Chapter 23 - Journey to the Wilderness!
Chapter 23: Journey to the Wilderness!
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Li Huanjun’s expression was very ugly. He was so angry that the hand holding the cup was trembling.
This unfilial son.
No, no, even if he was an unfilial son, he had to find a way to meet him. His intuition told him that what Zhaoyang said that day was true. If it was true, then for the stability of the Northern Kingdom, he still had to meet this unfilial son even though he would scold him a thousand times in his heart.
When Wang Shun reported to His Majesty, the garrison general was still at the side. When he heard Wang Shun’s report, he was stunned and felt sorry for the former Crown Prince. The former Crown Prince seemed to be a rather smart person. How could he be so muddled? He actually spoke such disgraceful words. Did he want to be imprisoned and killed?
However, what shocked the garrison general was that His Majesty only smashed a cup but did not punish him directly. He even waved his hand to signal Wang Shun to leave.
Afterwards, His Majesty smashed the inkstone and beat up a servant. But a day later, he personally went to the Wilderness Valley and the garrison general followed him to protect him.
After knowing His Majesty’s attitude towards Li Yuanqing, he recalled the news from his family that his sister was supposed to marry the Fourth Prince, but after the Fourth Prince was imprisoned, His Majesty agreed to cancel the Princess Consort’s selection.
He intended to make Princess Zhaoyang the Crown Princess, and she was Li Yuanqing’s sister from the same father and mother. Could it be because of her? But it didn’t look like it. The garrison general had his doubts but he didn’t dare ask His Majesty.
It was the middle of summer. Although Li Huanjun and the others traveled lightly, it was almost noon when they arrived. He was stopped outside the gate. Zhang Quan was guarding the gate.
“Who are you? This is a restricted area. Idle people will have to walk around!”
Zhang Quan was already a peak fourth-grade martial artist. Li Huanjun and his entourage did not reveal their identities. It was the garrison general who reprimanded Zhang Quan and explained to His Majesty.
“The crippled Crown Prince is a prisoner. Back then, we were ordered to look after him, so no one else was allowed to come near him. All these years, the cripplied Crown Prince has never left this place…”
The garrison general’s explanation made Li Huanjun, who had been depressed, feel a little better. He even nodded at the garrison general, indicating that he had done a good job.
However, when they entered the valley, Li Huanjun was upset again. He did not see Li Yuanqing at all. The valley was way too big right now. Many people searched for him, but they still could not find him.
That garrison general was so frightened that his head was sweating. He knelt on the ground and begged for forgiveness. “Your Majesty, the crippled Crown Prince has never left the valley in all these years. This is the first time I’ve been unable to find him. I’ll immediately increase my manpower and continue searching…”
The prisoner was lost. His Majesty came personally but he would not even be able to see him. This was a huge crime. Furthermore, His Majesty was in a bad mood. If he took the opportunity to punish him, he would be in trouble.
“Forget it, he’s intentionally avoiding me. I’ll wait…”
At this moment, Li Huanjun’s mood was really complicated. He was the ruler of a kingdom and his father, but he couldn’t even see him when he wanted to see him?
Moreover, this valley was said to be a place of imprisonment. But along the way, he saw that there were lush green trees and lush vegetation. Even though it was a hot summer season, there wasn’t the slightest bit of heat. The lake was rippling with waves, and willows were leaning against each other. What one could see was a scene that made one feel refreshed.
How was this imprisonment? This was leisure!
Li Huanjun was furious, but he had put down so many important matters of the kingdom just to see this bastard. He had yet to see him, so he couldn’t leave in anger. He could not even show his displeasure towards his unfilial son.
This was too frustrating!
Li Huanjun was furious, but he could not show it on his face. He was here to build a good relationship with Li Yuanqing for the sake of the Northern Kingdom.
That night, Li Huanjun’s men stayed in the valley and he ordered his men to clean it up.
Although Li Yuanqing was nowhere to be seen, someone had discovered the hot spring. Li Huanjun went to the hot spring personally to take a look. Although the garrison general was extremely envious and was fascinated by His Majesty, he invited His Majesty to soak in the hot spring.
However, Li Huanjun rejected him because this was Li Yuanqing’s territory. As his father, he did not dare to touch Li Yuanqing’s things.
Li Huanjun stayed there for three consecutive days without seeing Li Yuanqing at all. However, he felt that this Wilderness Valley was truly a good place to cultivate one’s body and mind. He felt increasingly envious.
Since he could not see Li Yuanqing, he called Wang Shun and Zhang Quan over and asked them about Li Yuanqing’s living habits.
His fatherly expression made Wang Shun feel uneasy.
“The former Crown Prince has a good temper. We usually take turns to send him food every three to five days. He has never left the valley in the past few years. Sometimes, he would go to the hot spring when it’s cold. When it’s hot, he likes to drink tea under the pine trees by the lake. He once picked up a mute to serve him tea…”
Wang Shun didn’t know that the mute he was referring to was actually Martial Saint Hu Jiujiu.
Li Huanjun didn’t take Wang Shun’s words to heart, nor did he want to see the mute.
Three days later, Li Huanjun had no choice but to leave. As the ruler of a country, it was already unprecedented for him to stay in the Wilderness for so long. If he stayed too long in the Wilderness, it would affect the political situation.
However, when he left, he learned from the station general that Wang Shun and Zhang Quan’s cultivation speed was very fast. They were originally second-grade and third-grade martial artists, but in just a few short years, they were already fourth-grade and fifth-grade martial artists.
“Take good care of the former Crown Prince. No matter what he needs, satisfy him. If you can’t make up your mind, report it immediately…”
Almost without any doubt, Li Huanjun had already confirmed that this unfilial son of his really had a fortuitous encounter. Furthermore, his happiness and anger had already affected the stability of the Northern Kingdom. In the future, he could only do things according to his preferences.
Li Huanjun felt a headache coming on just thinking about the bastard who could control a Martial Saint.
On the way back to the Imperial City, Li Huanjun finally figured out a problem that had been bothering him all this while. Back then, Li Yuanqing had disobeyed the imperial edict. He must have done it on purpose. Now that he thought about it, there was really something wrong with the princess of the Myriad City Kingdom.
It was a pity that he barely understood it after a few years.
On the night Li Huanjun left, Li Yuanqing returned to the valley. Wang Shun was overjoyed and told Li Yuanqing everything about His Majesty’s visit and how he summoned him for questioning.
Seeing that Li Yuanqing was in a good mood, Wang Shun, who was pouring tea for him, even suggested. “Your Highness, do you want me to arrange a few servants to serve you tea? Miss Hu isn’t around anymore, so it’s a little inconvenient…”
“Don’t talk too much. She went out to settle some matters. She’ll come back in the future!”
Li Yuanqing smiled and sipped his tea leisurely. Li Huanjun really thought highly of himself. Did he think that he would be able to see him just because he wanted to?