Chapter 2: Chapter 2 – A Revenge Story Always Beguns With a Deal with the Devil

Cao Jianyu is currently 14 and the youngest of all the princes, the seventh prince

His mother was the second most favored consort, consort Fan, but he was five, his mother died by illness, leaving him with nothing to rely on

However, Jianyu did not think his mother simply died of an illness as he remembered his mother’s physic was very good and never catched a cold

He would never forgive the person who killed his lovely mother!

Although the Fan family does not have much influence, they control the Haowang road which is the source of most imports going into the country

As a result, they have a wide information network with merchants

So he did some digging

He found out that his mother did not die by illness but was was killed by a trusted servant who betrayed them for consort Hu which is the mother of the fourth prince, only to find consort Hu’s family manipulating her to do it and after more digging, he found out that it was the second prince who made a deal with the Hu family to do it and after investigation some more, it was the mother of the second prince, consort Sun’s doing!

God knows how Cao Jianyu felt when he knew the truth

Who knew his mothers death was so complicated?!

After seeing this very long list of people to get revenge Cao Jianyu honestly cannot decide on who to get revenge first

While the Hu clan is part of the reason why for his mother’s death, some of them are innocent and they are not a force to be messed with

And the others are not in his abilities currently

So he decided to take revenge on the easiest ones first, consort Hu

But even so, his mothers family isn't very powerful and they don't have much power in the imperial palace

So Cao Jianyu decided to slowly build his power up and curry favor with the emperor to get his revenge

He had already used a considerable amount of resources to investigate his mothers death, but he can always use those connections to help him

But as he is the youngest, he cannot have as much of an advantage as his elder brothers

So in order to give himself a bigger advantage, he decided to make an allegiance with some of his brothers who are on the opposite side of the fourth and second prince

Afterall, and enemy of and enemy is a friend

And after some care consideration, he decided on the first prince

The first prince is the only son of the empress who is known as a maniac

According to the rumors, the first prince was kicked out of the palace for killing almost half of his servants and even threatened the emperor!

It seems like there was also a rumor of the first prince wanting to give up the throne, but Cao Jianyu dismissed this as a joke

But with this reputation, why did Cao Jianyu choose him? 

That because even if Cao Long was kicked out, he is still the only son of the empress and should have a consider amount of resources

It was also known in the palace that before the first prince was known as a lunatic, he was the most favored prince and was praised for his wisdom

If it were not for the fact that Cao Jianyu saw corpses of servants being carried out of the first princes courtyard, he would’ve thought there was some kind of scheme to kick the first prince out

Two years ago, when Cao Jianyu was just 12, he was still investigating his mothers death when he happened to stumble upon many servants carrying out corpses of the servants in the first princes courtyard

At that time Cao Jianyu was still a young child and curiosity killed the cat

He peeked under the sheets covering the servants and saw the mutated as the result of being hack with a sword

The body even had some of its intestines falling out!

Poor Cao Jianyu was so scared he immediately ran away

A few days later, Cao Jianyu heard that the first prince was kicked out of the palace and was sent to a place in the corner of the capital

Two years later Cao Jianyu is still deeply traumatized from this incident, however, he cannot afford to be picky when avenging his mother

So he contacted the Fan family to borrow their intelligence network to find some information on the first prince

______

A few day later, all the information on the second prince was on my desk

According to these documents, the first prince is living at a place far north in the capital

He never leaves home and the atmosphere in the place is very gloomy and there's even rumors of a woman killed every night because when people pass by at midnight, there are soul wrenching screams of a woman

There are also a list of all the buildings the first prince owns in the capital which was quite short for someone of the Zhou family

But as a smart man, Cao Jianyu knew that there was something more going on in the first princes palace

According to the report, some spies were killed when the first infiltrated, but the casualties gradually lessened as time went on

Normally, the spies would get caught more as time went on, but here, it decreased

The first prince was praised as a wise genius when he was young, so Cao Jianyu won't dare underestimate him

So what did this mean? After thinking a bit, Cao Jianyu concluded that this was blatant provacuation!

Prince Long definitely knew that he was investigating him so he tested him!

If Cao Jianyu just waltzed into the first prince's home after underestimating him as someone who can't even catch spies properly, nevermind negotiating, he would get kicked out instead!

Cao Jianyu realized that if wasn't vigilant, he would’ve fallen in his brother’s trap!

Cao Jianyu thought that the incident 2 years ago might not be as simple, but who would be able to scheme the first prince out of the palace when he was intelligent and had the empress’s backing?

Indeed, the palace is a dangerous palace, he must be more cautious from now on

After strengthening his resolve, he ordered his servants to prepare to meet the second prince

_______

A week later, a carriage was seen traveling to a desolate corner of the capital

This was, of course, Cao Jianyu

When Cao Jianyu arrived a few gloomy servants greeted him as he sent out a letter a few days ago

“Welcome your highness the seventh prince”

“Mhm, when can I meet elder brother?”

“His highness is currently in the hall, please come this way”

Cao Jianyu followed the servants to the hall

While Cao Jianyu was walking through the manor, he found the place to be desolate with barely any servants around

Cao Jianyu was surprised that a prince is living in a place like this

Not long later, Cao Jianyu arrived

“Your highness, the seventh prince has arrived”

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Behind the door, a low, imposing voice sounded out

“Let him in”

Just by hearing the voice, Cao Jianyu gulped

It seems like his elder brother really cannot be underestimated, but how did he get kicked out of the palace?

The door opened and Cao Jianyu stepped in

The room is empty with barley and decoration, in the center, a small table and chairs was placed

“My dear little brother is it? Is there anything you so desperately need that you would travel to this desolate place?”

Cao Jianyu felt a chill on his back

He felt with this one sentence, all his thoughts were shown

But for the sake of his mother, he must preserve

“Haha, is there a need for a younger sibling to visit his elder brother?”

“Hmmm, I guess not”

Cao Long smiled, but the aura he radiated was of an absolute ruler

“But brother, I do not like beating around the bush, what do you want?”

Cao Jianyu knew that if he kept talking nonsense, he would be kicked out

So he got right to business

“Brother, would you like to make an alliance?”

“Alliance? Why would I need an alliance?”

“Elder brother, you must know that surviving in the palace is a difficile task, more so if your a prince, even if you are kicked out, the other princes certainly wouldn't let you off”

A small laughter echoed through the hall

“Wouldn't let me off? I'd like to see them try, but my cute brother, isn't it you that need this allegiance the most? Also, I have nothing to benefit from this allegiance”

“Yes I know I need this the most, but if you support me, I will give you a discount for all the merchants associated with the Zhou family when they travel on the Haowang road and I would not bother you” 

“And what do you want in exchange?”

“I want to borrow some manpower and your connections and dear brother would not interfere with my actions”

“Oh? A child of the Fan family wants to borrow connections and manpower? It seems like the Fan house does not take care of the seventh prince very well”

“Of course not, I owe the Fan family a great deal, but our intelligence network does not reach the capital very well”

“I see, but is it alright for you to reveal such important information to me dear brother”

“I’m sure the Zhou family’s information network already has the Fan’s family’s information brother”

Cao Long smiled

Seeing this Cao Jianyu knew he had passed Cao Long’s test

When he revealed his family’s information network, he showed he knew Cao Long already knew everything about the Fan family and he did not underestimate Cao Long even if he is living in such remote place

However, just as Cao Jianyu was going to relax, Cao Long opened his mouth

“Yes indeed brother, this is an incredibly good deal for me, but aren't you the most desperate here? Even if the Zhou family cannot get the discount, we can still flourish in the capital, on the other hand, if I refuse, you would suffer from our other brothers”

It was true, even if Cao Long refused, it would not impact him much, but for Cao Jianyu, it would be a big blow

Cao Jianyu does not have the connections to strike a deal other families and even if he went to other families, they are not great enough to influence the other princes families and the princes families would definitely take this opportunity to suppress him

Do he decided to show his trump card

Although it is his trump card, it has a small chance of succeeding, but he must succeed for the sake of his mother!

“Then, when I ascend the throne, I would not bother you”

“Oh? You are already planning to ascend the throne? Isn't this directly challenging me, who is also a candidate?”

“While in the palace, I heard a rumor that the first prince does not want the throne, so this deal is definitely beneficial for you”

Suddenly a loud laughter was heard

Cao Jianyu was confused, why would Cao Long laugh?

“Hahaha, how amusing, how amusing, alright, my lovely little brother, I’ll accept your deal”

Cao Jianyu was astonished, he did not understand why Cao Long suddenly agreed since it was definitely not about the last condition he said earlier, so what was it?

“Thank you dearest brother”

“However, there is one more condition”

Cao Jianyu was nervous, what could the last condition be? He already used all his cards so this could be the life or death of him

“You must act interesting for me when your in the court”

“Huh?”

In a moment of confusion, Cao Jianyu let out a sound unbefitting of his status

“Interesting?”

“Yes, it doesn't matter how you do it, but your actions must amuse me”

Cao Jianyu did not understand, but he agreed

“Alright brother, it’s already dark, how about you stay here for the night?”

Although Cao Jianyu did not want to stay in this place any longer, in order to please his brother, he agreed

But contrary to his expectations, when he went deeper in the mansion, it looked much livelier and some servants can even be seen taking a break from work and relaxing in the shade

It seems like the first prince’s mansion isn't what it seems

A few servants came and guided him to his accommodation and gave him some clothes 

While Cao Jianyu was eating, he overheard a few servants gossiping outside his room

Cao Jianyu thought the first prince’s place’s discipline was very lax, but he could tell they all really trust the first prince

Rumors really shouldn't be trusted

This place is really full of mysteries

But is this really ok? Since Cao Jianyu felt like he made a deal with the devil instead of a human