Shang Xingzhou asked, "Why him?"
Xu Yourong answered, "Because he will be the new emperor."
This war had been initiated by her and Yuren. If Shang Xingzhou's side won in the end, the emperor would inevitably be replaced.
Prince Chen Liu was the most suitable candidate, and Shang Xingzhou had already chosen him.
Shang Xingzhou did not deny it. He calmly said, "Correct, of His Majesty Taizong's descendants, he is the most outstanding, even though he is not as good as His Majesty."
Xu Yourong asked, "I really want to know, after pouring your heart and blood into educating His Majesty for twenty-some years, are you really willing?"
Shang Xingzhou was quiet for a while, then said, "If His Majesty is truly moved by your words, then he must be willing."
Xu Yourong asked, "Did you ever think that my visit to the palace that night might have been a facade?"
Shang Xingzhou replied, "His Majesty did not write a letter to Luoyang."
Many days had passed, enough time to write a very sincere letter.
But he had not received it.
Xu Yourong understood what he meant.
This was the result she had wanted to see in the first place.
So Prince Chen Liu had to die.
If he died, even if Shang Xingzhou won this war, who would become emperor?
Those ambitious princes of the Chen clan would naturally drag the Human race into chaos.
What meaning did Shang Xingzhou have in fighting this war?
It was clearly the beginning of spring, but the wind was rather chilly, devoid of any warmth.
The Mausoleum of Books was covered in green trees, but the shrubs lining the Divine Path were covered in dust and seemed rather listless.
Shang Xingzhou gazed outside the Mausoleum of Books at those rising dragons of dust. He knew that the black-armored heavy cavalry still needed an hour to arrive, but his expression was still calm.
"He is an outstanding youth. It won't be easy for him to die."
"I've known him since I was very young. I know that he is extremely cautious and is used to leaving a path of retreat in everything he does."
"Correct, he is still far inferior to His Majesty Taizong in one area. At the crucial moment, he lacks the courage to directly face blood."
Shang Xingzhou turned to Xu Yourong and asked, "And you've already found his path of retreat?"
Xu Yourong softly replied, "Correct."
A clear and gentle wind blew through the streets. Those buildings that bore the dust of history had long ago learned not to be moved by the so-called major events.
The princely estates lining the Road of Peace were extremely quiet, perhaps because their masters had already gone to the Mausoleum of Books.
Prince Chen Liu did not go. He stayed behind and sat in the reception hall of the Prince's Mansion, quietly drinking tea.
The figures of the masters of the Prince's Mansion kept flashing past outside the window.
The tea in the porcelain bowl gradually cooled down, just like his fingers holding the bowl.
He gently put the teacup back on the table and glanced imperceptibly under the window.
The floor there was covered with green tiles, one of which was slightly smoother.
The escape route was not the back door. On the contrary, at such a moment, the back door was often the most dangerous place.
The path of retreat that Prince Chen Liu had arranged for himself was under that brick. It was a tunnel that led to the Luo Canal.
Since the beginning of the previous dynasty, the Road of Peace had been the residence of the nobles. Those nobles who yearned for power and feared accidents had dug countless tunnels.
After Zhou Tong took control of the Department for Purging Officials, he had dug many new tunnels.
The tunnels were as dense as a spider's web. Other than himself, no one could understand them.
…
…
"And Mo Yu."
Shang Xingzhou said to Xu Yourong, "The so-called back road can easily become a dead end."
Xu Yourong said, "Yes, so Prince Chen Liu will definitely die."
…
… …
Three years ago, when the capital was engulfed in snow, Chen Changsheng had charged into the alley of the Northern Military Department and Zhou Tong had hidden himself in the underground prison.
When he was talking to Xue He, he had been poisoned by Zhexiu.
With great difficulty, he had fled through the underground tunnel to the outer residence on the Road of Peace, but he had still not been able to escape Zhexiu's pursuit.
But what truly caused him to despair was that beautiful woman in the palace dress who had been waiting for him in the outer residence.
Mo Yu knew everything about him, whether it was the outer residence on the Road of Peace or those extremely complicated tunnels.
Today, there were also people waiting for Prince Chen Liu on the other side of the tunnel.
The people waiting for Prince Chen Liu were two Daoist nuns.
If one walked down from the fake mountain of the Prince of Luling's estate, a tunnel would curve west.
The tunnel leading from the Prince of Xiang's estate to the Luo Canal would intersect with this tunnel.
The two Daoist nuns were seated cross-legged there.
One of the Daoist nuns had a serene expression and seemed weak.
The other nun's iron brows furiously rose, her eyes flashing with lightning.
They were the two martial grandaunts of the highest seniority and cultivation in South Stream Temple, Huai Ren and Huai Shu.
… …
… …
"I've always wanted to know how you intend to use Huai Ren and Huai Shu in the capital …"
Shang Xingzhou looked at Xu Yourong and said, "So it was here."
Only now did Xu Yourong realize that her two martial aunts had not been able to conceal their arrival in the capital. She said, "Since this is the first kill, we must not lose it."
Shang Xingzhou shook his head and said, "In my view, this kill cannot succeed."
… …
… …
"Please have some tea."
Prince Chen Liu picked up the teapot, filled three cups, and then lightly pushed them forward, his etiquette very thorough.
The tea in his bowl was cold, but the tea in the cup had to be hot, as this represented respect.
Three blue-clothed Daoists sat across from him. The essence in their eyes was restrained and they seemed ordinary, but with the occasional movement of their sleeves, sword intents would soar out, a sign of their extraordinary cultivation.
This was especially true of the white-haired old Daoist. He seemed wooden and taciturn, but he gave off an unfathomable aura.
Very few people knew that when Shang Xingzhou was in the capital's Orthodox Academy and when he fled to Xining, the Monastery of Eternal Spring in Luoyang had been presided over by this old Daoist.
It was only today that Prince Chen Liu learned of this, and at the same time, he realized that the venerable Daoist's followers were even more powerful than he had imagined.
With this old Daoist half a step from the Divine at his side, two other Daoists from the Monastery of Eternal Spring, and so many experts in the estate, he suddenly felt that he had been a little too cautious.
Of course, if a problem really did occur in the Mausoleum of Books and the other two Daoists gained power, he would still have to leave.
Prince Chen Liu's gaze once more fell on that blue brick under the window.
… …
… …
"You placed your strongest person at Prince Chen Liu's side. It seems that you truly value him."
Shang Xingzhou did not continue, but Xu Yourong understood his meaning. She indifferently said, "Then he must die even more."
Shang Xingzhou slightly raised his brows in surprise, because Xu Yourong's expression had not changed. She was still as calm as ever.
She was not pretending to be calm. With the chess game at this stage, any attempt to conceal one's emotions was meaningless, unnecessary.
Xu Yourong was truly very calm.
Because she was confident that Prince Chen Liu would definitely die today.
… …
… …
The Prince of Xiang's estate was very quiet. Those apathetic experts warily observed their surroundings, occasionally changing positions. Not a single sound came from their feet.
In the garden behind the reception hall, two array masters were focused on a sand table, ready to adjust their defenses at any moment.
A blue-clothed man stood at the base of the wall, his shoulders drooping and his eyes half-closed. He seemed to be asleep.
This person seemed very ordinary, an ordinary sword loosely tied to his belt.
But those who knew him all knew that the reason the sword was tied so loosely was so that it would be easier to pull it out. His shoulders drooped like this was also so that it would be easier to pull it out.
The former was a habit he had maintained ever since he began his career, while the latter was a change he had made after meeting Wang Po in Xunyang City.
From his posture to his breathing to his clothes, every detail he made was so that it would be easier to pull out his sword.
Thus, in this world, he was the person who could draw the sword the fastest. (To be continued.)
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