Chapter 263 A Game Within a Game, A Game Within a Game

A cornered dog will jump over the wall; a cornered rabbit will bite.

From the moment he entered the imperial city through Anfu Gate until he walked through Zhaoyang Gate, Li Jin kept pondering Xiao Chen's words.

He left it at that, giving Li Jin a general idea of ​​what was going on.

Just like six years ago, when Li Mu was accused of plotting a rebellion.

Even though the second prince, Li Jing, did not lead a coup, Li Yi still cautiously dispatched two thousand elite soldiers to surround the entire palace.

At the time, the young general Xiao Chen was not trusted by Li Yi, so he never knew that the people he was preparing to fight to the death with eight hundred Golden Guards were actually his own men.

Li Jin narrowed his eyes, feeling as if the scene today was a replay of the palace six years ago.

Thinking of this, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, and the fragments in his mind slowly pieced together to form a complete chain.

He paused for a moment, glancing in the direction of the Taiji Hall, and after a long while, let out a soft laugh.

Inside the Six Doors, Li Yi, dressed in plain clothes, leaned against a stone table, holding a black chess piece.

The black motif, barely half an inch long, rolled up and down his fingertips.

On the chessboard, the two sides have not yet completed their formations, and the large areas of the chessboard have not yet been completely divided.

“His Highness Prince Jing is meticulous. He could have seen through the Emperor’s scheme the moment he passed through the palace gate.”

Li Yi, whose hair had turned completely white, kept his eyes on the chessboard while his peripheral vision remained fixed on Song Zhen's calm and composed face.

After a long pause, Li Yi raised his hand, placing a piece as he said, "How do you know he won't get carried away and walk right into a trap?"

But then Song Zhen chuckled, and slowly took out a white piece from the side, pinched his sleeve, and hung the piece under Li Yi's black piece.

He said, "Because it's unnecessary."

Li Yi looked at him, his eyes slightly narrowed.

In truth, Emperor Li Yi of the Great Wei Dynasty, the chosen one, was indeed skilled at governing the country, but he felt he didn't communicate enough with his sons.

The authority given is great.

The affection given is little.

Although Li Yi had a good idea of ​​his sons' true nature, he was still easily blinded by them.

Six years ago, he made the same mistake once; six years later, he must not fall into the same trap a second time.

Whether it's the Crown Prince causing trouble or Prince Jing causing trouble today, to Li Yi, it's all the same: trouble in the main hall. As for their purpose, it doesn't matter.

He can accuse someone of treason if he wants to.

As the ruler of a nation who controls the entire Wei kingdom, Li Yi cannot afford to be careless just because he is facing his trusted son.

He can't gamble, and he doesn't dare to gamble.

Even if Prince Jing is wholeheartedly devoted to the country, once things are accomplished today, he could easily go with the flow and turn around to draw his sword and force the emperor to abdicate.

The same applies to the crown prince.

Therefore, on the day Yan Zhao died, Li Yi sent an urgent message to the General's Mansion in Fengzhou, secretly ordering the General, who had been stationed in Fengzhou for six years and had already left the capital, to return to the capital.

Li Yi glanced at the chessboard in front of him, rubbed his hands together, and then picked up a piece, sighing, "Power makes people lose their minds and can't see themselves clearly." He said coldly, "Li Jin is a human being, not a god. As a human being, he will have weaknesses, desires, and be tempted."

But Song Zhen raised his hand expressionlessly and coldly repeated, "There's no need. If he wanted to, six years ago, a million Black Flag soldiers would have already wiped out the capital."

He raised his eyebrows, his gaze turning icy as he stared at Li Yi's face: "And His Majesty and the Second Prince are utterly powerless to resist."

Song Zhen placed a piece on the board, her gaze fixed on the direction of the palace: "I questioned him, and he has already made a choice that he can be proud of."

The snow fell silently, and the clouds hung low, tinged with a light gray.

There was no wind, and the Taiji Hall Square was exceptionally quiet.

It was still early, not yet noon, and the palace banquet would not begin until after sunset.

Most officials would arrive a little earlier, taking the opportunity to send their female relatives into the inner palace to present New Year's gifts to the concubines and make themselves known to them.

Li Jin, smiling gently, walked beneath the crimson palace walls. Amidst the gently falling snow, she stood with Jin Shu, just the two of them, in front of the Zijing Palace, where Consort Shu resided, within the Yeting Palace.

Just as Song Zhen had predicted, he had seen through Li Yi's scheme from the moment he stepped into the palace.

Even at the risk of being labeled a traitor, he felt no fear whatsoever.

Li Jin let out a soft sigh, lifted the hem of her dress, took Jin Shu's icy hand from behind, and stepped onto the stairs.

From this moment on, he will spend six hours correcting the mistakes of six years ago. He will place the final piece in the middle game of this six-year-long game that Song Zhen has been planning.

Clearly, Consort Shu was quite surprised by Li Jin's arrival.

Glancing at the increasingly imposing Prince Jing standing in the courtyard, she remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she felt utterly disgusted.

"What wind blew by that, bringing Prince Jing here?" Consort Shu leaned arrogantly against the round table, her head adorned with pearls and jade, exuding an air of nobility.

As she peeled the orange in her hand, she spoke with a hidden meaning: "Having spent so much time in the Six Doors, you've even forgotten all the etiquette of the palace?" She laughed and answered herself, "Never mind, I know you're naturally unruly, so I won't hold it against you."

After saying that, she glanced at Jin Shu and then ignored her completely: "Your Highness Prince Jing doesn't come here unless there's a reason. Surely you're not here to pay your respects? Speak, I'm listening."

"Visiting neighbors?" Li Jin sneered, cutting straight to the chase and striking at the most vulnerable point: "When the Six Doors are handling cases, Consort Shu just needs to cooperate."

Upon hearing this, Consort Shu paused for a moment while peeling the orange, but only for a second before she scoffed, "Your Highness Prince Jing, you have quite the air of authority!"

After saying that, she stood up and waved her hand, "See the guest out."

Li Jin looked at the gathered nannies, and slowly took out a gold medal from his bosom. He held it up and shook it. The words "The Emperor's Personal Arrival" on it made everyone stunned. They looked at each other and hesitated to step forward.

"Consort Shu, have you thought this through? I have irrefutable evidence in my hands regarding the case in which the Crown Prince and Xu Weiyou framed the late Crown Prince Li Mu for treason." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "One is your father, and the other is your son."

Li Jin raised his chin slightly, and as Consort Shu turned her head in a daze, he gave her a smile that was devoid of warmth.

The snow fell sparsely, and the air between the two seemed frozen solid.

The plaque indicating the emperor's personal presence was so powerful that it was as if the emperor himself was there, and it allowed for executions to be carried out without prior approval. Even the concubines in the harem had no choice but to kneel on the ground upon seeing this plaque.

Just moments ago, Consort Shu was arrogant and domineering, but now she knelt on both knees, glared at Li Jin, and unexpectedly threw out a sentence: "What does this have to do with me? They should bear the consequences of their dirty deeds themselves."

"Such understanding is gratifying to me." Li Jin nodded in deep agreement. "Then what about Consort Shu's disgraceful deeds? Shouldn't she also bear some responsibility?"

Consort Shu paused, a hint of anger rising on her face: "What does Prince Jing mean by this!"

“Su Wanying,” Li Jin said coldly.

Upon hearing this name, Consort Shu's face stiffened for a moment.

Before him, Li Jin stood with his hands behind his back, his voice carrying a hint of mockery: "Has Consort Shu ever considered that if I were to find Su Wanying right now and tell her that she has no chance of becoming Princess Jing..." He chuckled, "would she, in an attempt to salvage the situation, say something special that interests me?"

Consort Shu, kneeling on the ground, glared angrily at Li Jin: "You dare threaten me?!"

"Consort Shu overestimates herself," Li Jin said bluntly. "I'm not so idle as to come here specifically to threaten you."

He calmly took out the small porcelain bottle from Shengde Pharmacy from his bosom and waved it lightly in front of Consort Shu: "Does it look familiar?" Li Jin said, "Gelsemium elegans, the clerk at Shengde Pharmacy shortchanged me by two ounces. I came here specifically to ask if Consort Shu still wants these two ounces?"

He laughed: "If the dosage is too low and the desired effect isn't achieved, wouldn't that ruin the Crown Prince's important plans for tonight?"