Upon hearing Tu Ling Duo’s words, Zhi Ning was instantly so frightened that she shuddered, then quickly covered the baby’s ears.
For such a woman’s voice to enter the baby’s ears would be a great sin.
Zhi Ning quietly looked at Zhi Li and said, “I have already heard that the king is dead. I know what you want to do. I have no objection to you using the baby to threaten Suo Lun, and I am even willing to cooperate. Whether you want me to write a letter or a blood letter, I will do everything as you say. But if you want to harm the child, before that you must first kill me, or notify me so that I may take my own life. A mother who cannot even protect her own child has no qualification to live in this world.”
Fang Qing Zhuo also stepped forward and said, “Husband, whatever you are doing or planning to do, I will not interfere either. I have no objection to you using the baby to threaten Suo Lun. As long as you do not harm the baby’s body, I am willing to cooperate with anything. Even if you murder the king and seize the throne, I am willing to stand by your side and become your queen.”
These words caused Zhi Li’s feverish heart to quiet down. He coldly glanced at Tu Ling Duo, then his gaze turned gentle as he said, “You are overthinking. This is my dear nephew. I cherish him too much to bear harming him?”
Zhi Li was indeed not that stupid, nor was he as twisted as Tu Ling Duo, to use such bloody and resolute means from the very beginning.
Things had to come step by step, and the threats against Suo Lun also had to escalate step by step.
First send a letter, with the baby’s lanugo attached.
If Suo Lun did not compromise, then the methods could be slightly more intense, with some bloodshed.
Instantly, Zhi Li stepped forward and gently stroked the baby’s little head, saying, “The baby is over a year old now, and his lanugo has not been cut yet. It should be trimmed.”
The touch of Zhi Li’s hand on the baby’s head made Zhi Ning feel waves of cold dread, as if she had been licked by a venomous snake.
“Alright, I will cut the baby’s lanugo for him.” Fang Qing Zhuo quickly said, “Zhi Ning, hold the baby steady!”
Zhi Ning sat in the chair, holding the baby firmly.
Fang Qing Zhuo took out a dagger and carefully shaved off a tuft of long lanugo hair from the back of the baby’s head.
Both women felt great heartache. The baby was over a year old, and his lanugo was soft and long, black with hints of red, extremely cute.
Every time, Fang Qing Zhuo and Zhi Ning loved to stroke and kiss the baby’s hair.
After cutting off a tuft, Fang Qing Zhuo placed it in her palm and said to Zhi Li, “Husband, this should be enough.”
Zhi Li nodded and said, “It is enough. Little Ning, you write a letter to Suo Lun.”
“Alright.” Zhi Ning was incomparably cooperative.
Zhi Li took out a sheet of white paper from his bosom and handed it to Zhi Ning.
Zhi Ning did not use a brush either. She directly bit her finger and wrote in blood on the white paper: Suo Lun, your son is in the hands of my brother Zhi Li. I hope that when you make any decision, you will think of your son’s safety, Zhi Ning!
After writing, Zhi Ning handed the blood letter to Zhi Li.
Zhi Li wrapped it in an envelope, then also put the baby’s lanugo into the envelope!
Then, after slight hesitation, he decided to still leave Zhi Ning and her child and Fang Qing Zhuo in the Zhi Du Sacred Hall, because only here was the safest place, where they could not be rescued by Gao Yin and the others.
“It is very chaotic and unsafe outside now. You still remain here. If you need anything, just speak.” Zhi Li said gently.
“Alright.” Fang Qing Zhuo’s voice was also very gentle.
Zhi Li looked at Fang Qing Zhuo’s plump and alluring delicate body, and his heart felt somewhat fiery.
Having slept with women all over the world, after being separated from his wife for several months, he felt that the most alluring woman in the world was still his own wife, Fang Qing Zhuo.
Especially compared to Tu Ling Duo beside him, his wife Fang Qing Zhuo was probably the most perfect woman in the world.
Gracious and magnanimous, gentle and kind. Although her looks were not as stunningly beautiful as Gui Qin Shao’s, she was also very dignified and elegant.
Unfortunately time was pressing now, or Zhi Li truly would have wanted to fiercely** with his wife once before leaving.
His gaze fiercely fixed upon his wife Fang Qing Zhuo’s round buttocks, then Zhi Li turned and left.
After he left, the two women in the secret chamber almost collapsed, their entire bodies seeming to lose strength.
The entire process had gone very smoothly. Many of Zhi Li’s demands had not even been raised before the two women immediately complied obediently.
There was no sarcasm, no cursing. Fang Qing Zhuo and Zhi Ning became as docile as lambs.
But in their hearts, Zhi Li was already dead!
“Zhi Li, the day you forcibly ascend the throne will be your death day! As your wife, I will personally send you on your way!” Fang Qing Zhuo thought with final resolve as she helped comfort the baby.
When Zhi Li ascended the throne, all the ministers, and even the people of the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall would be present!
At that time Fang Qing Zhuo would expose the secret of the demon blood in Zhi Li’s body, and no one in the world could shelter him anymore. Zhi Li would certainly die!
Although he was her husband, he was no longer qualified to be called a human being.
Today he could harm his own nephew, and tomorrow he could harm his own biological daughter.
Such a beast was no longer qualified to live in this world.
……
Walking out of the high tower, Zhi Li immediately saw two people, a High Sacrificer and a Grand Inquisitor.
The Fury Wave Kingdom’s Divine Dragon Temple had a dual leadership system: the Holy Sacrificer and the Grand Inquisitor. Below them were respectively four High Sacrificers and four Grand Inquisitors.
These eight people constituted the peak of the power pyramid of the Fury Wave Kingdom’s Divine Dragon Sacred Hall.
Under Zhi Li and the Hidden Continent’s long-term infiltration, half of these eight people had become Zhi Li’s absolute supporters.
After this great defeat of Zhi Li, two people had slightly distanced themselves from him. But two people still continued to firmly support Zhi Li.
Because these two people truly could not be separated from Zhi Li. They had received too many benefits from Zhi Li, and Zhi Li also held too much leverage over the two of them. Once exposed, it would be another heaven-shaking scandal.
“Young Lord, the Grand Inquisitor wishes to see you.” One of the High Sacrificers said.
Suo Lun’s expression shook, revealing indescribable excitement.
He had been hiding in the Zhi Du Temple for over seven hours. The Holy Sacrificer Ge Li was not present. The Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge clearly knew he was inside the Zhi Du Sacred Hall, but completely acted as if he did not know, not receiving him at all.
This made Zhi Li extremely uneasy. The great confidence that allowed him to dare assassinate the king and forcibly ascend the throne came largely from the support of the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall.
Now after successfully assassinating the king, he immediately received Luo Ge’s audience.
Under the guidance of a Grand Inquisitor, Zhi Li went to see Luo Ge. However, what he went to was unexpectedly not Luo Ge’s Inquisition main hall, but still Fu Ling Xi’s castle.
It seemed the rumours were not false. The relationship between Luo Ge and Fu Ling Xi was indeed unclear and ambiguous.
……
In the underground secret chamber of Fu Ling Xi’s castle, Zhi Li saw Luo Ge, this supreme being whose status rivalled the king’s.
The stunningly beautiful and graceful Fu Ling Xi stood behind him, docilely brewing tea for him.
“Zhi Li, I have not seen you.” Luo Ge’s first sentence.
“That is natural.” Zhi Li said, “I am currently at the southern border city. Only tomorrow when I learn of the king’s death will I enter the royal capital. Of course you have not seen me.”
Luo Ge’s gaze coldly fixed upon Zhi Li, “You are truly mad, daring to assassinate the king! Our Divine Dragon Sacred Hall will absolutely not cooperate with a madman.”
Zhi Li said, “I did not assassinate the king. His Majesty died long ago, but the death was kept secret to protect Suo Lun. I am currently at the southern border city. How could I possibly assassinate the king? The defences around the king are so strict. How could anyone possibly assassinate him?”
Luo Ge of course understood Zhi Li’s words, and sneered, “Tonight, the entire royal capital was shaken. From the direction of the royal palace, sounds of killing shot to the sky. Countless pairs of eyes personally saw assassins charging out from the royal palace’s great gate.”
Zhi Li said, “This is all a play directed and performed by Suo Lun himself. Now that he has won, the news of the king’s death can be made public. But if he can pin the crime of regicide on my head, he will have reason to abolish my position as Young Lord and execute me.”
Luo Ge said, “Your adultery with Tu Ling Duo and your murder of Tu Li Yang, this alone is sufficient to abolish your position as Young Lord.”
“Right.” Zhi Li said, “But it cannot execute me. My father Zhi Lan died under unclear circumstances, so Zhi Bian bore the evil reputation of murdering his brother his entire life. With Zhi Yan being a woman, she certainly cannot bear such a crime again. But if the crime of regicide is pinned on my head, she can justifiably execute me, carrying out the law!”
“You reverse black and white so brazenly. Are you not afraid of the world’s ridicule?” Luo Ge said.
Zhi Li said, “The people of the world have laughed enough. After I ascend the throne as king, what does it matter if I am notorious? It is enough to make people afraid.”
Luo Ge said, “If you forcibly ascend the throne, are you not afraid that Suo Lun will lead his troops into the royal capital and tear you into ten thousand pieces?”
Zhi Li said, “It just so happens that Suo Lun’s son is in my hands. This man cherishes his family very much and dares not act rashly. Moreover, his army is several thousand li from the royal capital, and at fastest would take a month to arrive. By that time, I will have been enthroned for a long time, and the nobles and nobility of the world can stand in line anew. One is the overbearing and formidable Suo Lun, the other is the notorious Zhi Li. The nobles and nobility have deep grievances with Suo Lun. I believe they will be willing to stand on my side. At worst there will be a king in the east and a king in the west.”
If it truly were as Zhi Li said, a king in the east and a king in the west, the entire Fury Wave Kingdom would split into two halves.
Then, the Fury Wave Kingdom would instantly fall from one of the four great powers to a second or third-rate country, because of endless civil war. By the time the Ye Lan Duchy recovered its calm, perhaps it could even come to bully the Fury Wave Kingdom.
At that time, the foundation that the Zhi ancestors had spent several hundred years fighting for would be completely ruined in one night, returning to a hundred years before.
Even the kingdom’s title would be lost, falling back to a duchy.
But in Zhi Li’s tone, he completely did not care anymore.
Luo Ge said coldly, “I still say the same thing. The Divine Dragon Sacred Hall will not associate with a madman. After you forcibly ascend the throne, before you obtain the support of most of the kingdom’s nobles and nobility, my Divine Dragon Sacred Hall will absolutely not express support for you.”
“I understand!” Zhi Li said, “After I succeed to the throne, my first decree will be to let the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall bear greater responsibility in maintaining the kingdom’s stability, so the Sacred Hall Legion’s establishment needs to be raised from fifty thousand to one hundred thousand!”
Luo Ge’s gaze trembled!
One hundred thousand Sacred Hall troops completely equalled two hundred thousand of the Fury Wave Kingdom’s elite legions.
But Luo Ge still did not speak.
Zhi Li said, “Moreover, the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall very much needs to possess more land, so that it can nurture more faithful subjects. Even, certain places can establish Sacred Hall special zones, where all governing power within the territory belongs entirely to the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall!”
This time, Luo Ge’s heart trembled.
In order to sit on the throne as king, Zhi Li sold out the country with absolutely no bottom line.
Not only did he double the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall’s armaments, but he also began ceding large tracts of land.
Luo Ge feigned indifference, “After you forcibly ascend the throne, first get through a period of chaos before speaking.”
Zhi Li said, “Then may I ask how long this period of chaos is?”
Luo Ge said, “I still need to discuss with the Holy Sacrificer, and still need to report to the Sky Sacred Hall. But I think about a month or so.”
“Many thanks, Lord Luo Ge.” Zhi Li bowed respectfully!
……
Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji’s residence!
Because he was rather advanced in age, and moreover had to handle political affairs, the kingdom’s Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji had not followed Zhi Li in the punitive expedition against Suo Lun.
The entire cabinet, plus the six ministry officials, mostly remained in the royal capital.
They had all believed that Zhi Li’s punitive expedition against Suo Lun this time was completely certain, without any surprises.
Because Suo Lun was already universally condemned, attacked by all under heaven.
However, what they had not expected was that in the end the scandal exposed was that Zhi Li was the one universally condemned.
Even more unexpected was that Zhi Li possessed nine hundred thousand great troops, yet was utterly defeated!
This news was like a bolt from the blue for the high officials remaining in the royal capital. After confirming Zhi Li’s defeat, almost all high officials prepared to switch allegiance.
For a time, the originally deserted Duke Zhi Ting’s residence suddenly became bustling with visitors.
In just two short days, Duke Zhi Ting received gifts totalling over a hundred thousand gold coins!
Who made Zhi Ting the sole representative figure of the Zhi Yan faction in the royal capital.
Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji, as the kingdom’s prime minister, was known alongside Tu Ling Tuo as the two jade pillars supporting the heavens of the kingdom. Even Young Lord Zhi Li saluted him respectfully as teacher every time they met!
Normally, how could Yan Wu Ji have put the foppish Duke Zhi Ting in his eyes?
But after the news of Zhi Li’s defeat spread, Yan Wu Ji personally brought ten thousand gold notes to visit Duke Zhi Ting, repeatedly calling himself a student, his attitude incomparably respectful.
Duke Zhi Ting had a pig-like face but a bright heart inside. He knew whose gifts could be accepted and whose could not.
Suo Lun already had Yan Wu Zhi in hand, so naturally there was no position for Yan Wu Ji. Moreover, Yan Wu Ji had offended Suo Lun too severely before, and his disciples and followers had spread too vicious rumours about Suo Lun. Suo Lun could not forgive him.
Thus, Duke Zhi Ting was very polite to Yan Wu Ji, but when leaving, returned the ten thousand gold notes.
Yan Wu Ji’s heart was completely chilled through. He knew he had no position on Suo Lun’s side, and was beyond forgiveness.
Thus, he spent his days in constant panic, simply not even going to the cabinet anymore, claiming illness and staying home.
Once Zhi Yan ascended to power, his position as prime minister would certainly not be preserved, and even his life was in danger.
However, tonight, the king was assassinated, setting off an earth-shaking upheaval.
Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji felt his entire body trembling, his four limbs icy cold, without any warmth.
He smelled an incomparably dangerous scent, and also smelled a trace of opportunity.
This opportunity, once successful, would let him continue as the kingdom’s prime minister. And once failed, it would mean complete destruction, not only himself dying, but his entire family being ruined, with the exception of Yan Wu Zhi’s branch.
Moreover, the probability of success was only twenty percent, while the probability of failure was eighty percent.
And just at this moment, a figure entered before Yan Wu Zhi, lifting the hood of his cloak. It was actually Zhi Li?
Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji trembled, his body instantly stiffening, unable to emit a sound.
Zhi Li said, “The king died long ago, but the death was kept secret. Tonight, Suo Lun went mad and staged the false appearance of assassinating the king, and attempted to pin the crime on my head. As the kingdom’s pillar, the Prime Minister must certainly uphold justice.”
Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji instantly understood Zhi Li’s words.
He wanted to use his power of public opinion to spread this message, forcibly calling a deer a horse, reversing black and white.
Then, in the name of the cabinet, invite Zhi Li to enter the royal capital and ascend the throne as king!
Yan Wu Ji painfully closed his eyes. Such absurd public opinion could not even fool a fool.
Zhi Li said, “The Prime Minister wants to say that such absurd words cannot even fool a fool, correct?”
Yan Wu Ji nodded.
Zhi Li said, “It cannot fool fools, but it can fool clever people!”
Yan Wu Ji was startled. Indeed that was true.
Clever people only look at advantages and disadvantages. Where do they care about true or false? It just so happened that the entire kingdom’s power was in the hands of clever people.
But this path was still nine deaths and one life!
Zhi Li said, “Grand Inquisitor Luo Ge has already expressed his willingness to support me. Suo Lun’s biological flesh and blood is in my hands. Even if he is extremely furious, he dares not act rashly. And Yan Wu Ji, you have no choice! Others can all surrender to Suo Lun, but you cannot. Suo Lun already has Yan Wu Zhi. There is no position for you there.”
Yan Wu Ji said in a trembling voice, “But…… if I truly do this, once I fail, my entire clan will be exterminated.”
Zhi Li said indifferently, “If you do not do this, your entire clan will also be exterminated, and before dawn.”
Such a naked threat made Yan Wu Ji look at Zhi Li in disbelief. This student Zhi Li who had been so respectful to him was now actually threatening to kill his entire family?
Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji let out a deep sigh. This was also good, saving him from his own struggle. He had no other choice.
Even if it was a path of nine deaths and one life, he could only walk it!
“Your old servant obeys the decree!” Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji said, “I know what to do. Your old servant will certainly expose Suo Lun’s despicable conduct to the world. Now Your Highness is at the southern border city, and a kingdom cannot be without a ruler for a single day. I ask Young Lord Zhi Li to return to the royal capital as soon as possible and ascend the throne as king!”
It was truly absurd and laughable. Zhi Li was currently right in the royal capital, yet Yan Wu Ji repeatedly said he was at the southern border city.
Each and every one of them was an Oscar-level actor!
Zhi Li appeared incomparably moved, “I am currently at the southern border city. Everything in the royal capital is entrusted to the Prime Minister. I hope the Prime Minister will send me a letter as soon as possible, so that I may return to the royal capital early.”
“Certainly.” Prime Minister Yan Wu Ji said.
Zhi Li said, “My armed forces in the royal capital will completely obey the Prime Minister’s commands. I will have them kill whomever you say.”
Yan Wu Ji thought inwardly, “If I do not obey, it is my entire clan that will be killed.”
Zhi Li said, “The Prime Minister truly deserves to be called the kingdom’s pillar. The Fury Wave Kingdom has always valued the military over the civil, which is very abnormal. Why should Tu Ling Tuo be a duke while the Prime Minister is merely a viscount? After I ascend the throne as king, I will certainly set things right, and enfeoff the Prime Minister as duke, with hereditary succession!”
“Your old servant thanks Your Majesty for your great grace!” Yan Wu Ji knelt in thanks.
Zhi Li said, “Then may I ask, approximately when can I enter the royal capital and ascend the throne as king?”
Yan Wu Ji said, “A kingdom cannot be without a ruler for a single day. Tomorrow I will borrow a griffin beast from the Divine Dragon Sacred Hall to go to the southern border city and invite Your Highness to return to the capital. The day after tomorrow I will respectfully invite Your Highness to ascend the throne as king!”
Zhi Li sighed, “Sigh! This is truly too urgent, but the kingdom’s great affairs cannot be delayed for a single day! Alright then, the day after tomorrow!”
And Fang Qing Zhuo had long since made her resolve. The day Zhi Li ascended the throne would be his death day!