Kill a Prince First to Send a Warning

Night gradually fell.

The entire Great Wei Imperial Palace was shrouded in darkness.

At this moment, within Memorial Palace.

A round gauze lantern shone with bright light.

Translucent heat drifted up from the top of its shade.

Dai Gongzheng, General of the Right Imperial Guards, and Miao Muwang, the Night Watch General—these two Aperture Opening martial artists—had gathered together.

The two sat facing each other across a table, with a plate of Peanuts and a bottle of rice wine between them.

Rice wine had a low alcohol content. To martial artists, it was practically a beverage; even drinking too much would not delay official business.

It did not count as violating the palace's ban on alcohol.

"Quite a lot has been happening inside and outside the palace lately. Those pups from the Imperial City Division have been so busy they are coughing blood," Dai Gongzheng said casually, picking up a peanut with his chopsticks.

Miao Muwang followed up, "Not just them. Haven't we been worked like dogs these days as well? I heard someone in the palace was assassinated recently?"

Dai Gongzheng glanced up at him and said meaningfully, "Where did you hear that?"

"Heh, I was just talking nonsense. Drink, drink." Miao Muwang refilled Dai Gongzheng's cup with rice wine.

Dai Gongzheng said, "Old Miao, things are on a knife edge lately, and we serve beneath the Son of Heaven's feet. Food may be eaten carelessly, but words cannot be spoken carelessly."

"Elder Brother Dai is right to reprimand me. I'll remember it from now on. Drink."

"Have the night guards for each of the princes been properly arranged today?"

"Rest assured. Everything has been handled, and the men were transferred according to Your Majesty's requirements."

Dai Gongzheng said seriously, "Thirty-two more night guards must be assigned to the Crown Prince, eight more to each of the Princes, and five more each to the Imperial Princesses and consorts. Go over it in your mind and make sure every arrangement is in place. There must be no omissions, or heads will roll."

"You still don't trust me to handle things? In all these years, when have I ever made a mistake? Now that everything has been arranged, why not talk more of romance beneath moon and wind, and less of official business?"

"Haha, you have always been deeply versed in that art. I cannot compare to you." After drinking several cups, Dai Gongzheng suddenly said, "Eh, strange. Why is today's wine so strong? My head is already spinning."

"Elder Brother Dai has had too much to drink, perhaps?"

"Eh, no. There is something wrong with this wine."

Dai Gongzheng had just tried to rise when a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him. With a bang, he collapsed to the floor.

"Elder Brother Dai, Elder Brother Dai!"

Dai Gongzheng lay asleep on the ground, utterly unresponsive.

The concern vanished from Miao Muwang's face, replaced by cold indifference. "Elder Brother Dai, Elder Brother Dai, I'm sorry. Time is short and the task is heavy. I have no choice."

At the same time.

In a dark corner outside Memorial Palace, Zhao Hongming crouched in wait.

After breaking through to the Aperture Opening Realm, his five senses had become even sharper. Even with a wall between them, he could hear every word spoken inside clearly.

He could now completely confirm that there was a problem with the night guard arrangements on his side.

Some forces were targeting him.

But what were they after?

Zhao Hongming's expression turned grave as he slowly recalled his Actions over the past few days.

His life had followed the same three-point line every day, and he had done nothing extra or unnecessary.

Moreover, he had been extremely careful about his cultivation. No second person could possibly know of it.

No one would likely think him outstanding enough to want to kill him over it.

Zhao Hongming could not make head or tail of it.

In the end, he simply had too little information.

He moved closer to the window and peered into the room.

At that moment, Miao Muwang picked up his saber and walked to Dai Gongzheng's side, pressing the blade against his neck.

Splat!

Miao Muwang swung his long saber. Silver light flashed, and Dai Gongzheng's head fell to the ground.

Blood spurted out and scattered across the floor.

A dignified Aperture Opening Realm martial artist had been slain so easily.

Outside, Zhao Hongming watched the scene with utter astonishment on his face.

What was going on?

Under Zhao Hongming's gaze, Miao Muwang kept rubbing his face after killing the man.

His face was like dough, continuously changing shape until it finally became identical to Dai Gongzheng's.

"The timing is about right. I can kill a prince first to send a warning to Daliang, so they will know enough to start moving sooner."

Seeing this, Zhao Hongming felt goosebumps rise all over his body.

At this moment, he finally linked together some useful pieces of information.

The person before him was undoubtedly not the real Miao Muwang, but an Assassin.

He had been lurking in Daliang's Imperial Palace all along, waiting for an opportunity.

Among the many princes, he had chosen Zhao Hongming, who was relatively weak.

That was why he had arranged so few night guards for him: to make him easier to kill.

Thinking about it, the other princes and Imperial Daughters all had the backing of their mothers and consorts, with at least some experts protecting them.

Only Zhao Hongming was weak and isolated.

Luckily, he had come today. Otherwise, with these Assassins' methods, he truly might not have been able to guard against them while still in the dark.

At this thought, a layer of cold sweat seeped from Zhao Hongming's back.

What should he do next?

He was coming out.

In truth, Zhao Hongming's rough guess was correct.

As a Han Country Assassin, "Miao Muwang" had been assigned to kill a prince this time.

And the unfavored Fifth Prince, Zhao Hongming, was his target.

The other princes were heavily guarded, and he did not dare Make a move recklessly.

After all, no one knew what kind of high-realm martial artist might be hidden at their side.

But the Fifth Prince was different.

His mother was the Wei Country Princess, who had married into Wei Country purely for a political alliance back then.

Later, the small state of Wei Kingdom had fallen, and his mother's political marriage had lost its value as well. She had even died of illness when he was four years old.

Under such circumstances, the Fifth Prince naturally could not receive the Jian'an Emperor's favor.

Nor would much attention be paid to him.

That meant the Assassin had a greater chance of succeeding.

For an Assassin, gathering intelligence was basic training.

During the time he had used Miao Muwang's identity, he had already investigated every detail of the Fifth Prince's defenses.

One personal guard at Aperture Opening Fifth Rank, and one personal Eunuch at Meridian Opening Stage 3rd Grade.

The rest were nothing but small fry.

Even the two night guards he had assigned there were the most worthless goods among worthless goods.

By regulation, personal guards were not allowed to remain in the palace overnight. That guard had already left the palace.

In other words, all he had to do was deal with those small fry and trash.

With his dignified Aperture Opening Third Grade cultivation, taking care of them would be effortless.

Tonight, victory was certain.

Immediately, brimming with confidence, he pushed open the door and stepped out.

Heaven and Earth Severing Slash!

The instant he exited, a chilling saber intent appeared behind him.

The strike had come far too suddenly, and from such a vicious angle that there was no way to defend against it.

He did not even know when someone had appeared behind him.

Splat!

Silver light burst between heaven and earth, carrying an irresistible might as it cleaved "Miao Muwang" from the crown of his head downward, splitting him in two.

The two halves of his body fell to the ground, blood staining the floor.

Both halves of his face still bore utter disbelief.

After killing him, Zhao Hongming's expression was strangely calm.

At the moment he had drawn his blade, he had figured it out.

Whoever in this world wanted him dead, he would kill first!

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