Shan Ling looked at the blood splattered on the carriage, then at the cold blade in his hand. His expression was one of disbelief.
"Why?" Shan Ling turned back. He knew that asking such a question was a childish one. The sword tip protruding from his chest and the blood dripping from it told him the truth.
But...
He still asked the question.
He simply could not understand the reason for all of this. Most importantly, this was the Southern Domain. How could they dare to do such a thing in the Southern Domain!?
"Crown Prince, do you not understand the reason behind this?" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong narrowed his eyes as he studied Shan Ling's expression with interest.
He liked this expression.
This was because this kind of expression represented unwillingness to believe, and the more unwilling the other party was to believe, the more successful his plan was.
Shan Ling looked at Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.
He had never been so angry before. Not even when he was threatened by Fang Zhengzhi in The Vast World.
"Why? Don't you want him to die? That's impossible! I know you want him dead too! I am sure that you want him dead! "Shan Ling's face was flushed.
He was sure that Crown Prince Lin Tianrong wanted Fang Zhengzhi dead.
As the old saying goes, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. In the case of the same interests, cooperation can be achieved perfectly.
That was why he trusted Crown Prince Lin Tianrong.
But...
He did not understand why Crown Prince Lin Tianrong would save Fang Zhengzhi. Why would he stab him in the back when he was about to kill Fang Zhengzhi?
He needed a reason.
"Crown Prince is right. I want Fang Zhengzhi dead, but I want you dead too!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong laughed coldly. He laughed so hard that his body started to sway. At the same time, he pulled his hand back.
His sword was unsheathed.
Blood splattered everywhere.
The eight robed guests arrived in front of Lin Tianrong in an instant. The cold wind blew, and their robes fluttered slightly.
"You want me dead?" Shan Ling's body trembled as blood flowed from his chest. He glared at Lin Tianrong with ferocious eyes.
"Actually, there is another part to the story. That is... when Fang Zhengzhi was holding the Crown Prince hostage, the Crown Prince died!" The Crown Prince explained calmly.
"Hehe, a cripple? Do you think my father will believe you? "Shan Ling's expression was icy as blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
"Does it matter whether I believe it or not? More importantly, both Fang Zhengzhi and the Crown Prince are dead. Everything is up to me. Isn't that right? "The Crown Prince chuckled icily.
Shan Ling was silent.
Just as Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had said, the dead could not speak. Therefore, only the living had the right to speak.
Even if...
The King of the Southern Region did not believe him, but so what?
Start a war with Great Xia?
Denounce Great Xia and ask them to hand over the murderer, the crown prince?
That's impossible!
"Give me a reason why you must kill me!" Shan Ling did not argue further. His eyes were bloodshot. He did not want to die just like that.
"If you don't die, the war will not end!" The Crown Prince continued.
"I see." When Shan Ling heard this, his body finally stopped trembling. This was a kind of stillness, a stillness that came from facing death.
He understood now.
He had just given Fang Zhengzhi a word.
That word was...
Greed!
And now, Crown Prince Lin Tianrong had returned the word to him.
Greedy for the throne? Die!
What a joke.
This seemed to be a kind of irony. When he felt that others were too greedy, in fact, it also indicated that his own greed was even greater.
It was a direct insult.
However, he had to admit that the Crown Prince was right. As long as he was alive, the Southern Region would never be able to give the Great Xia peace of mind.
Shan Ling did not ask further.
His gaze had shifted from Crown Prince Lin Tianrong to Su Qing, who had been standing next to Crown Prince Lin Tianrong. His lips curled into a smile.
"It looks like Official Su had already thought of this when he came to find me. Good, good plan!" Shan Ling chuckled.
Of course, he knew who the mastermind behind all of this was.
It was Su Qing.
He had convinced Shan Ling of Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's motives. Shan Ling was also able to embark on the journey to the Flame Capital City.
"You flatter me!" Su Qing responded quickly. Then, he bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince and took a step back.
"Boom!"
A crack appeared beneath Su Qing's feet. It felt like it had been sliced open by a knife. It was smooth and flat.
This scene was very sudden.
But Su Qing still managed to dodge.
"As expected of the Crown Prince. Even with such a heavy injury, you can still act so quickly. This Su admires you, admires you!" Su Qing looked at the crack beneath his feet and involuntarily took a few more steps back.
"I'll finish him in five minutes!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong also looked at the crack on the ground with a cold expression. He waved the blood-stained sword in his hand and spoke to the eight guests in front of him.
"Yes!" The eight guests nodded in unison.
"I didn't expect an official like Official Su to be so skilled. Haha … they say that the Great Xia Dynasty is full of talents. Let me see how strong the guests of the Crown Prince are! "Shan Ling smirked. At the same time, a chill rose from his body.
It was a chill that came from within.
As the chill rose, the blood in Shan Ling's chest congealed. It became transparent like a ruby.
"Die!"
"Die!"
"..."
A few shouts rang through the air.
The eight mercenaries finally moved. They were like ghosts in the dark, appearing in front of Shan Ling in an instant.
Shan Ling moved as well.
Xiao Chen held his saber horizontally, and a cold intent spread out. Instead of retreating, he advanced and mixed with the eight guests.
The blade flashed.
A chill that made people's hearts tremble covered the air. The grass had already been dyed silver by the frost, and the trees were covered with strings of icicles.
In just a short while, the eight mercenaries were more or less injured. One of them even had his arm chopped off. Fresh blood splattered in the air, but it instantly froze.
Advanced Rebirth State cultivator.
Even with a sword through his chest, he was still as powerful as ever.
This was Shan Ling, one of the most powerful youths in the Southern Region.
However, this battle did not last too long. Because the eight mercenaries' strategy was not to attack conservatively, but to exchange injury for injury, to exchange death for blood!
Broken branches, broken leaves, mixed with blood and frost. Cracks densely covered the ground. This was a battlefield, a battlefield that was in complete disarray.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn …
The battle was over.
Shan Ling leaned against the carriage. The blade in his hand was broken. He looked up at the stars in the sky.
He was not satisfied. His plan to become the Crown Prince, to work with the Demons, and then to conspire with the Crown Prince. Everything seemed perfect.
But other than his plan to become the Crown Prince, the other two plans had all failed. He thought he was smart enough, but in reality …
Who dared to say they were the smartest in this world?
The Young Lord of the Demons, Yun Qingwu? Chi Guyan and Fang Zhengzhi? Or Su Qing, who had been standing behind the Crown Prince all this time?
Shan Ling did not want to die like this.
However, he did not show much fear. Instead, he was calm. Even though he did not want to die, even though he did not want to.
But when the Grim Reaper arrived, he wasn't afraid. He just quietly looked at the sky, just like that, allowing the blood to dye the soles of his feet red …
"Congratulations, Your Highness!" At this moment, Su Qing finally spoke again. As he spoke, he also knelt on the ground.
"Oh? Official Su, why are you congratulating me? "Crown Prince Lin Tianrong looked at Shan Ling with disdain.
He was the Crown Prince of the Great Xia.
He had always been at the top of the world.
But now that he was in the Southern Region, he had to tolerate Shan Ling's temper. This was a form of hatred. When this hatred was combined with peace and stability...
Why wouldn't he do it?
"From an outsider's point of view, Shan Ling was indeed killed by Fang Zhengzhi. However, Your Majesty, you must have guessed the truth. Today, the Crown Prince risked his life to help the Great Xia eradicate the Southern Region. How could Your Majesty not reward him for his contributions?" Su Qing explained.
"Reward? How do you think the Emperor will reward you? "Crown Prince Lin Tianrong nodded.
"Now that Fang Zhengzhi is dead, the merits of the Southern Region are unclaimed. Even though the Crown Prince killed Shan Ling and stabilized the Southern Region, you cannot be rewarded for this, so..."
"So what?"
"What you did for the Southern Region is the best reward!"
"Hahaha … well said, well said!" Crown Prince Lin Tianrong chuckled when he heard this.
Back at the Iron Hill Settlement, Su Qing had suggested to him that he could take all of Fang Zhengzhi's credit. However, he did not believe him.
However …
When Su Qing revealed his plan, he believed him.
How could a dead man take credit?
"With your position in the East Palace and your contribution to the Southern Region, the citizens of the Great Xia will be loyal to you. King Duan will no longer be a threat to you!" Su Qing looked at Crown Prince Lin Tianrong's expression and smiled faintly as he continued.
"No longer a threat? That might not be the case. "Crown Prince Lin Tianrong narrowed his eyes and shook his head.
"Your Highness, do you think that King Duan can still make a comeback?" Su Qing asked curiously.
"This Crown Prince naturally doesn't need to worry about the capital. Furthermore, after the battle in the Southern Region, this Crown Prince has also established some influence in the military. It's naturally impossible for Sixth Brother to compete with this Crown Prince in the Imperial Court. However, Sixth Brother's influence isn't just in the Imperial Court!"
"Your Highness, are you referring to the Five Constabularies of the Northern Desert?" Su Qing's eyes flashed with understanding when he heard this.
"That's right, the five constabularies of the desert have always been under the control of the Divine Constabulary, and Chi Hou of the Divine Constabulary has been very close to my sixth brother these few years. To put it bluntly, without the support of the Divine Constabulary, it's simply impossible for my sixth brother to control such a huge army!"
"Your Highness, what do you mean?"
"With your current status, if you enter the Ministry of Rites, you will be promoted to the Minister of Rites. However, if you leave Official Su in the capital, that would be … a waste of your talent!"
"Your Highness, are you planning to send me to the Divine Constabulary?"
"The Divine Constabulary? You will not be able to enter, but you can fight for the position of Governor of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies! What do you think? "Crown Prince Lin Tianrong looked at Su Qing.
"Governor of the Five Constabularies?! This … thank you, Your Highness! " Su Qing trembled when he heard that. Then, an unconcealable joy appeared on his face.
"Haha … you don't have to thank me so soon. It is not easy to become the Governor of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies. I think Official Su should consider becoming the previous Constabulary Chief first."
"Your Highness, I will follow your orders!" Su Qing nodded.
…
The night wind was chilly.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong turned to look at the carriage. He did not look at the dying Shan Ling. Instead, he looked at the curtains that were being blown slightly by the wind.
There was one more important thing that had not been done.
That was …
There was still one person alive.
Even if this person was already a dead person.
"This is a perfect plan. If it succeeds, your position in the Great Xia will be unshakable." Shan Ling's voice rang out.
Crown Prince Lin Tianrong ignored Shan Ling. He didn't even look at Shan Ling. Why would he spare a second glance at a loser?
"Your Highness, can I take care of Fang Zhengzhi?" Of course, Su Qing could tell what Lin Tianrong was thinking. He didn't say those words to steal the credit.
He was saying this to vent his anger!
"Okay." The Crown Prince nodded.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Su Qing immediately stood up from the ground, patted the dirt off his trousers, and slowly walked towards the carriage.
He was not fast.
Because everything was under his control.
As such …
Why couldn't he enjoy the fruits of his labor?
He was getting closer and closer!
As Su Qing got closer and closer to the carriage, he could even hear the sound of his own breathing. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and his face was filled with an intense coldness.
"Don't worry, I will make sure you die a painful death!" Su Qing laughed. He laughed so hard that his body trembled. At the same time, his hand lifted the curtain of the carriage.
In that instant …
The smile on his face froze.
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