Ultragene Warlord

, his face pale.

The Wang clan head was extremely relieved that he hadn ’t been implicated in this affair, because the king of the realm was truly incensed now.

The fifth prince ’s face turned dark, but the third prince had to cover his mouth to hide a smile.

In this incident, the second prince had suffered the most—he had lost his life.

The next-biggest loser was the third prince.
Meanwhile, the biggest winner was the ninth prince.The fifth prince had looked like the second-biggest winner, but now that the Qian clan had been implicated in the second prince ’s treason, the fifth prince had lost his advantage.

The third prince might have lost his backer, but he wasn ’t out of the running just yet—he had built up a sizable base of power after all these years independent of his relationship with the Wang clan.

The king of the realm continued, ”Now that appropriate punishment has been doled out, it ’s time to discuss rewards.
During this year ’s royal hunt, there were two princes who outshone the others and whom I have declared to be the victors of the hunt: the crown and ninth princes.

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”They rushed back to assist me when the beast stampede started, and I would hardly have delayed the prize ceremony so long if not for the unusual and extenuating circumstances thereafter.
I hope that the princes will understand. ”

”Of course, your majesty! ” the crown and ninth princes replied earnestly.

Many of the less-informed court officials, who didn ’t know precisely what had happened during the royal hunt, were shocked.
It naturally made sense that the crown prince was one of the victors; he won the royal hunt every year.
But what about the ninth prince?

None of the court officials paid the ninth prince any mind; he was the youngest prince and the one with the least impressive pedigree, with no backer to speak of.
He was useless and ostracized within the palace, and not even the king of the realm paid him any mind.

However, in this year ’s royal hunt, the ninth prince had somehow beaten all the other princes and emerged the victor.

The court officials who had once ignored him now paid him their fullest attention, causing the ninth prince to stand straight up with his head erect.
This was the outcome and response he desired.

The king of the realm asked, ”What rewards do you want? ”

The crown prince replied, ”Your majesty, I have only received the very best from you.
I need no other reward. ”

The ninth prince bowed and echoed, ”You ’ve already given me the best reward I could dream of, your majesty. ”

”You don ’t want anything more? ”

The ninth prince smiled.
”If anything, I ’d like more praise from you, your majesty. ”

”Oh? You did very well during the royal hunt.
You showed outstanding bravery against the beast stampede, and although I ’ve overlooked you in the past, you ’re a prince befitting your station, one who doesn ’t lose out even to your brothers. ”

The ninth prince was so delighted that his face flushed red, and the other princes all shot him jealous glances, particularly the eighth prince.

The king of the realm continued, ”Praise is necessary, but I insist that both of you also receive a reward for what you ’ve overcome.
This was a promise I made, and a promise I shall keep.
Since the crown prince is the victor every hunt, let ’s start with you, ninth prince. ”

The ninth prince requested, as he had discussed with Zhang Lie, ”Your majesty, I would like land to call my own. ”

”Land? ” Everyone looked at the ninth prince in surprise, but when they considered his decision more carefully, they found it wise.
Although he was now making a name for himself in the battle for succession, it was too late for him compared to the other princes, who had already built up significant power.

Better to ask for a plot of land and leave the capital rather than duke it out with the other seven princes. 

This choice left quite a few of the more astute officials nodding—they believed that this was the wisest choice as well.

The king of the realm looked toward Zhang Lie, then back at the ninth prince.
”Are you certain? ”

”Yes, your majesty! ”

The king of the realm nodded.
”Very well.
Send for a map! ”