Welcome, [][] or [] Night:

The Imperial Guards hurriedly retreated, and after two or three minutes, a middle-aged man in a red official robe strode across the threshold.

This man was about fifty years old, with a handsome long beard, a lean face that did not smile, and a pair of eyes that were deep and serious, as if hiding a sea of scheming and majesty.

Deng Wenhan, styled Jinglun, was the younger brother of Empress Dowager Deng, the maternal uncle of Zhao Shun, holding the first rank in the palace as a Grand Scholar of the Hongtu Hall, in charge of the central government, and the most powerful minister of the Southern Dynasty.

This dignified and reserved middle-aged powerful minister glanced at the dancing girls in the hall, frowned slightly, and said coldly, "Withdraw!"

His voice was not loud, but it made the dancing girls in the hall like startled birds, bowing their heads and retreating to the sides, so frightened that they held their breath.

Zhang Yuanqing maintained a lazy sitting posture and said loudly, "Prime Minister Zheng is here! Someone, set up a table and wine for Prime Minister Zheng."

Deng Wenhan said coldly with a sullen face, "Your Majesty, you were just assassinated, and Longtu died to protect you. Longtu died to ensure your safety, but his body is not yet cold, and you are singing and dancing in the hall, drinking and making merry. How can this not chill the hearts of your ministers?"

Zhang Yuanqing picked up his wine glass and drank deeply, displeased, "Under all the heavens, there is no land that is not the King's, and on the shores of the land, there is no subject that is not the King's. Zheng Longtu died for me, the Imperial Family, and the Southern Dynasty. He died a worthy death."

He looked like an emperor, and dying for him was only right and proper. Hongjige and Jiang Jingwei put themselves in Deng Wenhan's position and thought about it, and their fists clenched.

Deng Wenhan's eyes sharpened. He knew Zhao Shun's nature. He took a deep breath, restrained the stern look in his eyes, and said in a still low voice: "There are assassins lurking in the palace to harm Your Majesty. It was Longtu's dereliction of duty, so he died a matter of course. Now that the assassin has not been caught, Your Majesty must not be negligent."

"Tell me in detail what happened last night after Longtu took you to hide in the side hall."

His tone leaned towards command, without a hint of respect. Zhang Yuanqing's sitting posture was still casual, but in fact, he quietly tensed his heartstrings, making an impatient expression and said: "Prime Minister Zheng is so boring, disturbing my artistic pursuits."

"Last night, Commander Zheng took me to hide in the side hall. Before long, it rained in the roof, turning into a black-clothed assassin. Commander Zheng, in order to protect me, took the initiative to intercept the assassin. Unexpectedly, the assassin was extremely powerful and turned Commander Zheng into a dried corpse with just one move."

"Then I rushed out of the side hall to ask for help, but when I turned my head, I only saw Commander Zheng's corpse."

Deng Wenhan narrowed his eyes. "I heard the Imperial Guards say that you and Longtu entered the side hall for a full quarter of an hour, and the assassin killed Longtu with only one move. Before the assassin appeared, what did Longtu say to Your Majesty?"

Tsk, he's about to reveal his true intentions.

If this performance doesn't go well, the assassins will launch a large-scale attack tonight. Zhang Yuanqing had expected this confrontation for a long time. From Deng Wenhan's perspective, the assassin killed his son Zheng Longtu in an instant, but Zheng Longtu and the emperor stayed in the side hall for a full quarter of an hour. During this time, Zheng Longtu, who already wanted to act improperly, had plenty of time to act, and may have already exposed the Zheng family's ambitions.

Zhang Yuanqing's thoughts turned quickly, but his expression remained lazy: "My three beauties all wanted to assassinate me, and I was very angry. I scolded Commander Zheng in the side hall. Commander Zheng then asked for some information about the assassins."

Of the three beauties, only Concubine Wan was an informant arranged by the Zheng family. The other two were not. It was very reasonable for Zheng Longtu to ask for details about the assassin.

Deng Wenhan showed a pensive look. Through the emotional feedback, Zhang Yuanqing knew that the cunning and deep-minded powerful minister did not believe him. As expected, he heard him ask: "Does Your Majesty know the origins of the three assassins?"

Zhang Yuanqing frowned in a remembering manner, "Beauty Chu was the first to assassinate me. She said something about avenging the dead soldiers. Songstress Wang said she wanted to eliminate me, this fatuous ruler, for the sake of the people of the world. Prime Minister Zheng, tell me, am I a fatuous ruler?"

Avenging the dead soldiers. Deng Wenhan seemed to have thought of something, and his pupils contracted slightly. He pondered for a few seconds, did not answer Zhang Yuanqing's words, and asked again, "What did Concubine Wan say?"

Zhang Yuanqing shook his head, "Concubine Wan said nothing. She just attacked as soon as she came up, almost stabbing me to death. Humph, this slut, I favored her so much, but she wanted to betray me. I want to annihilate her nine generations."

Deng Wenhan's expression did not change, but Zhang Yuanqing clearly sensed from his emotions that he was relaxed and no longer tense.

Obviously, Deng Wenhan believed his words, believing that Zheng Longtu was inquiring about information during that quarter of an hour.

And Concubine Wan, arranged by the Zheng family, did not expose anything. Suddenly, Deng Wenhan asked, "I found a pill in the side hall. What is this? Did the assassin leave it behind?"

Zhang Yuanqing was just waiting for him to ask this, and said in surprise,

"Pill? What pill? Oh, I remember, that was the antidote pill that Commander Zheng gave me. It can cure all poisons, so I don't have to fear being bitten by poisonous insects."

This was misleading Deng Wenhan, making him think that Zheng Longtu wanted to trick the emperor into taking a poisonous pill. Anyway, Zheng Longtu was dead, and there was no proof.

Sensing that Deng Wenhan's emotions had completely calmed down, Zhang Yuanqing said impatiently, "Prime Minister Zheng, if there is nothing else, please leave. Don't disturb my artistic pursuits again!"

Deng Wenhan hesitated for a moment, cupped his hands, bowed, turned and left. As he stepped over the threshold, he heard Zhao Shun's loud laughter from behind, yelling

"Ladies, continue the music, continue the dance!"

Waste! He sneered in his heart.

Dusk.

Hongjige, who had been running around for half a day, returned to the Summer Palace, while Consort De and Madam Ya came to the Summer Palace under the pretense of "serving the emperor". Everyone closed the palace doors, lowered the curtains, and conspired in the depths of the bedroom.

"The details of the Divine Sharp Army have been found out. It is indeed the army of the Southern Dynasty, but the entire army was wiped out sixteen years ago." Hongjige said.

Zhang Yuanqing, sitting cross-legged on the soft couch, smelled an unusual aura. It shouldn't be that the entire army was wiped out, causing the hatred to be transferred to the emperor.

"There is indeed a reason!" Hongjige pulled over a small stool and sat down. "A year ago, the Northern Dynasty gathered an army of 100,000 to invade the south, also conquering cities and seizing fortresses like a whirlwind. It only took three months to advance its forces to within a hundred miles of the capital of the Southern Dynasty. At that time, Empress Dowager Zheng was still in power, and this great empress dowager, in a fit of anger, continuously dismissed more than a dozen officials from the Ministry of War, and posted notices in various counties and prefectures allowing local tycoons to recruit soldiers and buy horses, and even allowing the people of various places to resist on their own!"

"As soon as this decree was issued, those gentry, in order to protect themselves, began to recruit and train soldiers, or invest in loyal and good men to resist the invasion of the Northern Dynasty. A large number of displaced people who had lost their homes responded to the call. Among them, a man named Wu Xin rose up under this background and formed a Divine Sharp Army."

"This Wu Xin is a descendant of a famous general. Three scholars and two military generals have come out of his clan. By his generation, it had declined, but the family's knowledge and origins were still there. This man was good at governing the army and used his troops like a god. In the early stage, he accepted donations from local tycoons, and in the later stage, he surrendered to the Southern Dynasty and received financial support from the imperial court. It only took four years to drive the Northern Dynasty back to the northern border."

"The army of 100,000 was defeated badly. At that time, most of the elite of the Northern Dynasty were lost on the battlefield. Wu Xin wanted to send troops to the north in one fell swoop to pacify the Northern Dynasty and end the century-long war between the North and South Dynasties, but the imperial court ordered a retreat..."

Speaking of this, Hongjige patted his thigh regretfully, "I thought this kind of mother-cursing plot would only appear in TV series, but I didn't expect it to be in the instance as well."

"The imperial court is either worried that Wu Xin will hold military power and establish himself as king, or the national treasury is empty and needs to recuperate."

Zhang Yuanqing interjected: "Continue."

"The imperial court issued twelve imperial edicts in a row, ordering Wu Xin to withdraw his troops to the court, but Wu Xin defied the decree and continued the northern expedition. The imperial court cut off his food and supplies. As I said earlier, Wu Xin governed the army well and would never rob the people. Without money or food, he could not carry out the northern expedition, and he was unwilling to withdraw his troops, so he led a personal army back to the court, wanting to persuade the imperial court to support his northern expedition." Hongjige sighed.

"As a result, he died in the capital. The imperial court gave the reason that he died of illness. His personal army did not believe it and gathered to cause trouble. Most of them were beheaded, some were sent away, and some were imprisoned."

"The main force left in the northern border was ambushed by the Northern Dynasty army not long after. The elite were either wiped out or scattered."

"That's very cultured! Like listening to a story!" Jiang Jingwei was shocked. There were also cultural people who were good at writing among the Fire Master group.

Hongjige honestly said: "The officials of the Ministry of War told me all of this. I'm just relaying it."

"So, I'm being hated because of the house and its crows." Zhang Yuanqing sighed, pretending to wipe his tears. "I was just a child of eight or nine years old back then. What does this have to do with me!"

"That's the mess that the Empress Dowager did!"

"You're still acting like the Empress Dowager." Consort De (aunt) glared at him and analyzed, "The elite of the Divine Sharp Army are all lost and have no ability to enter the palace to assassinate the new emperor. Their lust for beauty allowed them to see an opportunity. In this case, the combat power of the Divine Sharp Army is at most Saint-level. There won't be a Ruler. After 72 hours, they won't be a threat."

"Incorrect!"

Zhang Yuanqing shook his head. "The plot line is so rich and seems to be crying out for injustice. Based on my many experiences in high-difficulty instances over the years, the side plot of the Divine Sharp Army will not be so simple. This is a Ruler-level A-grade instance. Is one of the main enemies really only Saint-level in combat power? That's not very realistic."

"Then what do you want?" Hongjige and Jiang Jingwei said in unison.

Having two mouthpieces saved Xie Lingxi and others from having to ask Zhang Yuanqing again.

Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a few seconds. "Concubine Wan has followed the Empress Dowager since she was a child and is a death warrior cultivated by the Empress Dowager. She should know many of the Empress Dowager's secrets, and she is much older than me. She should have known and understood things when dealing with the Divine Sharp Army."

He looked at his teammates and said, "Today, we successfully concealed the truth from Deng Wenhan and just experienced an assassination attempt. Tonight should be safe. We'll discuss leaving the city tomorrow. Li Changshi, after dinner, go and summon Concubine Wan to serve me."

The plot line of the Divine Sharp Army will be difficult to investigate once we leave the palace. Hongjige bowed.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After having dinner in the Summer Palace, the sky was already dark, and the lanterns were lit. Hongjige led Xie Lingxi and Jiang Jingwei, two "palace maids," out of the bedroom, walking among the magnificent buildings that looked like a fairy palace.

As Hongjige walked, he suddenly said, "Where's Guan Ya? Where's Guan Ya? She's also a swordswoman. Could she be in the army? I haven't seen Sun Miaomiao either!"

Xie Lingxi scrutinized Hongjige. "Why are you so concerned about Yuan Shi's girlfriend? You've mentioned Guan Ya several times today?"

Hongjige scoffed and said, "These are all women. Jingwei isn't very smart. You and the Queen have too little experience in high-difficulty instances. Xiao Yuan is a silent gourd, and the Palace Master of Stop Killing has a strange personality. Dammit, I don't feel safe."

"It would be great if Sun Miaomiao and Guan Ya were here, but Yuan Shi's poem has been spread for so long, and they haven't come running!"

Jingwei was unconvinced: "My dad said I'm the smartest in the family!"

"Is your mom a Fire Master?" Xie Lingxi asked.

Jingwei shook her head!

"This shows that your dad is a渣 male!" Xie Lingxi commented.

Jingwei was confused. "Why?"

"Because in your dad's heart, your mom isn't family." Xie Lingxi said.

Jingwei didn't say anything and walked forward silently. A few seconds later, she and Hongjige reacted at the same time and said angrily, "You dare to mock our Fire Masters."

Inside the bedroom, Concubine Wan looked at Consort De on the left and Madam Ya on the right, and finally looked at Zhang Yuanqing's burly figure and performed an elegant courtly gesture.

"Your Majesty, your concubine has come to serve you!"

Zhang Yuanqing said kindly, "Concubine Wan is here. Quickly, give her a seat."

Hongjige brought over a small stool.

Zhang Yuanqing kicked him away. Hongjige ran outside and brought back a wooden carved chair weighing more than twenty kilograms.

Zhang Yuanqing said kindly, "Concubine Wan, please sit! Concubine Wan, have you heard of the Divine Sharp Army?"

Concubine Wan looked again at Consort De on the left and Madam Ya on the right.

Zhang Yuanqing laughed and said, "Just say it. The three beauties are my life's loves, the true loves that I can't wait to dote on every day."

Xiao Yuan and the Palace Master sneered coldly.

Does your girlfriend Guan Ya agree with what you just said? Hongjige couldn't help but complain!

"Why is Your Majesty suddenly asking about the Divine Sharp Army..." Concubine Wan, whose figure was like a small mountain of flesh, asked, "I have already investigated. Beauty Chu is an assassin arranged by the Divine Sharp Army to enter the palace."

Zhang Yuanqing did not hide anything.

Concubine Wan suddenly understood: "So that's how it is. The Divine Sharp Army wants to take revenge on the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager has lived in the deep palace for so long that they have no chance, so they have made Your Majesty their target."

Part of the reason is that Zhao Shun is too fatuous, and killing him is beneficial to the country and the people, Zhang Yuanqing thought. Concubine Wan's answer told him that this death warrior did know some secrets.

"The Divine Sharp Army has always been a knot in the Empress Dowager's heart for many years. Since Your Majesty asked, I will speak frankly!"

Concubine Wan had just said this when her expression suddenly changed and she suddenly turned her head to look outside the hall!

Almost at the same time, Zhang Yuanqing, the Palace Master, Xiao Yuan, Hongjige, and the three beauties all turned their eyes to the outside of the hall.

In the night.

Heavy and orderly footsteps were rapidly approaching. A large number of people were heading towards the bedroom.