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Chapter 170 Fifth Princess Purpose!
Chapter 170 Fifth Princess Purpose!
The Third Prince took a moment to calm his bubbling rage, stepping out of his carriage with a forced smile.
His composure was impeccable, though his eyes betrayed his irritation.
"Sister," he greeted.
"I could ask you the same question. Did you also come to see the Feng Clan?"
The Fifth Princess stepped gracefully from her ornate carriage, her movements a display of refined elegance.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
She wore robes of deep crimson and gold, her royal bearing unmistakable this time.
"Yes, I have come to see the Feng Clan. I owe a favor to the Feng Clan, and I also wanted to confirm something"
The Third Prince's brows knitted together in confusion and growing uncase.
"A favor?"
He asked, masking his surprise with a veneer of curiosity.
"Since when did you even know the Feng Clan?"
The Third Prince was confused as he hadn't received any report of Wang Zhiqing meeting with any member of the Feng Clan.
This was also true for the other princes and princesses.
(Come to think of it, this place seems familiar!)
The Third Prince thought.
He hadn't thought much about it and immediately went to meet Feng Chen when he
got the report of them staying there, never considering where the place was.
"Isn't this the mansion that Father Emperor bestowed upon you?"
The Third Prince's eyes widened in shock as he asked.
Only then did he realize that the Feng Clan was staying at the Fifth Princess's mansion, which further confused him.
The Fifth Princess's serene smile remained unchanged as she responded politely.
"Indeed, Third Brother. This mansion was gifted to me by our father, the Emperor," she said, her gaze sweeping over the grand estate.
"And I gave it to someone as a gesture of gratitude."
The Third Prince's confusion deepened, though he concealed it behind a facade of curiosity.
"Someone? What do you mean, someone?"
The Third Prince asked, still confused.
He thought, how could she not know to whom she had given the mansion that was gifted by the emperor?
This was not something that could be done arbitrarily.
"I don't know whether it was someone from the Feng Clan, as he never revealed his name, but thinking about the circumstances, he should be. This is why I am going to see whether the person is from the Feng Clan."
Wang Zhiqing answered.
The Third Prince's mind raced.
This revelation only compounded the mystery surrounding the Feng Clan.
How had they come to the Fifth Princess's aid without his knowledge? Why had he not heard of this before?
His sources should have reported any interaction between the Feng Clan and a member of the Imperial Family.
(How could I not hear about this?)
He thought, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.
However, knowing that it was the Fifth Princess and not the first or second prince, he was relieved.
Although the Fifth Princess had many connections and could be said to wield certain power, the Third Prince wasn't threatened by it.
On the other hand, he would like her to support him in the battle for the throne, and with her connections, his chances would drastically improve.
This was one of the reasons he was acting politely in front of her.
Otherwise, in the past, he would normally have ignored her because she was the daughter of a mistress.
"Well," he said smoothly, "it seems the Feng Clan has been full of surprises lately. I suppose I underestimated their influence."
The Fifth Princess inclined her head slightly, acknowledging his words without comment. Then, as if sensing the unspoken tension in the air, she shifted the conversation.
"Then I wouldn't want to delay you further. Please, have a safe journey!"
Wang Zhiqing said.
The Third Prince nodded and got on the carriage as he went away.
"Investigate the relationship between the Feng Clan and the Fifth Princess. Don't leave behind any detail."
The Third Prince commanded one of the guards.
"Understood!"
On the other hand, Wang Zhiqing waited for the Third Prince to leave before entering
her carriage as well.
"What do you think the Third Prince is here for?"
Wang Zhiqing asked Captain Hua.
"Hmm.... He has been expanding his power in the Eastern Region, Perhaps he wants the Feng Clan to support him as well. After all, the Feng Clan is one of the strongest in
the Eastern Region."
Captain Hua answered.
"Do you think the Feng Clan would agree?"
Wang Zhiqing asked again.
"If the Feng Clan Leader truly is the one who saved us, then the answer is clear: no. I doubt someone of his caliber would ever align himself with the Third Prince. He's not the kind of man to follow orders, much less serve under someone who doesn't treat him as an equal-and we both know that's not something the Third Prince is capable of. An alliance between them... I find it hard to think."
Captain Hua answered.
She knew the Third Prince's personality better than most, as she had to deal with royalty all the time and would see the Third Prince countless times.
From what she saw, she could tell that the Third Prince never took anyone as his equal
and looked down on everyone.
However, because of his mother's side, who is in the top 5 strongest clans of the Capital, his backing could be considered stronger than many other princes and he was in the third line to succeed to the throne.
The First Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince's mother's side all have Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, which made their chances for the throne higher than others. Of course, of the three, the First Prince had the highest chance, not only because he was the firstborn but also in terms of talent and temperament.
On the other hand, although the Third Prince's mother's side could be considered stronger compared to the other two princes, his personality and talent were worse
than theirs.
"I think so too!"
Wang Zhiqing agreed as well.
Looking at how nonchalant Feng Chen was during their time together, she also knew that he didn't like to flatter nor seemed like the submissive type.
Even in the face of the Second Prince, there wasn't much change to his expression.
Wang Zhiqing's carriage glided smoothly down the cobblestone path, flanked by her
elite guards.
Inside, she reclined against plush cushions, her expression thoughtful.
"Captain Hua," Wang Zhiqing began, breaking the silence.
"Do you think we have a chance of forming an alliance with the Feng Clan, assuming
their clan leader is who I believe he is?"
Captain Hua hesitated, her sharp gaze meeting the princesses.
"It's hard to say, Your Highness. The Feng Clan is not like the other factions in the Eastern Region. They've managed to thrive independently, and their strength rivals even the most well-established clans in the capital. The question isn't just whether they'll ally with anyone-it's whether they even see the need for an alliance."
Wang Zhiqing nodded slowly.
"True. But if the Feng Clan leader is indeed the senior who saved us, we owe him a great debt. It would be ideal to have their support-not only as repayment but to bolster our position in the ongoing succession."
Captain Hua's brow furrowed.
"Your Highness, I must be honest. We lack the resources and backing that other candidates for the throne possess. Without a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator among our supporters, we're already at a disadvantage compared to the First, Second, and Third Princes. They don't even see you as a threat and only someone who could help them gather more supporters."
Captain Hua knew just how lacking Wang Zhiqing's supporters were compared to the
three princes.
Even if the Fifth Princess gathered countless allies, it would be no different than
gathering a group of ants without a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.
The Fifth Princess leaned back, her gaze thoughtful.
"Yes, I know. My position is not as secure as theirs. That's why I came here personally
-to see for myself if there's a chance. If we can get the help of the Feng Clan, then
perhaps I still might have a chance."
Captain Hua crossed her arms, her tone pragmatic.
"It's a gamble, Your Highness. I must warn you that there is little to no chance of them
agreeing to support you."
Wang Zhiqing smiled faintly. Captain Hua sighed, leaning forward slightly.
"We must tread carefully. If the Third Prince couldn't secure their support despite his
power and connections, we'll need a compelling reason to convince them. Frankly, I'm not certain we have one."
The princess's expression turned wistful.
"Captain Hua," Wang Zhiqing began, her tone teasing but laced with resolve, "perhaps
I should consider a more direct approach to secure the Feng Clan's support.
Captain Hua tilted her head, frowning slightly.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?"
The Fifth Princess leaned forward, her smile widening.
"What if I put myself on the line? If the Feng Clan Leader truly is the one who saved me
then why not propose a union? A marriage alliance."
For a moment, Captain Hua stared at her, blinking in disbelief.
"Your I lighness... are you serious?"
"Why not?"
Wang Zhiqing chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Think about it. If he's the man who saved me, then he's exactly my type. He is
handsome, young, and talented. There is nothing to lose!"
Captain Hua struggled to find words, her usually composed demeanor cracking.
"But, Your Highness... a marriage proposal? That's a drastic step. What if he refuses?"
Wang Zhiqing waved her hand dismissively.
"Refuse? I am so beautiful and also a princess. Why would he refuse?" Amid Captain Hua's disbelief, Wang Zhiqing continued. "Anyway, I must become the Empress of the Azure Sky Empire!"