Fei Zhong and You Hun were beaten into the Heavenly Prison, Empress Jiang learned of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation!

The imperial palace, Hall of Manifest Celebration.

Di Xin, Su Daji, Empress Jiang, and the eight chief ministers of Great Shang had not waited long.

Before long, Yin Pobai led Fei Zhong into the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

After entering the Hall of Manifest Celebration, Fei Zhong saw the dark look on Di Xin's face.

Fei Zhong saw that Empress Jiang, Shang Rong, Bigan, Huang Feihu, Weizi Qi, Weizi Yan, Zhao Qi, Yang Ren, and Mei Bo—the eight chief ministers—were all present.

At once, Fei Zhong's heart jolted, and he secretly thought, What is going on?

Why are Shang Rong, Bigan, Huang Feihu, and the others all here???

Just as Fei Zhong was secretly speculating, Shang Rong and Bigan said coldly, "Fei Zhong, do you know your crime?"

Fei Zhong hurriedly said, "Prime Minister Shang, Assistant Prime Minister Bigan, what crime have I committed?"

Shang Rong and Bigan said coldly, "Fei Zhong, at a time like this, you're still stubbornly refusing to admit it?"

King Wu Cheng, Huang Feihu, glared furiously at Fei Zhong.

Then King Wu Cheng, Huang Feihu, casually pointed toward a corner of the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

"Fei Zhong, look who that is."

Hearing Huang Feihu's furious rebuke, Fei Zhong was just about to snap back.

But then, Fei Zhong looked toward the corner Huang Feihu was pointing at.

The moment Fei Zhong saw it, his face went pale with shock, his liver and gallbladder nearly bursting as though struck by a bolt from a clear sky.

Fei Zhong saw two Imperial Guard soldiers pinning Jiang Huan to the ground.

Di Xin said coldly, "Bring the assassin forward."

The two Imperial Guard soldiers escorted Jiang Huan before Di Xin.

The two guards each kicked Jiang Huan in the back of the knees.

"Why aren't you kneeling?" the two Imperial Guard soldiers said coldly.

Thud. Jiang Huan was forced down by the Imperial Guard soldiers, kneeling before Di Xin.

Di Xin said coldly, "Speak. Who exactly ordered you to assassinate me?"

Trembling violently, Jiang Huan said, "Spare me, Your Majesty. Lord Fei ordered this lowly one to assassinate Your Majesty."

When Fei Zhong heard Jiang Huan personally name him as the one who had given the order, it was as if five bolts of thunder had struck him at once, as if the sky itself had collapsed.

Fei Zhong dropped to his knees before Di Xin and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, do not listen to his nonsense."

"This subject does not know him at all, much less could I have ordered him to assassinate Your Majesty."

Di Xin snorted coldly. "Jiang Huan, I will give you a chance to atone for your crimes through merit."

"Tell me every detail of how Fei Zhong instructed you."

"Jiang Huan, if you dare conceal anything, do not blame me for exterminating your three clans."

Jiang Huan was frightened out of his wits and hurriedly said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Afterward, Jiang Huan carefully recounted Fei Zhong's plan to Di Xin.

Di Xin said coldly, "Fei Zhong, now that matters have come to this, what else do you have to say?"

Within the Hall of Manifest Celebration, the eight chief ministers of Great Shang, Empress Jiang, Su Daji, and the others were utterly shocked upon hearing this.

They had never expected Fei Zhong to be so outrageously audacious as to dare order a death warrior to assassinate Di Xin.

Di Xin roared in fury, "Fei Zhong, I have not treated you poorly, yet you dared order Jiang Huan to assassinate me."

"Guards, throw Fei Zhong into the imperial prison. At noon tomorrow, execute him publicly at the East Gate!"

Upon hearing Di Xin's order, Fei Zhong was so terrified that his soul nearly fled his body, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Then Fei Zhong hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, You Hun was involved in this matter as well."

Di Xin said, "Fei Zhong, do not spout nonsense and slander others at will."

Fei Zhong hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, this subject is absolutely not spouting nonsense."

Di Xin said, "Fine. Since You Hun was involved as well."

"Guards, immediately seize You Hun and throw him into the imperial prison to await execution!"

Imperial Guard Commander Yin Pobai respectfully said, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

After speaking, Yin Pobai hurriedly left the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

Hearing Di Xin's words, Fei Zhong hurriedly begged Di Xin for mercy.

Di Xin said coldly, "Throw Fei Zhong into the imperial prison."

The moment Di Xin finished speaking, several Imperial Guard soldiers seized Fei Zhong and Jiang Huan and escorted them out of the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

"Spare me, Your Majesty! Spare me, Your Majesty!"

Shang Rong, Bigan, Huang Feihu, and the other high ministers watched in fury as Fei Zhong was escorted away by the Imperial Guard.

Di Xin said, "Royal Uncle Shang, Royal Uncle Bigan, Martial Champion King, you may all return."

Shang Rong, Bigan, Huang Feihu, and the other high ministers replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Afterward, Shang Rong and the other eight great ministers of the Great Shang Dynasty left together.

After the eight great ministers had departed, Di Xin said, "Su Daji, you may leave as well."

Su Daji respectfully replied, "Yes, Master."

Su Daji then left the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

At this moment, only Di Xin and Empress Jiang remained within the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

Empress Jiang said, "Your Majesty, why did Su Daji just call you Master?"

"Moreover, I sensed an aura of the Demon Race from Su Daji."

"Could Su Daji be a member of the Demon Race?"

Di Xin nodded. "That is correct."

Empress Jiang said, "Your Majesty, isn't Su Daji the daughter of Su Hu, Marquis of Ji Province?"

"How could the daughter of Su Hu, Marquis of Ji Province, be a member of the Demon Race?"

Di Xin said, "Empress, Su Daji, the daughter of Su Hu, Marquis of Ji Province, had her body seized by the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon using a secret art."

Di Xin then carefully explained the matter of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation to Empress Jiang.

After hearing it, Empress Jiang jolted upright, her heart still trembling with lingering fear.

Di Xin said, "Empress, Fei Zhong's plan had actually been to instruct Jiang Huan to assassinate me."

"Then he would have Jiang Huan admit that he had acted under your orders."

"But just as Jiang Huan was about to speak, my powerful Primordial Spirit took control of him."

"That was why Jiang Huan did not admit that he had acted under your orders."

After hearing this, Empress Jiang rose directly to her feet, her face filled with fury.

Empress Jiang asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, why would Fei Zhong do this?"

"What would he gain by having Jiang Huan assassinate you, then shifting the blame onto me?"

Di Xin said, "To explain this matter, we must speak of the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation."

"If the enemy wishes to break apart Great Shang, they must first muddy Great Shang's waters."

"Only then can they carry out the next step of their plan."

Empress Jiang gritted her teeth. "What a vicious plan."

"Are they not afraid that living beings will suffer untold misery and incur Heaven's condemnation?"

Di Xin said, "Empress, do you think the Saints of the Heavenly Dao would care about Heaven's condemnation?"

"Would they care about the lives and deaths of ordinary mortals?"

"To them, ordinary mortals are no different from ants!"

Empress Jiang said, "Your Majesty, what are your plans from here on?"

Di Xin said, "Empress, with our current strength, it is not yet time to clash head-on with them."

"Only by secretly building up our strength can we better face the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation once the Great Shang Dynasty has grown powerful."

Empress Jiang nodded. "Mm. Your Majesty, I will support you with all my strength."

Di Xin said, "Empress, in two days, I will personally guide Jiao'er and Hong'er in their cultivation."

"When the time comes, I will certainly nurture Jiao'er and Hong'er into top-tier powerhouses."

Empress Jiang said, "Good. It is time for Jiao'er and Hong'er to cultivate alongside you!"

Di Xin said, "Empress, return to the central palace first."

Empress Jiang nodded. "All right!"

With that, Empress Jiang rose and left the Hall of Manifest Celebration.

After Empress Jiang left, Di Xin began pondering what to do next.

At the same time, Yin Pobai, commander of the Imperial Guard, led a large force of Imperial Guards to surround You Hun's residence layer upon layer.

A large contingent of Imperial Guards directly entered You Hun's residence and suppressed him.

Then, ignoring You Hun's pleas for mercy, the Imperial Guards threw him straight into the heavenly prison.