Chapter 163: The Prefect's Estate

When Chu Junhan arrived at the residence of Du Yong, the Prefect of Pingzhou, the sky was gradually darkening.

Having not seen him for twelve years, Du Yong was as spirited and full of vigor as ever. With a tiger-like back and bear-like waist, fierce eyebrows and wide-open eyes, he resembled a man-eating beast, and his voice boomed like rolling thunder.

"Uncle Du, trust you have been well since we last met." Chu Junhan smiled, his eyes curving as he offered a modest, cupped-hand salute.

"My good nephew has finally remembered me! I thought you had completely forgotten about this Uncle Du of yours!" Du Yong brought a heavy palm down onto the young man's shoulder, nearly sending him stumbling.

Enduring the formidable blow with difficulty and suppressing the pain, Chu Junhan replied, "Hanger has always kept Uncle Du in his heart. It's just that upon returning these past few days, I've been tied up with other matters and simply couldn't break away. The moment I freed myself, I came straight to pay my respects."

"Good!" Du Yong threw an arm around the young man's shoulders and laughed heartily. "As long as you've come, that's all that matters! Let's go inside!"

"Then Hanger shall not stand on ceremony. I hope Uncle Du will forgive me if I am intruding!"

"Think nothing of it!"

Just like that, the robust man pulled the young man into the prefect's residence.

Inside the hall, after taking a small sip of tea and gently setting down the porcelain cup, Chu Junhan looked up at the burly man seated in the seat of honor and cut straight to the point. "Uncle Du, I have come this time to discuss a matter with you."

"What is on my nephew's mind? Speak freely!"

Chu Junhan lowered his gaze slightly, his thin lips parting. "My informants report that the Crown Prince and Liu Shuming are joining forces, intending to act against you, Uncle Du."

As soon as the youth finished speaking, the grand hall fell abruptly silent. Du Yong's smile froze at the corners of his mouth, his eyes deepening. "What is bound to come has finally come."

This time, it was Chu Junhan's turn to be stunned. It turned out that Du Yong already knew!

"If my nephew has come for this matter, you may rest easy. I have already made preparations," Du Yong said as he stood up. "I, Du Yong, followed the Emperor of Tianwu through many battles on the field of honor. How could I fail to see the gravity of this situation? They want to use me as a shield to preserve their own strength."

"Does Uncle Du know who they are truly targeting?"

Du Yong cast a sharp, brilliant gaze at Chu Junhan and let out a long sigh. "Your Chu family!"

At these words, a tremor ran through the young man as if he had been struck by lightning. So Du Yong knew—he had known everything! Why, then, why did he still act as an accomplice to tyranny in his past life? Had she misjudged the man entirely?

"Is my nephew Junhan about to ask why I still chose to aid the wicked?" Du Yong seemed to read the youth's thoughts and continued, "Even though I harbor deep resentment toward the imperial house, your father was a man of absolute loyalty and valor. No matter how much I might resist, it would all be in vain!"

"What if I wish to sever ties with Tianqing and declare myself king in Liaozhou? Would Uncle Du be willing to lend me a hand?"

"What?!" Though the youth's voice was soft, it struck like a hammer against Du Yong's mind, causing a ringing in his ears that left him speechless for a long time.

"I said, I am going to defy the heavens!" Chu Junhan stood ramrod straight, every word falling with the weight of an anvil.

"Good, good, good!" Du Yong drew a deep breath, struggling to calm the turmoil in his heart, before throwing his head back in a long laugh. "Truly, heroes come from the young! Nephew Junhan has far more backbone than your father ever did. I have long wanted to rebel against this muddle-headed ruler!"

"With Uncle Du's words, my heart is at peace." The youth smiled faintly, his gaze turning razor-sharp. "Since Uncle Du shares this sentiment, I hope you will make plans immediately and quietly transport your troops to Liaozhou."

"Very well, I shall attend to it tomorrow," Du Yong replied with the boldness of a straightforward man. Finally free from living in such stifling oppression, he agreed readily and cheerfully. "I wonder what my nephew Junhan plans to do next?"