With the arrival of the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt, the atmosphere in the Royal Capital grew lively once more. Young lords and heirs from every corner of the kingdom streamed into the capital, all preparing to set out for the outer perimeter of the Treasure Tree Sect and enter the Labyrinth.
The number of registered participants this time reached nearly five thousand.
Even so, the spots were extremely competitive, with some slots selling for over a million silver each.
"The Treasure Tree Sect really knows how to rake in the money. All they do is open the Labyrinth once, and they charge a registration fee of two hundred thousand silver per person."
Five thousand slots at two hundred thousand silver each — just that alone was an enormous sum.
And that didn't even account for the fact that anything obtained during the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt had to be split fifty-fifty with the Treasure Tree Sect.
"This Treasure Tree Sect is practically sitting on a mountain of gold," Jiang Chen remarked.
"Chen Shao, since this is your first time participating in the Labyrinth Autumn Hunt, you need to be careful. Make sure you keep track of the time — don't get greedy for loot and forget when you're supposed to come out. If you get stuck in there, things would go very badly." Tian Shao said with a grin.
Jiang Chen figured that even if he himself didn't fear death, the duty-bound Consort Dan certainly would.
"Old Tian, why aren't you going this time?"
Tian Shao chuckled. "Those of us with military positions can't go. Not just me — Xin Wudao, Lü Wuji, and the rest of them, none of us are allowed."
Ye Rong nodded. "Anyone holding a military post can't leave. If all our top fighters from the army were to go, what would happen if the kingdom faced an emergency? It'd be chaos."
Jiang Chen pushed Xue Tong forward with a smile. "Fourth Prince, this is Xue Tong — my most capable aide. He recently advanced to the rank of Eleven-Meridian True Qi master. This time, I'm entrusting him to you."
"Greetings, Fourth Prince." Xue Tong was well-mannered and bowed respectfully.
"Heh heh, truly a strong commander breeds no weak soldiers. Jiang Chen, this attendant of yours looks even younger than you, doesn't he? To have reached this level of cultivation — remarkable, truly remarkable."
Jiang Chen smiled. "No matter how strong his cultivation, he still needs to transcend the mortal realm and enter the spiritual. Otherwise it's all talk. I'm sending him in precisely to give him a chance to temper himself."
As the group was chatting and laughing, a crowd suddenly approached from ahead. At their head was none other than the First Prince, Ye Dai.
Enemies meeting face to face — their eyes burned with hostility.
The smile that had been hanging on Ye Dai's face immediately clouded over with dark severity.
Ye Rong, however, simply chuckled and called out a greeting. "Big Brother, you're here too."
"Are you allowed to come, but I'm not?" Ye Dai replied coolly.
Ye Rong smiled. "I assumed a man of your stature wouldn't deign to participate."
"Fourth Brother, you seem quite pleased with yourself lately. I hope your Labyrinth Autumn Hunt goes smoothly." Ye Dai's lips curled into a half-smile as he waved a hand and swept past with his entourage, brushing right by them.
Watching the retreating figures of Ye Dai and his party, Jiang Chen fell into thought. He turned to the Fourth Prince and warned him, "Fourth Prince, it looks like this Labyrinth Autumn Hunt may not be as peaceful as we'd hoped."
Ye Rong's expression was grave. "The Labyrinth Autumn Hunt has never been peaceful. No matter what happens, I have no way to back out this time."
"What do you mean?"
A muscle in Ye Rong's face twitched slightly, and his tone turned solemn. "Word has come from the inner palace. Apparently, Father has already decided that come the first month of next year, he will formally appoint the Crown Prince."
"It's already deep autumn. That means there are only three or four months left."
"Yes. The news came very suddenly. Right now, every prince is scrambling for any chance to prove himself in Father's eyes." Ye Rong's voice was heavy with worry. "Ye Dai's maternal family commands great power and influence. They've already rallied a considerable faction at court and are actively building momentum for Ye Dai. If I can't demonstrate enough appeal during this Labyrinth Autumn Hunt, I'm afraid the position of Crown Prince will be well beyond my reach."
Tian Shao sighed. "It's a pity Brother Jiang Chen was conscripted by Consort Dan. If he were here to support the Fourth Prince, this Labyrinth Autumn Hunt would surely have been a spectacular affair."
Ye Rong gave a rueful laugh. Consort Dan's summoning of Jiang Chen was something that couldn't be helped. Under no circumstances could he have refused Consort Dan.
Come to think of it, since Consort Dan had taken Jiang Chen away, she would surely feel she owed him, Ye Rong, a favor. If Consort Dan were to put in a good word with the old man, the loss in one place might well be made up for elsewhere.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly but said nothing.
He had little interest in the squabbling among the princes or who would become Crown Prince. Still, he was nominally Ye Rong's guest minister, and emotionally, he did hope Ye Rong would inherit the throne and claim the Crown Prince's position.
At the very least, if Ye Rong became Crown Prince, Jiang Chen and his people would have a far easier time in the Tiangui Kingdom.
If Ye Dai were made Crown Prince, there would inevitably be no shortage of headaches down the road.