p?"
Yan Maoxing's eyes bulged. "Lord Gao, why don't you tell everyone—who here could possibly control Li Gong and make him fight so obediently? Who has that kind of power?"
"Lord Yan!"
Gao Bo shot back coldly. "Why don't you just say what you really mean?"
"Your Majesty, I have a memorial to present!"
Yan Maoxing drew out a folded document from his robe. "These are correspondences between Lord Gao and officials from all across the Great Sheng Dynasty over the years. In these letters, Lord Gao promises ranks and titles, buying loyalty from others! From first-rank grand ministers down to seventh-rank magistrates—the network is massive! Even several high-ranking military officers are among them!"
He raised the paper dramatically. "After the war broke out in the eastern territories, Lord Gao even wrote to General Meng Quji, promising that if he sided with him, he'd be granted the title of Duke!"
"A Duke!"
"Lord Gao is only a Minister of War! What right does he have to grant dukedoms to border generals? What did he mean by those words? Does he intend to replace His Majesty and act as emperor himself?!"
"Such treachery deserves death! His heart is already black as night, Your Majesty!"
Every sentence avoided naming the Crown Prince—but every word pointed right back to him.
"Your Majesty…"
Still furious from being slandered earlier, Meng Quji hastily chimed in. "Lord Yan speaks the truth! I did receive a letter from Lord Gao not long ago, but I ignored it completely!"
"Lord Gao."
Emperor Longqing finally spoke, his tone dry and calm. After a pause, he even smiled faintly. "Tell me—should I expect a letter too? Will you grant me a title as well?"
"Your Majesty, n-no! Absolutely not!"
Gao Bo paled and hurried to explain. "Even if I had a death wish, I'd never dare say such a thing! Lord Yan is out of his mind—he's trying to frame me to cover up his own corruption!"
He grew more heated with every word. "Last year, the Ministry of Works spent over ten million taels of silver just to build warships. And what was the result? Only four ships finished! They claimed the rest sank during sea trials!"
"Ten ships sunk? Who are they fooling?!"
"And the Hezhou Canal project the year before that—it was also under their charge! Yet within half a year of completion, a single flood wiped it out!"
"And the southern silk case…!"
"One thing after another!"
"I'll wager, Your Majesty, that Lord Yan's private treasury holds more silver than the entire imperial vault of Great Sheng!"
"Lies!"
Yan Maoxing roared, throwing decorum aside. "Every expense is clearly recorded and accounted for!"
"Yes, accounted for,"
Gao Bo sneered. "Whenever they audit the granaries, there's a 'fire.' Whenever they inspect land deeds, someone 'dies.' Of course everything lines up!"
"Lord Gao, stop spouting slander to divert attention!"
Yan Maoxing's voice rose as he realized the argument was slipping away. "Today, we're discussing who dared attempt regicide and treason!"
Prince Qi suddenly spoke up. "Your son just thought of something terrifying! Right now, Father Emperor and all the ministers are gathered on Mount Ziwei. The main defensive forces stationed here are threefold—General Meng's Eastern Garrison, the Tiger Guards, and the Golden Crow Guards. If Lord Gao is really trying to win over General Meng's Eastern Garrison, then what is he planning? If Lord Gao were to succeed, with a single order, wouldn't that mean a hundred thousand troops could surround Mount Ziwei?!"
"I understand now."
Emperor Longqing slowly opened his eyes and leaned forward slightly. "So what you're all saying is… that my own son wants to kill me?"
The moment those words fell, the once-bustling Hall of Nurtured Heart turned deathly silent. You could hear a pin drop.
No minister dared to speak.
"Father Emperor."
Prince Qi broke the silence. "Actually, this matter might not have anything to do with Eldest Brother directly. Fourth Brother and I both believe Eldest Brother would never harbor thoughts of rebellion!"
"Yes, yes, that's right."
Prince Qin quickly followed. "Lord Yan, don't be too extreme. His Highness the Crown Prince has always ruled through benevolence and filial piety. He'd never commit such an act of defying Heaven itself! It's just…"
He paused for a moment, then continued, "It's just that the people under Eldest Brother's command are too many and too mixed. Even if His Highness the Crown Prince has no such intentions, the men beneath him might not be as loyal!"
"Well said, Fourth Brother!"
Prince Qi chimed in at once. "Some of those men are scheming for their own gain, acting recklessly behind the Crown Prince's back to advance themselves in court!"
"That's right—and I mean you, Gao Bo!"
Yan Maoxing pointed sharply. "Lord Gao isn't satisfied being Minister of War. He once got drunk and bragged that he'd restore the chancellery system so he could become Grand Chancellor himself!"
He sneered. "Who would've thought his wolfish ambition would run this deep? To resort to such despicable means—this isn't just rebellion, it's framing the Crown Prince as unfilial, disloyal, and unjust! Such a traitor deserves a thousand cuts, then to be torn apart by five horses!"
As Yan Maoxing ranted, Emperor Longqing quietly flipped through the impeachment memorial against Gao Bo. Then, without warning, he tossed the entire pile forward. The scrolls scattered across the floor.
"Your Majesty!"
"Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger!"
The officials all dropped to their knees again, foreheads pressed tightly to the ground. A long, deep voice filled the hall, heavy with restrained fury.
"The Mount Ziwei Ceremony of Heaven and Earth was supposed to be the Great Sheng Dynasty's greatest celebration in a hundred years. How have you turned it into this disgrace?"
"One moment, my son wants to kill me. The next, my loyal ministers want to kill me. Tell me—how many people in this world are trying to kill me? Or is it that I, the emperor, am truly so worthless?"
"Your Majesty, please quell your anger! None of us meant that!"
Yan Maoxing hurriedly explained. "We only wish to root out the traitors and restore peace and clarity to Your Majesty's court!"
"Your Majesty."
Gao Bo was not to be outdone. "If Your Majesty wishes to know who the real traitor is, then all it takes is a single investigation of their household to find the truth!"
The two men were still arguing, but as the emperor's voice grew heavier, their own voices grew smaller, neither daring to shout further.
"Gentlemen, enough."
Chief Eunuch Huang Hong spoke up, his tone laced with warning. "Whatever truly happened today, His Majesty will judge for himself. It's not for you to decide with your bickering."
Yan Maoxing and Gao Bo immediately fell silent.
The emperor, still wearing a Daoist robe, slowly rose from the dragon throne. A gust of wind swept through the hall, setting his robes billowing and his beard floating in the air. He didn't announce a verdict. Instead, he began to recite:
"'Train the body to the form of the crane,
Under a thousand pines, study the twin scrolls.
I come to ask of the Dao, but words are none—
The clouds are in the sky, the water in the vase.'"
He repeated softly, "Clouds in the sky, water in the vase."
Then he raised his fly whisk, his gaze sweeping over the rows of kneeling officials.
"Among you," he said, "some are clouds, and some are water."
"Traitors?" He laughed coldly. "Where would they come from?"
"In my eyes, there are no traitors—only loyal ministers. You simply serve in different ways. Yet look at you, bickering in court like children!"
He looked up slightly. "My son wants to kill me? I'd never believe it. Gao Bo wants to kill me? I don't believe that either."
"Your Majesty, wise words!"
Gao Bo prostrated himself fully.
"However," Emperor Longqing continued, turning his gaze toward the Crown Prince, who was still coughing weakly, "you've all said one thing right. The Crown Prince has served as acting ruler for many years. He's worn out his body. I hear he now drinks more medicine each day than he eats rice. He can't go on like this."
"From today onward, the burden of acting as regent will be lifted. The Crown Prince shall rest for now."
"Crown Prince, what do you say?"
"I will follow Father Emperor's command."
The Crown Prince did not argue.
And with that, the political storm came to an end.
On the surface, the emperor hadn't punished the Crown Prince for the assassination attempt. But by stripping him of the regency, he had effectively accomplished what Prince Qin and Prince Qi wanted most.
Watching silently from the sidelines, Chen Sanshi noticed something troubling.
The conflict between the Crown Prince and his brothers was not new. Two princes had already been permanently confined, and Prince Qin and Prince Qi had kept their heads down for years, rarely returning to the capital.
But in the past two years—ever since the Yunzhou incident—their power had grown rapidly. Now they could even speak up in court with confidence. Clearly, someone had been backing them.
And who else could have that kind of influence but the old emperor himself?
Forty years ago, Emperor Longqing had retreated into Daoist cultivation, leaving state affairs to the cabinet.
Forty years later, he reemerged—only to find that the Crown Prince's faction had already spread throughout the bureaucracy, from the highest ministers down to the lowest county officials.
Even the likes of Xiang Tingchun, back then, had been a small figure within the Crown Prince's faction.
The Crown Prince's control now ran that deep. If a rebellion truly broke out, the empire wouldn't even tremble. The transition of power would be smooth, seamless, and absolute.
Would Emperor Longqing ever allow that?
If he wanted to reclaim his authority, the simplest way was to replace the Crown Prince.
To put it plainly—it was slaughtering the donkey once the grinding was done.
Of course, he wouldn't do it himself.
That's where Prince Qin and Prince Qi came in—perfect tools for the job.
But still…
There were too many things about today's assassination that didn't make sense.
Li Gong didn't seem like someone sent by the emperor.
The attack had come within an inch of forcing the emperor to act personally—it was far too real.
Several senior officials had died, and even the Seventh Prince was among the casualties. The old emperor's quiet fury was unmistakable.
He hadn't raised his voice, but everyone could hear the weight of imperial wrath in every word he spoke.
And because of that, the assassins' origin seemed even less likely to be tied to Prince Qin or Prince Qi.
If Prince Qin and Prince Qi truly dared to use such crude tactics, it would only leave a terrible impression on the emperor. Even without hard evidence, once the Crown Prince fell, the two of them would be next in line for ruin.
In truth, that bad impression had most likely already been planted in the emperor's mind.
As for the Crown Prince himself—
he made even less sense.
What would he gain from this? He knew full well that even a Martial Saint couldn't kill the emperor, yet he still staged such a reckless act, only to lose his regent's position in the end. What could he possibly be after?
No… there must be a third party.
Whoever profited from the chaos was the most suspicious.
Chen Sanshi's mind slowly turned, and one name began to surface in his thoughts.
'What a clever way to muddy the waters.'
"Report!"
"Urgent report!"
A military dispatch rushed in from the borders, passed from hand to hand until a eunuch outside the Hall of Nurtured Heart presented it before the throne.
"Read it aloud," said Emperor Longqing, glancing over it before handing it to the eunuch at his side.
"Report from the Eastern Frontier," Huang Hong announced. "Zhan Taiming, commander stationed at Yushan Prefecture on the Yaohzhou border, has raised his troops in rebellion. He's joined forces with the Qing army across the border, rallying eighty thousand soldiers to launch a counterattack on Lingzhou—marching directly toward Mount Ziwei!"
"Boom!"
The news hit the court like a thunderclap.
Zhan Taiming!
He had originally been a top commander of the Golden Crow Guards. When the Lingzhou campaign began, he was transferred east to serve as Vice General under Meng Quji, the two complementing each other perfectly.
After the war ended, Zhan Taiming had been tasked with guarding the frontier.
How could he now be rebelling?
"What—what should we do now?!"
Panic spread through the ministers once again.
"If they break through, there'll be no more defenses in Lingzhou! The road will lie wide open straight to Mount Ziwei—it'll be a disaster!"
"How could this happen?!"
"General Zhan Taiming came from the Golden Crow Guards!"
"He was just about to receive his reward for military service—why would he choose this moment to turn traitor? It makes no sense at all!"
"Now then," Huang Hong continued, "the forces from the other two prefectures have intercepted him, but they're severely outnumbered. They request the court to dispatch at least twenty thousand reinforcements to the frontier immediately."
Thirty thousand.
The Great Sheng Dynasty still had over one hundred thousand troops stationed throughout the eastern frontier—but they were spread thin across three provinces. The territory had only recently been reclaimed, and every major city needed heavy garrisons to keep order. Reinforcements couldn't be drawn quickly.
The fastest option lay within Lingzhou itself.
Meng Quji commanded twenty thousand Eastern Garrison troops. The Tiger Guards had twenty thousand more. Add five thousand Golden Crow Guards and three thousand Black Armored soldiers, and this entire area was under Meng Quji's control.
Logically, he should lead his troops to suppress the rebellion immediately.
After all, no matter what methods or promises the Qing Kingdom had used to lure Yushan Prefecture's troops into mutiny, those were still Meng Quji's former subordinates. Even the other two prefectures now resisting were under his old command.
Sending him was clearly the most efficient and natural choice.
But that decision would also create one serious problem.
If Meng Quji marched out with his army…
Mount Ziwei would be left guarded only by the Crown Prince's Tiger Guards.
In that case—it would become the Crown Prince's domain.
If earlier there were still ministers who thought the rumors of rebellion absurd, now many began to believe them.
Zhan Taiming had come from the capital's Golden Crow Guards—the very unit the Crown Prince once commanded. That meant the Crown Prince could easily have reached him. He could have staged the entire affair himself.
The goal?
To draw away all of the Eastern Garrison troops.
"What do we do now?"
"Who should be sent?"
Minister of War Gao Bo spoke first. "Naturally, General Meng is the most suitable choice."
"Your Majesty, I volunteer to go!"
Meng Quji stepped forward, bowing with fists clasped. "I don't know why General Zhan has done this, but there must be something strange behind it. Since those soldiers are all under my command, I can suppress this rebellion swiftly!"
"Absolutely not!"
Yan Maoxing objected immediately. "Your Majesty, I believe it would be better to send General Fan Tianfa, leading the Tiger Guards!"
"I agree!"
Other military officials voiced their support in turn.
Everyone could see that after today's chaos, leaving the Tiger Guards alone at Mount Ziwei would be far too dangerous.
"Fan Tianfa," Emperor Longqing said heavily, "are you willing to go?"
"Your servant is willing!"
Fan Tianfa bowed low. "Your Majesty, rest assured. I'll crush the rebellion as quickly as possible and not betray your trust!"
"Your Majesty,"
Grand Secretary Yan Liang finally spoke for the first time that session. "Your humble servant believes Your Majesty should return to the capital. Postpone the Mount Ziwei ceremony. Wait until the eastern front is completely stabilized, even if it takes a year—there's no harm in patience."
"Yes, yes!"
Many officials echoed him.
"Your Majesty, your life is priceless! Please don't take risks by staying here!"
"I'm not leaving."
Emperor Longqing's tone was calm but iron-hard. "I'll stay here in the Mount Ziwei palace. The ceremony will proceed as planned—not delayed even half a day."
He rose, turned sharply, and swept his sleeve as he left the hall.
Moments later, Huang Hong returned with the emperor's new decree.
"Effective immediately—
all Black Armored soldiers and Tiger Guards responsible for guarding the mountain gates today are to be executed on the spot, their heads displayed publicly."
"General of Distant Loyalty, Chen Sanshi, is to lead the Black Armored Army in assuming full responsibility for Mount Ziwei's security. You will also cooperate with Marquis of Andong, Meng Quji, to continue searching for Prince Tang, Li Gong's hiding place. No further incidents are permitted."
"Court dismissed!"
"Your servant obeys!"
Chen Sanshi cupped his hands in salute.
The morning court was finally over.
Ministers whispered among themselves as they slowly departed, the tension thick as fog.
Today's events had been nothing short of chaos—first an assassination attempt on the emperor, then a frontier rebellion by Zhan Taiming. It had all happened within a single day, yet to everyone present, it felt like a whole year had passed.
On the surface, the Crown Prince hadn't been punished.
But in truth, stripped of his regency and barred from state affairs, his influence would crumble within two years at most. His long-accumulated power would be divided among the other princes.
Even his title as Crown Prince was now dangerously unstable.
'So… will the Crown Prince still rebel after this?'
Chen Sanshi thought to himself.
He was still waiting for chaos to break out across the empire—only then could he find a chance to retrieve the treasure hidden deep within the pool.
"Big Brother!"
The Twelfth Prince, Cao Zhi, came jogging over in his flying-fish uniform with a Xiuchun Blade at his waist. He pulled out a porcelain bottle filled with precious healing medicine. "Big Brother, I saw you get hurt while protecting Father Emperor today. How are you? Is it serious?"
"Your Highness, this minister is fine."
Chen Sanshi bowed slightly.
"Come on, Big Brother, not this again."
Cao Zhi threw an arm around his shoulder. "We're family—no need to be so polite."
"Your Highness, I still have matters to attend to. Please excuse me."
Chen Sanshi didn't say more. He found an excuse and quickly left.
"Hey! Big Brother, take the medicine!"
Cao Zhi called out, but Chen Sanshi was already gone. He didn't get angry. He just chuckled, tucked the medicine back into his robe, and pulled out a handful of peanuts, tossing them into his mouth one by one.
"Your Highness!"
Captain Zhang Zhao of the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived in haste. "The moles we placed inside the Southern Surveillance Bureau are all dead. Half of those old geezers can probably be replaced with our own men, but it's a pity—the rest will be difficult to deal with."
"Ah, Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother…"
Cao Zhi crunched another peanut, his eyes following the eunuchs scrubbing the bloodstains from the floor in the distance. "Why do you always fight me over this one job that keeps me alive, huh? You'll wear yourself out."
What would the Crown Prince do next?
Now even the Tiger Guards had been reassigned. Once this battle ended, the internal purge that followed would sweep through their ranks, wiping out every officer loyal to him. After that, His Highness the Crown Prince would truly have no path left to turn.
Would he just sit there and wait for death?
Chen Sanshi didn't believe it.
A grand plan prepared for years wouldn't just collapse over one accident.
He didn't waste time either.
That night, he transformed into Zhang Laizitou and made his way to the Mountain God Temple.
Not long after—
"Hero Zhang!"
Cao Fan appeared, hurrying over. "Hero Zhang, you came at the perfect time! The plan has changed. We're moving before the Mount Ziwei Ceremony begins. Tonight, we'll discuss everything in detail. Please, come with us right away!"
"I already told you,"
Chen Sanshi drawled, "did I ever say I'd help you?"
"Hero Zhang, you…"
Cao Fan was momentarily speechless.
Behind him, Yunxiaozhi and Lingxuzi's faces darkened, murderous intent flickering in their eyes.
"Heh."
Chen Sanshi sneered coldly. "Relax, I'm just teasing you. Lead the way."
After all, he'd already accepted plenty of their treasures. It wouldn't sit right if he backed out now. Besides, this might connect to the treasure hidden in the deep pool—how could he not take a look?
"I knew Hero Zhang was a man of his word!"
Cao Fan's face lit up. He even lowered his stance and respectfully gestured for Chen Sanshi to go first.
They moved quietly under the cover of night, leaving Taihu Prefecture behind. Their path led them to an abandoned temple beyond the city walls.
Inside the dim hall, the ruined statue loomed in the shadows. A few candles flickered weakly, casting a ghostly light across the cracked floor.
There, Chen Sanshi saw several familiar faces—Fan Tianfa, Cui Congyi, four eunuchs, several Embroidered Guards, and a few generals from the Golden Crow Guards. In total, there were more than twenty people gathered.
Nearly every major bureau of the imperial court had someone planted by the Crown Prince. Truly, his spies ran deep.
"Damn it all!"
Fan Tianfa slammed his fist down. "Our plan was foolproof! Who could've guessed Li Gong would appear out of nowhere and completely ruin everything!"
"Fourth Uncle and Eighth Uncle have lost their minds!"
Cao Fan frowned. "If they go too far, they'll end up destroying themselves along with everyone else!"
"Exactly,"
Cui Congyi said grimly. "Even if they manage to hide it, His Majesty will still grow suspicious. This won't end well for them."
"I just can't figure out…"
Cao Fan muttered. "Where did they even find Li Gong? I was with Grand Commander Meng during the chase. The man vanished without a trace—as if he'd evaporated into thin air."
"And today was the same thing."
Fan Tianfa narrowed his eyes. "Two Martial Saints went after him, and he still slipped away. Forget it—the time for the final strike has come."
The final strike…
Chen Sanshi caught the meaning immediately.
The Crown Prince was ready to risk it all.
But Fan Tianfa was supposed to depart for the front lines tomorrow. Were they really planning to act tonight? That was way too rushed.
And their manpower—clearly not enough.
Even setting aside the emperor himself, there was still a eunuch who was a Martial Saint, the commander of the Golden Crow Guards, Jiang Yuanbo, another Martial Saint, and within the Embroidered Guards, there was said to be yet another—rumor had it he was the Twelfth Prince's uncle.
That was already three Martial Saints right there.
In this ruined temple, Fan Tianfa was the only one.
What was this—a suicide mission?
"There's still someone missing, isn't there?"
Chen Sanshi asked lazily. "Don't tell me you're wasting this hero's precious time."
"Nothing escapes Hero Zhang's eyes."
Cao Fan had learned humility over the past few days. Bowing slightly, he said, "Please be patient. We have two more Martial Saints joining the operation—they'll be here any moment now!"
The ruined temple fell silent again.
Outside the door, two incense-worshippers from the Fragrance God Sect stood watch.
Half an hour later, faint footsteps echoed outside.
Then two figures entered the hall.
The one in front wore a black kasaya, prayer beads in hand. His body emanated thick violet incense qi—calm, vast, and unfathomable.
The other…
Dressed in rough hemp robes, his frame was enormous. When stepping through the doorway, he had to bow slightly, and every movement carried a suffocating aura of pressure.
Senior Brother.
Lü Ji.
Just yesterday, Fourth Senior Brother Fang Qingyun had told Chen Sanshi that Senior Brother Lü Ji would also be coming to attend the Fengshan Ceremony and receive imperial rewards afterward.
He hadn't expected to see him here tonight.
On the surface, Chen Sanshi's face stayed calm, but inside, his heart was in turmoil.
Thinking it through, though, this was something both surprising and reasonable.
He remembered clearly that day during the selection trials—Cao Fan had been able to break through his spear technique! At that time, who could possibly have taught him such a move? The answer was obvious. Lü Ji must have joined the Crown Prince's faction long ago.
Did their master know about this? And if he did, why hadn't he stopped it?
Being connected to the Crown Prince under normal circumstances was one thing, but now… now it was open rebellion—a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations.
And Lü Ji still chose to be part of it?
If something went wrong tonight, the entire Eight Battalions could be dragged down with him.
"Brother Lü!"
Cao Fan rushed forward with excitement, his tone filled with warmth. "Big Brother, you finally made it!"
"Mm."
Lü Ji nodded slightly. "A few days ago, I led a troop out to the grasslands to wipe out a raiding band. It delayed me a bit."
"Big Brother,"
Cao Fan gestured toward Chen Sanshi, introducing him eagerly. "This is the one I mentioned in my secret letter—Hero Zhang, known as Zhang Laizitou."
Lü Ji's sharp gaze swept across Chen Sanshi. He gave the briefest of nods.
Chen Sanshi half-squinted and deliberately ignored him.
"Don't mind him, Big Brother,"
Cao Fan hurried to smooth things over. "Hero Zhang has a proud nature, but he's dependable."
"No offense taken."
Lü Ji's voice was low and steady. "Those who have come here tonight are bound together by life and death. How could Lü Ji hold a grudge over something so small?"
Chen Sanshi thought silently to himself.
There was still one Martial Saint unaccounted for.
Looking across all of Lingzhou, he couldn't think of anyone else it could be. Perhaps someone brought in from outside?
He'd heard rumors that the Prince of Zhennan had close ties with the Crown Prince. Could it be him?
"Amitabha."
The black-robed monk fingered his prayer beads, his tone faint and serene. "The last benefactor has arrived."
The final figure stepped into view—his posture upright, his steps firm and steady. His presence carried both power and restraint. When he reached the ruined temple's entrance, he hesitated for a brief moment before finally making up his mind and stepping over the threshold.
"General Meng!"
Cao Fan went forward to greet him personally. "We're counting on you this time!"
"Yes, old Meng,"
Fan Tianfa said with emotion. "Didn't expect you to actually join us at the crucial moment."
"I, Meng Quji, have never been one to take reckless risks."
Meng Quji gave a faint, weary smile. "But there are two exceptions. The first was when I fought alongside Chen Sanshi. The second… is agreeing to stand with you now and take part in this act of treason."
Meng Quji!
Chen Sanshi's mind raced.
He had just been wondering—even if they managed to gather three Martial Saints, what next?
They still had to deal with the twenty thousand Eastern Garrison troops. With the Tiger Guards transferred away from Lingzhou, there was no way they could muster another twenty thousand men to oppose them.
And yet, Meng Quji himself had defected to the Crown Prince's side!
"General Meng,"
Cao Fan said quickly, "after tonight's success, you'll be granted at least the rank of Duke."
"No need."
Meng Quji's eyes darkened. "I didn't agree for the title. I agreed because I can no longer stand to watch that man sit on the throne. During the Yunzhou Ten Days, how many border soldiers died for nothing?"
"They all say Meng Quji is a retreating general."
He paused, voice low but burning with conviction. "But this time, I'm done running."
"Well said, General Meng!"
Fan Tianfa's eyes lit up. "Everything that happened in Yunzhou was far too suspicious. The commanders at Anding Prefecture and Hengkang Prefecture suddenly surrendered—it was clearly orchestrated from behind the scenes! His Highness wanted to investigate, but in the end…"
"Amitabha."
The black-robed monk's calm voice cut through the murmurs. "Everyone is here. It's time we talk business."