Plan

"It's simple. We put on a show." Lin Jin looked toward the Imperial Palace through the window and gave a cold smile.

Seeing the faint smile at the corner of Lin Jin's lips, Yang Wudi inexplicably felt a chill run down his back.

Although Lin Jin had already formulated a complete plan, he did not immediately take Yang Wudi to see Xue Ye.

He knew well that nothing came to those who came begging. Being overly proactive would only arouse suspicion and diminish the value of the leverage in his hands.

He was waiting—for a suitable opportunity, a moment that could maximize the effectiveness of his plan.

According to the intelligence Shadow delivered every day, Prince Xue Xing's private activities had clearly become much more frequent over the past two days.

Lin Jin believed that after Qian Renxue had impersonated Crown Prince Xue Qinghe for so many years, she must have planted spies around Prince Xue Xing. She might even know more than he did, and in greater detail. Xue Xing's unusual movements could not possibly escape her eyes and ears.

Sure enough, on the evening of the fourth day after Yang Wudi secretly arrived in Heaven Dou City, a servant from the Crown Prince's Mansion came to Lin Jin's residence.

"General Lin, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence."

The corner of Lin Jin's mouth curved imperceptibly. The fish was finally taking the bait.

He straightened his robes and said to Yang Wudi beside him, "Clan Head Yang, rest here for now and wait for my word."

Then he followed the servant to the Crown Prince's Mansion, calm and unhurried.

Crown Prince's Mansion, study.

Qian Renxue's expression held less of its usual gentleness and more gravity.

She dismissed everyone else, leaving only Pufferfish and Snake Lance, the two Dulos, standing like shadows in the corners.

"General Lin, do you know that Prince Xue Xing has been making frequent moves lately?" Qian Renxue asked directly.

"I know a little. Prince Xue Xing has been meeting with Odysseus frequently these past few days." Lin Jin showed a grave expression. "Could it be that Your Highness has received intelligence I do not know about?"

"That's right." Qian Renxue nodded. "I hadn't expected Xue Xing to harbor such deep resentment toward you over the matter at the Training Ground."

"Not only has he contacted Odysseus and planned to sabotage your ongoing reorganization of the Fifth City Defense Force, but in order to get rid of you, he has even contacted the Military Department of the Star Luo Empire."

"He contacted the Star Luo Empire's Military Department?" Lin Jin asked with some surprise. "Is a prince's mind truly so narrow? I merely won a sparring match at the Training Ground, yet he wants me dead? He would even collude with an enemy nation?"

Qian Renxue nodded firmly. "Yes, that is exactly it. With Xue Xing providing intelligence and internal assistance, the Star Luo Empire's Military Department will certainly be tempted. They may very well send an Assassination Squad formed from elites of the Hell Spirit Cat clan."

"To ensure nothing goes wrong, the squad sent this time will very likely be led by a Soul Sage-level expert."

Seeing Lin Jin's expression, Qian Renxue felt slightly reassured. She needed him to understand the severity of the situation, as well as how much he needed her support and protection.

Her tone softened, carrying a trace of reassurance. "General, there is no need to worry too much. You are my man. Since I know about this, I will certainly do everything in my power to protect you."

"They would not dare act too recklessly within Heaven Dou City. I will send additional people to protect the General's Mansion, especially your younger sister's safety."

"My younger sister!" Lin Jin showed an angry expression. "Your Highness, we cannot simply sit and wait for death. It does not matter if something happens to me, but nothing must happen to my younger sister."

"I swore before my parents' graves that I would protect Xiao Xue for the rest of her life. If anything happened to her, then even if I died, I would be too ashamed to face my parents."

Qian Renxue comforted him, "I understand that you and your younger sister share a deep bond. But you just said we cannot sit and wait for death. What do you have in mind?"

Lin Jin took a deep breath and calmed down. After pondering for a moment, not only did he show no fear, but he instead seemed to have had his ferocity provoked. A dangerous gleam flashed through his eyes.

"Your Highness, I happen to have a plan. It is also an excellent opportunity to bring down Prince Xue Xing. If we miss this chance, who knows how long we will have to wait for another like it."

"Oh?" Qian Renxue immediately asked curiously, "What excellent opportunity?"

He raised his head and looked at Qian Renxue with blazing eyes. "Xue Xing has not only contacted Odysseus, the commander of the City Defense Force, but also the Star Luo Empire. This is no longer merely infighting within the Imperial Court—it is treason through collusion with the enemy."

"Since he has personally handed us the blades of 'collusion with the enemy' and 'regicide,' would we not be letting down his 'kind intentions' if we did not take them?"

Qian Renxue's heart stirred. "You mean?"

Lin Jin said firmly, "That's right. How are Xue Xing's current actions any different from rebellion?"

"Then we make direct use of that. Even if Xue Ye spares him because he is his own younger brother and does not have him executed, he will absolutely be stripped of his status and reduced to a commoner."

"We can even go further and attribute the deaths of the Second Imperial Prince and Third Imperial Prince to Prince Xue Xing and Prince Xue Beng."

"Your Highness can say this: the reason the Fourth Imperial Prince, Xue Beng, is now a wastrel is actually because he is deliberately pretending to be one, because they feared the deaths of the Second and Third Imperial Princes would be exposed."

Qian Renxue's eyes immediately lit up. "Then what do you intend to do about Dugu Bo?"

Lin Jin smiled confidently. "That is even simpler. Dugu Bo is an accomplice. Prince Xue Xing used Dugu Bo's poison to kill the two princes. We can even say that Xue Ye has also been poisoned slowly over time."

Qian Renxue was completely stunned by Lin Jin's audacious plan.

This was no longer a simple political struggle. He intended to weave a vast net that would catch Prince Xue Xing, Prince Xue Beng, and even Dugu Bo all at once.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the excitement in her heart as she carefully weighed the matter.

This plan was extremely risky. If it failed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But the rewards would be equally astonishing!

It could eliminate all overt rivals and potential threats in one stroke, clearing every obstacle to her smooth ascension to the throne.

"Where is the evidence?" Qian Renxue stared sharply at Lin Jin. "How will you prove that the deaths of the two princes were connected to Xue Xing? How will you prove that Father Emperor's poisoning was their doing? And how will you catch Xue Xing in the act of colluding with the enemy?"

Lin Jin smiled. "Your Highness, Xue Xing's collusion with Commander Odysseus, the Hell Spirit Cat squad that is about to arrive, and their communications are the best evidence!"

"As for Dugu Bo's poison, the clan head of the Breaking Clan, Yang Wudi, happens to be visiting my residence."

"Yang Wudi is at your residence?" Qian Renxue was startled. That was indeed beyond her expectations.

The Breaking Clan had previously been one of the Clear Sky Sect's affiliated clans, and Yang Wushuang was even in Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue herself had administered the Seven-Colored Splendor poison.

So of course she knew. It was precisely because she knew that she found it somewhat unexpected.

Qian Renxue then looked at Pufferfish and Snake Lance, exchanging a glance with them.

"Young Lady, although This Person's plan is somewhat dishonorable, this truly is the best opportunity," Pufferfish transmitted telepathically.

"That's right. We've been in Heaven Dou City for over ten years. According to our original plan, who knows how much longer we'd have had to wait? The longer things drag on, the more likely complications become. Most importantly, the Great Enshrinement is growing increasingly impatient. The sooner we complete the mission, the sooner we can return and enter the Divine Temple." Snake Lance also agreed with Pufferfish.

"Alright!" Qian Renxue's gaze sharpened.

"Let's do it!"