Chapter 83: Who is the Humble Gentleman? (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

  "Hold on, Huaichen! Don't speak yet, let me take a look at your injuries." Qin Dingfang's mind was still in a daze, but he suddenly came back to his senses. The Xuanhun Stone, no matter how important it was, was already destroyed and couldn't be changed back. But what was lying before him was the heavily injured Liu Huaichen, who had grown up with him since childhood and had gone through life and death together like brothers.

  When the clothes were lifted off Liu Huaiqing's body, the wound was revealed. Even Qin Dingfang, who had seen many battles, gasped in shock. What a sword strike this was! From the right chest to the ribcage, a bloody gash that made one's heart skip a beat. Although Liu Huaiqing's body was protected by his peak spiritual energy and hadn't been cut in half directly, along the wound, all of his internal organs had been sliced into two halves. With Liu Huaiqing's abilities, who could have injured him so severely? Qin Dingfang guessed that whoever could injure Liu Huaiqing like this must possess saint-level strength.

  "Old master, listen to me..." Liu Huaiqing said with a heavy sigh, feeling more and more the ebbing of his life force. He had to seize the time to reveal the secret about Zhuge Mingyue.

  "Huai Qing, don't say anything else, just treat the wound first." Qin Dingfang choked and said, with tears welling up in his eyes. With such an injury, not to mention the highly skilled doctor in the mansion, even if a god descended from heaven, it would be impossible to cure. Liu Huaiqing was only able to hold on to his last breath until now, otherwise he would have died on the spot.

  "Listen to me..." Liu Huaiqing's eyes, which were gradually dimming, suddenly brightened, and a layer of unnatural red flush appeared on his face, the final glow before death.

  Qin Dingfang tightly grasped Liu Huaiqing's hand and didn't say anything else.

  "Zhuge Mingyue has stars on her body..." Liu Huaiqing had just said these few words when, with a dull thud, his eyes suddenly widened and his speech was cut off. His pupils then constricted and his whole body stiffened.

  "Ah, Huaichun!" Qin Dingfang suddenly let out a loud roar. Liu Huaichun's hand had slowly fallen down, and he hadn't even finished speaking before he died. His eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes unblinking. Who was it? Who did this? Qin Dingfang abruptly lifted his head, scanning the surroundings sharply, but there wasn't a single sign of anything unusual around him. The person who came was an expert, even stronger than him! To the point where he couldn't detect even a hint of them.

  In the dark, he cast a cold and indifferent glance at Liu Huaiqing, who was already dead, withdrew his hand, and quietly left.

  Qin Dingfang felt a chill run down his spine. How did they manage to attract the attention of such a master? Was it because of Zhuge Mingyue?

  Qin Dingfang's old tears flowed horizontally, having just lost his grandson not long ago, and now his sworn brother Liu Huaiqing had died tragically before his eyes. Even with an iron heart, he couldn't withstand such a blow.

  After a long time, several guards cautiously approached and saw the state of Liu Huaiqing's death, and their hearts also rose with sorrow.

  "Get dressed and return to Dayu City!" After saying this, Qin Dingfang wiped his eyes, and there was no longer a hint of sadness in his gaze. Old debts must be repaid. But now is not the time. First, return to Dayu City and see the ancestors before doing anything else!

  Qin Dingfang took his men and quietly left the capital, this time coming to the capital not only did he not learn of his own grandson's cause of death, but also lost the life of his dear friend Liu Huaiqing. This breath, no matter what, he would never swallow it down.

  ……

  Zhuge Mingyue had returned to her own mansion, and at the entrance, she saw Jun Qianyao smiling and standing there, as if waiting for her return. Jun Qianyao was leaning casually against the door frame, but he gave people the feeling that he was the only one in the world. The strong aura made people look sideways. And his pair of heterochromatic eyes still had a captivating effect on people's hearts.

  "What are you doing here?" Zhuge Mingyue flipped over and descended with a whirlwind, summoning the whirlwind back.

  "Wait for you." Jun Qingyao smiled slightly, "I have something to say to you."

  "Then go ahead." said Zhuge Mingyue.

  "No need, let's just talk about it here." Jun Qingyao leaned over and looked at Zhuge Mingyue with a hint of an inexplicable expression in his eyes. "You seem to have a pretty good relationship with the current Emperor of Danling Country?"

  "Hmm." Zhuge Mingyue didn't hide it either, directly nodding her head, "The Emperor treats me very well, just like my own family."

  "Really......" Jun Yingyao smiled, "Alright, since Ming Yue likes this emperor so much, we won't switch."

  "What does it mean?" Zhuge Mingyue's face changed color.

  "Literal meaning." Jun Qiong Yao smiled again, but this time the smile was icy cold. "The Temple of Gods has another visitor coming."

  "What? Nangong Jin's person?" A bad premonition rose in Zhuge Mingyue's heart.

  "No, it's the Temple's person, Nan Gong Jin's arch-nemesis." Jun Qingyao said lightly, "A extremely hypocritical person, named Yin Feitao. Always wanted to replace Nan Gong Jin's position in the Temple, never succeeded. Never succeeded, never gave up."

  Zhuge Mingyue twitched the corner of her mouth, looking at Jun Qiangyao speaking with such a calm expression, and couldn't help but think, is he praising him or mocking him? Why did she feel like laughing? Jun Qiangyao also had the potential to make cold jokes.

  "Be careful yourself." were Jun Yingyao's final words of advice.

  "Hmm." Zhuge Mingyue responded.

  The next day after returning to the mansion, Zhuge Mingyue received news that Qin Dingfang had already left Beijing with his men last night. Qin Dingfang quietly left without any further action. Zhuge Mingyue speculated that the other party did not dare to come looking for trouble again because of Liu Huaiqin's death. Unfortunately, it was unknown whether Qin Dingfang brought the Xinghuan Guardian here or not. Zhuge Mingyue didn't think the Qin family would let things go so easily, but anyway, it didn't matter. When the time came, even if the Qin family didn't look for her, she would take the initiative to find them.

  ……

  A few days later, the capital was in an uproar because someone from the Temple of Gods had arrived again. Among the several countries affiliated with the Southern Chu Empire, Danling Country was not considered large, and the only country smaller than Danling was Dongsheng Country. The small Danling Country had received two batches of people from the Temple of Gods in a row, so naturally, the capital was in an uproar.

  When the people from the temple entered the city, Zhuge Mingyue happened to be buying food on the street. The owner and apprentices of the pastry shop had long recognized Zhuge Mingyue and knew that she was the champion of this year's Dragon Dance Competition, so now she didn't need to line up to buy pastries, and they were all 20% off.

  Zhuge Mingyue was eating chestnut cake and handed a piece to Xinlan, who was sitting on her shoulder. She thought to herself that Xinlan had been eating chestnut cake for so long without getting tired of it. Then Zhuge Mingyue remembered that in her past life, she also liked some dishes that she couldn't get enough of, and suddenly understood. Zhuge Mingyue then bought a few bags of candies from a nearby candy store and looked up at the horse-drawn carriage slowly passing by on the street. The carriage was not ordinary. It was pure white without any blemishes, with a series of orchid carvings on its body, and had the exclusive emblem of the Temple of Gods on it. The four horses pulling the carriage were also snow-white.

  Zhuge Mingyue looked at the people on the street, all of whom were staring at the temple's horse carriage with fervent eyes. She suddenly felt extremely bored and knew that the person sitting in the carriage must be the one Jun Qianyao had mentioned - Yin Feitao.

  "Miss Zhuge, if I could see that gentleman Fei Tao from the Temple of God once more, I would be willing to die." The speaker was a freckled-faced little girl who worked as a cleaner at a pastry shop, with a lovesick expression on her face.

  "Junzi? Feitao?" Zhuge Mingyue bit into a walnut cake, repeating the phrase in confusion.

  "Yes, the elegant and refined gentleman, Feng Tiao. The freckled girl's eyes almost turned into hearts as she said in a daze, 'It's said that he's handsome and elegant, with an extraordinary bearing and exceptional abilities. He's like a celestial being. To be able to see him, I'd die without regrets.'"

  Zhuge Mingyue curled up the corner of his mouth, and that gentleman who was as elegant as an orchid, had always wanted to replace Nan Gongjin, would he be such a noble gentleman? Zhuge Mingyue came to a conclusion, this Yin Feitao seemed like a very pretentious person.

  "I'm afraid you won't be able to die with your eyes closed." Zhuge Mingyue muttered, then turned around and left with the pastry.

  The freckled little girl blinked her eyes behind, looking at the back of Zhuge Mingyue, and muttered to herself in doubt: "Is Miss Zhuge in a bad mood today?"

  As soon as Zhuge Mingyue returned to her residence, she saw the royal carriage parked at the entrance, which was the special carriage that the emperor used to send people to pick her up every time.

  The guard waiting beside the carriage immediately came forward respectfully as soon as he saw Zhuge Mingyue return: "Miss Zhuge, you're back. The Emperor requests that you enter the palace at once."

  "Ah, okay." Zhuge Mingyue didn't decline either and nodded before getting on the carriage. It just so happened that she also needed to go into the palace to find the Emperor and tell him some things. She remembered what Jun Qiyao had said earlier and realized that the arrival of people from the Temple this time was definitely not a good thing.

  In the imperial palace, Zhuge Mingyue met that legendary classmate, Yin Feitao, who had never succeeded but never gave up.

  A white robe with a golden thread embroidered with orchid patterns on the hem, looking so flashy. In his hand, he was holding a white paper fan with several orchids painted on it. On his handsome face, there was always a standard smile, and the whole person looked like a warm and elegant gentleman.

  When the emperor met him, Zhuge Mingyue was present, and Man Xueying was also present. Zhuge Mingyue glanced at Man Xueying with the corner of his eye, only to see Man Xueying's face change slightly, and then quickly returned to normal. When Yin Feitao saw that the person in the imperial palace was not Nan Gongjin, but Man Xueying, he also didn't show any expression on his face, but just took a deep glance at her. This glance made Man Xueying feel uneasy all over.

  Zhuge Mingyue took all of this in at a glance.

  "Is this the champion of the Chen Long tournament?" Ying Feitao smiled warmly and elegantly, his jade-like demeanor causing Zhuge Mingyue to have a misconception - this person was not that psychologically distorted guy.

  "Yes." Zhuge Mingyue replied calmly.

  "It's true that heroes emerge in their youth. I hope you'll continue to work hard and make progress." Yìn Fēi Tāo smiled and encouraged.

  "I will, thank you, Your Excellency." Zhuge Mingyue also smiled, but it was a superficial smile.

  They chatted some more about nothing in particular, and this meeting was finally coming to an end.

  In the evening, Huang Shang will host a banquet to entertain Yin Feitao. For now, he ordered someone to take Yin Feitao down to rest. Man Xueying also stood up and bid farewell.

  Zhuge Mingyue and the Emperor were left alone in the imperial study.

  "Clear Moon, is there something you want to say to me?" The Emperor asked with a smile.

  "What? How did you know?" Zhuge Mingyue was taken aback.

  "As soon as you entered the study, you glared at me with wide eyes. If it's not to say something, what is it?" The emperor said with a smile.

  "Uh, yes, there's something to say." Zhuge Mingyue didn't smile, her face was very solemn, she walked a few steps forward and lowered her voice, saying "I think the arrival of Shen Fei Tao at this temple is absolutely not a good thing."

  "I also know." The emperor nodded.

  "Ah, you know everything? You know what he wants to do?" Zhuge Mingyue was somewhat surprised.

  "In short, it won't be a good thing. I don't think the Temple people of Danling Country are worth coming one after another." The Emperor coldly snorted.

  "Your Majesty, be careful. This Yin Feitao has come with ill intentions." Zhuge Mingyue thought for a moment and then told the Emperor what Jun Qinyao had previously told her, "Someone previously told me that the people of the Divine Temple have ulterior motives and want to replace the Dragon Throne with someone else."

  The Emperor had expected that the people from the Temple of God would not come with good intentions, but hearing Zhuge Mingyue's astonishing words still startled him. His face suddenly turned gloomy.

  "The temple, it's getting more and more restless." The emperor didn't doubt Zhuge Mingyue's words at all, but instead had a dark face and coldly smiled, saying "Wanting the emperor to change people, just see if they have this skill or not."

  "All right, Mingyue, you go back first. I'll deal with these matters and then have you brought into the palace." The Emperor looked at Zhuge Mingyue again, and put on a gentle smile as he spoke in a soft voice.

  "I won't!" Zhuge Mingyue immediately vetoed, "I want to stay in the palace with you, this Yin Feitao is not so easy to deal with."

  "I can handle it myself." The Emperor looked at the determined Zhuge Mingyue, his heart warmed up, but he rejected Zhuge Mingyue's decision.

  "I don't care, I want to stay in the palace." Zhuge Mingyue refused to listen to the emperor this time. Jun Qiong's words made her heart cold. She didn't dare to imagine how she would be if the elder who loved her dearly died a terrible death.

  The emperor looked at the determined Zhuge Mingyue and eventually couldn't outdo her, agreeing to let her stay in the palace temporarily. However, he repeatedly warned that she absolutely must not be reckless when there is danger. Zhuge Mingyue nodded again and again, happily agreeing.

  ……

  Night falls, and darkness gradually envelops the earth.

  In the palace, under the corridors, and under the eaves, lanterns were hung everywhere, dispelling the darkness.

  Man Xueying sat by the window, staring at the hazy night outside in a daze. It had been a long time since she received any news from her master. What was her master thinking? Did she not plan to complete the task arranged by the High Priest? How could this be good?

  "Heh heh, Miss Man Xueying, are you worried about this mission?" Suddenly, a warm and gentle voice sounded behind her.

  Man Xueying suddenly sat up straight, as if she had been bitten by a venomous snake. She quickly turned her head to look at the person who had suddenly appeared in her room. The visitor was holding a white fan with a lifelike orchid pattern on it, and his face wore a warm and comforting smile. His robes were spotless and white, and his elegant demeanor made people feel good at first glance. But Man Xueying didn't have that feeling; she only felt her whole body turn cold, and her back was slowly breaking out in a cold sweat.

  The newcomer was Yin Feitao, with a humble and gentle face, but Man Xueying was very clear that the humble gentleman in front of her was the most hypocritical and ruthless. A typical fake gentleman!

  "Hmm, Miss Man Xueying, what's with that expression? Don't you see I'm not happy?" Ying Feitao gently swayed the paper fan in his hand and smiled. "It's been a long time since you've completed your task, I was worried that you might have encountered some trouble, so I came to assist you especially. Miss Man Xueying, aren't you welcoming?"

  "You'd better stop pretending, do you think you can help adults? Hmph, you wish adults would be unlucky. " Man Xueying finally spoke up, her eyes fixed on the person in front of her with a fierce glare that could have pierced through him if looks could kill, and Yin Feitao would have been riddled with holes by now.

  "Miss Man Xueying's words, really hurt my heart. I have no prejudice against the South Palace Lord, I just want to help him complete his task, and it's also a good excuse for the High Priest, right?" Yin Feitao continued to speak calmly, with an elegant demeanor that would confuse anyone who didn't know his true nature.

  However, Man Xueying was clearly not one of those people who were deceived. She gritted her teeth and sneered: "Lord Yin, no matter how grand your reasons are, you can't hide your ambition. You always want to frame Lord and replace him, but when have you ever succeeded? You're just a clown... Ah——!"

  Man Xueying hadn't finished speaking when she let out a mournful cry.

  Yin Feitao's face twisted instantly as he listened to Man Xueying's words, his eyes full of ferocity. He flashed forward, grabbed a handful of Man Xueying's hair and slammed her to the ground. When he released his hand, it was filled with a large clump of black hair.

  Man Xueying only felt a splitting headache, and when she reached out to touch her head, her hand was covered in blood. Before she could even react, Yin Feitao had already stepped on her head with one foot.

  "You think you're someone? You're just a lowly maid! I was only in a good mood and spoke a few words to you, but you became arrogant. Do you think you're worthy of speaking with me?" Ying Fei Tao stepped on Xue Ying's head, grinding it fiercely several times, and threw away the black hair in his hand, "You're just a bitch by Nan Gong Jin's side. Oh no, you're not even as good as a dog."

  Man Xueying was panting painfully, unable to struggle free from Yin Feitao's foot. Her heart was trembling with fear, she had not forgotten that the person in front of her was a pervert and a hypocrite. However, she couldn't help it, whenever Yin Feitao acted so arrogantly, she always couldn't resist. Could someone as powerful as him also be someone he dared to fantasize about replacing?

  "Just wait and see, who's stronger, you or me." Yifeng Tao withdrew his foot, sneered, and left without even a glance at Man Xueying on the ground.

  Man Xueying struggled to get up, looking at the black hair on the ground, expressionless, she withdrew her gaze and looked down at the blood on her hand. She calmly walked to the dresser, began to carefully dress herself. The wound on her scalp looked gruesome but was not serious. After applying ointment, she combed her hair, put on a headscarf, covered her face with a veil, revealing a pair of beautiful eyes.

  "Someone come." Man Xueying's voice returned to its previous calm, with a hint of arrogance, "Go find the Crown Prince, tell him that I invite him to admire the flowers in the Imperial Garden."

  Man Xueying looked at the person in the mirror, her beautiful eyes flowing with determination, a resolute light shooting out from within. She must complete the task entrusted to her by the High Priest, she couldn't let that hypocrite Yin Feitao succeed!

  ……

  In the elegant courtyard, the osmanthus flowers are in full bloom, hanging on the branches, with delicate petals shining brightly, giving people a sense of icy purity.

  Under the tree, Zhuge held a chess piece and almost without thinking, put it on the board. Across from him at the stone table was the Emperor of Danling Country, who was wearing casual clothes and had no dignity on his face, nor any heroic spirit of pointing to the mountains, only a worried look. Holding the chess piece, the Emperor hesitated for a long time, several times about to make a move, but then stopped abruptly. Every step is a killing move, every step is a killing move!

  "Hurry up, if we don't go down now it will be daylight." Zhuge Mingyue waited anxiously and couldn't help but urge.

  "Clang!" The emperor's chess piece finally landed on the board.

  "Bang!" Before his chess piece had even landed, Zhuge Mingyue's piece also fell onto the board, as if everything was already within her calculations.

  "No, I won't play it that way!" The emperor's eyes had already seen the killing move and he reached out to take back his piece that had just landed.

  "It's too late for regrets, I've already made my move, can't take it back!" Zhuge Mingyue pressed down on the chess piece from earlier. This emperor, does he have any dignity as a ruler? Always taking back his moves, and doing so with such an air of righteousness.

  "Just one step back, just this one step." The emperor pleaded.

  "You've said that thirty-four times already!" Zhuge Mingyue retorted coldly.

  "Huh? That many times? I thought it was only twenty-eight times." The emperor said with a straight face.

  "Your Majesty, you're really something... " Zhuge Mingyue said with disdain.

  The emperor's mouth twitched, he was despised, he was despised!

  "Alright, I'll go this way." The Emperor fell another piece.

  Zhuge Mingyue smiled secretly and made a "pa" sound as she dropped her piece.

  This time, the momentum has gone. The Emperor lost this round.

  "Let's play another round, let's play another round." The emperor hastily picked up the chess pieces.

  "Not coming!" Zhuge Mingyue looked at the emperor with disdain, such a terrible chess skill and yet he still likes to play chess. Does he like being abused that much?

  The emperor wanted to say something else, but the distant manager came forward with a serious face.

  "I beg to report to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience." The steward's speech was very slow, almost one word at a time.

  The smile on the emperor's face also disappeared, and after a moment of silence, he said slowly: "Let him come in." There was a hint of fatigue and disappointment in his tone.

  Zhuge Mingyue sat silently on one side, softly sighing in her heart.

  "The child attends the emperor, wishing the emperor..." Before long, the crown prince entered the courtyard and upon seeing the emperor, he bowed down.

  "All right, rise." The emperor calmly stopped the crown prince without waiting for him to finish speaking.

  "Yes." The crown prince stood up, slightly lowering his head, and no one could see his expression. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xue'er sitting opposite the emperor, and the crown prince couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy and resentment in his heart. Although he was the noble crown prince, he had never been as close to anyone as the emperor was to this little servant girl from the Zhuge family. The emperor treated her more intimately than he did his own sons! Thinking this, the crown prince's determination towards that plan grew even stronger.

  "Why aren't you speaking? Is something wrong?" The emperor asked in a detached tone.

  "It is like this, Father Emperor. Yesterday, I obtained a rare treasure from a mysterious person in the Western Desert. I dare not enjoy it alone and have come to present it to you, Father Emperor." The crown prince came back to his senses, lifted his head, and revealed a face full of genuine affection.

  "The crown prince has made up his mind, then let's take a look." The emperor seemed to be smiling with relief, but only Zhuge Mingyue understood the bitterness behind this smile.

  "Yes." The prince finished speaking and took out a scroll, which when opened revealed a painting depicting the grandeur of the desert. The setting sun was like blood, the yellow sand stretching endlessly, the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, and the mirage on the horizon was vividly rendered. The more one looked at it, the more mesmerizing it became, to the point where one felt as if they were right there in person. Clearly, it was a masterpiece.

  But if it's just like this, it can't be considered a rare treasure.

  The crown prince stretched out his hand and threw the painting into the air. In an instant, a hot current rose in the cold night wind of the courtyard, as if the fierce gusts were blowing right next to him, bringing with it waves of whistling sounds. Everything before his eyes came alive, and the golden yellow sand seemed to be right under his feet, transmitting a soft and scorching feeling.

  In the prince's eyes, a fervent and scorching flame of expectation suddenly flashed, his face filled with excitement.

  But in the emperor's heart, he let out a soft sigh, and his eyes were filled with deep disappointment.

  Suddenly, the wind and sand stirred up, and the entire courtyard was filled with a solemn and murderous aura. Formation! Zhuge Mingyue felt a familiar breath, this scroll must be hiding a formation, and it's an extremely dangerous one.

  The crown prince's eyes, looking at the emperor, were filled with determination. His palm suddenly swung down, and seven figures suddenly appeared behind him, their bodies surging with intense killing intent.

  If he had any hesitation before, now he has no room for retreat. This matter, if not successful, will be a heroic death. If he succeeds, he will become the new emperor of Danling Country, a monarch revered by all people; if he fails, he will die without a place to bury his body.

  Suddenly aware of the change, the eunuchs and guards who were standing far away hurried over, while the five Imperial Guards hidden in the dark also appeared one after another, their powerful auras shooting out like sharp arrows.

  "...has thorns..." A eunuch had just shouted out two words, when the hand of another eunuch beside him flashed with a cold light. The shouting eunuch only felt a chill in his throat, and then a hot flow gushed out from his throat, unable to utter a single word again, until the moment before he died, he finally understood that there was actually an internal traitor hidden beside him.

  Several guards and imperial bodyguards had approached, but the prince's expression didn't change. Among the seven dead men he brought with him, four swordsmen gripped their hilts tightly, two archers slightly drew their bowstrings, aiming at the emperor and Zhuge Mingyue right before them, while the last one, a summoner, whispered incantations softly.

  At this sight, the guards' feet slowed down involuntarily, fearing that they would hurt the emperor by mistake. Although Zhuge Mingyue's strength was strong, it was not necessarily enough to withstand the joint attack of these seven people.

  A golden light suddenly burst forth from the painting, and the yellow sand all over the ground seemed to be swept up by a tornado, pouring down on the guards who were rushing towards them.

  "Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss......" A string of fine and dense sounds rose, except for the five Taibei Imperial Guards, all the other guards who rushed over were shot through their bodies by the dense yellow sand, not a single place on their bodies was intact. Streams of blood mist sprayed out like fountains, filling the entire courtyard, the thick smell of blood made one want to vomit.

  What a big handwriting! This painting of such a powerful formation, I'm afraid it was given to him by the people of the Temple of God. For the success of this palace change, the people of the Temple of God also made no small cost.

  At the same time, several low and muffled hums came from the entrance of the courtyard, and several eunuchs who were about to go for reinforcements were killed without warning by the traitors planted by the crown prince.

  Several guards, relying on their powerful energy, blocked the yellow sand that was flying towards them like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, and saw the emperor's calm and unmoving figure. They quickened their pace and rushed forward again. At this moment, the last guard suddenly raised his long knife and struck out with all his might, killing two guards in front of him and then attacking the two in front. The two guards never expected that their companion, who was as close to them as a brother, would turn against them. In their haste, they hastily drew their swords, but it was too late. Just as they were about to be killed, a cold light flashed by, shooting towards the person behind them. The person quickly withdrew his sword and held it in front of him, and with a "ting" sound, Zhuge Mingyue's dagger flew past, lodging itself in a nearby tree. The two guards took advantage of this opportunity to rush to the emperor's side, nodding their heads in gratitude towards Zhuge Mingyue.

  The crown prince waved his hand and everyone temporarily stopped their hands.

  The father and son, silently staring at each other, a sense of killing intent flowing in the air.

  "You finally couldn't help but take action, are you that eager to become the Emperor?" The Emperor let out a deep sigh, his face filled with disappointment and despair.

  "Even if I don't take action, won't the throne be mine sooner or later? Father Emperor, you've been sitting in this position for too long. I just want to help share your burden." The crown prince's face had a hint of mockery on it.

  "Do you think this will allow you to ascend to the throne?" The Emperor retorted.

  "As long as you are willing to issue this decree, who can oppose it?" The crown prince said, taking out a decree that had been prepared in advance.

  "What if I refuse?" the emperor asked sternly. Even decades ago when he first ascended to the throne and his imperial power was unstable, with a million-strong army besieging the city, he had not yielded; even in the face of numerous assassination attempts that threatened his life, he had not been frightened or made mistakes. At this moment, he would not yield, nor would he show any sign of fear.

  "After the sudden death of my father, I am still the Emperor of Danling!" The prince's eyes flashed with a hint of cruelty, and the seven bodyguards behind him took a step forward, their fierce killing intent hitting him in the face.

  "Do you know why I didn't move you?" The emperor suddenly asked.

  "What?" The prince asked, bewildered.

  "Last time's assassin, did you think I really didn't know who sent you? Did you think I'm so old and muddled that I couldn't even figure out something like this?" The Emperor paused for a moment before continuing in a leisurely tone, "But I didn't make a move against you. Do you know why?"

  "I... don't know." The crown prince had known that the emperor would suspect him of being involved in the previous assassination attempt, and fearing exposure, he had taken a risk to force his way into the palace and usurp the throne. But now, hearing the emperor's words, it turned out that he had already investigated and found out that he was the mastermind behind the scenes, and his heart couldn't help but feel a chill.

  "Since ancient times, which emperor was not ambitious and hesitant, incompetent and idle? Such an emperor can only bring disaster to the country and its people, and ruin the foundation of a thousand years. So, although you sent someone to assassinate me, it's still in line with your character as an emperor. That's why I didn't take action against you. But I didn't expect you to be so foolish, listening to others' instigation and trying to usurp the throne. It seems that I overestimated you. With your kind of heart, Danling Country cannot fall into your hands." The Emperor said.

  "Now that things have come to this, you can't help but do it." The prince gritted his teeth. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't be in such a precarious situation today. But now that the arrow is on the string, it must be shot. Advance and he might still reign supreme; retreat, and it would undoubtedly be a dead end.

  "How dare you commit such a heinous crime as regicide and usurpation?" The Emperor looked at him with disdain.

  "Even if I usurp the throne by killing my father, as long as I ascend to the imperial position, who dares to say anything about me? A hundred years later, people will only remember my great achievements, and who will still know about today's events?"

  "Well said, unfortunately, things are not as simple as you think." The emperor smiled calmly, a majestic aura that made one dare not look directly at him.

  Zhuge Mingyue stepped forward, blocking the emperor's path, a cold glint flashing in the dagger in his hand. The two imperial guards also moved forward, their faces set with determination.

  "Do you think they can stop my dead soldiers?" The prince said coldly.

  "Then you can try!" Zhuge Mingyue said disdainfully, with a surge of powerful energy inside her body, even the seven dead warriors opposite her could feel an enormous pressure.

  The crown prince secretly felt a chill, it seemed he had underestimated the strength of this little girl. He had already quietly inquired and knew that Mr. Qing was not in the capital today due to some matters, so he wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to usurp the throne. As for Zhuge Mingyue, he hadn't really taken her seriously yet.

  "Miss Zhuge, please escort the Emperor to leave first, this place will be given to us." The two imperial guards' bodies were filled with surging energy, burning like flames, ready to fight to the death.

  The crown prince's heart was in a flurry, he had some understanding of the strength of these guards. If they really fought to the death, he feared that his own dead soldiers would not be able to take them down with one blow. As long as they could drag it out for even half a minute, with Zhuge Mingyue's strength, she would be able to escort the emperor away safely, and his plan would be ruined. Originally, according to the original plan, he should have killed all these guards from the start, and with seven dead soldiers fighting against Zhuge Mingyue, he was still full of confidence. But he hadn't expected that Zhuge Mingyue would save those two guards, and the situation suddenly became complicated. However, he still had a trump card!

  "Aren't you going to take action?!" The crown prince shouted in surprise.

  As soon as the words fell, two slender masked women appeared beside the prince. Zhuge Mingyue's eyes turned slightly cold. These two people seemed to be the two maids by Man Xueying's side, and even with their faces covered, she immediately recognized them.

  Zhuge Mingyue and the Emperor both recognized the identities of these two people, but neither of them exposed it. Some things are not good to expose once they are revealed.

  The two of them, with a flick of their wrists, sent out long swords that emitted dazzling white light. Then the two crossed swords, producing a clear and crisp sound. A strange feeling spread throughout the great hall.

  Zhuge Mingyue's eyes became somewhat blurry, she bit her tongue hard and came to. In an instant, she understood that the two people had probably used a secret technique from the Temple of Gods, making their spirits dazed.

  At this moment, two whizzing sounds came from the air, and sharp objects shot out from the dark. No one saw what those sharp objects looked like, or rather, no one could see clearly.

  The next moment, the two maids' bodies went limp and they fell down, making no sound.

  "Your Highness, it seems that you will never sit on that dragon throne in this life." A pleasant voice slowly sounded.

  Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, and then they saw a handsome man with heterochromatic eyes slowly walking out. His entire body seemed to be emitting a cold and clear radiance that made it impossible for people to gaze at him directly. He walked step by step, yet gave off an intangible and overwhelming pressure that left people unable to move.

  You're awesome!

  Zhuge Mingyue saw the newcomer and a smile appeared on his face. This coup, there was no longer any suspense. The crown prince would undoubtedly be defeated.

  The young master waved his hand lightly, and several black-clad men in strong attire appeared silently. The prince's people were slaughtered without any resistance at this moment.

  The coup failed.

  The crown prince's face showed despair and regret, he slowly sat down on the ground in a dejected manner, waiting for death to arrive.

  The emperor looked at him with some fatigue, waved his hand: "Deprived crown prince, escort to Yongning Palace, never allowed to step out of it for the rest of your life."

  The crown prince looked at the emperor in disbelief. He thought he was a dead man, but unexpectedly, the emperor only had him confined without taking his life. To think that just now he had wanted to overthrow and murder his father! But his father had let him off like this?

  Looking at the prince's unbelievable expression, Zhuge Mingyue sighed softly: "Fatherly love is like a mountain, but you don't understand..."

  The crown prince's body stiffened, staring blankly at Zhuge Mingyue, then slowly looking at the exhausted Emperor who had closed his eyes. At this moment, he was thoroughly regretful. He even thought that if only he hadn't listened to that woman's provocation, how good it would have been. But now, everything was too late...

  The crown prince was taken away, the emperor sat down, exhausted, closed his eyes, and didn't say a word for a long time. Zhuge Mingyue looked at the person in front of her, who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and felt a pang in her heart.

  Fatherly love is like a mountain, fatherly love is like a mountain.

  The prince had such love for his father, he was actually lucky.

  Zhuge Mingyue suddenly thought of her father. No one had ever mentioned him before. What kind of person would her father be to match a woman as extraordinary as her mother?

  The palace coup thus came to an end.

  Man Xueying appeared on the second day, with no two maids following behind her, but everyone pretended not to know. However, Yin Feitao smiled even more warmly and elegantly.

  Two despicable people! Zhuge Mingyue cursed in her heart.

  This time, Man Xueying slipped up, and Yin Feitao will definitely take action. Can't be careless, this person is more dangerous than Man Xueying. Jun Qingyao comforted Zhuge Mingyue, don't worry too much. The Temple of God wants the Emperor to die, so their temple must protect the Emperor. After hearing these words, Zhuge Mingyue couldn't help but roll her eyes at Jun Qingyao: "You actually planned to ignore it earlier, didn't you?"

  He blinked his beautiful heterochromatic eyes and pretended he didn't understand.

  "It's fine as long as you're willing to take care of it now." Zhuge Mingyue also didn't bother with Jun Qingyao's previous attitude, "Yin Feitao that pervert will definitely make a move again. How strong is he?"

  "Not a match for Nan Gong Jin, and even less of a match for me." Jun Qian Yao said this sentence with an unchanged expression, not feeling the slightest bit self-absorbed.

  "Narcissist." Zhuge Mingyue retorted, "By the way, what did the Emperor want with you?" Earlier, the Emperor had signaled for Jun Qinyao to go to the Imperial Study, which Zhuge Mingyue had overheard.

  "You'll know when you go." Jun Qiong said with a carefree attitude, "With me here, don't worry. Yinxiaotao won't be able to get his way, you can go back and rest first. You've been guarding the palace for a while now, it's tiring."

  "All right, you must protect His Majesty well." Zhuge Mingyue reminded him again and again.

  "Understood!" Jun Qiangyao looked at Zhuge Mingyue being so concerned about the Emperor, and felt a inexplicable discomfort in his heart.

  Zhuge Mingyue felt at ease and left the palace to go home after getting Jun Qiangyao's guarantee.

  As soon as I arrived at the gate, I saw that flashy pure white carriage stopped right in front of the door. The temple emblem on the carriage, the orchid pattern embossing, all showed that its owner was none other than Yin Feiteng.

  What did Yin Feitao come to her home for?

  Zhuge Mingyue glanced at the horse carriage and walked straight into the courtyard, entering the main hall to find Yin Feitao and Nangong Jin sitting upright in the hall.

  "You're back." Nangong Jin smiled and greeted Zhuge Mingyue.

  "Go ahead as you like." Zhuge Mingyue didn't want to argue any further, casually dropped a sentence and went upstairs.

  Yin Feitao watched as Zhuge Mingyue's figure disappeared at the stairs, then withdrew his gaze and smiled slyly at Nan Gongjin: "Has Lord Nan Gong changed his taste? I thought Lord Nan Gong preferred women like Man Xueying."

  "What's so special about Lord Yin's taste?" Nangong Jin smiled calmly, with an inexplicable hint of mockery in his tone.

  Yin Feitao's expression didn't change, still smiling as he said: "It seems that Nangong's task has failed. Sigh, I'll help you complete it with great difficulty to avoid the High Priest having trouble with you."

  "Huh?" Nangong Jin's eyes widened slightly as he suddenly remembered something, "What was it that old thing said before I left? Sorry, my memory isn't very good, I forgot."

  Yin Feitao's face changed slightly, Nan Gong Jin's words and tone made him resentful in his heart. The man in front of him always seemed to be indifferent to everything, ignoring the High Priest's orders, ignoring himself, always with that nonchalant attitude. How detestable! The things he cared about were nothing in his presence.

  "Nangong master is indeed a noble person who forgets many things. The Grand Priest once instructed that the Crown Prince of Danling Country is wise and martial, he must be a great ruler." Yintai endured his temper and vaguely mentioned the Grand Priest's previous order.

  "Oh, that's right? I had really forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it." Nangong Jin's sudden realization made Yin Feitao want to go crazy.

  "Man Xueying has failed, and she also lost your two maidservants." Yin Feitao finally said this sentence with relish, then he carefully observed Nan Gongjin's expression. However, he was disappointed, he didn't see any surprise, anger or fear on Nan Gongjin's face. Nan Gongjin's complexion remained unchanged, his eyes without a ripple, as if what Yin Feitao said had nothing to do with him at all.

  "They're not my maids, they're the temple's maids." Nangong Jin's tone was still so light and carefree. "You came just to say this? You really are leisurely."

  Yin Feitao felt suffocated, how could he be so leisurely? Nan Gongjin actually didn't put the failure of the assassination to heart at all. He was so indifferent to the Temple and the High Priest, why did the High Priest still trust him and rely on him? It's really hateful!

  Just then, a cheerful voice came from the doorway.

  "Good news, good news!" A slightly chubby young man rushed in from the doorway, his face red and flushed, somewhat out of breath, with fine beads of sweat on his nose. He looked very sunny. The person who came in was Wan Qi Chen.

  Yin Feitao turned his head and glanced at Wan Qichen, but then he didn't move his gaze away, staring at Wan Qichen intently.