Inside the death row, it was dark.

Tian Zhongxun, once full of vigor and ambition, had his hair turned white overnight. He watched helplessly as his personal guards were slaughtered. Many of them were his clan members, and he had watched them grow up. But with Ning Que's command, they were all shot dead!

No one survived!

Crunch...

The wooden door was opened.

Ning Que walked in slowly.

Looking down at the foolish Tian Zhongxun.

Only then did Tian Zhongxun come to his senses.

He turned around and looked at Ning Que.

His voice was hoarse and trembling as he spoke.

"You, are finally here."

"Of course." Ning Que sat on the wooden bed and said calmly, "Now the three counties of Qi have been cleared. Your people have been killed or captured. All the royal family members with the surname Tian have been executed."

"You...you have such a cruel heart!"

"Cruel?" Ning Que lifted Tian Zhongxun up with one hand and shouted angrily, "You killed my father and brother, and you say I'm cruel? I tell you, the Tian royal family's demise was caused by you. It's true that Emperor Feng has long wanted to reduce the power of the feudal lords. But if you had honestly handed over the power of governance, you could have retired like the Prince of Lu. But you're thinking of rebellion, so naturally, I can no longer tolerate you, the Tian family!"

"I gave you, the Tian family, a chance to survive and let them change their surnames. But in the end, you ordered them to secretly rebel and try to seize Linzi. Tian Zhongxun, all of this is caused by your own hands, you can't blame others!"

"You're talking nonsense! You're talking nonsense!"

"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you know it perfectly well." Ning Que let out a long sigh and continued, "The moment you killed my father and brother, there was no room for compromise between you and me. It was either you or me. If I lost today, would you spare Qing He's life?"

"Hey, absolutely not!"

Tian Zhongxun suddenly sneered.

Now it's just the two of them.

There is no need to pretend anymore.

"So, you are willing to be used by the Emperor?"

"Even if I have to use you as a pawn, are you willing?"

"This is just a mutual fulfillment." Ning Que crossed his legs and said calmly, "I need revenge, and Emperor Feng needs to reduce the power of the feudal lords. If there's anyone to blame, you can only blame yourself. Tian Zhongxun, I've done what I promised you, and now it's your turn. Who was it that betrayed my father and brother and leaked the army's marching route map to you?"

"Hahaha!"

"why are you laughing?"

"Ning Que, is the truth important?"

"Of course it's important."

"Do you know why I'm willing to tell you?" Tian Zhongxun smiled proudly and said, "Now they are safe. I can say nothing, but I will tell you. When you know all this, I also want to know what you will do."

"Go ahead."

Tian Zhongxun slowly stood up.

"Think about it yourself."

"Who knows the specific marching route?"

"Apart from my father and brother, I only have confidants." Ning Que's face showed a cold expression, "But those confidants died in the battle at Hulu Valley. They have been loyal to my father for many years and there is no way they would betray him!"

"Hahaha, everyone says you're smart, Ning Que, but now it seems you're just that smart. It's true that those involved are often confused, while those on the sidelines can see things more clearly. There are more than just these few people who know the marching route. There's another person who knows it!"

"who?"

"Offer the Emperor!"

"Impossible!" Ning Que's face showed a cold expression, and he said in a deep voice: "Tian Zhongxun, do you really think I can't find Tian Ce? You just want him to defect to Goguryeo, thinking of using it against me later. But don't forget, the Bailing Five Islands have been captured by me. If you dare to talk nonsense again, I will just feed them to the sea fish!"

"Hahaha, Ning Que, ah Ning Que!"

"You're so interesting!"

"I know you and Emperor Feng were born on the same day, and you have a very good relationship. You two grew up together, so you believe him. But you must know that there is no such thing as a lie. Do you really think those rumors in Chang'an City are all false?"

Tian Zhongxun kept sneering.

The momentum soared.

"You are as pathetic as your father."

"He was coerced by the imperial power, but he didn't realize it."

“Once you sit on the throne, you change.”

"They will all be manipulated by power!"

"Your father and brother would make arrangements for their marches in advance and submit the map to the Emperor. Only with his approval would your father send his troops to battle. The man who gave me the map was a mysterious man wearing a mask. I have never seen him before. He didn't say anything, just gave me the map."

"who is he?"

"I've already told you, he's a mysterious man." Tian Zhongxun smiled and shrugged, continuing, "He mysteriously disappeared after handing me the route map. I sent someone to secretly track him down, but they also vanished strangely. Tell me, who sent him?"

Ning Que remained silent.

Also thinking.

Tian Zhongxun's move might be to sow discord.

"Then why are you sure it's the emperor's man?"

"Have you ever heard of the Ghost Guard?"

"Um?"

Ning Que couldn't help but frown.

Of course he knew it.

The Youwei were secretly formed by the emperor.

It's a bit like the Jinyiwei.

And it's much more mysterious than them.

More like a mysterious spy organization.

Mainly responsible for doing the dirty work for Emperor Feng.

These things were not told to him by the Emperor, but by his master Bu Suanzi.

Ning Que actually didn't care too much.

After all, it is normal to plant spies.

"That person is most likely from the Ghost Guard."

"But you don't have any evidence, it's just speculation." Ning Que regained his composure and said calmly, "Tian Zhongxun, you're just trying to stir up trouble."

"Yes, I am trying to sow discord, but what I said is all true." Tian Zhongxun smiled sinisterly, "I know what you are thinking. It's simply because your father and brother were great warriors, and Emperor Feng has only recently ascended the throne. Even if they wanted to target your father and brother, they would have done so after reducing the power of the feudal lords. Otherwise, they wouldn't have easily targeted a king of a different surname. So, am I right?"

"So what?"

"There's nothing wrong with what you're thinking." Tian Zhongxun calmly sat across from Ning Que, half-smiled, and said, "Including me, it was actually very confusing at first. After all, without the old Prince Ning, there was no one left to restrain the foreign princes. I led my troops to show off my power in Chang'an, and even temporarily took over Jingyang, and the Emperor Feng agreed to all of this. So, I specially sent people to secretly investigate these matters, and finally I found some clues. It was because of this incident that I was convinced that it was the Emperor Feng who killed your father and brother!"

"What is it?"

Tian Zhongxun crossed his legs and looked at Ning Que calmly.

"So, you believe me now?"

"It's not too late for you to speak first."

Ning Que looked at Tian Zhongxun coldly.

The latter burst into laughter.

"Emperor Feng is much more ruthless than you think."

"Do you remember Ning Changge assassinating Emperor Feng?"

"It was you who ordered it!"

"Hahaha, that's not really an order." Tian Zhongxun was quite proud. "I just used a little trick. It's all thanks to Ning Changge that I can know so many things!"