"Wuchang, how was it? Can you see the situation clearly now?" The Second Prince, Prince Chen Chu Xuantian, lounged lazily by the window, watching the match on the arena as calmly as if he were merely watching a play, utterly unmoved.
The sword-bearing man beside him stared fixedly at the arena, not daring to miss a single moment. Hearing the question, he did not look away and merely replied respectfully.
"Prince."
Within a secret chamber in the Eastern Palace, dim candlelight illuminated the composed face of Crown Prince Chu Xuanhao. His gaze was fixed ahead as he sank into thought. Behind him stood a middle-aged man dressed in black, fitting seamlessly into the chamber's gloom.
Before the Crown Prince stood a table resembling a sand table. Upon it, sand had been sculpted into the mountains and terrain of Dagan's thirteen provinces. Flags of various colors were planted across it. He picked up a small red flag, wrote the six words "King of Northern Cold Chu Xuanao" upon it, and planted it in You Province.
Looking over You Province, the flags representing every faction were all a sea of blood-red.
The black-clad man behind the Crown Prince pondered for a moment. "Your Highness, could His Majesty's move be aimed at the Shenying Marquis? But can the Sixth Prince really suppress the Shenying Marquis Manor? Can he suppress Youzhou Grand Camp's four hundred thousand border troops?"
"Do not underestimate Sixth Brother. In terms of methods, he is no worse than Second Brother—perhaps even better. He simply has no interest in competing. Chen Ru, withdraw for now."
After the black-clad man left, Crown Prince Chu Xuanhao's deep voice echoed through the secret chamber. "Imperial Father, Imperial Father, you ultimately did not heed our advice. You intend to use Sixth Brother to open