Volume 1, Chapter 2: Sun Wukong Pledges Allegiance; Zhu Youjian Orders the Execution of the Eunuch Faction!

"Do not panic. This person is a retainer I have recently recruited, not an assassin."

Wang Cheng'en was stunned, unable to believe his ears.

*What?*

Since when had His Highness recruited such a formidable retainer? Could it be that the Prince had finally steeled himself and intended to restore the glory of the throne? But why was this retainer a member of the demon race, found only in the demonic Qing dynasty of the Southern Frontier?

"So you're the one who summoned Old Sun... what was it that spooky system called it... 'Master'? What a mouthful. You know full well I can't read."

Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, sized up Zhu Youjian, a playful glint in his eyes.

Zhu Youjian chuckled.

"You are too kind, Great Sage. Please, just call me Master. I shall have to rely on your guidance from here on out."

"Easy enough, easy enough. But I do have requirements when it comes to my meals."

"Rest assured, everything will be properly arranged! Even if you desire the meat of a dragon from the heavens, I will find a way to procure it for you!"

"That stuff tastes foul and gets stuck in my teeth. I’d rather have some fruit."

"Great Sage, would you happen to possess that... that supernatural ability to pluck a hair and conjure a legion of monkey kin?"

"How many do you want? Is a hundred thousand enough?"

"Enough, more than enough! Great Sage, if I may be so bold, do you know Tang Seng?"

"Never heard of him. Old Sun only knows you, my Master."

...

At that moment, Tu Wenfu, a Director of Ceremonial eunuch adorned in a magnificent red python robe, wearing a Three-Mountain hat, and sporting a gleaming jade belt, approached with several Eastern Depot agents in tow. His stride was arrogant and overbearing.

"Prince Xin, oh Prince Xin, for a man of your status, why have you come all the way to this desolate Coal Hill to feed monkeys?"

"Had I not killed those blind servants of your household, I would never have known you were hiding in this godforsaken place."

As he walked, Tu Wenfu scanned Wang Cheng'en and Zhu Youjian with eyes full of disgust, a sneer curling his lips.

"This place is truly a dump. If you were planning to choose a final resting place, you really should have picked somewhere more decent, shouldn't you, Your Highness?"

In the past, Zhu Youjian had always endured in silence, constantly yielding to the eunuch faction. Therefore, to core members of the faction like Tu Wenfu, he was nothing more than a soft persimmon of no consequence. Furthermore, Tu Wenfu had the backing of the "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old" Wei Zhongxian, who had aligned himself with the powerful immortal sects; usurping the throne seemed imminent!

However, the Zhu Youjian of today was no longer the man he once was. He was no longer the Prince Xin who would allow himself to be bullied by the eunuch faction! Since the system indicated that he could draw rewards by consuming national fortune after ascending the throne, he had to seize this opportunity!

Ascend! He must ascend! Whoever stood in his way, he vowed to trample beneath his feet!

With this thought, Zhu Youjian’s eyes turned cold as blades.

"Tu Wenfu, you dog of a slave, why have you not knelt before me yet?"

Tu Wenfu froze, unable to believe his ears. This cowardly, timid Prince Xin, who had always been so weak, dared to speak to him with such defiance today?

"Prince Xin, you want me to kneel? I’d like to see which one of us ends up kneeling!"

Tu Wenfu frowned and immediately produced an imperial decree, reading aloud: "The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old has issued a decree! Prince Xin, receive the order!"

However, Zhu Youjian did not kneel as expected. He stared coldly at the decree in Tu Wenfu’s hand as if it were a scrap of waste paper.

"You are delivering a decree? By whose authority? The Emperor’s? Or Wei Zhongxian’s?"

Tu Wenfu sneered. "Prince Xin, is there a difference? The word of the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old is the word of the Emperor!"

Zhu Youjian remained unmoved. "If it is Wei Zhongxian’s decree, then I certainly shall not kneel to receive it."

"You arrogant Prince! I will be sure to report your refusal to kneel to the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old!" Tu Wenfu narrowed his eyes, sneering repeatedly, as if he already saw the Prince meeting his end.

He then proceeded to read the decree himself: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The envoy of the immortal sage has arrived. Prince Xin, Zhu Youjian, is to enter the palace immediately to pay respects and discuss state affairs!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Cheng'en’s expression shifted. He hurriedly pulled Zhu Youjian aside and whispered, "Your Highness, you must not enter the palace! If you go now, you will surely die!"

How could Zhu Youjian not know of Wei Zhongxian’s conspiracy? The death of the Tianqi Emperor was an open secret. Anyone who had dared to oppose Wei Zhongxian had already met their end. Summoning him to the palace now was undoubtedly a trap.

*Hmph, he wishes!*

At this very moment, with the invincible mythic figure of Sun Wukong at his side, why would he fear that wretched eunuch Wei Zhongxian?

Zhu Youjian waved his hand. "And what if I refuse to go?"

"Then, I am afraid I have no choice but to return with Your Highness’s head." Tu Wenfu smiled coldly and signaled with his eyes. The Eastern Depot agents drew their blades. If Zhu Youjian said "no" again, his head would roll.

"Heh, such bold words. It seems you have all prepared yourselves for my demise." Zhu Youjian’s tone was dripping with mockery. "Fine. I will have Wei Zhongxian die shortly. For now, you dog, you can go first."

"Great Sage, do it."

Zhu Youjian’s words were like a thunderclap, shaking everyone present.

Tu Wenfu’s face changed instantly. First with shock, then turning into mockery and disdain, followed by hysterical laughter!

"Hahaha! Prince Xin, have you lost your mind? How dare you spout such wild, blasphemous words!" Tu Wenfu’s voice was shrill and grating, filled with incredulous derision. "Hmph, daring to insult the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old—even if you are a high-ranking Prince, I will have you torn apart by chariots and leave you without a whole corpse!"

The Eastern Depot agents roared with laughter, their faces full of contempt and ridicule.

However, before their smiles could fade, Sun Wukong revealed a most playful grin.

"Hee hee hee..."

Sun Wukong blew a gentle breath, and a surge of overwhelming force swept outward. Tu Wenfu and the Eastern Depot agents were gripped as if by an invisible hand, instantly stripped of all power to resist. Tu Wenfu’s head twisted three times in a gruesome fashion before hanging limp.

In an instant, the ground was littered with lifeless corpses, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.

Wang Cheng'en was frozen in place. Tu Wenfu was the most trusted of Wei Zhongxian’s inner circle, a man who had rampaged unchecked, yet he had been blown to death by a single breath from the monkey the Prince had recruited!

[Ding! Host has slain the eunuch faction member Tu Wenfu. Reward: 2,000 National Fortune points!]

*Oh?*

Zhu Youjian felt a slight stirring in his heart. Killing members of the eunuch faction granted National Fortune? It seemed that as long as he performed acts beneficial to the glory of the throne and the dignity of an Emperor, he could continuously accumulate National Fortune points!

Ignoring Wang Cheng'en’s shock, Zhu Youjian calmly ordered, "Wang Cheng'en, take my token immediately. Mobilize the four hundred guards of Prince Xin’s estate, and invite former Senior Grand Secretary Han Kuang to seize control of the Five Cities Military Garrison and place the entire Imperial Capital under martial law! Any who resist are to be executed without mercy!"

"Then, send out my word: all princes, nobles, and Donglin faction officials in the capital are to assemble outside the Meridian Gate."

"Today, I am going to accomplish a great task—a task that will change the fate of the entire Empire!"

Wang Cheng'en knew his master was staking everything on this. A flash of resolve crossed his eyes as he bowed. "This servant obeys! I shall not fail Your Highness’s command!"

With that, he turned and rode off to deliver the orders, praying in his heart for the Prince’s success.