Chapter 355

Chapter 355: Token

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After the Chen Nation’s diplomatic mission left the palace, they took a carriage back to the guest house specially arranged for them by the Honglu Temple.

Han Chengxi sat down at the table and took out a small note from his sleeve.

During the day, the Second Prince and the Sixth Prince went out of the city to welcome the Chen Nation’s diplomatic mission. The Sixth Prince, Shen Rui, secretly stuffed a note into Han Chengxi’s hand when no one was paying attention.

There were only five words on the note:

See you tonight at midnight.

It was almost midnight. Han Chengxi placed the note above the candle and let the flame devour it.

Soon the note turned to ashes.

There was a knock on the door and the voice of the attendant barged through it.

“Your Highness, we have a visitor.”

Han Chengxi thought that he was quite punctual.

He stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked out of the bedroom. He saw two people standing outside. One of them was his follower, and the other was wearing a black cloak. Most of his face was hidden under a wide hood, so his face could not be seen clearly.

But from his height, he should be an adult man.

Han Chengxi called out tentatively, “Sixth Prince?”

The man raised his head slightly and lowered his hood; his face was completely exposed.

It was the Sixth Prince, Shen Rui. He smiled at Han Chengxi. “Ninth Prince, you have a good eye.”

Han Chengxi glanced at his follower.

The attendant understood and tactfully retreated.

Han Chengxi and Shen Rui entered the room.

They sat down at the table. Shen Rui caught a glimpse of a small pile of ashes on the floor beside the table and asked with a smile.

“Was the Ninth Prince burning something just now?”

Han Chengxi picked up the teapot and replied as he poured tea, “Yes, I just burned the note you gave me.”

Shen Rui understood. “Indeed, you should burn it. It’s not good for that thing to be seen.”

Han Chengxi handed over the teacup and went straight to the point.

“Sixth Prince, why are you here so late at night?”

Shen Rui took the teacup but did not drink it.

He rubbed the side of his cup gently with his finger and spoke slowly.

“It’s rare for the Ninth Prince to come to the Imperial Capital. Do you want to stay in the Imperial Capital for a while? I can accompany you to walk around the Imperial Capital and show you the scenery of our Dayan.”

Han Chengxi said politely, “Thank you for your kindness, Sixth Prince. I really want to stay here for a long time, but Father is still waiting for me to report back. I can’t keep Father waiting. I have to set off for the Chen Nation in a few days.”

Shen Rui found several more reasons, but he could not get Han Chengxi to agree to stay longer. Han Chengxi looked carefree, but he was actually very cunning.

Shen Rui had no choice but to tell her his true motive.

“To be honest, I actually have a business deal I want to work with you on.”

Seeing that the other party was finally willing to cut to the chase, Han Chengxi did not beat around the bush and asked directly.

“What business?

Shen Rui approached him and lowered his voice.

“I know that the Ninth Prince is well-versed in both civil and military matters and is a powerful candidate for the throne of the Chen Nation. As long as you help me do this, I can help you when you compete for the throne in the future.” Han Chengxi narrowed his eyes slightly.

At this moment, he had completely lost the carelessness he usually showed. He had become shrewd.

“Duke Lang is not that easy to deal with.”

Shen Rui said, “It’s precisely because he’s not easy to deal with that I came to look for you. Only you have the ability to deal with him.”

Seeing Han Chengxi hesitate, he hurriedly continued to persuade him.

“Don’t forget that it was precisely because Duke Lang interfered that Du Tao was captured. Your Chen Nation’s deployment in Liaodong County was also ruined. Don’t you want to take revenge?”

Han Chengxi naturally wanted revenge.

But he was not stupid. He knew that Shen Rui wanted to make use of him.

Han Chengxi pondered for a moment and said.

“You said you could help me fight for the throne in the future. These are all fake. I want something more realistic.”

Hearing him say this, Shen Rui knew that the other party was interested in cooperating with him. He hurriedly said, “What do you want? As long as I can get it, I’ll definitely get it for you.”

Han Chengxi said, “What I want is very simple. It’s Tang Guixi’s life.” Shen Rui was stunned.

Of course, he knew who Tang Guixi was. He just did not expect him to make

such a request.

Han Chengxi said, “You want Duke Lang’s life, and I want Tang Guixi’s. A life for a life. It’s very fair.”

Shen Rui hesitated and said, “But Tang Guixi is far away in Liaodong County. It’s not convenient for me to attack her.”

Han Chengxi leaned back. “I don’t care about that. Anyway, my request is to let

Tang Guixi die. As long as you can do it, I’ll help you deal with Duke Lang.” Shen Rui thought of his mother’s instructions to him and gritted his teeth.

“Alright, I promise you!”

Han Chengxi smiled. “Happy cooperation.”

Shen Rui said, “Tang Guixi is too far away. I can’t kill her in the short term.” Han Chengxi had clearly thought of this long ago. He spoke unhurriedly. “It doesn’t matter. We can exchange tokens to represent our promise to each other.

“1When I help you deal with Duke Lang, you willto return the token to me.”

“It’s the same for you. How about that?”

Shen Rui hesitated.

Once the two of them exchanged tokens, it was equivalent to handing something over to each other.

If the token was exposed in the future, their cooperation would also be known by outsiders.

This was a serious crime of colluding with the enemy. Even if Shen Rui was a prince, he could not deal with the consequences.

Seeing that he was silent, Han Chengxi said.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t want to. I’ll pretend you didn’t come tonight.” With that, Han Chengxi prepared to send the guest off.

Shen Rui recalled what his mother had said to him. If Duke Lang found out the truth behind Imperial Concubine Yue’s death, his mother would definitely not be able to escape death. At that time, he would not have a good time.

Instead of waiting for death, he might as well take a gamble!

Shen Rui took off the jade pendant around his neck and placed it on the table.

“This is the peace pendant the Empress Dowager gave me when I was born. It was engraved with my birthday. There is only one piece in the entire Dayan. I’d kept it with me all these years. Can it be my token?”

Han Chengxi picked up the jade pendant and looked at it. He smiled. “Of course. ”

Then, he took out a small and exquisite metal token from his sleeve and placed it in front of Han Chengxi.

“This is a token that represents my identity. My name is engraved on it. As long as you take it out, you can travel unimpeded in the Chen Nation.”

Shen Rui took the token and took a closer look. He saw that it was engraved with the Chen Nation’s language. He did not recognize it at all.

He could not verify the authenticity of the token. Just as he was hesitating, he heard Han Chengxi say.

“If you think the token is unreliable, I can write a promise to you on the spot in your Dayan’s language.”

Shen Rui accepted the suggestion.

Han Chengxi immediately wrote a promise.

His Dayan writing was not very beautiful, but it was very neat. It was obvious that it was the result of years of practice.

He did not forget to stamp his private seal on the promise..