Mingdu, the Imperial Palace.
This was just after the Ice Empress had taken down Nangong Wan.
Xu Lanqing stood in the rear garden, facing a cluster of palaces that blazed with light.
Only Xiao Bai and Zheng Zhan stood beside him. Apart from them, there was no one else; Xu Lanqing had sent everyone to the Royal Research Institute.
The magnificent Imperial City was as silent as the grave. Usually, there would at least be patrolling guards and a few palace maids, but now there wasn't a soul in sight.
The increasingly oppressive atmosphere seemed to merge with the night sky. An even deeper darkness was about to descend upon the land.
To be honest, Xu Lanqing was still surprised that Xu Tianran had chosen to act directly.
Anyone who knew Xu Tianran even a little was aware that, after he was attacked and had both legs amputated, he never left the Imperial Palace again. He had never given up in the face of adversity, instead secretly building up his strength until he could topple the First Prince.
He was patient, cautious, and suspicious—a true master strategist.
Thinking about it, it made sense that he would act now.
Xu Lanqing had Snow Empress and Ice Empress at his side. In the eyes of outsiders, that meant he had the Far North's support. It was hard to imagine Xu Tianran staying calm about that, so it was hardly surprising that he'd decided to strike first.
Unexpected, yet reasonable.
His thoughts raced, but he kept his hands behind his back. Streams of gray air flowed endlessly from his palms like a river, sinking into the earth without attracting anyone's attention—not even Xiao Bai's or Zheng Zhan's, though they stood right in front of him.
He had started preparing as soon as Xu