Chapter 2: The Picture of Exhaustion and Despair

  "I don't want to go, I'd rather stay in the palace honestly."

  Zhou Jian had long seen through the world, the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the ups and downs within the imperial palace. Unfazed, he shook his head and said.

  Zhou Jian's heart was clear and free from distractions, unaffected by temptations. Zhou Feng suddenly felt a headache coming on.

  Because of Zhou Jian's existence, the Crown Prince was never established. Because to establish is to establish the eldest son, and Zhou Jian himself had no fault, according to the officials' words, it was to abolish an innocent son without reason, which was not what a wise king would do.

  Even his father the king did not dare to act rashly. However, all the illegitimate princes including Zhou Feng were eager to take action and couldn't wait any longer.

  Since Zhou Jian is innocent, then let him be guilty.

  Framing and harming is really too obvious. There's a way to make this eldest son of the king become disabled, lame, disfigured, all work.

  Since ancient times, kings have not all been majestic and extraordinary in appearance. However, there has never been a crippled or disfigured person who ascended to the throne. At least, this has never happened on our continent. Therefore, if the eldest son of a king is crippled or disfigured, it's as if he automatically yields his position.

  These princes born out of wedlock now have a legitimate opportunity.

  But there is a premise, that is, Zhou Jian volunteered. Because of Zhou Jian's lame foot and disfigurement, he must let the courtiers see him, that is to say, Zhou Jian had to attend the imperial court meeting. If during the court meeting, Zhou Jian suddenly shouted injustice.

  I'm afraid things will get worse.

  Zhou Feng was secretly smiling wryly in his heart, pondering what method he should use to make the young man willingly cut off his own leg.

  "As long as you behave, we can give you beauties, ten or twenty, regardless of whether they are beautiful, pure, plump or slender. How about that?" Deng Yun suddenly spoke up beside him.

  Zhou Feng's eyebrows suddenly furrowed. This cousin of hers was indeed too straightforward. However, if it succeeded, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing either.

  Zhou Jian was speechless, if he had grown up in a normal situation, he would definitely be tempted by beauty. However, he grew up in a relatively closed environment, and even if he saw the most beautiful woman, he probably wouldn't have any unusual thoughts.

  This Deng Yun used her beauty to seduce him, it's really inexplicable.

  "What's a beauty? Not interested." Zhou Jian bluntly refused.

  "Neither left nor right will do. What exactly do you want?" Deng Yun suddenly became angry, he really hadn't thought that Zhou Jian's growth environment would make him interested in beautiful women, all he knew was that he himself was indeed interested in beautiful women. In his opinion, sending over ten or twenty beautiful women was already a very good condition.

  He actually refused.

  "Big Brother." Deng Yun's attitude was indeed somewhat at odds with the purpose of their visit this time, and Zhou Feng couldn't help but furrow his brow, saying.

  "Cousin, this donkey doesn't yearn for freedom and isn't moved by beauty either. It's just a stupid donkey after all. No matter how much you say, it won't have any effect. You might as well threaten him, be decisive." Deng Yun said with an evil face, then turned to Zhou Jian and said: "Whether you understand or not, I'm telling you that I will definitely break your legs, and you must tell others that it's congenital and incurable. Otherwise, I'll take your life?"

  Then, Deng Yun felt that he had indeed overestimated Zhou Jian's understanding of the situation. Afraid that Zhou Jian didn't understand what it meant to be dead, he explained: "I'm telling you, stupid, when someone is dead, they can't see this world anymore, and they can't play with sand again, get it?"

  Is he a cripple? Indeed, it's a good idea. It seems that these younger brothers are already impatient and want to compete for the throne. Zhou Jian was deep in thought, and he also knew that this advice was good now.

  This world is full of weirdness, with some methods that can control people's minds. Turning people into puppets, moving back and forth. Although expressionless, mechanical movements are extremely eerie, often with flaws.

  The courtiers will surely see through this, that he is being framed. In terms of public opinion, people will be filled with sympathy for him and disgust towards his younger brothers, which would be disadvantageous to the younger brothers who want to become crown princes.

  But if he doesn't cooperate, I'm afraid someone will still do it even if they have to grit their teeth.

  Now, this is the picture of the poor man's cottage.

  Can't pretend to be confused anymore, must take the initiative to attack now.

  The information revealed in Deng Yun's words made Zhou Jian sniff out some clues and make a judgment in an instant.

  "There's a saying that goes, if you want to negotiate, first and foremost, you must respect the other party. You're trying to tempt me with freedom and beauty, do I look like I'd fall for it? How naive. As for threats, forget about it. For over ten years, you've had plenty of chances to make a move. But you never did, even now, it's just temptation, not direct action. You want me to step down voluntarily? That's too complicated, why not just kill me instead? Isn't that right?"

  The chill in Zhou Jian's heart finally revealed itself on his face, and he sneered coldly.

  What's this? A flash of lightning rent the sky and a thunderclap burst forth.

  Zhou Feng and Deng Yun both had their mouths slightly open, staring blankly at Zhou Jian. When the two came, they had already determined that more than a decade of secluded life would not make Zhou Jian stupid, but it was pure white as paper, extremely foolish.

  Just now Zhou Jian's reflection made them even more certain of this speculation. Not yearning for freedom, nor being tempted by beauty, but instead liking to play with sand.

  But suddenly, the usual enemy of pigs had transformed into a cunning fox. With an air of disdain, it spoke to them in a tone that was not only contemptuous in expression but also razor-sharp in language.

  At this moment, Zhou Feng and Deng Yuncai suddenly realized that they were the real fools.

  Facing a clever person, an extremely clever person. Using clumsy methods, thinking that they can entice this clever person. Isn't this being foolish?

  "Are you pretending to be stupid?" Deng Yun exclaimed, pointing at Zhou Jian in a fit of rage.

  Zhou Feng's heart was filled with murderous intent, and earlier Zhou Jian had displayed astonishing memory power, remembering his second brother. Zhou Feng felt that this person couldn't be left alive, and would wait until the worries in the back of his mind were completely eliminated.

  Then this crown prince can be eliminated.

  But unexpectedly, Zhou Jian not only had an astonishing memory, but also a more mature mind than ordinary people, with incredible judgment.

  Is this really the eldest son of the king who was imprisoned for over ten years, with no one daring to speak to him, not even the palace guards, eunuchs, or palace maids? In such a closed environment, he still has such wisdom. What kind of monster is this?

  It must have been since childhood that he had such wisdom and kept it all along.

  This person absolutely cannot stay for long.

  Zhou Feng thought in his heart.