This was clearly a trap.
A setup designed for Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao.
Shortly after the two entered the sleeping quarters, Ying Ye suddenly fell ill, and someone immediately called for guards. Everything pointed to a premeditated plan.
The shouts were incessant as the Iron Cavalry Guards, who had been ambushed throughout the palace, swarmed in, surrounding the sleeping quarters so tightly that not a drop of water could pass.
This was a trap laid by Ying Tianci, and now that Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao had fallen into it, his treacherous scheme had succeeded.
Before long, the civil and military officials were also summoned.
Ying Tianci's intention was obvious: to have the officials bear witness, completely solidifying the charges of regicide against Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao, thus ruining their reputations and ensuring they could never recover.
"My King, your son deserves death for arriving so late to save you!"
Ying Tianci chose his moment, his face filled with grief, and wailed as he appeared before the sleeping quarters.
It must be said, his acting skills were not bad at all. His face was a picture of utter devastation, and tears streamed down his face.
It was truly heart-wrenching to hear and tear-jerking to witness, earning him a wave of favor from the officials.
"Ying Tianbao, you beast, you are rebellious and have murdered your father. I will tear you limb from limb!"
Ying Tianci roared with curses, loudly condemning Ying Tianbao, portraying him as a beast with a human face and a devilish heart, driven by madness.
However, to everyone's surprise.
Despite Ying Tianci's incessant curses, the sleeping quarters remained silent.
There was no movement from within.
If not for the inescapable net already cast around them, preventing any escape, Ying Tianci might have thought they had fled.
Li Xiu stood by Ying Tianci's side, his expression complex, unsure if his choice was right or wrong.
But there was no turning back once the arrow was loosed. He had always bet everything on Ying Tianci, and could only see this path to the very end.
The officials cried out in sorrow, denouncing Ying Tianbao one after another.
Yet, some of the more discerning individuals felt something was amiss.
This was because Ying Tianbao had recently annihilated nearly a hundred assassins from an enemy nation, gaining widespread acclaim and popularity. There was no reason for him to commit regicide.
Instead, rumors were circulating that the Crown Prince had colluded with Yan Zhao, Tian Lin, and the three kingdoms of Xi Liang in an attempt to annihilate the royal family. If anyone were to commit regicide and rebellion, Ying Tianci would be the more likely culprit.
"Something is not right. Why are Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao so composed, showing no reaction at all?"
Wang Guang frowned, his expression uneasy, his gaze fixed on the sleeping quarters.
Wu Yong chuckled from the side, "Perhaps they're scared witless. They just entered the sleeping quarters, the Emperor suddenly died, and then they were accused of regicide. Immediately after, they were surrounded. These sudden changes are enough to make these two wet their pants."
He smirked triumphantly, for this was his meticulously crafted plan.
Wu Yong considered this scheme to be flawless and exceptionally brilliant, and he couldn't help but feel a touch of arrogant self-satisfaction.
"Ji Mo, while you may be skilled at charming women, when it comes to scheming and manipulation, I am ultimately superior."
Wu Yong stroked his goatee, feeling pleased with himself.
With this achievement, once Ying Tianci ascended the throne, the position of National Preceptor would surely be his.
Just then.
The originally tightly shut doors of the sleeping quarters creaked open.
All eyes in the vicinity immediately turned towards the entrance.
"Oh dear, why is everyone here? His Majesty is resting. Disperse, everyone, disperse."
Ji Mo emerged from the doorway, waving his hand at the crowd with an air of nonchalance.
It was as if he hadn't seen the dense, murderous Iron Cavalry Guards before him.
At this, everyone present was dumbfounded.
The officials looked towards Ying Tianci with confusion, their implication clear: Crown Prince, didn't you say His Majesty had been harmed?
"Ji Mo, stop putting on airs! My father was clearly murdered by you and Ying Tianbao!" Ying Tianci shouted.
The curse on Ying Ye was the work of a demon emperor under Lan Ling. That demon emperor had explicitly stated that once the curse's power was fully unleashed, Ying Ye would surely die.
And after Ji Mo and Ying Tianbao entered the sleeping quarters, that demon emperor had indeed struck Ying Ye lethally.
"Ying Tianci, as they say, you must catch the thief with the stolen goods and the adulterer in the act. Have you personally witnessed me killing someone?"
Ji Mo asked calmly.
Wang Guang immediately felt an opportunity to shine and quickly interjected, "Ji Mo, I saw it. It was you and Ying Tianbao who murdered His Majesty."
"Oh, you truly saw it with your own eyes?" Ji Mo asked again.
"I witnessed with my own eyes His Majesty being killed by your wicked methods, spitting up blood and dying," Wang Guang replied without hesitation.
"Congratulations, your entire family is gone!"
Ji Mo shook his head and sighed, "Wang Guang, some words cannot be spoken carelessly. They can lead to the extermination of your entire clan! It would have been better if you had lost your life to me last time. Now, you have instead caused the deaths of your entire family."
"I am unharmed. All my ministers, take your bows."
A voice filled with authority emanated from within the sleeping quarters.
"Your Majesty, it is His Majesty's voice!"
A large number of officials immediately knelt down.
However, a portion of them remained unmoved. These were the Crown Prince's allies, clearly standing on his side.
Li Xiu's expression changed drastically. He was certain it was Ying Ye's voice, and his heart sank to the bottom.
Wang Guang looked as if he had lost his parents. What was going on? Hadn't the Emperor already died?
"Fake! That voice is a disguise. Father was clearly cursed and bound to die. It's impossible for him to still be alive."
Ying Tianci exclaimed in panic, his voice trembling.
Upon hearing this, a commotion erupted all around.
Judging by his words, it seemed the Crown Prince was the one who had harmed His Majesty!
"My good Crown Prince, so the culprit truly is you."
Ying Ye, supported by Ying Tianbao, slowly walked out of the sleeping quarters. Although he had his suspicions, hearing Ying Tianci admit it himself still caused him immense pain.
A son harming his father was a pain no one could endure.
Ying Tianci looked as if he had seen a ghost, his eyeballs nearly popping out, unable to believe Ying Ye was still alive.
This was, naturally, thanks to Ji Mo, who had pulled Ying Ye back from the brink of death.
The curse, which was said to be incurable, was removed by him without much effort.
The reason for the silence within the sleeping quarters earlier was precisely because he had been busy saving Ying Ye.
With Ying Ye alive, the accusations of Ying Tianbao's regicide and rebellion became baseless. Furthermore, with Ying Tianci's own confession, the truth of the entire matter was immediately laid bare.
Ying Tianci's face turned ashen. He hadn't expected that after countless calculations, he would end up lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot.
"Ji Mo has once again turned the tide!"
Wang Guang looked on in despair, recalling the previous wager. When he thought he was guaranteed to win, he had still lost.
The current situation was strikingly similar to that time.
Wu Yong whispered into Ying Tianci's ear, "Your Highness, since we've come this far, there's no turning back. The only option now is to assassinate the monarch and seize the throne."
There was no longer any room for retreat. It was all or nothing. As long as Ying Ye and Ying Tianbao were killed, the entire Great Qin Dynasty would naturally belong to Ying Tianci.
Moreover, Black Rose was not present, and no one could protect them.
"Those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish. All present who submit to me will be granted high office and generous rewards. Those who oppose me will be killed without mercy."
Ying Tianci's face contorted into aç‹°ç‹ž expression, preparing to unleash a massacre.