Geng Jing could not help exclaiming, "It is hard to imagine a man keeping an act up for more than ten years."

Ning Chen said, smiling, "It gave me a shock too when I found out. Playing the fool for more than ten years is not a thing an ordinary man can do."

"But a thousand precautions and one slip. He has been outsmarted by his own cleverness."

Geng Jing asked, curious, "What do you mean?"

Ning Chen made a cold sound in his nose. "The heir apparent's seat is empty now, and the way things stand he would become heir apparent as a matter of course."

"But everybody knows he is an idiot, and His Majesty knows it too. How would His Majesty give him the heir apparent's seat?"

Geng Jing was taken aback, then began to laugh. "That really is being outsmarted by your own cleverness."

Then Ning Chen's face went grave all at once. "Old Geng. From here on, everything else is a small matter. There is only one large one, and that is keeping His Majesty safe."

Geng Jing gave a start, and then understood at once, and said heavily, "You mean he may harm His Majesty?"

Ning Chen said, "The highest seat under heaven, with the power of the empire in his hands. That seat is too great a temptation... There has never been family feeling in an imperial house. It has been played out plenty of times — a father killing his son, a brother killing his brother."

Geng Jing inclined his head slightly.

Ning Chen narrowed his eyes and said heavily, "So he has to be stopped, as far as it can be done, before he harms His Majesty."

Geng Jing thought for a moment and said, "I think we should report it to His Majesty."

Ning Chen looked at him. "Do you have proof that he is playing a part? If you don't, then you are framing a prince."

Geng Jing said nothing more.

Ning Chen said, smiling, "Now that Old Pan and Old Feng are out, it's time to stir this…