Qin Jingheng trembled uncontrollably, overwhelmed by a chilling despair.

He could almost see his mother's cold, disappointed eyes, the contemptuous and disdainful gazes of his courtiers, and his own doomed future.

Xu Shenzhi looked at him with considerable satisfaction at his current dejected appearance.

Very well, that's how it should be, it's time to accept it.

"Your Highness, why don't you take a closer look at what you currently possess?"

Xu Shenzhi's voice seemed to have a seductive quality, as he offered his final words of advice as a staff member.

"Occupying the Southern Route of the Vermilion Bird, they hold the righteous pretext of 'purging the emperor's inner circle';

It is supported by the wealth accumulated over a thousand years by four great families;

"They have soldiers, armor, and the support of military commanders..."

"Shut up!" Qin Jingheng's heart pounded wildly. He pointed at Xu Shenzhi, but found his throat dry and didn't know what else to say.

The overwhelming amount of information and the terrifying reality nearly overwhelmed his thoughts.

Just then, Wang Yun, who was sitting below the table, spoke calmly.

"Your Highness, if you were granted land and made a king, what if you added... the unparalleled merit of expanding the territory?"

Our four families have a way to help Your Highness bring the entire Southern Frontier under your control.

At that time, Your Highness will be the first person to expand territory since the founding of the Great Gan Dynasty.

What? The achievement of expanding territory?

That was a feat that no emperor in history had been able to accomplish!

The words coming from Wang Yun's mouth at this moment sounded as if they were something easily within reach.

A complex light flashed in Qin Jingheng's eyes, a mixture of struggle, ambition, fear, and longing...

A complex mix of emotions swirled and flickered.

His chest heaved violently, and his breathing became extremely heavy.

Success or failure, honor or disgrace, life or death, and even one's place in history, all seem to hinge on a single thought in an instant.

The entire dining hall fell into a deathly silence.

Only the damp evening breeze, passing through the broken doors and windows, stirred the candlelight.

All eyes were on Qin Jingheng, awaiting his final decision.

After a long silence, all the struggle and panic on Qin Jingheng's face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, almost numb calm.

The clenched fist slowly loosened, but the fingertips remained icy cold.

Qin Jingheng finally took another step forward, tilting his head slightly, his chin forming a proud curve.

With her eyes lowered, she slowly swept her gaze across the crowd with her usual haughty and disdainful demeanor.

"I am a prince of the Great Gan Dynasty, and the blood of the Qin royal family flows in my veins."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute and cold quality.

"No member of the royal family would ever... bow down as a puppet!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Shenzhi's smile vanished, and he slowly shook his head.

It seemed like regret, yet also like something that had been expected all along.

"If that's the case..."

Before he finished speaking, a sharp gust of wind silently shot out from his sleeve and struck a small copper bell hanging from the eaves of the hall with precision.

"jingle--"

A clear yet eerie bell sound rang out.

Immediately afterwards, a slender, fiery red figure, like a datura flower suddenly blooming in the dark night, stepped into this chaotic battlefield.

She was a woman wearing a long, bright red batik dress, a style unique to southern Xinjiang.

The skirt is adorned with tiny silver bells and intricate embroidery, jingling as she walks, outlining breathtaking curves.

She was barefoot, with delicate silver rings around her ankles.

Her face was covered by a thin red veil, revealing only a pair of deep, almost eerie eyes.

The corners of the eyes are outlined with cinnabar to create a dynamic pattern, adding an extra layer of mystery and allure.

Her long, jet-black hair was braided into countless thin braids, interspersed with colorful silk threads and feather ornaments, swaying gently with her steps.

She walked slowly, but with each step, the silver bells on her feet made a strange, rhythmic sound.

The sound seemed to strike directly at one's soul, carrying a captivating and mesmerizing power.

She went straight into the hall, her gaze sweeping around, and finally a wild and provocative wink landed lightly on Qin Jingheng's face.

Her movements were flirtatious and alluring, but her gaze was like the forked tongue of a venomous snake, cold and sticky.

Qin Jingheng was shocked, a chill ran down his spine, and goosebumps rose all over his body.

Just now, he clearly saw a centipede crawl across her neck and disappear into her back in the blink of an eye!

...

The night in Fengjing was unusually quiet due to the sudden curfew.

The only sounds that occasionally broke the silence on the streets were the heavy footsteps and the clanging of armor from the patrolling garrisons and the imperial guards.

With such a shocking incident as a noble family attempting to assassinate His Majesty and the Crown Prince as a pretext, the implementation of the curfew did not cause much of a disturbance, but rather cast a tense atmosphere of unease over the vast capital.

Inside the Phoenix Pavilion, the lights remained on all night.

Officials and clerks hurried along, and the air was thick with a sense of impending doom.

The assassination attempt on the palace remains a mystery, with no one outside knowing the exact details, and various speculations and rumors are growing wildly in the shadows.

Prime Minister Pei, who was summoned to the palace, naturally became the focus of attention from all sides.

After leaving the palace, people from all sides who came to inquire about the news almost wore out the door.

Pei Xuanyun remained calm and composed throughout, showing no sign of distress. His words were impeccable, and he responded with only phrases such as "Your Majesty is well, and the court is stable."

With his accumulated prestige over the years, he temporarily calmed many restless hearts.

The study in the Duke of Zheng's mansion was brightly lit.

Crown Prince Jung Byung-gyun strode in, his brow furrowed with barely concealed anxiety:

"Father, there is still no definite news."

The palace was guarded by three layers of guards, making it completely airtight.

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