Life,
should have more of the taste of life;
Ever since the first route dispute in the Hutou City Inn was settled,
this,
has been the motto of Zheng Fan and the devils around him.

You can choose to live a compromising life, you can choose to kneel,
but the premise is,
that when you kneel and compromise, you can see the light on the ground.

Right now,
the new emperor has just ascended the throne, and there are too many things to be busy with. After all, this is a profound reshuffle of power.

As a recognized pillar of the "Sixth Prince Party," Marquis Zheng has maintained a cooperative relationship with the new emperor for many years, even exceeding that of mere partners;
Holding military power and with a position of great respect, logically, he should be by the new emperor's side at this time, trying to grab as many cards as possible for himself in this pool of power shuffling.

Even if you want to cultivate a reputation, playing a game of immovability, there's no need to so urgently strike at the real organizational figures at the next level of the empire's power core.

What the new emperor wants is stability, and an event like this will inevitably greatly harm that stability.

Even if others opened the door of convenience, it was a compromise after weighing the pros and cons. If the emperor compromises on this matter, he will definitely find a way to get it back in some future event.

The highest form of business is the business of favors.

Zheng Fan knew that he was not only depleting this favor, but also damaging it.

But,
he didn't care.

He worked so hard to climb up, not to continue repeating this action with caution;
All these years, Lao Tzu has fought north and south, risking life and limb. What he wants is to be able to be generous and unrestrained when it matters and when he needs to be!

Lao Tian saved him several times,
and taught him many times;
so,
the revenge that Tian Wujing cannot take,
he will;
the people that Tian Wujing cannot kill,
he will;

Perhaps,
you think the Jingnan King of Great Yan would endure, and have to endure,
but you might not know,
that the Pingxi Marquis of Great Yan cannot tolerate the slightest grievance.

What imperial succession,
what dynastic rise and fall,
Since I have called Tian Wujing "Brother" several times, and Lao Tian has protected me like a younger brother several times,
then today,
I will avenge my sister-in-law!

Walking out of the palace gate,
Marquis Zheng took a deep breath,
He smelled it, the scent of the martial world.

Clearly wearing armor,
clearly with the huge imperial palace behind him,
but damn it,
at this moment,
it felt like he had stepped into the martial world, a world that he, like Lao Tian, used to look down upon.

A Ming's carriage was parked outside the palace gate, and Marquis Zheng got into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the Sword Saint was also inside.

The Sword Saint was not allowed to enter the imperial palace. As soon as he came in, the masters of the Secret Intelligence Division would inevitably follow him out. It wouldn't be surprising if Eunuch Wei himself had to show up to invite the Sword Saint for a cup of tea.

But he was free in other places in the capital. After all, everyone knew, and it was also the pride of the Yan people,
Look,
the Sword Saint of the Jin people is a running dog under the command of our Great Yan's Pingxi Marquis!

But the Sword Saint sitting in the carriage at this moment didn't look like a running dog at all.

He was warming himself by the charcoal brazier, covered with Marquis Zheng's snow wolf blanket. When Marquis Zheng came in, he even frowned slightly, complaining that Marquis Zheng had brought the cold wind from outside in.

In contrast, Marquis Zheng, who entered the carriage, was radiant.

"Hehe." The Sword Saint suddenly smiled.

Marquis Zheng sat down and asked, "What are you laughing at?"

"If you say it, no one would believe it. You now give me the feeling of those greenhorns who have just entered the martial world,"

Marquis Zheng rubbed his hands, then placed his palms on the charcoal brazier, and nodded,
saying:
"It really is that kind of feeling."

"Are you going to make a move?" the Sword Saint asked.

"Yes." Zheng Fan admitted very simply.

"Is it appropriate?"

"As long as you don't care, there's nothing inappropriate."

"Indeed, so, do I need to take action?"

"Yes, there's only one chance. If we fail once, it will be almost impossible to kill a second time in Yanjing City."

Unless he really rebelled, brought troops, and fought his way in. Not to mention the probability of success, the problem is that he promised Lao Tian to keep the Black Dragon Banner from falling.

You can't destroy the flag that Lao Tian cherishes most in order to avenge Lao Tian.

"My sword can't be hidden once it's drawn."

Dragon Abyss's cry will inevitably shake Yanjing.

It can be hidden from ordinary people, but some people are destined to be unable to hide it from.

Even if he is cautious and careful, even deliberately controlling the clamor of the sword energy, after the fight, if someone with a mind goes to the scene to investigate, they are destined to be able to deduce who made the move.

The Sword Saint was reminding him.

"No need to hide." Zheng Fan looked at the Sword Saint and said very seriously, "From the beginning, you should directly use the strongest sword move, without holding back, and without concealing anything."

The Sword Saint said with some amusement: "What if I am discovered?"

Zheng Fan smiled,
and said;
"They will pretend they didn't discover anything."

The Sword Saint nodded and said, "Do you know, someone once said similar words to me with a similar expression."

"Oh, who?"

"Situ Lei."

The Sword Saint changed his posture, leaning back, and pulled the blanket over his body again,
"At the beginning, I asked Situ Lei, what if traces were left and I was discovered? I can just leave, what about you?
Situ Lei said, they will pretend they don't know anything."

At that time, Situ Lei already held great power in the Situ family, and was also the first in line to inherit the Situ family.

Unless he chased the old Situ family head with a knife in Yingdu,
otherwise,
as long as there was that layer of skin to cover it up, the entire Dacheng would believe that the old family head died of illness, and Situ Lei's succession was a matter of course.

If your status is high enough, you can blur the rules;
If it's higher, you can distort the rules;
If it's even higher to a certain extent, you can write the rules yourself.

Although it is said that princes are punished the same as commoners if they break the law, if that were really the case, then there would be no need to specifically mention this sentence.

Specific emphasis proves it's rare, and... unrealistic.

"I am very honored to be placed together with the founding emperor of Cheng State."

"How different are you from Situ Lei back then? Except for that Yingdu piece not being in your hands."

"There are still differences."

"Where?"

"Situ Lei is running his own family, and I, half count as, and half, don't count as.
The new emperor wants to rely on me to stabilize Jidong, and after Lao Tian returns, he also needs me to stabilize Lao Tian's side. In addition, he is also thinking about the future of Great Yan, and will continue to put me on Great Yan's chariot.
So, I am very free now. If it's not my own family property, I won't be afraid to throw a stone at the rat, whoever cares will suffer."

"Free? To be honest, it's rare to see you willing to do such a losing business."

"This is not a business."

"Not a business?"

"That's right, it's far worse than when you stood on Xuehai Pass and went down to kill Gelimu back then. After all, what you gave up at that time was your own life. This time, I'm actually doing well.
All I'm losing is some interest, and it's not even fundamental interest.
Doing business is for making money;
Making money is so you can do some things that aren't business.
Not just for food and household expenses, but for fixing up the courtyard, raising opera troupes, it's for squandering."

"Heh, but, you seem to have forgotten one thing."

"What thing?"

"In the past, every time you asked me to help you, you would first negotiate a condition with me. This time, you haven't negotiated yet."

"That's because in the past, what I asked you to do was either military or court affairs, this time, it's not."

"Killing the current prime minister isn't a court affair?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"This time, I am asking you, as a friend, to help me with an old story of the martial world."

"So, there's no need to even give me a special greeting?" the Sword Saint asked.

"Is there a need?"

The Sword Saint closed his eyes,
and said:
"Indeed, there's no need."

At this moment,
that night appeared in the Sword Saint's mind,
that woman,
holding a child, knocked on his door, and then handed the child to him.

He asked: Do you know who I am?

She answered: I know.

He asked: You know who I am, and you still give me the child?

She answered: Yes.

That woman has been dead for several years in a flash.

...

The carriage,
entered the Pingxi Marquis's mansion.

On the floor of the mansion's main hall, a map was spread out, on top of which was half of Yanjing City.

Zheng Fan sat in the seat of honor,
The Sword Saint sat on a chair below.

The rest,
Si Niang, A Ming, Fan Li, Xue San, and that Xu Chuang, all stood on both sides of the map.

For martial world vendettas, it's not appropriate to mobilize too many people.

Moreover, with a Sword Saint pressing down the formation on our side, it can be considered a luxurious top configuration in the martial world.

"San'er, talk about it."

These days, Marquis Zheng has been busy holding the Son of Heaven's Sword and wandering around, interfering with the matter of seizing the throne;
Xue San, on the other hand, has been constantly exploring and planning for this revenge assassination.
He was originally an assassin, so he naturally knew this way.

"Okay, Master."

Xue San walked to the map, holding a bamboo pole in his hand, pointed to the location of the imperial palace, and said:
"Every night, after leaving work, Zhao Jiulang comes out of the imperial palace, walks along Yujie Street, then turns into Xiping Street, and at the end of Xiping Street, turns south into the Prime Minister's mansion in Nanping Ward.
Actually, there aren't many places for us to make a move."

The residences of princes and ministers are mostly in the inner city;
Yanjing is like a series of regional frames. The outermost area, with the largest area and the most dense population, is naturally where ordinary people live. Ordinary people are also divided into the east and west of the city to distinguish between laughable gaps in wealth.

The real dignitaries live in the inner city, making it convenient to attend court and work.

Zhao Jiulang's Prime Minister's Mansion was bestowed by the Yan Emperor back then, so naturally it couldn't be too far from the imperial palace.

"There are more dignitaries in Nanping Ward, and there must be many family servants and guards, and even some masters are raised as enshrined. It is easy to provoke unnecessary trouble if we make a move here.
Especially since this time we are not openly and blatantly using the Marquis's banner to kill people, others will definitely take action to help when they see the Prime Minister's carriage being attacked.
So, the best place for us to make a move and the most efficient place is here..."

Xue San drew an ellipse on the map, enclosing a street,
"Xiping Street."

Licking his lips,
Xue San continued:
"After the Prime Minister's carriage leaves the palace and enters Xiping Street, five hundred Jingnan Army knights will be deployed at the head and tail of Xiping Street respectively, to guard its head and tail, and pinch it."

"Are you going to use troops?" the Sword Saint asked.

Xue San hurriedly smiled and said: "Isn't this just afraid of something unexpected happening? This is just a normal military deployment, just a normal transfer of defense, the soldiers and horses will not participate in the action, the real action will still rely on us."

Two groups of cavalry, blocking the two ends of Xiping Street respectively, can eliminate 90% of other accidents.

And the people in this room can concentrate on dealing with the carriage that the prime minister is riding in.

The Sword Saint looked at Zheng Fan and asked: "Is this what you call the martial world?"

Zheng Fan replied: "Which major sect in the martial world doesn't have the shadow of the government behind it?"

The Sword Saint nodded, "That makes sense."

Most of the time, the martial world is just doing some things for the government that it is not convenient to do itself.

Xue San looked at the situation and concluded:
"When the time comes, Sword Saint, you will be the main attacker, and we will cooperate with you."

"Okay." The Sword Saint didn't act coy.

He would just do what he had promised.

At this time, Zheng Fan looked at Xu Chuang and said:
"If this assassination is successful, you will regain your freedom."

"Thank you, Marquis!" Xu Chuang knelt down to thank him.

"This Marquis doesn't have many people around him this time when I came to the capital. I also hope that you will do your best for me. I'm not afraid to tell you, even if this assassination fails, it will have no impact on this Marquis. This Marquis can still swagger back to Jidong.
But your Wenming Mountain, no matter what relationship it has with the Liang State court, is all up to this Marquis's decision."

"This humble one understands, this humble one will definitely do my best to help the Marquis succeed!"

Zheng Fan waved his hand,
and said:
"Today, there are many things in the palace, so Zhao Jiulang will definitely leave the palace very late. Lao Yu, you should go down and rest first, Xu Chuang, you should go down too."

The Sword Saint walked out of the hall. He didn't like listening to these plans anyway.

Xu Chuang also bowed and walked out.

In the hall,
only Zheng Fan and the devils were left.

Zheng Fan took out the devil pill from his arms and placed it on the coffee table beside him.

Five of the seven devils were here.

"There is something I need to explain, I will also participate in this assassination, and I will not stand by and watch."

The devils exchanged glances with each other, and finally Si Niang spoke;
"That's natural, Master, after all, it is you who wants to take revenge."

Revenge is a happy thing.

The essence of this assassination is that Zheng Fan wants to help Lao Tian vent that anger, to vent that anger for Dujuan, for Tiantian's birth mother.

Tiantian is getting bigger and bigger,
in the future,
there will always be some things to tell this child;
for example,
I once followed your biological father on the northern and southern expeditions;
for example,
I once avenged your birth mother.

What would it be called if he didn't participate?

Zheng Fan's gaze swept over the devils,
and said:
"Thank you for your hard work."

Xue San smiled and said: "Look at what you are saying, Master, it is our duty to do whatever you tell us to do."

A Ming then said: "Assassinating the current prime minister on the street is very interesting."

"Actually, I have always had a feeling."

"Master, please speak." Xue San immediately flattered.

"In the past few years, we were just making small troubles, and the ones singing the main show were those people like Lao Tian, those pillars of the country, those capable ministers and brave generals.
In the end, we were just passing by.
Especially in the past few days, when the struggle for the throne was white-hot, to put it bluntly, we were just watching the excitement from the side.
As for me,
holding the Son of Heaven's Sword, it's just that my perspective is different from yours, but in reality, I didn't do anything.
But we are devils after all, aren't we?
Always drumming on the sidelines, always being a cheerleader and an audience on the sidelines, that's not a good thing either.
Watching the other side, you finish singing and I take the stage, blowing, playing, and singing so lively;
so,
I think,
it's time for us to really step onto this stage.
When the Yan Emperor died and I heard the bell ringing, I had this feeling in my heart.
This world,
belongs to the era of those few, it's over.
Perhaps, the officials, nobles, and dignitaries of Yan will think that the era belonging to the new emperor has arrived.
The Qian people will think that the era of them sharpening their swords and preparing to seek revenge and wipe out their humiliation has arrived.
The Chu people will think that the era of their rebirth and the recreation of the glory of Great Chu has arrived.
Not to mention the barbarians, they are already fantasizing about the glory of the Golden Horde Court a hundred years ago.
But I think they are all wrong,
I think,
the era belonging to me, belonging to you, belonging to us, has finally begun.
Do you still remember the embarrassment of opening an inn in Hutou City back then?
At that time, San'er, you and A Cheng had to perform acrobatics, and A Ming had to brew wine and eat blood curd, hehehe.
Even Si Niang had to deal with those small officials and petty clerks hypocritically.
Back then, when I saw the princess, I had to kneel, when I saw Xu Wenzu, I had to kneel, when I saw Xiao Liuzi, I had to kneel, there were too many people, damn it, I had to kneel to.
Now,
today, at the enthronement ceremony, I knelt to Xiao Liuzi for a moment, that was just to give him face, at other times, I won't kneel anymore.
We have worked so hard for so long,
first, we work hard to see this world, work hard to integrate into this world, and then work hard to climb up in this world.
Then farm, then develop;
now,
if I want to kill the prime minister, I can kill the prime minister.
I think,
we,
can finally step to the front, and show ourselves."

"Master is wise." Xue San immediately said.

"So, let's start from tonight." Zheng Fan picked up his teacup, took a sip, "I'll try to communicate with the devil pill later, and see if the devil pill can be upgraded on the spot."

The advancement of the devil pill has been lagging behind, and this lagging has lasted for so long.
As his own son, he seems to not know how to be anxious.

Si Niang nodded and said: "Then we will go down and prepare first."

Si Niang and the others were planning to leave first, leaving enough space for the master and the devil pill.
Although there is a Sword Saint for this assassination, who knows if there will be any other masters beside Zhao Jiulang?
Sharpening the spear before the battle, it is always good to have more strength.

"Hey, wait a minute."

Zheng Fan stopped Si Niang and the others.

The devils all looked at Zheng Fan.

Xue San quickly asked: "Master, do you have any other instructions?"

"There is still a great risk in tonight's assassination." Zheng Fan said.

"Master, don't worry, we will definitely help you successfully kill that Zhao Jiulang." Xue San patted his chest to guarantee.

A Ming also said: "It's fun, it's not fun without risk."

"So, in order to make our success more certain..."

Zheng Fan, holding the teacup, closed his eyes, stood up, and the aura on his body suddenly fluctuated;
For a moment,
in the hall,
Si Niang, A Ming, Xue San, and Fan Li all became quiet.
Even the red stone placed on the coffee table changed its angle and stood up silently with rounded corners.

Then,
Zheng Fan opened his eyes,
sat back down,
lowered his head,
took a sip of tea,
lightly spat out some tea foam from his lips,
crossed his legs,
looked at the devils in front of him,
and said very naturally:
"For the sake of stability,
I should just advance my stage first."

————

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