshun Sanfeng.

"Why did you bring me away?"

"You think that old emperor doesn’t already know about your origins?" With just that single sentence, Rong Zishen fell silent.

All these days, he had been thinking about one question, who his real father was and what kind of man he might be.

The moment he saw Keshun Sanfeng, he understood.

Their faces were so alike that denial was impossible.

No wonder there had been a palace guard who never showed his true face, always claiming it had been disfigured.

Rong Zishen recognized the man.

Though he was cunning and sinister, whenever he looked at him, he would occasionally reveal a rare smile.

Rong Zishen had always thought of him as calm and gentle, yet those around him constantly warned that the man was dangerous and violent, someone not to be approached.

Only now did he understand, this man was his father.

In the end, Rong Zishen turned back to look once more at the imperial palace of Beirong and said, "I will return to this place."

Though he was not a legitimate prince of Beirong, he had occupied that position for many years.

Everyone had treated him as the real prince, and in turn, he had come to see himself as one.

Yet no more than two days after he left the palace, news spread within that the Second Prince had died of illness.

It was said that all the imperial physicians had been unable to treat his condition and some even remarked that if Prince Yue were still alive, he might have been able to save him.

But Prince Yue had long since died, and naturally, the Second Prince’s life could not be saved.

They said it was a heart ailment, similar to Rong Qinglei’s, though it had developed later in life.

When Yue Mingxuan heard this news, he merely let out a cold snort. "Back then, he killed Rong Qinglei. Now, for him to die once from a heart condition in Rong Qinglei’s place, it’s not a bad outcome."

Although he already knew through Ten Thousand Wisdom Hall’s intelligence network that this was false news, it still brought him a great sense of satisfaction.

If only it were true.

With that thought lingering, he turned to Shang Qinghua and said, "At present, Beirong is left with only one prince. Rong Tieshan never had any desire for the throne, but now that he’s the only one left, he has no choice."

"So I will agree to marry Xueyin to him," Shang Qinghua said, lowering his head with a sigh.

He had already asked Xueyin and she had said that a woman like her would inevitably be married off for political alliance in the end.

The only difference lay in whom she married and what kind of life she would lead.

Although she had no real feelings for Rong Tieshan, he was, at the very least, a prince of Beirong.

And with Shang Qinghua there, she would not suffer too greatly.

Shang Qinghua felt deeply helpless.

There was no better solution at hand.

Soon after, the emperor of Beirong announced that the empire would widely recruit capable talents to assist the prince.

If princes from other nations wished to come, they would also be allowed to compete for the position of Crown Prince of Beirong.

It was as if the throne itself had been opened to outsiders.

However, whoever became Crown Prince would have to take the surname Rong.

As soon as this news spread, the entire realm was shaken.

Setting everything else aside, the throne of Beirong was undeniably enticing.

Whoever became its emperor would live a life of endless wealth and security.

But the condition limited the candidates to princes of other nations and the implication was clear.

Whoever inherited the Beirong throne would originally be a prince from another country.

This could very well be seen as a subtle means for Beirong to absorb other nations.

On the surface, it appeared as though they were giving away their territory, but once the chosen candidate became a prince of Beirong, he would have to follow Beirong’s arrangements.

Given enough time, how could he not fall in line?

Even so, very few princes stepped forward.

Nanxie had seven princes, and Dongyue had four. Yet after the announcement, not a single one from either side dared to come.

In the end, it was Shang Qinghua who came, representing a prince of Xieshang.

To the outside world, it seemed like an act of remarkable courage, though no one knew the true story behind it.

A symbolic competition was still held.

Whether in literary talent or martial skill, Shang Qinghua far surpassed Rong Tieshan.

However, through this contest, Shang Qinghua also came to understand Rong Tieshan’s abilities.

Although the man was arrogant and lacked discernment, he was at least quite skilled in poetry and literature.

On that basis alone, he might even find some common ground with Xueyin.

Even though Shang Qinghua did not particularly wish for Xueyin to marry Rong Tieshan, there truly was no better option at present.

Thus, the outcome of the competition became obvious.

What was surprising was that hardly anyone in the world opposed the result.

Perhaps due to the influence of Dongyue Hua family, there were virtually no objections to this decision.

And so, Shang Qinghua became the Crown Prince of Beirong in a completely legitimate manner.

However, when it came to his name, he did not change it to Rong Qinghua.

He said that although he was a prince of Beirong, he was still, after all, the emperor of Xieshang.