"The Oversight Council founded by Earl Tolls has backed down. They are no longer planning to interfere in the new emperor's succession. I heard they came under pressure in secret, but I don't know the specifics."
"Also, Marquis Hokes has been getting very close to the new Minister of Ceremony lately. No one knows what they are plotting."
"The price of bread has risen again..."
"In the court..."
That morning, inside an inconspicuous little house in Xia Ya City.
Seated at a desk, Dragon Tree and Zong Hu looked through the collected intelligence documents one by one, discussing them aloud.
After a moment, Dragon Tree picked up a document and read it for a while. His expression turned grave as he handed it to Zong Hu. "Take a look at this. It's information from a newly activated Spider Web contact: for some unknown reason, the Second Prince's attitude toward Xia Ya's situation has suddenly wavered. He seems to be leaning somewhat toward the Chaos Faction."
Zong Hu's thick brows twitched. He took the document and read it over several times before asking in puzzlement, "Wasn't the Second Prince a firm member of the Stability Faction? He has always wanted to restore Xia Ya's stability. Logically speaking, although the original line of succession could no longer proceed because of the First Prince's assassination, he truly is the most promising heir. Stabilizing the situation would benefit him. I simply cannot understand why he would change his stance."
"That's exactly it. I can't understand it either." Dragon Tree sighed. "If I were in his position, I definitely would not do this. Sigh, this has really put us in a difficult spot. We spent so many days painstakingly coming up with a plan that might have some chance of maintaining Xia Ya's situation and