"Everyone else, leave. I wish to be alone," the Emperor of Qi said.
After all the palace attendants had departed, the Emperor of Qi spoke to the person in the corner, "Come out! Everyone has been driven away by me."
"Your Majesty." A figure emerged, completely enveloped in a black cloak. Standing in the unlit area, the person was like a shadow in the darkness, exceptionally spectral.
"Sir, tell me, who exactly killed the Second Prince? I have only these two princes. If he dies, where will I find a prince to inherit the throne?" The Emperor of Qi wore a look of deep sorrow.
The man in black suddenly chuckled, his laughter carrying a chilling tone. "Your Majesty, why feign such pity? Others may not know you, but I do. Have you not been wishing for the Second Prince's demise every moment?"
"Sir, what do you mean by that? Even a tiger does not eat its cubs. How could I wish for him to die? He is, after all, my second born prince!" the Emperor of Qi said, looking at the man in black.
The man in black replied, "Your Majesty, do not continue this pretense. If you persist, you will forget even what you are doing. Why are your princes so few? Have you not personally sent them to hell one by one?"
The Emperor of Qi, who had initially appeared sorrowful, suddenly laughed. He grasped the exquisitely carved dragon patterns on the chair and asked, "Sir, you always manage to discern my thoughts. What do you think of the Third Prince?"
The man in black responded, "The Third Prince is only superior to the Second Prince."
"As long as you protect the Third Prince well, I shall enfeoff you as the State Preceptor. After my death, you will assist the Third Prince in my stead," the Emperor of Qi declared.
"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty," the man in black replied.
"Sir, you are the only one I trust. However..." The Emperor of Qi suddenly paused.
"Does Your Majesty have any further commands?" the man in black inquired.
The Emperor of Qi stood up, gazing at the lush green trees outside, and slowly said, "The young prince of the Nanping Royal Estate."
"Your Majesty, do you suspect Qi Yuze of harboring ambitions of rebellion?"
"Rebellion?" The Emperor of Qi scoffed at the remark. "He dares not."
The man in black smiled. "But it is not guaranteed that Qi Yuze has never considered it."
The Emperor of Qi's wrinkled face was then filled with a sinister smile. "Indeed, sir, you are most astute."
"Your Majesty, do you not wish to expand your territory further, to forge a vast empire for His Highness the Third Prince?" the man in black suddenly asked.
The Emperor of Qi blinked, and his cloudy gaze erupted with a brilliant radiance. "A vast empire?"
"Yes, a vast empire," the man in black affirmed.
"But the Xingjiu Kingdom is not weak at present. What should I do?" The Emperor of Qi turned to face the man in black.
The wide brim of his hat obscured the man in black's face, and the Emperor of Qi could only perceive his eerie voice. "I heard that someone saw Miss Leng from the Nanping Royal Estate go to the Third Prince's manor, and afterward, the Third Prince was assassinated."
"Your Highness, please get up quickly." Wu Hen entered the inner chambers and saw Xue Xing Yue still in bed, becoming anxious.
"What has happened?" Xue Xing Yue opened her eyes, sat up, and asked Wu Hen.
Wu Hen whispered, "The Imperial Guards have completely surrounded the Nanping Royal Estate."
Wu Hen narrowed his eyes. Although he had experienced being surrounded before, this time, for some reason, he felt a hidden sense of unease.
"Your Majesty." Zhao Yan Luo entered from outside, his expression also very grim. He looked at Xue Xing Yue and said, "Many Imperial Guards have surrounded this place."
"Wu Hen has already informed me. Later, if anything happens, pretend you know nothing," Xue Xing Yue said, glancing at Zhao Yan Luo.
Zhao Yan Luo faltered, then remained silent.
"Miss Leng, please come to the Ministry of Justice," someone called from outside.
"Your Majesty." Wu Hen bit his lower lip.
Xue Xing Yue did not even glance at Wu Hen. Instead, Ruo Feng sneered, "Young Marquis Zhao, stay in your room."
"I..."
Zhao Yan Luo watched the figure who had already left, a sense of panic he couldn't describe welling up in his heart.
"Who is this?" Xue Xing Yue asked the man before her, who was dressed in Imperial Guard attire.
"I am Chen Ming Sheng, the Commander of the Imperial Guards. The Third Prince was assassinated, and on the day His Highness was attacked, someone saw Miss Leng at the Third Prince's manor," stated Commander Chen Shang Sheng of the Imperial Guards.
Xue Xing Yue cast a cold glance at Chen Ming Sheng and said coldly, "Without proof or evidence, merely hearsay, you intend to take me away? Commander Chen, isn't this rather hasty?"
Chen Ming Sheng faltered and bowed, cupping his hands. "I implore Miss Leng not to make things difficult for your subordinate. If Miss Leng is innocent, then the Ministry of Justice will surely clear her name."
"What if I refuse to go with you?" Xue Xing Yue asked, frowning.
"Then this subordinate must offend you," Chen Ming Sheng replied.
"How dare you! I am a distinguished guest of the Nanping Royal Estate. Do you not need the Nanping King's consent to take me away?" Xue Xing Yue said coldly to Chen Ming Sheng, her gaze exceptionally sharp.
Chen Ming Sheng, biting the bullet, said, "Then this official will send someone to summon the Nanping King."
"There's no need to summon him. I am here." The Nanping King walked over, shielding Xue Xing Yue behind him, and said to Chen Ming Sheng, "Go back and report to His Majesty that I will be seeing him shortly."
Upon hearing this, Chen Ming Sheng said, "Nanping King, His Majesty is indisposed and cannot see you. I request you to meet His Majesty tomorrow."
The Nanping King gave a cold laugh. "What is the meaning of this? Are you intending to place me under house arrest?"
"Nanping King, please calm your anger. The Third Prince's assassination has caused His Majesty extreme grief, leaving him in no mood for state affairs. We request the Nanping King's understanding and for you to also consider His Majesty's feelings," Chen Ming Sheng said.
"Consideration? Then who is to consider my feelings? You barge into the Nanping Royal Estate so brazenly? What explanation do you offer for this?" the Nanping King said coldly. As a general who had long fought on battlefields, he exuded an invisible pressure.
Chen Ming Sheng felt an immense pressure bearing down on him, the kind of majesty only an emperor possessed.