Chapter 30: Take a Deep Breath, Dizziness is Normal

Novices believe that the most satisfying start is to jump straight into action, but only veterans know that mixing business with pleasure is what truly adds flavor.

Wang Lu lay on Zhou Miaotong’s private bed, eyes closed, contemplating whether he had overlooked any details in his plans over the past two days and how to best utilize the few cards left in his hand.

After much thought, it seemed that climbing the ladder was a path paved with taking down countless bosses.

Lu Wenzhao, Xu Xianchun, Tian Ergeng, Wei Zhongxian, and finally, Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian.

Eliminate a person, inherit their political resources and legacy, win over their leaderless subordinates, and power would be born.

Wang Lu had never studied power systematically, but as he saw it now, power was born from a mix of trust and fear.

Because of trust and a shared ideal, Prince Xin had gathered Lu Wenzhao, Guo Zhen, Beizhai, and the others.

Because of fear—and because Wei Zhongxian held the Emperor’s trust—he wielded immense power, killing whomever he pleased. You filed reports, he signed the orders; thus, the Jinyiwei were reduced to dogs of the Eastern Depot, everyone trembling in fear of Wei Zhongxian.

Wang Lu knew his understanding was still shallow, but for now, it was enough.

As for fear, he possessed martial arts skills that did not pale in comparison to Shen Lian’s.

With Ding Xiu not yet in the capital, the only person capable of defeating him, Shen Lian, would not fight him to the death. Ding Baiying, who could have caused him trouble, had been temporarily neutralized. His martial arts were already enough to make many lose sleep in terror.

However, individual combat ability was clearly not the only prerequisite for seizing power. Before he possessed the strength to command forces, he had to exploit the current situation in the capital.

There was also the matter of wealth.

In the first chapter of their story, when the three Shen brothers hunted Wei Zhongxian, the frantic eunuch had cried out, "Do you really think the Emperor sent you to kill me? The Emperor wants the money in my hands!"

The nine border garrisons, the drought and famine ravaging the land—which of these did not require money? And Wei Zhongxian was the most prolific money-maker in the entire Ming Dynasty.

Wang Lu ran these thoughts through his mind. Those powerful figures likely never imagined that a lowly Jinyiwei hundred-man commander—soon to be a deputy thousand-man commander—was already planning to claim all their power for himself.

In truth, Wang Lu’s ambition was even greater.

Guo Zhen, Beizhai, and even the eventual addition of Ding Baiying, were not merely tools to threaten Prince Xin. The rewards mentioned in the main quest were determined by the degree of power he attained, so Wang Lu possessed, and had to possess, unprecedented ambition.

He knew clearly that Prince Xin could never be fully controlled.

If Prince Xin truly ascended the throne, even if Wang Lu brought out Beizhai and Guo Zhen to testify, he could never pull the Prince down again.

Every new emperor brings his own ministers.

Behind the incident of the Emperor Tianqi falling into the water, countless people had been involved. Those of the same ilk would inevitably fight to shield the Prince’s legitimacy. If Wang Lu tried to use that as leverage, he would undoubtedly be hunted down and crushed.

Therefore, the most effective time to use these witnesses and evidence was before Tianqi’s death!

Before then, Wang Lu had to make Prince Xin panic and start squeezing money and people out of his grasp, bit by bit. Then, he would seize the opportunity to meet the Emperor.

Time was extremely tight.

However, true to Wang Lu’s character, a little bit of pleasure before a big task was a necessity.

Zhou Miaotong’s delicate hands gently massaged Wang Lu’s temples. Seeing the contemplative look on his face, she couldn’t help but wonder what exactly this man was thinking, as it was so plainly reflected in his expression.

"Wooo-ooo-ooo!"

A moment later, a sound of aggrieved whining came from the wardrobe. Wang Lu opened his eyes, looked toward the wardrobe, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Zhou Miaotong stopped her massage and looked at Wang Lu, awaiting his instructions.

Wang Lu sat up with a fluid motion of his waist. Before walking to the wardrobe, he put his mask back on, then pulled the door open.

"Wooo! Woo-ooo!" Seeing Wang Lu, Guo Zhen began to struggle in terror. The darkness of the wardrobe had frightened him deeply.

After being rescued from Ding Baiying by Wang Lu, Guo Zhen had been frantically guessing whose side Wang Lu was on, but he couldn't figure out who would save him at such a time.

Both Lu Wenzhao and Wang Lu had crossed his mind, but Lu Wenzhao was Ding Baiying’s senior fellow apprentice, and from their conversation, Guo Zhen knew that Lu Wenzhao was aware of the assassination plot.

As for Wang Lu, he had just threatened him with a knife yesterday; how could he possibly be following him?

Thinking of this, Guo Zhen couldn't help but regret his actions! Wang Lu was his savior—how could he have treated him that way? If he had only pretended not to notice Wang Lu’s men following him, would he have been so helpless against Ding Baiying?

He had survived, but the man who saved him was the apprentice of his captor! It was like escaping a wolf’s den only to walk into a tiger’s mouth—completely trapped with no one to call for help.

"Want to live?" In Zhou Miaotong’s astonished gaze, Wang Lu resumed the hoarse, weathered voice he had used at the Jinling Tower.

"Wooo-ooo-ooo!" Guo Zhen nodded vigorously.

Regardless of whether a poor life was better than a good death, after experiencing the chilling thrill of death during the Battle of Sarhu and under Ding Baiying’s blade, his desire to live had reached a breaking point.

Wang Lu smiled and uttered the pirated classic: "You can live, but it will cost you extra."

Guo Zhen blinked twice, signaling for Wang Lu to remove the cloth from his mouth.

Wang Lu warned him sternly: "Stay silent, or I’ll end you with one stroke!"

Guo Zhen stopped struggling immediately and nodded obediently.

Truth be told, with Guo Zhen’s fair skin and delicate features, he looked exactly like those pampered, fragile types.

Wang Lu untied the knot behind Guo Zhen’s head, tossed the cloth aside, drew his short blade, and held it against Guo Zhen’s throat. "Don't ask why I saved you, and don't ask who I’m working for. Today, we only talk about money."

In just one day, it was still one person holding a blade to another’s throat, but the positions had reversed.

"Money! I have money!" Guo Zhen shrank his head back in fear. "Spare my life, and I will offer all my wealth to you, noble hero!"

"Good, straightforward! Where is it?" Wang Lu asked concisely.

"My house is at No. 6, Jiashe, Dengshikou Alley. There is a rockery in the back garden with a mechanism on the south side. Once opened, you will find my accumulated silver."

Guo Zhen looked hesitant. "However, there are many servants in the house. If you go alone, you might be mistaken for a thief. It would be best if you take me with you; I can help you retrieve it."

"So you can cry for help, alert the authorities, and have me arrested?" Wang Lu sneered. "Keep your schemes to yourself. You will stay here for now. Once I get the silver, I will let you go."

Seeing the blade move closer to his throat, Guo Zhen kicked his feet in terror. "I had no such intent! I only wanted you to get the silver sooner! You saved my life—how could I possibly return evil for good?"

"Hmph." Wang Lu glanced at him with displeasure.

When you were threatening me with a knife yesterday, you didn't think about how I had saved your life then, did you?

Having learned the location of the hidden silver, Wang Lu withdrew his blade. Before Guo Zhen could breathe a sigh of relief, he grabbed Guo Zhen’s chin and shoved a black pill into his mouth.

With a flick of his finger against Guo Zhen’s throat, the man swallowed before he could even react.

"Cough, cough... what did you feed me?" Guo Zhen asked, his face flushing.

"Take deep breaths. Dizziness is normal; it will pass soon."

Wang Lu finished speaking and watched as Guo Zhen’s eyelids grew heavy, and soon, the man drifted off into a rhythmic snore.