On the cart to the Beijiang region, Jiang Dongli holds the reins with one hand and looks into the distance, her expression carrying a hint of worry.
Traveling from here to the northern regions would take at least two days, and from the time the message of the Moon Slaying Alliance advancing from the south emerged until they arrived in the northern regions, it's likely already been five days. In these five days, it's unknown how many cities the Moon Slaying Alliance has conquered.
Different from Jiang Dongli's worry, Chen Mo lies calmly on the backrest, seemingly not in a hurry.
Sitting opposite Chen Mo were two others. One was dressed in white, and the other in black.
These two were the Wuguo's Crown Prince Song Qiu and the Seventh Prince Song Jian, who had come a few days ago to propose an alliance through marriage.
When they came, their father the king had given a death order, insisting that they must bring back a sacred maiden. Therefore, during this time, although no clear choice for the sacred woman had been made for the alliance, they dared not leave the Imperial City easily.
Who would have thought that while waiting for the alliance partner, they received news of the Moon Slaying Alliance's advance from the south.
This put the two into a panic. They had come for the purpose of forming an alliance through marriage, but with the alliance's southward advance, their faces were completely torn apart.
As the crown princes of the Wu Kingdom, their situation is self-evident.
Had I known it back then, I would have run away with the Sixth Prince...
The two princes had the same thought in their hearts, but it was too late. There was no possibility of escape; they could only hope that Chen Mo wouldn't kill them.
The atmosphere inside the carriage was extremely oppressive. The two princes looked at the silent and motionless Chen Mo with a heart full of fear.
Crown Prince Song Qiu mustered up courage and finally spoke up: "Mr. Chen, I don't know what the purpose of this journey to the northern regions is."
Chen Mo's closed eyes opened, and he lazily sat up, stretching with a yawn. "Why do you need to ask, Your Highness? You must be well-informed. After learning about the Moon Slaying Alliance's southward advance, you thought of running away first, but ended up being caught..."
Song Jian's face twisted into a distressed expression, "Mr. Chen, the southward advance of the Moon Slaying Alliance doesn't concern us. We were just having some internal conflict, but we had no idea they would suddenly start fighting. It's just not considering our situation..."
Chen Mo raised his gaze and sneered at Song Jian, not saying anything.
Song Qiu sighed helplessly, "Our journey south to seek an alliance was conducted in secret. It was known only to the high-level officials of our country, not to anyone else in the Moon Slaying Alliance. Even if they knew, they wouldn't stop. In fact, they might even accuse our father the emperor..."
Chen Mo supported his cheeks with one hand, smiling and staring at Song Qiu, "So, it's not difficult for you to guess my intention. As long as you're the sons of the Wu kingdom, I have a card to restrain your country."
Song Qiu sighed helplessly and said with a bitter smile, "Mr. Chen, you're really overestimating us. In my father's eyes, we are indeed insignificant. That's why he sent the three of us here. My father is a man who has many sons, but without us two, it won't hurt him in the least…"
Although Song Qiu is the Crown Prince, he is a commoner's son and, due to his mother's status, is not favored in the palace. He is often bullied by his older half-brother, the Second Prince, who is a legitimate son.
Chen Mo looked at Song Qiu's compressed figure and couldn't help but smile. "I said Crown Prince, you are the eldest son, yet how weak you are... or, I can help you seize the throne, then the crisis of Tianmo Sect can be solved, and you won't have to be in your current situation. You can also take the opportunity to return the favor to those who have bullied you..."
"I'm just a concubine's son. I don't have the ability."
Song Qiu shook his head repeatedly, saying he didn't want to, but the longing in his eyes betrayed him.
"Alright, there's no one else here. You don't need to hide your intentions from me. As the first son and the seventh son of the same mother, you don't have to conceal anything. I know that you've wanted to take the throne for a long time, haven't you?"
Chen Mo directly unveiled Song Qiu's thoughts. This Crown Prince, though appearing simple and honest, actually has more ulterior motives than anyone else.
Although Chen Mo doesn't remember the specific details, he does recall the general outcome. That is, this Crown Prince Song Qiu, through unknown means and methods, eventually defeated the oppression of his older half-brother, the Second Prince, and became emperor.
Song Qiu glanced around, seeing Chen Mo's serious expression, and gave a embarrassed smile. He didn't continue the conversation.
"In fact, with your current strength, it would be difficult to seize the throne..."
As Chen Mo spoke, he approached with a mysterious air.
Song Qiu said he didn't want to, but his body moved closer, and his head was even closer to Chen Mo's.
Song Jian wasn't interested at first, but hearing Chen Mo's words, he couldn't help but lean in a bit more curiously.
Chen Mo didn't speak, and Song Qiu became anxious. He looked up at Chen Mo with a worried expression, "Please enlighten me."
Chen Mo laughed and said, "Go back and bring the heads of the Second Prince and Third Prince to your father. The throne is yours."
The Wu emperor had a total of nineteen sons, of which two were legitimate: the Second Prince and the Third Prince. They are the most likely candidates to succeed to the throne.
The remaining princes were all concubines' sons, some too young, some not up to the mark. The only one who truly has the ambition and strength to compete with the Second Prince and Third Prince for the throne is Crown Prince Song Qiu.
However, as long as the two legitimate princes are not dead, Song Qiu will never be able to inherit the throne.
Upon hearing Chen Mo's words, Song Qiu's hair stood on end, and he felt chills down his spine. If he killed the Second Prince and Third Prince, he would indeed become the closest to the throne, but at the same time, he would also be the most likely to be killed by the Wu emperor.
Killing his brothers and bringing their heads to their father, isn't this forcing him to take the throne? Even more, this might be seen as treason. How can his father forgive him?
Not to mention the outcome, but the bodyguards around the Second and Third Princes would not let him succeed so easily.
Song Jian drew a deep breath, leaned backward and stared at Chen Mo with a complex expression. "How cunning the tactic is! Isn't this pushing Crown Prince Song Qiu into the fire?"
"How about my method?"
Chen Mo smiled and asked.
Song Qiu backed up a bit, leaned against the carriage wall, took a deep breath, and forced a smile, "Mr. Chen is joking"
"I'm not joking, I'm serious. As long as you give a nod, I have ways to help you take the heads of your two brothers off."
Chen Mo held his cheek with one hand and laughed, "I'm interested in watching you. You're not doing well in the palace, are you? The Second Prince and Third Prince don't get along with you. I believe that if you return, your situation will not improve, but may even become a thorn in their eyes."
"You see, with the Moon Slaying Alliance and the Tianmo Sect at war, if I let you return now, wouldn't they suspect that you've received help from the Tianmo Sect and want to seize the throne? Wouldn't they use this as an excuse to say that you're already working for the Tianmo Sect?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Song Qiu gritted his teeth and asked in a serious manner.
"There's nothing behind it. I just felt sorry for you being in a foreign land. When we reach the border, I'll have Lai Li help out and personally send you back to the Wu Kingdom."
After saying that, Song Qiu's face turned pale immediately...
