Just as everyone fell silent, the old man from the Cheng family couldn't help but interject, "There are eight great families in this capital, but right now, Second Prince, you and the First Prince each have the support of three families. If the Second Prince can successfully win over the Zhou and Xie families, perhaps he will have the capital to compete with the First Prince and be on equal footing!"

Upon hearing this, the old man from the Qin family quickly nodded in agreement and added, "That's right! Of the nine princes, half of them have already chosen to stand on your side, Second Prince. Now, only the Ninth Prince remains undecided."

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, secretly pondering how to deal with this complex situation.

The second prince spoke without hesitation: "You may not know this, but the ninth prince has been indulging in a life of debauchery for years, practically a useless person. Even my eldest brother looks down on him and despises him! However, I value this very thing. Therefore, over the years, no matter if he asks for money or anything else, as long as it is within my power, I will do my best to satisfy his requests."

"After all, I was thinking that he might come in handy at a crucial moment! Fortunately, this Ninth Prince is quite sensible and can understand the current situation, so there is no need to worry about him too much."

Upon hearing this, the other three people present nodded in agreement and said in unison, "Oh, I see. It seems that we now have five princes on our side!"

Immediately afterward, the second prince changed his tone, his gaze sharpening, and said in a deep voice, "As for the Zhou and Xie families, I will devise a plan to deal with them. If Zhou Hong and Xie An dare to be ungrateful and stubborn, then they have no reason to remain in this world!"

Having said that, a ruthless glint flashed across the second prince's face, his icy gaze like a biting winter wind, piercing straight to the heart. Seeing this, the three old men trembled, secretly marveling at the second prince's ruthless methods.

At this moment, the second prince raised his voice again and solemnly instructed, "We are at a critical juncture. Father's health is deteriorating rapidly, and he may pass away at any time. At this crucial moment, I will not allow any mistakes or accidents to occur. Listen carefully, do you understand?"

Faced with the second prince's stern questioning, the three hurriedly bowed respectfully and replied in unison, "Yes! We will follow the second prince's teachings and will certainly not dare to be negligent in the slightest." After speaking, the four discussed the follow-up matters for a while before they dispersed.

The Ninth Prince's Residence!

At this moment, sunlight streamed into the spacious courtyard of the Ninth Prince's mansion.

A gentle breeze carried the pleasant fragrance of flowers and fresh air. The Ninth Prince sat leisurely on a stone bench in the courtyard, gently swirling a glass of fragrant wine in his hand, a faint smile playing on his lips.

His gaze casually drifted to the shimmering pond in front of him, admiring the colorful fish swimming freely.

These fish sometimes dart among the lotus leaves, and sometimes leap out of the water, splashing up crystal-clear water droplets, adding a touch of vitality and dynamism to the whole scene.

Just then, a servant dressed in gray rushed over, bowed, and reported: "Your Highness, an old man has come to see you outside the manor."

"An old man?"

Upon hearing this news, the Ninth Prince frowned slightly, a hint of doubt rising in his heart.

He put down his wine glass and asked softly, "Do you know what this old man wants?"

The servant shook his head, indicating that he did not know.

The Ninth Prince pondered for a moment, then decisively ordered, "In that case, invite him in."

Not long after, a steady, powerful sound of footsteps came from afar.

The Ninth Prince looked in the direction of the voice and saw an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face, full of vigor, slowly walking into the courtyard. The old man was tall and upright, with a steady gait, and every move he made exuded an aura of authority without anger. He wore a long black robe, the sleeves of which fluttered in the wind, further highlighting his extraordinary demeanor.

When the old man was a few steps away from the Ninth Prince, he stopped, his deep, pool-like eyes fixed on the prince. The Ninth Prince felt the old man's piercing gaze and was startled, but he did not back down. Instead, he met the old man's gaze without fear.

And so, the two stared at each other, and for a moment the atmosphere around them seemed to freeze.

Finally, the old man broke the silence. He nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, it's rare to see a mortal so open and honest with me. You are indeed a fine prospect. No wonder Miss said you have the appearance of a born emperor. At first, I had some doubts, but after seeing you today, I can see that what she said is true."

Upon hearing the old man mention the word "Miss," a hint of surprise flashed in the Ninth Prince's eyes, and he quickly asked, "Is the 'Miss' you're referring to Miss Yu Xin? Could it be that you've come on her behalf?"

"That's right. Apart from Miss Yu Xin, who else in this Purple Domain could possibly persuade me to come?"

The old man spoke with confidence and a firm tone. At that moment, Hua Yuan, who was standing to the side, remained composed and respectful. He bowed slightly and said, "Please explain the reason, sir."

Upon hearing this, the old man slowly walked up to Hua Yuan and then sat down on the ground in front of him.

He stared intently at Hua Yuan, paused briefly, and then asked, "So, what is a king? And what is an emperor?"

After a moment's thought, Hua Yuan replied clearly, "The so-called king is someone who possesses the great power of the world and leads all people. The emperor, on the other hand, is the master of all living things in the world and the foundation for bringing blessings to the people and ensuring the prosperity of the nation."

After hearing Hua Yuan's explanation, a hint of appreciation flashed in the old man's eyes, and he couldn't help but nod and praise, "Excellent! You are indeed a person born with the aura of an emperor. It is truly rare to have such profound insights and extraordinary wisdom at such a young age."

Then, the old man introduced himself: "My name is Zi Minglie, you can just call me Old Master Zi."

After saying that, Zi Minglie continued without hesitation: "From now on, I will teach you the various abilities and qualities that a qualified king and emperor should possess."

Upon hearing this, Hua Yuan was overjoyed. He quickly clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zi Minglie and respectfully said, "Disciple greets Master."

However, Zi Minglie waved his hand and smiled at Hua Yuan, saying, "That's right. Although we have a master-disciple relationship, there is no distinction between master and disciple. From now on, you can still call me Elder Zi."