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"Who's there!"

The man in white suddenly looked in their direction and swiftly raised his hand.

Beneath that wide robe, a crossbow was strapped to his arm!

His piercing gaze fixed on the corner of the wall, and then several swift crossbow bolts shot out.

A very perceptive person.

In a flash of lightning, Song Ling, disregarding whether to reveal her identity, had no choice but to quickly draw her sword, purse her lips, and cut off the arrowheads.

"I'll go take a look."

Shi Yu raised his hand to stop the man in white, and his hand also subconsciously reached for the short sword at his waist. He walked quietly to the corner of the wall, then suddenly turned around and stabbed at it.

However, apart from a few arrows that had been shot down, there was no trace of anything else on the ground.

“Never mind,” a middle-aged man said nonchalantly as a hand was placed on him. “The arrow was poisoned; he won’t live much longer.”

On the broken arrowhead on the ground were several drops of bright red blood.

...

Having taken a deep breath and used his light-footed skill to leave, Song Ling had no choice but to temporarily hide in a somewhat deserted courtyard to avoid being discovered.

After landing in the courtyard, she found a secluded corner.

Using the weeds and rough wood as cover, he hid in a corner and pulled off the white cloth covering his face.

His sleeve was ripped open by a short arrow, and blood stained his white clothes, making him look gruesome.

A short arrow was still tightly clutched in the injured hand, dripping blood from it.

At this moment, Song Ling's face was deathly pale, her lips had lost their color, and even the hand holding the arrow was trembling.

The arrow was poisoned and coated with a blood-activating agent.

Therefore, even pressing hard on his arm, he couldn't stop the bleeding at all.

Song Ling sat down against the wall, cold sweat pouring down her forehead. She forced herself to bite down on the hem of her clothes with her teeth, and then used her other hand to forcefully cut several strips of cloth from an arrow.

Then, one by one, they tightly wrapped the strands around their arms.

To be honest, she was used to doing this. Coupled with years of medication, her body had become like a drug addict, and she was hardly a normal person anymore.

This poison is deadly to ordinary people.

But for her, it was a blessing in disguise.

At least they won't die.

Song Ling, slightly out of breath, closed her eyes and concentrated, pondering what to do next.

What exactly is Shi Yu doing all this for?

If it was about using fate to change one's destiny, then he has already succeeded, hasn't he?

The pain subsided, and the cold touch of the arrow in my hand returned.

Suddenly, Song Ling thought of something, her fingers froze slightly, and even her eyes snapped open.

Ignoring the wound on her arm and her nearly unconscious state, she leaned on her sword to stand up.

He was using all his internal energy again...

Yin Lu had just returned from the trading company when this was the scene she encountered.

Night had long since fallen, but Song Ling lay pale-faced at the entrance of the courtyard. She had barely entered the courtyard when she was already unconscious.

His arms and hands were soaked in blood.

"Sect Master!"

Weren't they supposed to be gathering information? How did it turn out like this?

He hurriedly called for people to carry her into the house.

But as soon as she put him on the couch, Song Ling opened her eyes with difficulty. Suddenly, she raised her hand and grabbed Yin Lu's wrist, her face tense, and said, "Go and give the order immediately: if any of your disciples see Shi Yu, they must kill him."

"Wh-what?"

Yin Lu hesitated, "Is the sect leader joking? Even if you want to expel Shi Yu because of some mistake he made, he still grew up in Huailai with us."

"We're all family to each other, aren't we?"

"Why did it have to come to this..."

“He may not consider Huailai his home,” Song Ling said ruthlessly. “He must die; that’s the rule.”

"Also, investigate Qi Ying."

"Qi Ying also left Huailai?" Yin Lu asked in surprise, "But this place is completely..."

I haven't received any messages.

"Look, you're in charge of the messages, but you haven't received any," Song Ling said with a cold smile. "Where do you think things went wrong?"

"There's a traitor in Huailai."

Yin Lu hesitated, then asked, "Is it Shi Yu?"

Song Ling said coldly, "Give the order immediately, don't make me say it a second time."

"yes."

Even though he was unwilling, Yin Lu had no choice but to comply. Otherwise, he didn't want to witness the young sect leader's methods again.

Song Ling, too, did not miss the confusion on Yin Lu's face and the hesitation in his actions, and she herself was at a loss for words.

She was afraid that some secrets might not be able to be kept.

But if the truth comes out, everyone in Huailai will die.

Or perhaps, she can take this secret to the Snow Abyss.

*

"Sect Master, it's snowing."

Yin Lu handed a hand warmer to Song Ling, her tone somewhat worried: "If the wind and snow are too heavy, the road further northwest will definitely be difficult to travel."

"This trip looks like it's going to be even more difficult."

Song Ling remained silent. She and he stood one after the other on the city wall, quietly watching the disguised caravan heading north.

Or, to put it another way, the grain convoy.

I have mixed feelings.

"Yesterday was the beginning of winter, and today it's snowing heavily. I don't know what the heavens are thinking."

Song Ling's face remained indifferent, but the worry in her eyes betrayed her suppressed emotions: "If this shipment of grain fails to reach the Northwest, then it will be a natural disaster."

Yin Lu: "Sect Leader, why don't you cast a divination? That way we can make preparations in advance."

Song Ling gently shook her head: "Heavenly secrets are not always open to prying into."

Sometimes, divination results in a loss of lifespan.

It's like searching for a lord, or like divining the future fate of a dynasty.

She wasn't that afraid of death, but... she still wanted to live a few more years.

At the very least, we must see a new dynasty revitalize itself, and see that the people... no longer have to be displaced.

Seeing her determination, Yin Lu did not try to persuade her further.

Song Ling knew that he did not mean it, because he, or anyone in Huailai... was unaware of the inside story.

Those who knew were either dead or crippled.

There's no complete solution.

"Have the Second Prince's spies been removed?"

While Yin Lu was still pondering why the sect leader had suddenly fallen silent, she snapped back to reality and subconsciously answered her, "We removed all the ones nearby. To avoid attracting attention, we also pulled out many of the plugs in other parts of Kyoto."

"The Second Prince is probably furious right now, and he's still investigating which of his uncles or brothers caused him trouble."

At least there's something to be somewhat comforted by, isn't there?

Everything is proceeding as planned.

Song Ling: "In another month, everything will be different."

Yin Lu lowered her head slightly, a hint of doubt in her eyes: "What does the sect leader mean by..."

"I have a two-month appointment with someone. You'll find out on the 8th of next month," Song Ling said, leaving him in suspense with a smile.

There was still one month left until the day she and Wang Zhiyan made their appointment.

If the Southwest Army's advance goes smoothly and the North remains temporarily peaceful by then...

Perhaps... the victory will come quickly.

*

"Idiots! A bunch of idiots!"

With a wave of his hand, the second prince swept all the memorials on the table to the ground, and even smashed the fine porcelain vases to pieces.

The shards of glass scattered in the air, scratching one of the guests' cheeks, but he dared not move an inch.

The retainers held their breath, waiting for the Second Prince to finish venting his anger.

The bearded middle-aged retainer barely managed to bow before suggesting, "Your Highness, why not first lay some bait to lure it in, and then follow the trail..."

"Do you think I'm a fool, or are my brothers fools?"

The Second Prince's voice trembled with rage: "Keep investigating! I refuse to believe that killing so many of my undercover agents didn't leave a single clue!"

"yes……"

"Is there any news from the Northwest?"

The second prince sipped some cold tea to suppress his anger.

“No,” the retainer said slowly, stopping the young man beside him who wanted to step forward. “It’s just that the Northwest is in dire need of grain. Several memorials have been sent, but our court really can’t provide any more food.”

“I will convene the ministers again tomorrow to discuss this,” the Second Prince said with a sarcastic smile. “The Marquis of Wu’an, who has never been defeated in battle? This Chen Hejun is nothing special.”

When food runs out, we still have to beg and plead with him.

A ruthless thought flashed through the Second Prince's mind; he wanted to end it all and take this opportunity to kill Chen Hejun in the Northwest.

Unfortunately, the court is currently short-handed, and he has not found anyone who can temporarily replace him.

Han Yixin was a mediocre general, and he didn't have any other ambitions for most of his life.

But now he is also serving as the governor of Bingzhou.

If Liangzhou in the northwest were to be placed under his rule, it would be difficult not to fuel his ambitions.

Moreover, the Southwest Army is completely ignoring the imperial edict. Dozens of imperial decrees have failed to "invite" Yu Baizhou to Luoyang. Instead, they are now desperately fighting with the Prince of Qi...

The second prince closed his eyes, his heart burning with hatred.

Although the other side claimed it was under the pretext of suppressing the rebellion of the King of Qi.

But if you say he has no ulterior motives, who would believe you?

...Now that Chen Hejun is gone, who else can he use to control Bingzhou and the southwest?

"Father has really made a good plan," the Second Prince thought with icy eyes. He had mastered the art of imperial rule perfectly.

Just then, a clear voice suddenly came from outside the study: "Is Father inside?"

After the second prince left the palace and established his own residence, he was granted the title of Prince An by the late emperor.

Whether he truly desired stability or contentment, only he himself knew.

However, the Second Prince smashed the plaque of "Prince An's Mansion" bestowed by the late Emperor to pieces shortly after the Emperor's death, and within the mansion... no one was allowed to mention that name.

Of course, there is an exception.

For example, this three- or four-year-old child who barged into the study.

He is the young master of the Second Prince's residence, and also the only young prince under the Second Prince's care.

She was born to the late Consort Qin and is now being raised by the Crown Prince's wife, or rather, Princess An, née Su.

"Jingyou is here?"

The second prince suddenly broke into a smile, as if his expression had changed.

After a single glance, the several retainers who had been standing uneasy suddenly understood.

"Father, the Grand Tutor said that a gentleman should not get angry easily. Father is angry again..."

"It's just that some servants are disobedient..."

The conversation faded into the distance, and only after they left the study did the retainers sigh.

The middle-aged man, in particular, looked up and saw the young man beside him looking terrified. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of pity and mockery: "Look at him, still not used to it?"

"Brother Zhang..."

He Tingfang smiled sheepishly: "I'm sorry to have made you seniors laugh."

"Forget it, you go and deal with it first." Brother Zhang waved his hand impatiently, "Look at you, you don't even know how to hide."

"Your face is covered in blood, but thankfully His Highness didn't blame you for your disrespect and frightening the little prince."

He Tingfang subconsciously raised his hand to touch it, and sure enough, his hand was covered in sticky bloodstains. He sighed inwardly, "I'll go wash it off right away."

The wound was made horizontally by a piece of porcelain, and it was very obvious. I was so nervous and scared that I forgot about the pain.

He Tingfang rushed out, only to encounter yet another unexpected person.

And it's still not far from this study.

"Is Your Highness still discussing matters in the study?"

The Second Prince's wife's voice drifted into his ears, and He Tingfang realized that she was asking him a question.

He quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the discussion has concluded. Just now, the young prince went in to speak with His Highness."

Su Yunruo lowered her eyes slightly and frowned, saying, "What's wrong with your face? Raise your head so I can see."

He Tingfang's heart skipped a beat: "It was just an accidental scratch, I'm afraid it might offend Your Highness's eyes."

"I never say it a second time."

Her tone was already showing some impatience.

He Tingfang then shakily raised his head and looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.

This was the first time he had seen the face of this princess.

After all, the eldest daughter of the Su family, who was sought after by the Second Prince, must be outstanding in both appearance and talent.

But at this moment, the other person's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if they were frightened by his appearance.

He Tingfang passed the imperial examination at a young age and was praised by many as a child prodigy. Even though he was frustrated and unsuccessful for many years afterward, he always maintained his proud and aloof nature.

But at that moment, for the first time in his life, he felt so ashamed of himself that he wanted to run away.