The council hall.
Xiao Chizhan stood before the sand table, a jar of wine in his hand.
"The Northern Qi are skilled at medium and long-range archery, using long halberds and ring-pommel sabers. With the Mo River as the boundary, to advance into Yanhechang, setting up camp here is most suitable."
Qi Linzhou placed a red flag on a hill on the sand table.
Hearing him, Tantai Ye’s brows furrowed. "This location is perilous, easy to attack and difficult to defend, prone to collapse."
As he spoke, he pointed his saber at the valley area. "If the two armies were to clash here, and Xie Beihan were to collude with the northern barbarians, and their warships crossed the Mo River, they would force us into a pincer, turning us into trapped beasts."
"The General is absolutely correct. Then, in your opinion, where should we begin if we wish to break through Yanhechang?"
"The Northern Qi border, the Mo River, with its nine streams encircling sixteen cities, led by Crescent Pass. Why don't we cross the Central Plains and dispatch troops from Jiaguan Pass in the northern lands of Daliang? The Central Plains can serve as a strategic base."
Qi Linzhou turned. "What does Your Highness think?"
Xiao Chizhan did not respond, changing the subject. "Has Emperor Mingji summoned Xie Beihan recently?"
"Eunuch Zhou said no. Father has not met anyone privately recently."
"I heard that Xie Beihan has a strategist, a direct disciple of Master Daoxu of Xuankong Cave, named Xu Qing?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Linzhou thought for a moment before replying, "It seems so. Xie Beihan has too many unknown capable individuals working for him. I also heard Father mention Xu Qing once, but I do not know his background."
Xiao Chizhan gave a cold laugh, a murderous intent flashing in his sinister eyes. "He has likely come to the Central Plains. Deploy your intelligence network to investigate him."
"Alright." After a pause, Qi Linzhou said, "Just after the banquet, Qi Linshen went to see Xie Beihan and left not long after, injured. This isn't a case of dogs fighting dogs, is it?"
Qi Linshen, that good-for-nothing, dared to collude with Northern Qi, attempting to bring him down. He would finish off that fool sooner or later.
"Oh, really?" Tantai Ye's interest piqued, his smile sinister.
"Ten days later--"
From outside, a voice suddenly interrupted Xiao Chizhan's words.
"Your Highness."
Xiao Chizhan’s eyes were cold. "Enter."
Long Tian rushed in and knelt. "Your Highness, Miss Ye went to tour the garden and encountered an assassin. She was pushed by her maid and started bleeding."
What?!
Xiao Chizhan instantly became furious, kicking Long Tian. The wine jar in his hand smashed onto the ground.
"Where are the hidden guards?! The hidden guards protecting her, are they all dead?! Where did the assassin come from?"
Long Tian's face was filled with fear, and he lay on the ground. "This subordinate has failed in his duty. I beg Your Highness for punishment."
He had only assigned two hidden guards because he saw them merely touring the inn. He never expected anyone would dare to commit murder within the inn.
As soon as the signal for the death of the hidden guards was issued, he had immediately sent people to search.
An assassin had infiltrated the inn?!
Qi Linzhou was greatly alarmed. Seeing Xiao Chizhan look at him with terrifyingly sinister eyes, he couldn't help but tremble.
He was greatly shocked. "I will thoroughly investigate this matter and absolutely deliver justice to the Crown Princess."
Xiao Chizhan flung his robes aside and strode out, his crimson eyes bloodthirsty. "He dares to provoke me. He's tired of living."
Who?
Qi Linzhou chased after him, utterly bewildered.
"Where is she? Have the imperial physicians been summoned?"
Long Tian hurried to catch up, his voice hoarse. "She has been taken away by Xie Beihan. This subordinate has already sent people to surround Chenxiang Pavilion."
As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pain struck his chest. A sinister voice, filled with ferocity, seemed to tear through him.
"You, the leader of the Dragon Scale Guard, are tired of this post, aren't you?"
Long Tian knelt, not daring to wipe the blood from his lips. "This subordinate has failed in his duty. After this matter is concluded, I will request punishment."
Xiao Chizhan's face was grim, exuding a fierce aura. The killing intent veiled in his eyes was terrifying.
He threw down his saber, gave Tantai Ye a look, and turned to leave.
Qi Linzhou was shocked. If anything happened, wouldn't all his hard-earned plans be ruined?
He quickly prepared to follow.
Tantai Ye stopped him, his expression cold. "Your Highness, there's no need to follow. Go and find out where Qi Linshen is."
"General means this is related to Third Brother."
The man did not speak, but the aura around him was chilling.
Qi Linzhou pursed his lips. "Alright, I will go and investigate immediately."
After they left, Tantai Ye's hawk-like eyes flashed with ruthlessness. "Ying Yi."
"Your subordinate is here."
A dark shadow instantly appeared from nowhere, standing behind Tantai Ye, erect and respectful.
Tantai Ye said, "Dispose of the bodies of the assassins at Plum Garden."
"Yes."
After giving the order, he headed towards Chenxiang Pavilion.
Upon entering, he saw two tall figures, one white and one purple, on the corridor, both seemingly injured.
The courtyard was heavily guarded by armor, cold and piercing. Sunlight slanted through the branches, faintly revealing blood staining the white branches, spreading a terrifying silence.
He couldn't help but curve his lips and walk forward. Seeing the lotus-green figure, he beckoned.
"Rou'er, come here."
Lan Murou, who had been anxiously waiting by the door, heard Tantai Ye's voice and her heart skipped a beat. She turned and saw him striding over.
"Are you injured?"
His hawk-like eyes scanned her up and down. Lan Murou clutched her handkerchief with concern. "I am unharmed."
"Where is the person?"
Xiao Chizhan's voice was terrifying yet calm. As his crimson eyes looked over, they carried a deadly slaughter.
Tantai Ye pursed his lips and walked to his side, whispering, "Don't act in public. I've already sent Ying Yi to deal with the assassins at Plum Garden. They will heavily injure Qi Linshen without leaving any evidence, preventing the people of Zhongzhou from harboring resentment."
"He dares to be so audacious, to act under my nose, I will flatten Zhongzhou to kill him."
His sinister demeanor clearly showed he had no intention of dealing with this slowly.
Tantai Ye's brow twitched, and he was too lazy to persuade him further.
"Then I'll have people capture him and bring him to the borderlands for you to torment, alright?"
The borderlands were their secret outposts in Zhongzhou.
Xiao Chizhan said fiercely, "I want everyone in his mansion, not a single one spared."
"Fine, fine, everything as you say. I'll have people handle it."
As he spoke, the door inside suddenly opened.
Xiao Chizhan turned and directly grabbed the imperial physician's hand. "How is she?"
Several imperial physicians knelt tremblingly. One spoke, "Your Highness, please calm your anger. The child could not be saved."
"I ask you, is she alright?"
His furious voice seemed to tear through them.
The head physician immediately bowed respectfully. "The Crown Princess is unharmed, only startled. She needs to rest in bed."
Xiao Chizhan kicked away the people blocking the doorway and strode inside.
Xie Beihan flashed forward to block him, his sinister face wearing a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"She cannot move now. You cannot take her away."
A firearm was instantly aimed at his forehead.
Xie Beihan chuckled faintly and, holding his pistol, fired directly at the rooftop.
With a bang, the sound echoed, shocking those outside.