Whoosh! Just as Hua Rongqi made his move, the sound of something tearing through the air suddenly rang out.
Hua Rongqi sensed killing intent striking from the side and could only draw back his sword, turning offense into defense.
A crisp metallic clang rang out.
[Something came up, so today's second chapter is late. I'll post this first, and the author will finish the chapter in two hours. Brothers, come back and read it tomorrow.]
Inside a secret chamber in the Eastern Palace, dim candlelight fell across Crown Prince Chu Xuanhao's calm face. His gaze was fixed ahead as he sank into thought. Behind him stood a middle-aged man dressed entirely in black, blending perfectly into the chamber's gloom.
Before the Crown Prince stood a table like a sand table. Its sculpted sand depicted the mountains and terrain of Dagan's thirteen provinces. Flags of every color had been 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 bloody 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 Shenying Marquis Manor? Can he suppress the four hundred thousand border troops of Youzhou Grand Camp?"
"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 fighting for it. Chen Ru, you may leave first."
After the black-clad man departed, Crown Prince Chu Xuanhao's low voice echoed through the secret chamber. "Imperial Father, Imperial Father... in the end, you did not heed our advice. You intend