By this point, Zhu Qin had stopped pretending. He walked to the front of the group that had just entered, turned to face Nian Xiaoqing and the others, and said:
"You are truly capable, Twelfth Prince, to have investigated my affairs so thoroughly."
"So you have stopped pretending? You admit it?"
"You already know every detail. Is there any point in my pretending?"
"If you had done this earlier, we could have saved ourselves the trouble."
Nian Xiaoqing looked at Zhu Qin and asked:
"Zhu Qin, our Nian Family has treated you well. I never imagined you harbored thoughts of rebellion. You truly have a wolf's heart and wild ambitions!"
"Anyone capable can sit on that throne. I consider myself no less capable than anyone else. Why shouldn't I sit on it?"
"No less capable?
"A treasonous villain like you was already plotting to steal the empire twenty years ago, when you carried Nian Fengyuan into the palace.
"You harbor such evil intentions, yet you claim to be no less capable?
"You certainly have a thick skin."
"Heh, are kings, nobles, generals, and ministers born to their stations?
"Didn't your Nian Family seize the throne from someone else? If you could seize it, why can't I?"
"You..."
"Am I wrong?
"If I take that throne today, I will be the founding ancestor of the New Dynasty.
"My descendants will all have royal blood!"
There was logic to his argument, but they absolutely could not let Zhu Qin continue. Nian Hengzhi interrupted:
"If you want to fight, then fight! Why waste so much breath?
"Come on, you old bastard!"
"We will settle this today!"
Madness filled Zhu Qin's eyes as he gave the order:
"Attack!"
The men behind Zhu Qin immediately charged forward, and the two sides clashed.
Zhu Qin's men