The night was deep, as deep as Dongfang Jun's mood at that moment.
Dongfang Jun said, "Do we need to report to you, Marquis of Sha County, what we say to Prince Xin?"
Wen Hu said, "You can try reporting it."
"Wenhu!" Dongfang Jun roared, "You are too arrogant! If it weren't for His Majesty's promotion and Prince Xin's help, would you be where you are today?"
Wen Hu said, "It is precisely because I am grateful for the friendship between Your Majesty and Prince Xin that I will not allow you villains to mislead Prince Xin and harm Your Majesty's country."
Dongfang Jun pointed at Wen Hu and cursed, "You are the biggest scourge! Wen Tai was very restrained when he was around, but your wolfish ambitions are known to all! Do you think you're so great? In my eyes, you are nothing, and I'm not afraid of you!"
After being scolded by Dongfang Jun, Wen Hu laughed instead and said, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Since you won't tell me, then I'll just have to teach you a lesson."
Wen Hu tilted his head slightly, and Liu Ling, who was standing next to him, instantly appeared in front of Liao Yiwen and swiftly slashed Liao Yiwen's neck.
Liao Yiwen: "..."
Liao Yiwen clutched his neck and slowly collapsed to the ground, never imagining that he would leave so suddenly.
Immediately afterward, Liu Ling was about to attack Dongfang Jun when an iron rod reached out.
Clang!
The blade and the iron rod collided, and Changfeng pulled Dongfang Jun behind him. Actually, it wasn't that Changfeng acted in time; he had already moved when Liu Ling made his move, but he wasn't as fast as Liu Ling and couldn't save Liao Yiwen.
Liu Ling was indeed faster than Chang Feng, but he struggled when he faced Chang Feng head-on. Chang Feng's Wuji Staff was swift and powerful, and he controlled the strength and direction of the surrounding wind as he swung it. It was as if as long as the iron staff in his hand kept moving, he would dominate the world around him.
The eye of the storm behind Changfeng seemed to open its gaping maw, releasing a powerful suction force towards Ling Liu, as if to devour her whole!
Liu Ling and Yuan Fei are both masters of lightness skills, but their actual combat ability is only at the level of a first-class expert, not as good as Yu Jinte.
Unable to use her light-footed skills due to the suction at the eye of the storm, Ling Liu glided step by step toward Chang Feng.
The closer Liu Ling got to the eye of the storm, or rather, the closer he got to Changfeng, the clearer he could see that the wind around him wasn't that complicated at all; it was actually just an illusion created by Changfeng wielding the Wuji Staff.
Just as she got close enough to Changfeng, a tangible staff suddenly appeared in the illusion.
The Wuji Staff slammed down on Liu Ling's head!
Fear flashed in Ling Liu's eyes, but she was powerless to do anything about it; her body was completely immobile.
Just as the Wuji Staff was about a fist's distance from Liu Ling's forehead, a hand grabbed one end of the staff.
The wind suddenly stopped.
The world became quiet.
Changfeng looked at Wen Hu with a solemn expression. The Wuji Staff was such a powerful and majestic staff technique, but in Wen Hu's hands, it was as calm as a lifeless piece of rotten wood.
With just this one move, Changfeng knew that he had no chance of winning whatsoever.
"I killed Liao Yiwen only to give you a warning, Lord Dongfang. If I really wanted to kill you, you would be the first to fall."
Wen Hu released his grip, and Chang Feng breathed a sigh of relief, retreating dejectedly to Dongfang Jun's side.
Dongfang Jun said in frustration, "What exactly do you want?!"
Wen Hu said, "As long as the Prince Xin's mansion stops harboring those unrealistic and malicious intentions, then this Marquis and the Prince Xin's mansion will naturally live in peace. Liao Yiwen is young and inevitably impulsive, and may have more bad ideas. But Lord Dongfang is old and prudent, and should properly assist the Prince Xin and focus his mind on the affairs of the court."
"For the sake of the stability of the Great Jing Dynasty, I have eliminated traitors and quelled rebellions, yet some people have been stirring up trouble in the court behind the scenes. Do you think these people have done right by His Majesty and by me?"
Dongfang Jun's face turned ashen. He wanted to curse Wen Hu for being shameless and actually portraying himself as a loyal minister who had been wronged!
That's shameless!
But Dongfang Jun remained silent; faced with absolute power, further words were pointless.
Liao Yiwen is dead, and Changfeng has retreated.
Might makes right.
"Lord Dongfang, at least answer my question!" Wen Hu patted Dongfang Jun on the shoulder.
Dongfang Jun shuddered, but remained calm, saying, "I have remembered what the Marquis of Sha County said! This Liao Yiwen harbored treacherous intentions and instigated me to persuade Prince Xin to ascend the throne. His crime deserves death. In a fit of rage, I had him beheaded in the street!"
After saying this, Dongfang Jun snorted coldly, shook off Wen Hu's hand with a shrug, and continued walking forward.
Liu Ling asked doubtfully, "As long as he doesn't cause any more trouble, why did he have to take responsibility for Liao Yiwen's matter?"
Wen Hu watched the backs of Dongfang Jun and his entourage from afar and smiled, "This old gentleman was favored even before the late emperor ascended the throne, and now, at his advanced age, he has managed to get into the central government. He is indeed a man who has figured things out."
...
Lingshan.
Council Hall.
Zhao Huan, Zhao Cheng, and their sons, along with a group of key figures, stood solemnly in the hall.
They received news from Changsui that many veteran generals, including Pu Jian and Bi Fansheng, had been arrested. Not only that, but their sons and family members were also arrested and imprisoned!
What is the Imperial Prison?
That's a place where you'll be crippled if you go in, and there's a high probability you won't come out alive!
These veterans are all heroes, why are they being treated like this?
What did these veterans' families do wrong that they have to be imprisoned in the imperial prison?
"At a time of national crisis and foreign invasion, the court does not think of resisting the enemy, but instead turns its sword against its own people! I, Zhao Huan, know that Wen Hu wants to wipe out my Zhao family, but what I did not expect was that the Emperor of Dajing has become so incompetent!!"
"A cry of pain!!!"
"Alas!!!"
After Zhao Huan finished speaking with great sorrow, Lian Zhongyi clasped his hands and said, "General, the time has come, let's raise an army!"
Upon hearing this, Yan Zheng glanced at Zhao Cheng and added fuel to the fire, saying, "The emperor is incompetent and the court is corrupt. If the commander-in-chief doesn't step forward to uphold justice, even more ordinary people will suffer!"
“Yes, Father, even if you don’t think about the people, you should at least think about Uncle Park and Uncle Bi! What have you gained from your constant tolerance? All you’ve gained is their increased demands!” Zhao Zhan said aptly.
"Raise an army, General!" Yue Jiti knelt down on one knee.
Xiao Luofeng responded, "Let's raise an army!"
Zhao Yan also said, "Father, let's raise an army!"
Zhao Huan pursed her lips tightly, glanced at the crowd in front of her, and then fixed her gaze on Zhao Cheng's face.
"Zhao Cheng, what do you think?"
Perhaps it was because of the great calamity that the Zhao family had experienced, or perhaps it was because of the months of recruiting and training soldiers, but Zhao Cheng's features had become much more resolute, and his eyes held a more profound and determined look.
He didn't answer Zhao Huan directly, but turned and walked out the door.
Outside the council hall stood the newly formed Zhao family army, each soldier clad in gleaming armor, armed with swords and spears, their eyes gleaming.
Zhao Cheng slowly drew his sword, held it in his hand for a moment, then raised it high and shouted, "Raise an army! Raise an army! Raise an army!"
"Rise up! Rise up!! Rise up!!!"
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