Chapter 195

195 YOU WON’T BE THE NEW CROWN PRINCE

There was a piece of paper in Bai Guowei’s hand, and it was neatly folded in half. Next to the Emperor’s thumb, Bai Chen could read the character of his name written on the paper, and perhaps the Emperor was telling the truth that the paper was indeed for him.

Bai Chen could feel his heart pounding against the back of his ribs as he thought about how Bai Renshu even wrote him a letter before the man hanged himself from the ceiling of the Zuigao Hall.

‘What did Bai Renshu write in the letter? Was he trying to tell me how much he hated me by writing that letter? It wasn’t enough even if he slandered me right before he died?’ Bai Chen wondered as he continued to stare at the paper in Bai Guowei’s hand.

“Take this,” Bai Guowei spoke again when Bai Chen did not immediately receive the letter from his hand. “Can you see the blue light enveloping this letter? Bai Renshu purposely used his power to seal this letter so that only you can open it and read its contents.”

Bai Chen was quite surprised, and even if he glanced at the Emperor for a moment, his pair of blue eyes returned to the piece of paper again, only to notice how a blue light enveloped the paper as Bai Guowei just said.

Bai Chen didn’t know what kind of power Bai Renshu used to protect the paper so that only he could read its contents, but he immediately felt curious about what Bai Renshu wrote on the paper which caused the late Crown Prince to be so cautious that he even used his power to seal the paper.

Not wanting to make Bai Guowei wait any longer, the brown-haired Prince finally received the paper from the man, and like magic, the blue light that had previously enveloped the paper suddenly disappeared into thin air as the paper passed into his hand.

It was indeed like magic in Bai Chen’s eyes, and his blue eyes even flashed for a moment as he watched the changes in the paper, but then he realized that Bai Guowei was telling the truth once again.

When the paper was in someone else’s hand, it was enveloped in a blue light that wouldn’t let the person open it to see its contents, but right after the paper moved into Bai Chen’s hand, the blue light was no longer there, and it could be said that the paper let Bai Chen read the contents inside.

.....

Meanwhile, Bai Guowei sighed after the paper moved into Bai Chen’s hands, and he immediately withdrew his hand before speaking to the young man again, “Bai Renshu even used his power to protect the contents inside the paper, so you better read the letter yourself even though you may have someone you can trust with all your heart now.”

The Emperor did not mention a name, but Bai Chen knew that the old man was talking about Zhu Ge. After all, Zhu Ge dared to protect Bai Chen in front of the Emperor as if he was a devoted lover, and Bai Chen knew that the Emperor could tell that he did trust Zhu Ge at this time.

“I understand,” Bai Chen replied as he carefully tucked the letter into his white robe. “I will return to my palace to read this letter now, and you need not worry as I will read it myself, Your Majesty. I respect Crown Prince Bai Renshu’s wish.”

Even if Bai Chen put more trust in Zhu Ge, he knew that some things had to be kept secret, and that was why he agreed with the Emperor to read the letter himself.

Bai Chen didn’t feel comfortable being around the Emperor even if the Emperor softened a bit after Bai Renshu died, and that was why he wanted to leave the Emperor immediately rather than remain in that area with someone who made him feel uneasy.

However, before he could even take his first step of leaving the Emperor, he could hear the old man speak again, “Bai Renshu has died, but that doesn’t mean I will appoint you as the new Crown Prince, Bai Chen.”

Bai Chen once again focused his attention upon hearing the Emperor’s statement. If he could tell the truth, then he did hope the Emperor to immediately appoint him as the new Crown Prince to replace Bai Renshu after the man died.

But then he realized that it was probably just his wishful thinking that the Emperor would easily grant him the title even if the Crown Prince had died. After all, he was just the Emperor’s unwanted son, so how could he become the new Crown Prince even if Bai Renshu had died?

Bai Chen knew his position, and that was why he calmly replied to the Emperor’s words, “I wouldn’t dare dream that you would easily hand over the title of Crown Prince to me, Your Majesty. I believe you would prefer to see how Dong Lang Empire doesn’t have a Crown Prince instead of letting me obtain the title. I understand it very well, Your Majesty.”

The brown-haired Prince did think that Bai Renshu’s death should be a godsend to him as he no longer had any rivals when he tried to ascend the throne to become the next Dong Lang Emperor, but he knew that his path would not be too smooth knowing that the Emperor still hated him to this day.

Even Bai Lang didn’t congratulate him even after he managed to get rid of his rival, and that was why Bai Chen knew that he still had a long way to go to the throne.

“That’s good,” Bai Guowei replied to him. “It’s great for you to understand your position in this empire, Bai Chen. Even if I no longer have someone who will take the throne from me and become the next ruler of Dong Lang, handing over the title of Crown Prince to you will only be a nightmare for me.”