The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 219 Let me see your inner demons, Gu Fangchen (Two Chapters Combined)

The White Dragon Army's main camp was located outside Fancheng on the Jade Gate Road.

Of the three routes guarded by the White Dragon Army, Qiu'an Route is the most strategically important because of the Fire Essence Stone mine, but Yumen Route is the main line of defense.

Firstly, Yumen Pass has the largest area and the longest defense line, and it was also the first frontline to come into contact with the Qingman troops.

Originally, the battle on Yumen Road was the most intense, and it was attacked by the Qingman people every few days. It was also the place that gave Xiao Yinghao the most headaches, and she tried every means to defend and counterattack.

However, recently, although the entire Jiangnan region has been in complete chaos, she has been feeling more relaxed than ever before.

The reason, of course, is the defense map that Gu Fangchen gave him back then.

Or, according to the name he himself wrote—

"A baby-friendly guide to the Qingman route that even babies can understand."

"Heh... this guy, he really did it on purpose."

Xiao Ying chuckled and shook her head, leaning against the railing and gazing at the boundless grassland in the distance.

Her black armor accentuated her tall and voluptuous figure, and coupled with her stunning beauty, she radiated brilliance. Her aura was so overwhelming that people could not breathe and could only bow their heads.

Therefore, no one would underestimate her just because she is good-looking.

Xiao Yinghao's reputation as a "military genius" was built on the real lives she had lost.

Many border residents have a false impression of Xiao Yinghao, believing her to be a terrifying demon eight feet tall and eight feet wide who likes to dress people up like candied hawthorns...

The name of the eldest princess is said to be able to stop children from crying at night in border regions.

If people were to see Xiao Yinghao's gentle demeanor when she smiles at this moment, they would surely be astonished.

Those unfamiliar with Xiao Yinghao might assume the princess is in a good mood today.

Those familiar with Xiao Yinghao might think that the princess had been possessed...

There was nothing special about it; it was just that the way the princess looked with a smile and her eyes lowered at that moment had a touch of charming gentleness.

In fact, given the princess's appearance, she was originally the kind of dignified and beautiful woman who embodies the spirit of peace and prosperity, so it's quite normal for her to have this kind of impression.

However, Xiao Yinghao was cold-blooded and ruthless, and her brows were always filled with a chilling killing intent.

The first thing anyone sees when they are struck by her murderous aura is her beauty.

At this moment, when she smiled, all the murderous intent on her body dissipated, and she naturally revealed the feminine charm she should have.

Such a change would naturally astound everyone else.

And if they saw the defense map in Xiao Yinghao's hand, they would definitely be even more surprised.

The claim that "even babies can understand it" is nothing but blatant mockery...

If it were anyone else who dared to tease the princess like that, they would probably end up as part of a candied hawthorn skewer the next day.

However, the person who provided this picture is still safe and sound.

Of course... they were also relatively safe and sound.

"King murder and treason... If I weren't certain that the person who provided this defense map was definitely not a Qingman, I would have been the first to rush into Qingman and capture you."

Xiao Yinghao's smile vanished, and she let out a cold snort.

She initially had three doubts, but during this period of time, her several encounters with the Qingman were exactly the same as those shown on the defense map.

She tried different strategies to lure Qingman into making the corresponding arrangements, and all of them came true!

With Xiao Yinghao's skill level, she naturally wouldn't have the slightest doubt. As long as she did what was said on the defense map, if someone restrained Mohe Wuliang and Sule, it would only be a matter of time before they broke through Qingman!
Even if Qingman wanted to design it as bait, this bait was simply too big.

One wrong move and the country is destroyed!

No matter how daring the plan, it cannot come at such a cost.

Therefore, after Gu Fangchen's defection, she only outwardly responded to the transfer order from Huangtian City.

Xiao Yinghao, who had been on the battlefield long ago, had virtually no feelings for Emperor Yong'an. On the contrary, she felt disgusted by his numerous blunders in his pursuit of "power balance" over the years and had long harbored ambitions to take his place.

Therefore, responding to the transfer order was partly due to public opinion considerations.

On the other hand, there was her foolish younger brother, Xiao Yi.

Even though she didn't have a very deep affection for this younger brother, he was still her own brother from the same mother, and she had to protect his life.

Now that Xiao Sheng has taken power, he immediately sealed off Huangtian City under the pretext of thoroughly investigating Qingman's internal spies.

All the princes and concubines were locked in their own palaces.

Clearly, Xiao Yi and the Imperial Concubine were the two hostages targeting Xiao Yinghao.

For the sake of both of their safety, Xiao Yinghao outwardly agreed, but in her heart, Xiao Sheng was nothing.

This guy is just like Emperor Yong'an, and even worse.

Moreover, Xiao Sheng had been tormented by Emperor Yong'an for over a hundred years and was already a madman.

If he were to become emperor, he would likely become an unprecedented tyrant.

When Emperor Yong'an was in power, at most his officials would suffer; but when Xiao Sheng was in power, countless ordinary people would suffer.

Therefore, when news of Gu Fangchen's escape towards Qingman arrived, Xiao Yinghao outwardly ordered her soldiers to be on high alert, but in reality, she didn't even activate the defensive formation.

If Gu Fangchen were to pass through the Jade Gate Pass defense line in the usual way, Xiao Yinghao would let her pass directly.

"Your Highness, Gu Youren and Gu Yuandao from Yaoshan Academy request an audience."

Suddenly, someone jogged upstairs from behind and respectfully knelt on one knee to ask for instructions.

It was Yao Jin, the deputy general who helped Gu Fangchen unite the troops and form the White Dragon Army.

Xiao Ying was taken aback. She narrowed her eyes, turned her head, and said coldly:
What are those two doing here?

Yao Jin truthfully stated:
"Gu Yuandao has a royal decree from the Crown Prince, saying that he is here to assist our army in resisting the Qingman."

This reason is not surprising at all.

During this period, the Qingman's offensive has not diminished. Now that Emperor Yong'an has suddenly passed away and the nation's fortune has been stolen by the Qingman, they will naturally take advantage of the situation and intensify their offensive.

Therefore, many practitioners from various sects volunteered to come to Shuobei to assist the imperial army.

Yaoshan Academy is no exception.

Gu Youren is fine, but Gu Yuandao, who previously colluded with the Demonic Sect and was only released from seclusion after reflecting on his mistakes, is truly unbelievable.

More importantly, this person, as another protagonist in the switcheroo case, is a sworn enemy of Gu Fangchen.

Although Xiao Yinghao did not publicly acknowledge Gu Fangchen as her husband.

But she always knew very well that it was Gu Yuye who had revealed her whereabouts to Qingman.

As a core member of Gu Yuye's plan, Gu Yuandao couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

Therefore, he must know that the prince consort who helped Xiao Yinghao on Qiu'an Road was Gu Fangchen, and the two had a close relationship.

Therefore, there must be something wrong with this guy suddenly running to the White Dragon Army.

But since there was a handwritten order from Xiao Sheng and permission from the Emperor, she naturally couldn't simply stop people from entering.

Xiao Yinghao narrowed her eyes and pondered:
"Since you're here, let's meet."

"Yes."

Yao Jin left to summon the two, but Xiao Yinghao glanced back at the vast grassland behind her.

Gu Yuandao wouldn't speak without reason... So, perhaps it means he's confident that Gu Fangchen will come to her...

"Humph."

The eldest princess suddenly let out a cold snort.

I've heard that the daughter of the Qingman Khan is quite beautiful. Now that Gu Fangchen is a great contributor to the Qingman Khan, she must be so happy that she doesn't care about Wei anymore.

Now that we have this princess, why would we think of any other princess?
……

Xiao Ying said they would meet once, but Gu Yuandao and Gu Youren only met the princess once.

Without even exchanging pleasantries, the two were hastily assigned to guest rooms in the city lord's mansion, with the only instruction that they would be asked for help if needed.

This princess had grown up on the battlefield of Shuobei since she was a child and rarely returned to Huangtian City. Gu Youren had also rarely seen her.

However, it is also known that this princess has a bad temper.

Being treated this way now seems normal...

Gu Youren followed the soldiers who were leading the way into the city lord's mansion.

The city lord of Fancheng was very hospitable, treating the two with standard hospitality and then giving them some instructions.

For example, one cannot go out at night, otherwise the soldiers patrolling at night will not be able to identify their identities and will simply activate the city's defensive formation and kill them on the spot.

After all, the border is most dangerous at night, and the Qingman spies could very well use this opportunity to enter the city.

Only in this way can we ensure that nothing goes wrong.

Gu Youren was visiting the front lines for the first time and was not used to the serious atmosphere, but she was aloof and upright by nature and understood the situation.

In war, cultivators who haven't reached the upper three ranks are nothing more than a piece of meat in a meat grinder.

Even with supernatural powers and magic, one cannot escape being overwhelmed by a massive army.

……

Inside the guest room.

Luo Song pushed open the window and looked at the churning clouds in the sky.

The days in Shuobei are short, and now the sky is gradually darkening. He knows that there will probably be a heavy rain tonight.

Luo Song stretched out her hand, and a few raindrops began to fall from the sky.

He looked at the soldiers patrolling the city and a smile appeared on his lips.

How could these soldiers, including the defensive formations in Fancheng, possibly do anything to him?

Although his strength has not fully recovered, it is already enough to crush this entire area into dust.

However, given Gu Fangchen's unpredictable methods and the numerous mysterious experts assisting her, he had no choice but to become cautious.

If we could bury Gu Fangchen here without bloodshed, that would be the best outcome.

"Even if he can't, if he can't pass the fourth-grade inner demon barrier, his cultivation will only be able to stop there for the rest of his life. At that time, killing him will be as easy as killing an ant."

With a smile, Luo Song gracefully transformed into a blur and landed on the roof of the City Lord's Mansion, her eyes gleaming.

"Gu Yuandao... borrowing your body to settle your grievances is your good fortune."

His eyes suddenly turned pitch black, with only a strange, blood-red spot in the center that sent chills down one's spine.

He raised his hand, touched the blood-red spot in his eye, and then guided it out, turning it into a long red line.

He then threw the red line into the sky.

"Crack!"

A streak of red lightning flashed across the sky, startling the soldiers below who looked up in disbelief.

No one could see it, but in that instant, a restless and uneasy feeling arose in everyone's heart, even to the point of panic, yet they didn't know where it came from.

Strands of red phantoms floated out from their bodies, forming an array in mid-air.

At this moment, the entire area of ​​Fancheng was shrouded in an invisible red miasma.

This is the "Transforming the Inner Demon" technique!
Luo Song is about to set up this great magic here, using the desires and distractions in the hearts of countless people to stir up the "inner demon" that originally existed in Gu Fangchen's heart!
He had a premonition that Gu Fangchen would develop a "demonic spirit" here.

This "Transforming Inner Demons" technique will amplify his inner demons infinitely, and even if he wants to suppress them, it will be too late!
"Let me see your inner demons, Gu Fangchen!"

Luo Song smiled slightly, sat cross-legged, and looked towards the White Dragon Army camp outside the city.

The city lord's mansion was the tallest building in the entire city of Fancheng. Standing on the roof, he could see everything clearly.

In the oppressive atmosphere, his robes fluttered in the wind, making him resemble a night owl lurking in the darkness, waiting for its prey to take the bait.

……

When Gu Fangchen entered and saw this scene, she knew that Lao Ding was testing whether she had truly been possessed.

After all, his original character was an old monster who had possessed other people's bodies, and his relationship with Ding Xingfeng was closer to that of friends.

He committed regicide and treason, a crime that is indeed quite serious.

It's normal for Ding Xingfeng to have some doubts at this moment.

If you can possess someone once, you can naturally possess them a second time...

So he used the three things he had done to deliberately anger Ding Xingfeng when they first met by the lake at Baima Temple to make the latter understand that he was still the same person he was before.

Upon hearing this, Ding Xingfeng sneered:
"So you know these three things are important, huh? I didn't think you cared about them at all."

Although he said that, he actually waved his hand, dismissing the pretentious soldiers.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Ding Xingfeng looked at him:

"Tell me, what exactly happened with this regicide and treason?"

Ding Xingfeng was forced into retirement because of Emperor Yong'an's suspicions.

However, his current achievements are also inseparable from the support he received from Emperor Yong'an back then. Before their relationship completely broke down, it was still quite good.

At least Ding Xingfeng was grateful, which is why he chose to hand over the tiger tally and retire, instead of directly leading his army in rebellion.

Therefore, even though it was clear that Gu Fangchen was not the murderer, he still wanted to know the truth.

Gu Fangchen blinked and shrugged:
"What else could have happened? Xiao Sheng couldn't hold back and directly teamed up with others to kill his father."

Ding Xingfeng was silent for a moment, then said:

"Don't tell me it's the Demonic Sect... The Demonic Sect can't kill Xiao Ding."

Gu Fangchen raised an eyebrow.

Judging from his tone, Ding Xingfeng probably already guessed that Emperor Yong'an had a connection with the Demonic Sect...

Old Ding isn't stupid... Gu Fangchen sighed:

“It’s definitely not the Demonic Sect. Emperor Yong’an is the ‘Master of Hengchang Dao’. How could the Demonic Sect kill him?”

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: The monthly pass giveaway ends today. The draw will be held live in the group tomorrow at noon, and the results will be announced in a separate chapter. Winners, please remember to claim your prize!

(End of this chapter)