"Yes." Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"But, didn't father already…" Ping Yang knew what Fang Zhengzhi was trying to say. However, she still shook her head in disbelief.
"What's meant to come will come," Fang Zhengzhi said calmly.
"If we had already predicted it beforehand, why don't we want to stop it?" Ping Yang stared at Fang Zhengzhi with a perplexed expression.
"How can you stop that which has not happened?"
"But in that case…"
"Some things cannot be prevented even if you know them in advance. That is because once he had that thought, there is no way he won't try to accomplish it. It is only a matter of time.: Fang Zhengzhi explained once again.
Yan Xiu nodded his head in agreement upon hearing this. However, he still chose to remain silent.
"What about you? Do you have such thoughts?" Ping Yang cast her glance onto Fang Zhengzhi anxiously.
"A long time ago…"
"What about… what about now?"
"Who would have completely no desire for the throne? However, after giving it some thought, I feel that I might not be all that suitable for that seat." Fang Zhengzhi said in a rare serious tone.
"Not suitable?"
"Yes, I will have to wake up before the sun rises every morning to do the morning court session. I will have to stay at the same place the whole time and also defend myself against people plotting against me. It is too tiring!"
"Too tiring… is that even a reason?" Ping Yang blinked her eyes in confusion. She had grown up in the royal family since young and naturally knew the importance of the throne seat.
Alas, she was born in the royal family.
God knows how many of her blood brothers had fought over that seat their whole lives. Many even ended up dead or being banished due to their actions. However…
Someone was telling her that the throne seat was too tiring.
This reason was slightly incredulous.
"Yes, that is my reason," Fang Zhengzhi nodded and repeated with conviction.
"Yan Xiu, do you think that is even a reason?" Ping Yang gave up on Fang Zhengzhi and immediately turned to ask Yan Xiu, who was standing by her side.
"Yes," Yan Xiu nodded without hesitation.
"Why?" Ping Yang could not seem to understand as she asked.
"That is because I feel it is tiring as well," Yan Xiu once again replied.
"You also feel that it is tiring? Are you telling me… you are also aiming… no that is not right. If you truly want the throne seat, that means that King Yan also… that is not right as well! How can King Yan have such thoughts…"
"The tiredness I'm referring to is the Western Liang throne seat!" Yan Xiu stared at the confused Ping Yang and explained.
"The Western Liang King Yan seat? How tiring can that be? You have the elite Yan cavalry and you get to rule over the entire area. Wait a minute, are you telling me… you don't wish to inherit the throne?"
"Yes." Yan Xiu nodded once again.
"How can you not? You are a son of Yan! Furthermore, King Yan will never agree to your decision!"
"Yes, he will not."
"Then can you go against King Yan's will? I clearly remember that you listen to your grandfather all the time!" Ping Yang was even more confused upon hearing those words.
"I don't know," Yan Xiu shook his head.
"Alright then, I will take it that that is a joke. Oh, Fang Zhengzhi, since you have already guessed… tell me, what should we do next?" Ping Yang pouted as she turned to look at Fang Zhengzhi.
"I have no idea," Fang Zhengzhi answered truthfully.
"You have no idea?" Ping Yang's eyes widened as they were filled with disbelief.
"Of course I have no idea. How would I know how and what to do in this kind of scenario?" Fang Zhengzhi replied with a straight face.
"How can you not know? If you do not know why didn't you stop this from happening!" Ping Yang immediately became anxious and her face turned slightly red.
"I refuse to answer what I have already answered.\," Fang Zhengzhi stared at Ping Yang condescendingly.
"You shameless person, don't play suspense with me, the princess! Alright then, how much silver would it take for you to tell me the plan!
"I truly have no plans," Fang Zhengzhi laid out his hands helplessly as he said.
"Really?"
"That's right, it's very real."
"Then what do we do? Are we really going to stand by and watch?"
"That was what I was planning to do."
Ping Yang's lips trembled for a few moments as she stared at Fang Zhengzhi with her pair of crystal clear eyes, as though trying to see through his thoughts. However, she gave up eventually and said, "No way, I cannot just sit by and do nothing!"
"And what are you going to do?" Fang Zhengzhi stared at Ping Yang expectantly as he asked.
"This…" Ping Yang was stunned as her face blushed. As Fang Zhengzhi had said, what could she do without a plan?
However…
She would not want to just stand by and do nothing!
"Do you truly wish to do something?" Fang Zhengzhi stared at Ping Yang's blushed face and sighed as he asked.
"Of course!" Ping Yang said with a straight face.
"Then try to think of a plan with your witty brain."
"Think? Think what?"
"What would you have done if you were orchestrating this plan?" Fang Zhengzhi asked.
"If I am orchestrating? This…" Ping Yang fell silent and started thinking. After a moment, she shook her head and said, "This is too difficult, it is almost impossible. Even if we take out father's own prowess, the royal guards themselves would be a problem!"
"So, what would be the greatest problem?"
"Naturally the royal guards!" Ping Yang did not hesitate to reply.
"Mmm…" Fang Zhengzhi nodded.
"What does mmm means? Are you saying… that's not possible. The royal guards have been in the hands of Aunt Hua all these years. How can they betray father!" Ping Yang said in disbelief.
"Yes, if they will not betray the Majesty, then what should we do?"
"This…" Ping Yang was once again startled. Fang Zhengzhi's words swirled around in her brain. If they would not betray the Emperor, then what was the next step?
Time flew.
At that moment…
A brilliant light shone within the palace. That light was blinding and appeared out of nowhere into the horizon, illuminating the sky right above the palace.
"Hmm?" A group of people passing by the Imperial Academy stared at the light emerging out from the palace with a surprised expression. "What is happening to the palace?"
It was impossible to stay calm.
This was because this was Flame Capital City, and that place is none other than the palace!
In actual fact, not only were they surprised, the entire Flame Capital City was shocked at the sudden appearance of that light.
"There is a duel within the palace?"
"Are you telling me… there are assassins?"
"That cannot be! The royal guards are present, who will dare to infiltrate the palace?"
"But that light just now… what is going on?"
Everyone stared at the light in awe while feeling extremely puzzled.
In Flame Capital City, when all the courtiers saw this light, they immediately frowned. Unlike the commoners, they knew exactly where this light was coming from.
Most importantly…
They could see the significance and power of this light!
"The palace!"
"Who is it?"
Flame Capital City, within the barracks stationed outside the East gate.
This was the main base of the city guards. At that moment, all of them were also looking in the direction of the light.
All of them were also equally astonished.
They were the city guards!
Their job was to protect the safety of Flame Capital City. However, their job scope had never included guarding the safety of the palace. This was because the palace had always been personally guarded by the royal guards.
However, this did not mean that they would do nothing while they watch a battle happen in the palace where the Emperor, also known as the son of the heavens was living in.
"Seal the gates!" A commander immediately ordered.
The first thing to do when the palace was in trouble was to seal the city gates. This could prevent the assassins from escaping and also defend against further aggression.
After all…
No one could confirm that there would be no further backups from outside of Flame Capital City.
"Halt!" A voice rang at this time. Following which, a figure appeared behind the commander. He was clad in a silver armor and a ferocious beast carving could be seen on his helmet.
This was the hallmark of power, a trademark armor of King Duan.
"Respect for King Duan!" The commander immediately turned and knelt down.
"I have received information that someone will be assassinating the Majesty tonight. All the city guards stay alert!" King Duan Lin Xinjue waved his hands at the commander before leaping into the middle of the city guards.
All of the city guards had a shocked expression on their faces upon hearing Lin Xinjue's words. To think that there were people who wanted to assassinate the Emperor!
How could this be?
They were in Flame Capital City!
There were countless city guards and even royal guards stationed within the palace. How could someone think about assassinating the Emperor under such impenetrable defense?
"All the city guards at my command!" King Duan Lin Xinjue did not feel the need to explain to the city guards. He simply flashed the city guard token.
"Yes!" All the city guards stared at the city guard token in King Duan Lin Xinjue's hand and recollected themselves. Their eyes shone with a firm resolve.
The command was absolute!
This was their duty as soldiers and also something that they repeated every night.
Anyone holding the city guard token would be the arbiter of their fate.
Moreover, the person holding the token now was King Duan Lin Xinjue. They naturally obeyed without hesitation.
"The first squad, surround the East gate and prevent the assassins from leaving!"
"Yes!"
"The second squad, head towards the South gate…"
"Yes!"
"Third squad…"
"Yes!"
"The rest, follow me into the palace to save the Emperor!" King Duan' gaze seemed exceptionally cold at that moment.
"Yes!"
Once all the city guards heard Lin Xinjue's command to seal off the four palace gates and charge into the palace, they headed straight out of their barracks and charged towards the palace.
The sky was still darkening.
A bright moon slowly rose.
There were no signs of rain, although a light breeze graced Flame Capital City. The moonlight shone onto the ground and illuminated a dark figure on top of a building not far away from the palace.
He wore his court attire neatly and a bright sapphire was engraved onto his headwear. A light brilliance shone within the crystal.
Behind him, there were ten other black-masked figures. They had their swords on their back and their eyes shone mercilessly with bladed resolve.
Su Qing!
A man who rose from a Rank 4 Official to the Chief of the Northern Lands Five Constabularies in merely a year. He should be in prison now, but…
He was standing on top of the building.
"It has finally begun!" Su Qing cast his glance on the majestic castle walls as he said. He could not see what was happening within the palace. This was because the law of the Great Xia Dynasty dictated that the buildings around the palace must be of a lower height than the castle walls.
However, he simply stood silently on top of the building and stared into the tall castle walls as a cold-blooded smirk appeared on his face.
"My lord, King Duan had started his actions!" A figure landed on top of the building like a dragonfly skidding through the water. He was incredibly silent with his movements.
"I got it." Su Qing nodded.
After the figure heard Su Qing's reply, he then quickly retreated, as though he had never appeared on the building.
"Soon, just a while later. Just a while later and the results will be out!" Su Qing muttered softly.
A while later, he cast his gaze away from the castle wall and subconsciously stared at a huge building from afar.
On the entrance of that building were three turquoise-colored, elegantly written characters.
The Imperial Academy!
"Chief Imperial Messenger of the Imperial Academy? Chief Examiner, Rank 2 Official with royal endowment, all accomplished under the age of 18. I'm afraid such accomplishments are unprecedented in the entire history of Great Xia Dynasty."
"Very well!"
"At the very least, you are qualified to be my opponent!"
"However, that is only the beginning. How can a cricket block a battering ram? What you seek is merely official rankings. However, that which I seek is the world!"
"How then… can you hope to defeat me?"
"Fang Zhengzhi, no matter how arrogant and intelligent you are, if you cannot control the world, how can you become my opponent?"
"You will not stop me this time!"
The side of Su Qing's lips lifted ever so slightly, revealing a cold-blooded sneer. At the same time, his eyes seemed to glow in a chilling brilliance, which appeared even more sinister under the illumination of the moonlight.