Jiang Hengchu was one of the Four Great Lords, and this made things even more so. After Empress Jiang discovered that Zhou Wang was no longer coming to her, she began making plans. If she remained Empress, either of her two sons, Yin Jiao or Yin Hong, could become Crown Prince. But Zhou Wang now favored Da Ji. If Da Ji bore him a son...
She secretly discussed the matter with Jiang Hengchu. He had thought the same thing all along. If Yin Jiao or Yin Hong became Crown Prince, then half the realm would bear the Jiang surname in the future. But the news his daughter sent back stirred killing intent within Jiang Hengchu.
"Order Jiang Huan to hurry to the palace and assist Empress Jiang in eliminating her enemies!"
Having received the order, Jiang Huan rushed to the palace.
Jiang Huan was a household slave under Jiang Hengchu's command. He had been granted the Jiang surname and was deeply trusted. After arriving at the palace, Jiang Huan went to pay his respects to Empress Jiang.
"This servant, Jiang Huan, pays respects to the Princess!"
Empress Jiang had originally been a princess of the Jiang Family, and Jiang Huan's form of address was also an affirmation of her status.
"Rise, Jiang Huan. There are currently three consorts in the palace—Da Ji, Wushuang, and Wuchen—who have Zhou Wang firmly under their control. This is unfavorable to the Jiang Family. I order you to kill Da Ji."
Jiang Huan was a dead soldier to begin with. A glint of killing intent flashed in his eyes when he heard Empress Jiang's words. "Yes! This lowly one will go at once!"
In the inner palace, Jiang Huan wandered about in a palace eunuch's clothes, drawing no suspicion. He secretly arrived outside Da Ji's palace, but it was still dusk and visibility was clear. Jiang Huan did not dare act, instead hiding behind an artificial rockery and waiting for an opportunity.
After Da Ji finished dinner, she chatted with her two Maidservants. "Your Ladyship, Great King likely will not be coming tonight."
With Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen keeping watch over him, Zhou Wang no longer dared indulge in nightly revelry. Sometimes, he rested in his study instead. Yet this had its benefits. Free from the ravages of wine and women, Zhou Wang's health steadily improved. He had already possessed the strength to drag nine bulls backward and raise beams to replace pillars, born with God Power. Now, his body was even stronger.
Da Ji looked outside and saw that the night was growing darker.
"Of course. We cannot let Great King overwork himself either. Rest early tonight. You may leave."
"Yes, Your Ladyship."
The two Maidservants withdrew, and the lamps in the room were extinguished.
This was precisely the opportunity Jiang Huan had been waiting for. Concealed by the darkness, he began creeping forward.
In the darkness, no one noticed that someone had come to take Da Ji's life.
Two palace eunuchs stood watch outside the door. Suddenly, both clutched their throats. They tried to speak, but their throats had already been slit. With two gurgling sounds, they collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Huan sneered. "The inner palace... was nothing more than this."
He gently lifted the door bolt, then lowered his body and slipped inside.
The surroundings were pitch-black, but it did not affect Jiang Huan's vision. Dead soldiers were trained to see in the dark.
Someone lay on the bed, facing inward. Jiang Huan secretly rejoiced. What a perfect chance!
He raised the blade in his hand and viciously chopped down at the figure on the bed.
Bang!
As the blade fell, a smile appeared on Jiang Huan's face.
But the next moment, the smile vanished.
"Huh? Damn it, something's wrong!"
Why could he not pull his blade free?
He suddenly exerted force and yanked the blade out. But Jiang Huan, who could see in the dark, was dumbfounded. Two neat gaps had appeared in the blade, as though something had bitten them out.
"Ah!" he cried out, immediately realizing something was wrong. Knowing he had been discovered, he hurried to flee.
At that moment, the figure on the bed sat up as well.
Massive!
Enormous!
So huge!
Those were the only thoughts in Jiang Huan's mind!
"Don't leave."
The voice was muffled and deep, rougher even than a man's.
Jiang Huan stood there like an idiot, completely motionless. It was not that he did not want to leave, but that his entire body had become unable to move.
Zhu Wushuang frowned. She had originally intended to smash Jiang Huan to pieces with one slap, but then an idea came to her. "Senior Sister Xiang, Sister Da Ji, what do you think we should do about this?"
Suddenly, the lamps in the room blazed to life, revealing Da Ji and Xiang Wuchen.
Jiang Huan stared in terror at the two colossal figures. Only now did he understand what he had faced moments earlier.
Zhu Wushuang picked at her teeth. "Pah!"
A piece of iron flew from her mouth. It was the section of blade she had bitten off earlier.
"As for this matter..." Xiang Wuchen thought of what had happened with Ji Chang.
After she sent a voice transmission to Zhu Wushuang, Zhu Wushuang's eyes lit up.
"Good idea!"
Zhu Wushuang left, leaving only Da Ji and Xiang Wuchen in the room. Xiang Wuchen said coldly, "Someone! Go summon Great King!"
Just then, a chilly breeze swept through the room. The next moment, Jiang Huan, who had been unable to move, suddenly moved!
However, snorting sounds came from his nose.
Da Ji found it rather strange. It seemed that Sister Zhu liked making that sound.
Zhou Wang hurried over from the study in the front palace...
Da Ji's eyes reddened, and she began to cry pitifully. "Great King..."
"What happened? Who are you? Guards! Seize him!"
The inner palace warriors immediately bound Jiang Huan.
"Great King, someone wanted to kill me..."
Zhou Wang flew into a rage. "Such audacity! This villain actually dared enter the palace to carry out an assassination! Guards, hack him to pieces!"
The warriors immediately began dragging Jiang Huan outside. At that moment, Xiang Wuchen said, "Wait, Great King!"
Zhou Wang frowned. "Wuchen, my beloved consort, are you pleading for him?"
"No, Great King. Why would this man be so bold as to enter the palace and attempt an assassination? I fear someone is directing him from behind the scenes! If they mean harm to Great King..."
Zhou Wang suddenly realized it. That was right!
This villain was so bold. Perhaps he had not come on his own. Perhaps someone was behind him...
"Fine! Villain, tell me who sent you! If you refuse, severe torture awaits you!"
Jiang Huan stiffened his neck. "Hmph, I won't say. What can you do to me?"
Zhou Wang was furious and was about to have him tortured.
News of the matter quickly reached the rear palace, and Empress Jiang was dumbfounded.
"What? Something like this happened? Jiang Huan was captured? Will he expose me?"
Empress Jiang thought for a moment, then gritted her teeth. "Someone! Go to the East Palace and bring Yin Jiao and Yin Hong here."
Her attendants hurried off. Before long, the two young princes arrived. Yin Jiao and Yin Hong were only thirteen or fourteen years old, still boys.
"Mother Empress, why have you summoned us?"
Empress Jiang's eyes shifted. "Children, a villain has entered the inner palace. Let us go see whether your father has been injured. I am also worried that the villain may falsely accuse me."
Yin Jiao and Yin Hong looked at Empress Jiang in confusion. "Why?"
"Do not ask. Come with me!"
Empress Jiang had brought Yin Jiao and Yin Hong because she knew Zhou Wang favored the two princes. With them present, he would likely exercise some restraint.
The mother and her two sons arrived at Da Ji's palace.
"Oh, Great King, are you all right? I heard an assassin entered the palace. This servant was worried sick."
Yin Jiao and Yin Hong were sensible children as well. Their eyes reddened with worry. "Father Emperor, are you all right?"
When Zhou Wang saw Empress Jiang arrive, he secretly frowned. He felt that this Empress was far too calculating.
It was only because he had to take Jiang Hengchu's strength into consideration.