Chapter 018: A Great Change Is Coming

“Hahahaha! Hahahaha… He’s about to give up. If I kill Fischer too, then I’ll be the emperor! I’ll be the emperor!”
The crown prince laughed heartily, almost to the point of tears. Then he tossed the parchment in his hand into a furnace nearby, staring at the glowing flames. Slowly and deliberately, he said, “So… I’ll be the emperor soon!”
After saying this, the crown prince seemed to calm down a bit. He took a deep breath and shouted, “Someone!”
When his subordinates entered, he said coldly, “Send someone to inform Dax. Tell him to carry out the plan as planned… Tell him that if everything goes well this time, I’ll ensure the Dax family’s glory lasts for a thousand years and their wealth endures for ten thousand. But if there’s the slightest mistake, I’ll take his head!”
With a cold smirk on his face, the subordinates were stunned but dared not say much, retreating respectfully.
Seeing this, the crown prince snorted and was about to give another order when another messenger pigeon flew in through the window.
Frowning, he untied the parchment and muttered, “What news could this possibly be?”
After glancing at it, a sinister smile appeared on his face. Suddenly, he snorted, “As I thought! Truly my good brother! Before I even enter the capital, you’re already waiting for me in the palace? It seems you understand too—tonight, our brotherly bond is severed forever! Either you die or I perish!”
At that moment, the crown prince slammed the table and shouted, “Someone! Prepare a horse!”
His subordinates rushed in. Seeing his expression, they hesitated for a moment but quickly replied respectfully, “Your Highness… Duke Belinger has arrived!”
The crown prince was slightly surprised but quickly regained his composure. He murmured to himself, “That old fox is coming to see me now… Hmph. With the power of the Belinger family, he must have insiders in the palace. So he must already know that the old man has… Now he’s coming to see me—to offer help in times of need? Or has the old fox finally decided to side with me?”
After thinking for a while, he waved his hand, put the items back in his belt, and declared loudly, “Come with me to welcome Duke Belinger!”

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of laughter was heard. “Duke Belinger has come uninvited. I hope His Highness the Crown Prince will forgive me… How dare I trouble His Highness to greet me personally?”
As he spoke, Duke Belinger was seen slowly walking from the end of the corridor. Dressed in plain clothes, he didn’t resemble a finance minister at all, yet his kind smile was unforgettable.
The Crown Prince wore a somewhat peculiar expression, but he quickly made a gesture and said, “Duke Belinger, you’ve finally agreed to see me! I’m so happy I wouldn’t even think of blaming you. Please, come in!”
With that, the Crown Prince invited the finance minister into the room, and they sat down.
Looking at this old fox across from him, the Crown Prince wore a restrained smile and said softly, “I wonder what brings Duke Belinger to visit me at such late hours?”
Duke Belinger glanced at the servants around him, smiled faintly, and said, “I ask His Highness the Crown Prince to ask them to leave.”
The Crown Prince nodded and waved his hand. “You may all go.”
After the servants left, the Crown Prince turned to Duke Belinger and said calmly, “Duke Belinger, if you have something to say, please speak plainly.”
Duke Belinger nodded. “Very well, His Highness. I’ll be direct. News has already spread in the palace… His Majesty the Emperor is likely not to see tomorrow’s sunrise! Perhaps we should discuss what to do next.”
The Crown Prince’s expression remained unchanged as he said sternly, “Duke Belinger, this is no time for jokes!”
Duke Belinger laughed heartily. “His Highness, is it really necessary? Since I’ve come alone today, it shows my intention to join your side. What more are you worried about? I believe you’re already aware that His Majesty is dying, right?”
The Crown Prince’s eyes twitched slightly as he said grimly, “Indeed, I am aware… But so what?”
Duke Belinger nodded. “That’s good. His Highness, look around the royal family. Besides you, who else has the qualities of a ruler? Since His Majesty is dying… shouldn’t you start preparing to ascend the throne sooner? On behalf of the Belinger family, I offer my full support to His Highness!”

The Crown Prince snorted and said, “Isn’t there also a Fischer? If I’m guessing correctly… you must already know that not only is that old bastard Kimberly in the palace now, but Fischer is there too, right?”
Duke Belinger nodded and said, “That’s not all. His Majesty the Emperor has also sent for Duke Green and his son to come to the palace. The implication behind this is likely… you know, those ten thousand cavalry of the Northern Legion outside the city cannot be underestimated at all! If Your Highness the Crown Prince doesn’t take action now… falling behind once means falling behind step by step!”
The Crown Prince stared at Duke Belinger for a moment before lightly laughing and saying, “Duke Belinger, do you truly submit to me wholeheartedly?”
Duke Belinger smiled slightly and said, “Of course. Otherwise, why would I be here?”
The Crown Prince snorted and said, “Very well. Then I’m not afraid to tell you that the old emperor will surely die at sunrise… Who will succeed him then will be the biggest question. But it was right of you to come to me. I’ve already made preparations in every regard… If you follow me, I guarantee the legacy of your Belinger family will endure for a thousand years.”
Duke Belinger smiled faintly and said, “That’s natural. If I didn’t know of Your Highness the Crown Prince’s great talents, how would I have come to seek your service… But right now, I have something I’d like to ask.”
“What?”
Duke Belinger said calmly, “Although His Majesty the Emperor’s health has always been poor, with the careful care of the medical officials, he shouldn’t die suddenly. This time… hehe…”
The Crown Prince’s expression darkened as he snorted and said, “My lord Duke, the past is the past. This is the present. Now that you’re on my side, it’s fine to speak plainly… I’m not afraid to tell you that I have people among the medical officials. Over the past few years, my people have had my father take a little of something I prepared every day. Today, my people have made sure he took the final dose… He will die before sunrise, without a doubt!”
The muscles in Duke Belinger’s face twitched slightly, but he remained calm and said, “In that case, that’s even better… But shouldn’t that medical official also be silenced? If this matter gets out, won’t it give Prince Fischer an excuse?”
The Crown Prince snorted and said, “My lord Duke, don’t you know who I am? I already dealt with that person as soon as the news reached me. You needn’t worry!”

Duke Belinger nodded and said, “Since His Highness the Crown Prince has made up his mind, I really can’t say much! But perhaps we should seize this opportunity now… strike while Prince Fischer hasn’t yet reacted?”
The Crown Prince snorted and replied, “Duke, you don’t think my brother is unprepared for something like this, do you? I’m just taking advantage of his mistakes to catch him off guard! If I gave him time to prepare, the outcome would be uncertain! But now… he can’t guess that I’ll act tonight… by the time he realizes it, it will be too late! I’ve been planning for a long time for an opportunity like this—how could I miss it?”
Before Duke Belinger could say anything else, a subordinate of the Crown Prince came in to report.
“There’s an order from His Majesty the Emperor in the palace—all nobles and officials in the capital must gather in the palace hall immediately!”
The Crown Prince frowned slightly and said, “A meeting? At this time? My father…”
The subordinate just stood there, not daring to speak.
Duke Belinger frowned for a moment, then waved for the subordinate to leave before saying softly, “His Highness the Crown Prince, I think it might be because Prince Fischer or the Emperor has sensed something, hence this order. It seems there must be an order coming from my side as well. Anyway, we have to go to the palace—otherwise, if the old emperor finally decides who will succeed him… our actions in the future will lack legitimacy!”
“Hmph!” The Crown Prince sneered. “Is it that easy? My men must already have surrounded the palace! Perfect—if all those nobles go to the palace, I’ll see who’s on my side and who’s against me tonight! Let’s go to the palace and see what tricks that old man has up his sleeve!”
With that, the Crown Prince stood up and strode out.
Duke Belinger watched his retreating figure with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes, but he quickly nodded and said, “Then I shall return to prepare as well. His Highness the Crown Prince, we’ll meet… in the palace hall!”
“Goodbye!”
“Goodbye!”