In Nantian City, a torrential downpour was in full swing.

A figure emerged from the rain and appeared at the Zhennan Prince's Mansion.

"Greetings, Lord Wang!"

On ordinary days, Wang Bao would greet these guards.

But he doesn't have that time today.

After the lockdown in Haizhou was lifted, he rushed back without stopping.

The purpose was to bring back news from Haizhou.

......

Deep within the Prince's mansion, Zhou Qingtian's brows furrowed.

So many people were sent to Haizhou, but no news came back.

Even Wang Bao has gone missing.

Now, rumors have suddenly appeared in the martial arts world.

"Chen Kui, in alliance with the Canghai Sect and other martial arts sects, plotted a rebellion."

The Prince of Zhenhai, having uncovered the conspiracy, rallied his imperial guards to fight Chen Kui and his men to the death.

"The Prince of Zhenhai died in battle, and all the imperial guards were wiped out."

"Chen Kui has disappeared without a trace, and the Canghai Sect and other participating Dharma Images have been completely destroyed."

"The next day, at the invitation of Zhou Shenpeng, the second son of the Zhenhai Prince's Mansion, Ba Dao Li Fan destroyed the Canghai Sect and purged the rebels."

Rumors spread very quickly, but their source is nowhere to be found.

Coupled with the blockade of Haizhou, these rumors spread like wildfire.

Throughout the entire martial arts world of Nanzhou, Li Fan was revered as a god.

Furthermore, since Li Fan is from Nanzhou, no one would doubt this claim.

But Zhou Qingtian felt that things were not so simple.

"Wang Bao greets Your Highness!"

Just as Zhou Qingtian was deep in thought, Wang Bao pushed open the door and entered.

"Your Highness, something has happened in Haizhou!"

"On the evening of October 28th, Li Fan fought with a high-ranking imperial guard in Tianhai City."

"The battle attracted the intervention of a second Grand Chamberlain, after which Chen Kui appeared and suppressed the second Grand Chamberlain."

"After that, several Dharma Images, including the King of Zhenhai, came to the aid, but they were all killed by Chen Kui."

"Li Fan and Chen Kui are in cahoots."

"On October 29th, Li Fan returned to Tianhai City. This time, he trampled the Canghai Sect and destroyed the Zhenhai King's Mansion!"

"After that, there was no news of Li Fan in the martial arts world of Haizhou."

"Afterwards, Zhou Shenpeng, the second son of the Prince of Zhenhai, joined forces with the Tianshui Sect to control and blockade Haizhou."

"As soon as I entered Haizhou, Zhou Shenpeng's men came to my door. Mo Dao Wang Taicang even personally came forward, making it impossible for me to leave!"

"It wasn't until November 15th, when the ban on slaves in Haizhou was lifted, that the servants were able to return!"

Wang Bao said urgently, "Your Highness, the events in Haizhou may be the beginning of a reckoning."

Chen Kui and his group have completed the accumulation of power.

For your safety, this servant suggests an immediate retreat!

retreat!

Where to retreat?

If it weren't for Buwu Nanzhou, he could have retreated.

But now, all the resources of the Prince's Palace have been exhausted.

If he just leaves like this, then he can only go back to Tiandu and become a leisurely prince.

This is something he cannot accept.

Zhou Qingtian slowly sat down, closed his eyes, and pondered.

He put himself in Chen Kui's shoes to review the whole incident.

If I were Chen Kui, I would have been prepared long ago. So why did I go to Tiandu? Why did I attract so many martial artists?

I could easily swallow Haizhou first, and then, after digesting it, swallow Nanzhou and Yunzhou.

With the addition of the exceptionally talented Li Fan, it's not impossible for him to bring down the second brother.

There was absolutely no reason for rushing to Tiandu!

The network of Chen Kui, Li Fan, and Zhou Shenpeng, the Tianshui Sect, and an unknown force.

Individual names and various forces flashed through my mind.

It is completely impossible to consider these as a single force.

In three years, Chen Kui could only manage to train one Li Fan, which was already the limit.

He simply wouldn't have the energy to make any other arrangements.

If these forces are unrelated, then how should they be divided into factions?

Chen Kui - Li Fan.

Zhou Shenpeng - Tianshui Sect.

The alliance between these two parties is likely based on mutual interests.

Chen Kui - Li Fan kills Lao Jiu and the royal family's retainers.

Zhou Shenpeng - The Tianshui Sect Dominates Haizhou.

So what benefits do those who spread rumors gain?

I can't figure it out!

I just can't understand it.

"Wang Bao, set off immediately for Tiandu and send back the information you know."

"Your Highness, aren't you leaving?"

"I'm not going anywhere!"

Zhou Qingtian opened his eyes, his heart no longer filled with hesitation.

Life is a gamble.

Three years ago, he took the gamble.

This time, he's going to gamble again.

The gambling on Haizhou was a coincidence, and gambling on Chen Kui was not an attempt to settle scores.

Telling the second son about this serves two purposes: first, to absolve himself of responsibility.

Secondly, it was to make the second brother and Chen Kui fight to the death.

......

In the capital city, in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty gathered.

As the sun rose, a red-robed eunuch walked briskly to the front of the palace.

When he appeared, everyone looked at him at the same time.

Someone nodded in acknowledgment: "Grandpa Rain has arrived!"

Some people bowed and said, "Greetings, Lord Rain!"

The different titles are all due to different statuses.

Within the Great Zhou Dynasty, the division of power was clear.

From top to bottom, they are one palace, one government office, one pavilion, four offices, six ministries, and twelve guards.

A palace, a mansion, or a pavilion is the most transcendent; even the emperor cannot influence its decisions.

The palace refers to the Jixia Academy.

The "府" refers to the Imperial Clan Court.

The pavilion is called Wenxian Pavilion.

The four offices are the Zhenwu Office, the Jiantian Office, the Dongxuan Office, and the Tianyu Office.

The deceased Lan Tian was the head of the Dongxuan Division.

This Yu Huachun, also known as Eunuch Yu, is the head of the Heavenly Prison Division and the person Zhou Zhenxiong trusts most.

"My lords, His Majesty is unwell and will not be attending court today!"

After saying this, before anyone could react, Yu Huachun gracefully departed.

......

"Sixth Brother has made a lot of progress in the past three years!"

Not only did they send back important information, but they also vowed to live and die with Nanzhou.

"You truly are my good younger brother!"

Tiandu, Zijinyuan.

The current emperor, Zhou Zhenxiong, wore a purple-gold dragon robe and sat cross-legged on a futon.

Yu Huachun stood respectfully three zhang away.

"Hua Chun, if you were me, what would you do?"

Zhou Xiongzhen changed the subject and looked at Yu Huachun, asking softly.

"Your Majesty, this servant does not know!"

Yu Huachun kept her head down and did not reply.

The emperor's heart is unfathomable, and the one before us is even more so.

Even he wouldn't dare to make wild guesses.

Three years of bloodshed in Tiandu, those who knew the inside story all believed that the Ziyang Immortal Sect had helped this person rise to power.

But after three years of contact, he doesn't think that's the truth.

Those high and mighty immortals of the Ziyang Immortal Sect might have been manipulated by him.

The art of ruling a ruler is something this man excels at.

"What a convenient excuse for not knowing."

Since that's the case, you may leave!

"Summon Meng Yunze and Chen Jihan to see me!"

"Yes, sir!"

Shortly after Yu Huachun left, two eunuchs in red robes entered the hall.

"Lan Tian is dead, and the Dongxuan Division cannot be without a leader for even a day."

"You two fight! The winner will assume the position of head of the Eastern Mystic Division, and the loser will travel to Haizhou to retrieve Zhou Shenpeng's head!"

As soon as Zhou Zhenxiong finished speaking, a glint of light flashed in the eyes of the two red-robed eunuchs.

They all wanted the position of head of the Eastern Xuan Division.

"Yes, sir!"

The two bowed simultaneously.

Zhou Zhenxiong waved his hand, signaling the two to leave.

He didn't need to know the truth about Haizhou.

Old Nine, he's dead, so be it!

Lan Tian and the others were the same.

The process is not important; the result is what matters.

Li Fan survived, so he deserves to die.

The reason they did nothing was because the Jixia Academy intervened.

That old guy is someone he can't afford to mess with for now.

Zhou Shenpeng, my good nephew.

Seizing power is a minor matter, but uprooting the Haizhou Observatory is an act of utter arrogance.

Sending someone to kill him was the price to pay.

If he doesn't die, the throne of Zhenhai will be his.

He's dead, that's the end of it all.