Chapter 430: No Way Back
The two sword assassins succeeded in their attack and retreated like ghosts, disappearing silently into the shadows on both sides of the hall.
It was as if he just brushed away the dust and did the most insignificant thing.
Xu Shenzhi landed lightly on the ground, and his wide sleeves fluttered slightly, extinguishing the few sparks that had splashed up.
He glanced down at the burn marks on the hem of his clothes, shook his head, and said with a tone of genuine regret:
"It's a pity to waste this new brocade. The material is excellent."
He raised his eyes, slowly turned his gaze to Qin Jingheng, and walked forward slowly.
The face that usually wore a humble and gentle smile now only had a heart-pounding calmness and alienation, as if a mask that had been carefully painted for many years had been torn off.
Qin Jingheng was so furious that his sanity was almost burned to ashes.
He couldn't tolerate the fact that this aide, whom he had relied on for many years, could actually deal him such a fatal blow at the most critical moment. The humiliation of being completely betrayed and played into someone's hands was hard for him to accept.
"you……"
He was about to rebuke loudly when his eyes suddenly met Xu Shenzhi's bottomless eyes, and his heart skipped a beat.
An invisible and huge pressure instantly gripped him, causing the subsequent words to be stuck in his throat.
Xu Shenzhi had come closer and stretched out his hand.
Qin Jingheng subconsciously took three steps back, his back almost hitting the cold wall, his face full of vigilance.
However, Xu Shenzhi did not reach out to him, but just bent down and picked up the bright yellow document from the messy ground.
Then he straightened the rosewood table that had been kicked over.
With a casual wave of his wide sleeves, a gentle breeze emerged out of nowhere, sweeping away all the remaining oil and wine stains on the table, leaving it spotless.
Only then did he gently place the surrender document, which was enough to constitute the crime of treason, on the table.
Qin Jingheng stared at his every move, his teeth chattering:
"Who are you? Are you from one of the four great families?"
Xu Shenzhi laughed softly upon hearing this, and there was something indescribable in his laughter:
"Your Highness is too kind. Shen Zhi does not have such a noble background. He is just a broker."
Oh, broker?
Without a large amount of resources and top-notch skills, how could a broker cultivate to the third level of divine martial arts quietly?
This lie is so clumsy that it's laughable!
Xu Shenzhi stopped looking at him and turned to look at the four representatives of the noble families who were sitting as still as a mountain.
"Everyone, enough of the drama, it's time to show some real sincerity to His Highness."
Wang Yun didn't say much, just raised his hand and clapped his palms lightly.
The crisp sound of clapping was particularly clear in the silent hall.
The next moment, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded in the yard!
A specially made firecracker rocket soared into the sky with a dazzling tail flame, suddenly exploded in the night sky, and burst into dazzling and gorgeous fireworks.
At the moment the fireworks lit up, countless figures suddenly emerged from the darkness surrounding the Protectorate's residence.
They were wearing standard uniform armor, but not the Da Gan military system. They quickly broke through the fragile defense outside the official residence and rushed directly into the mansion.
They acted swiftly and coordinated well with each other. Any guards or servants who tried to resist or raise the alarm would be killed on the spot with a sharp knife.
Their steps did not stop at all, and they moved towards the core area with a clear goal.
The whole process was so fast that it was breathtaking. There were almost no screams, only the dull sound of weapons cutting into bodies and the sound of corpses falling to the ground.
Qin Jingheng frowned, not understanding what was going on.
But just a moment later, he heard the sound of dense, heavy footsteps and the collision of armor leaves coming from outside.
The door of the dining hall had been shattered in the previous fight, and his sight was unobstructed towards the courtyard.
Under the moonlight, the courtyard was already filled with densely packed soldiers.
It was pitch black and silent like a mountain.
The armor on their bodies reflected a cold light, and a strong murderous aura mixed with the damp and fishy smell unique to the south came to their faces.
Qin Jingheng was shocked!
He had been in southern Xinjiang for more than half a month and was not completely ignorant of military affairs.
These soldiers... their facial features are deep, their skin is mostly dark, their hair is either braided into complicated braids or they wear unique feather and bone hairpins. This is definitely not the appearance of the people of Dagan.
And that wild, untamed light in their eyes...
These people are all tribal barbarians from the jungles of southern Xinjiang!
It’s a rebellion! It’s really a rebellion!
It turns out that Xu Shenzhi and the four great families had already colluded with the southern Xinjiang tribes!
Qin Jingheng felt his scalp tingling, and a bone-chilling chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He felt like a naive prey, stepping step by step into the trap that the hunter had carefully woven for who knows how long.
How did so many soldiers from Southern Xinjiang sneak into the core area of the Protectorate so quietly?
Their appearance is so unique that it is impossible for them to move around in large numbers without being discovered, unless...
Unless some of the border guards have already plotted rebellion!
"Xu Shenzhi! You... you really want to rebel?!"
Qin Jingheng's voice changed due to extreme anger and fear.
Xu Shenzhi shook his head, a look of pity on his face:
"At this point, Your Highness still refuses to face reality?
But this kind of personality is also good. Once forced to accept the facts, His Highness can always quickly find reasons to persuade himself. "
He pointed to the payment document on the desk:
"Your Highness, have you forgotten what's written here? This isn't treason; it's restoring order and upholding orthodoxy."
"Bullshit!" Qin Jingheng no longer cared about his princely demeanor and shouted angrily.
Xu Shenzhi's back was straight, completely different from his usual slightly hunched and cautious appearance.
"Your Highness, please calm down for a moment.
It’s not entirely false that I’ve been your aide all these years.
I dare to ask Your Highness:
Do you really think you have a chance of becoming the crown prince, or even that position?"
Qin Jingheng clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white:
"It's nothing more than supporting women in the imperial examinations and women serving as officials. As long as I do well, I'll naturally have opportunities."
"Oh."
Xu Shenzhi chuckled softly, and the laughter sounded extremely harsh to Qin Jingheng's ears.
"Since Your Highness still harbors illusions, I might as well help Your Highness see a layer of reality.
Your Highness, what kind of big business do you think can bring you endless wealth?
Enough profits to support your power and win over people's hearts for many years?"
His finger slowly pointed at the silent Southern Xinjiang soldiers in the courtyard.
"The iron ore illegally mined in Chiyan County and the armor and weapons illegally forged are now right outside our door.
The profit comes from these murderous guys and from the secret transactions with the four major families.
All of this, every single thing, has a traceable path.”
boom!
These words were like thunder from the sky, striking Qin Jingheng hard on the head.
His face instantly turned as pale as paper, without any blood, and his body shook uncontrollably.
"What... I don't know! I never knew any of this!"
Xu Shenzhi sneered:
"Your Highness naturally doesn't know.
How could Your Highness, with his highness, get involved in such a 'trivial matter' as the merchant's money?
Naturally, I, your most trusted first aide, will secretly manage it for you."
"You!" Qin Jingheng's eyes were bloodshot and he wished he could eat her alive.
“The important thing is, Your Highness, you can’t go back.
He secretly traded with aristocratic families, stole the country's mineral resources, privately forged military equipment and armor, colluded with the southern border, and maintained his own military power.
Each of these points has already nailed you down and completely eliminated you from the fight for the throne.
Your Highness, His Majesty... never tolerates any sand in his eyes."
It’s over… It’s all over…
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