Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 626: Changing the Heaven and the Sun
Liang Jin watched as Zhao Yiyi's figure on horseback disappeared completely at the end of the official road, merging into the surging crowds heading towards the capital, before his worries eased slightly.

Without further hesitation, he lightly touched the gravel ground of the desolate countryside with his toes.

"Shh!"

The figure was like a crossbow released from a bow, suddenly tearing through the surrounding oppressive air, leaving only a nearly annihilated afterimage in its original place!

The wind howled in his ears as he sped towards the distant Azure Phoenix Peak, which resembled a green emerald embedded in the horizon, at top speed, like a hawk skimming the ground.

After a while.

A mountain breeze carrying the fresh scent of the forest wafts towards you.

Liang Jin was already standing at the foot of the mountain.

The only stone staircase entrance into the mountain has been completely blocked off!
Two squads of elite Imperial Guards, clad in armor and wielding chilling spears, formed an impenetrable human wall at the narrow mountain pass.

Scarlet flags embroidered with the words "Imperial Guards, Silence and Avoidance" stood taut in the wind, like silent warning signs.

The leader of the team, with eyes as sharp as a hawk's, scanned the crowd and roared a command like thunder:
"Retreat immediately! Azure Phoenix Peak is under lockdown today!"

"By imperial decree, any unauthorized person who dares to cross the boundary shall be killed without exception!"

The word "kill" carried a cold, metallic feel, striking everyone's hearts heavily.

At the foot of the mountain, a number of devout believers had already gathered, but they were all stunned by the terrifying scene and their noisy discussions were instantly silenced by the cold prohibition.

As a royal temple, the Great Buddha Temple was frequently visited by members of the royal family to offer prayers.

At this time of year, the mountain will be closed off.

The devout men and women were used to this, and upon hearing these words, their eyes were filled with disappointment and awe. Like lambs driven by an invisible whip, they bowed their heads, sighed, and silently retreated.

Royal authority is not to be desecrated!
Liang Jin glanced coldly at the heavily fortified formation, his mind clear.

He quickly retreated to a secluded pile of rocks some distance away, leaning against the jagged cliffs to ensure his figure was completely shrouded in the shadows of the vegetation.

He used [Thousand-Mile Tracking] to check Beihuan's location.

“Sure enough, it’s there!”

As expected, both joy and sorrow found themselves atop Qingluan Peak.

Liang Jin then took out the [Si Mask] and put it on his face. The mask covered his face perfectly!

"Fire Eyes—Open!"

The red eyeball painted on the mask seemed to come alive and even twitching slightly.

Liang Jin's gaze also changed.

The boundaries of distance have been ruthlessly torn apart!

The line of sight was terrifyingly stretched!

Those lush, towering ancient trees, the thick blue brick walls, the carved beams and painted rafters of the temples... all seemed to become transparent under his gaze!

Like melting ice and snow, revealing the scene hidden behind it!

The magnificent Buddhist temple, as if peeled away from the mountain by an invisible giant hand, was clearly presented before his eyes.

My gaze shifted rapidly, and my focus instantly locked onto the square paved with bluestone slabs outside the temple gate!

Several royal carriages of extremely high specifications stood silently at rest, like magnificent beasts lying in wait!
The bright yellow wooden phoenix palanquin in the center is carved with dragons and phoenixes, surrounded by cloud patterns, and a golden phoenix with outstretched wings is inlaid in the dome, which is extremely luxurious and majestic!

On either side of the carriage, two five-colored phoenix umbrellas were stacked one on top of the other, like burning auspicious clouds.

Behind her, the pure gold nine-phoenix curved yellow canopy, symbolizing the empress's supreme status, was held aloft by the eunuchs like a towering ornamental column!

The Empress's arrival!

"A yellow canopy with nine phoenixes and curved handles, a five-colored nine-phoenix umbrella, a bright yellow wooden phoenix palanquin... This is the Empress's ceremonial retinue!"

"Could it be that the Empress has come to worship Buddha today?"

"Could it be that sorrow and joy... are coming to find the Empress?"

A thought struck Liang Jin, and he immediately looked toward the temple.

The gaze, like an all-pervasive arrow, instantly pierced through layers of Zen temples and numerous corridors!
Ultimately, it was firmly nailed to the Mahavira Hall, the most central and secluded part of the temple!
Inside the magnificent and imposing hall, there were only two people!

The graceful woman knelt before the enormous gilded Buddha statue, her kingfisher feather and pearl-encrusted crown still radiating a captivating brilliance even in the dim light!
Her silhouette was graceful and slender, clad in an elaborate bright yellow court robe with dragon and pheasant patterns, her hands clasped in front of her chest, seemingly in devout prayer.

however--

With Liang Jin's detached vision at that moment, he captured the details between her eyebrows with unparalleled clarity.

Those eyes, which should have been lowered and closed, were slightly open!
Beneath her long eyelashes, there was not a trace of piety, but rather a chilling, scrutinizing, and even... impatient aura!
Her posture was as elegant and cold as an ice sculpture!
Although Liang Jin was seeing this woman for the first time, he could guess that she must be Empress Mu Congshuang.

Mu Congshuang's background and identity were certainly not simple for her to become empress.

She came from a family of military merit and was the granddaughter of the Duke of Zhenguo.

The eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo was originally the Empress of the late Emperor.

Mu Congshuang was born to the youngest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo, and she and the current emperor were cousins. Their marriage made them even closer.

The Mu family produced two empresses, naturally wielding immense power.

The Duke of Zhenguo commands a large army and is currently stationed in the northern border, directing the war against the Black Dragon Dynasty.

A few steps behind her, Bei Huan stood quietly to the side.

The old monk's withered body, wrapped in a patched and tattered hemp robe, appeared even smaller and more insignificant.

His face was solemn, and his lips moved slightly, as if he were reciting scriptures or recounting secrets.

Liang Jin didn't want Bei Huan to discover him too soon, so he didn't look at Bei Huan directly, only glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

Second-rank martial artists all possess extremely strong perception abilities.

In particular, his perception of joy and sorrow was much stronger than Liang Jin had anticipated.

"How could the Empress be alone in the Great Hall of the Emperor with a dilapidated old monk from out of town?"

"Aren't you afraid that if word gets out, it will damage your reputation and make the emperor resentful?"

Liang Jin was filled with doubts.

The emperor is critically ill, and the empress secretly meets with the abbot of Wanfo Temple. This is no small matter!
However, it also shows that the relationship between the current emperor and empress is probably not that loving.

Otherwise, the emperor wouldn't have lived in the new residence all day, while the empress remained in the inner palace.

It seems like everyone's doing their own thing.

However, this situation is normal.

The empress herself did not need to be particularly beautiful or to be able to win the emperor's favor.

To become an empress, the most important thing is to have a distinguished background, to be a noblewoman from a high-ranking family, usually from a maternal relative, a powerful minister, a prominent family, or a family with military merit, etc.

Only a very small number of commoner women can become empresses.

Therefore, loving relationships between empresses and emperors are extremely rare.

Now the Empress is alone with her beloved, and judging from their appearance, they don't seem to be having an affair, but rather discussing some important matter.

Now that the emperor is seriously ill and near death, it is probably inevitable that the empress, as a member of the Mu family, will take some action.

Liang Jin's gaze shifted from inside the hall to the outer perimeter of the temple.

First, there was the imperial guard stationed outside the mountain gate.

A burly, towering middle-aged man stood out!

His back was straight as a javelin, his fists were clenched at his sides, and his dark, square face was full of the rigidity and fierceness of a soldier!
Liang Jin naturally recognized him.

He would appear every time the Southern Forbidden Army camp held a military parade.

It was none other than Hong Wei, the deputy commander of the Southern Imperial Guard!
He stood like a silent rock at the heart of the ceremonial guard, his sharp, hawk-like eyes vigilantly scanning every movement around him!
At three other key locations, Liang Jin discovered three female experts.

One person stood atop the eaves of the front hall, their aura almost merging with the dust motes in the wind; another stood behind a broken stele in the northwest corner of the temple, their gaze as cold as lightning; and yet another stood guard beside the moon gate on the east side, their skirts slightly slumped and motionless.

"Xuanluan Guard!"

Liang Jin confirmed it instantly.

The highest-ranking female bodyguards in the imperial palace, specializing in keeping close to dignitaries.

However, the aura of these three Xuanluan Guards seemed to be somewhat weaker than that of the powerful opponent that his clone had encountered and killed in the past.

When the Empress travels, the security arrangements are of utmost importance.

Therefore, it is not surprising that so many experts are protecting them.

What Liang Jin found strange was another group of people:

"Who are they?"

"Could it be an assassin?"

"Is someone trying to assassinate the Empress in the outskirts of the capital?"

His gaze fell upon a dense mixed forest on the southeastern side of the foothills!

Under the cover of the dense beech and locust trees, ghostly figures were moving swiftly and silently!
Without exception, their faces were covered with all sorts of bizarre masks! Leather sheaths were wrapped around their waists, and they held various weapons in their hands!

They moved nimbly and coordinated perfectly, moving silently through the dappled sunlight in the forest!

They communicated with subtle hand gestures, and their movements subtly revealed a wedge-shaped assault formation with multiple layers of cover and staggered advances!

The target is the Mahavira Hall!
Upon seeing this, Liang Jin sat down instead:
"Has the situation in the capital become so turbulent?"

"How interesting. Let's see if they can succeed in the assassination."

Whether the Empress lives or dies is of no concern to Liang Jin.

However, the assassination of the empress was definitely a major event.

Liang Jin decided to observe how things developed and see if he could find any opportunities in the process.

at this time.

The masked figures were already very close to the Great Buddha Temple.

Almost at the same time!
From the direction of Dafosi Temple, a sharp, mournful sound like the wailing of ghosts as metal clashed with metal shattered the tranquility of the mountains and forests like a thunderclap!

"Assassins! Protect the Emperor!!!"

A Xuanluan Guard guarding the southwest corner of the watchtower gave an extremely sharp warning, instantly igniting the entire Great Buddha Temple!

"Ding ding dong dong!!!" Outside the mountain gate, the urgent alarm bell of the Imperial Guard outpost suddenly rang!
The heavy tolling of the bell, like a death knell, pierced through the clouds and echoed through the mountains!

At the edge of the woods, the masked assassin clashed head-on with the Imperial Guards on guard!
Cold blades clashed! Blood splattered in an instant!

Screams, the clanging of weapons, and roars mingled together!
Inside the hall!

In Liang Jin's sight, Bei Huan suddenly looked up, and his calm eyes suddenly radiated a fierce light like a Vajra's wrath!

He quickly approached Empress Mu Congshuang and said something in a very fast voice.

Empress Mu Congshuang suddenly stood up, her impatience instantly replaced by solemnity, and she clenched her sleeve tightly with her jade hand.

Almost at the same time the palace doors were pushed open, Hong Wei's massive body, like an enraged armored bear, rammed into the room!

He knelt before Mu Congshuang, his face growing even darker with shock and anger, speaking rapidly while gesturing with his hands in the direction of retreat.

Although Liang Jin couldn't hear the sound, his fierce gestures and resolute expression were all too clear.

They need to retreat and relocate.

After all, only by quickly descending the mountain and moving to the capital city, where there are many experts, can the Empress's safety be completely protected.

No hesitation!

With Bei Huan and Hong Wei flanking her on either side, Mu Congshuang quickly stepped out of the main hall.

A large number of terrified eunuchs, palace maids, Xuanluan Guards, and Imperial Guards, like a turbid torrent, surrounded the Empress's jade carriage at the center and rushed frantically down the stone steps at the foot of the mountain!

The scene was chaotic for a while.

But just as the group reached the halfway point down the mountain, they saw another group of masked men rushing upwards from the entrance of the mountain path.

Hong Wei's hoarse roar commanded the Imperial Guards:

"Stop them! Third team! Hold the left flank! Xuanluan Guards—protect the right flank of the Phoenix Carriage!"

"This road is blocked! Take a detour! Quickly! Head towards Qifeng Slope! Protect the Empress!"

Each time they encountered a small group of masked assassins, Hongwei's orders seemed to be repeated over and over.

It's nothing more than splitting forces, intercepting, diverting, or taking a detour!

Every seemingly "thorough" order to protect the Empress was invisibly cutting away the already limited number of armored soldiers around her!
"Ok?"

Liang Jin frowned slightly upon seeing this.

Something's not right!
He could tell that those masked men, though seemingly fierce, had no intention of beheading anyone!

Their movements seemed meticulously rehearsed, constantly employing feints to lure the enemy and create distractions.

Every engagement was to prevent the main force of the Imperial Guards from getting close to the Empress's inner circle!
Hong Wei's orders were problematic.

Each time he encountered an attack by masked men, he would split up and relocate his forces, seemingly to prevent the Queen from suffering any harm.

From Liang Jin's perspective, those masked men were not skilled in martial arts at all. They didn't even dare to confront the Imperial Guards head-on; they were just engaging in prolonged fights to keep them occupied.

Even among them, there were no decent experts.

If Hong Wei had immediately ordered his experts to escort the Empress and charge towards the masked men upon arrival, it would have been easy to defeat them.

By this time, they had long since descended Qingluan Peak and returned to the official road.

However, after Hong Wei issued several orders, the number of imperial guards around the empress suddenly decreased, and even two of the Xuanluan Guards were dispersed.

The direction the Empress moved in also became farther and farther away from the capital, heading in another direction from Qingluan Peak.

"Disperse the Xuanluan Guards...deploy the core imperial guards most loyal to the Empress...constantly change their direction..."

"It's getting more and more interesting."

"I don't think it was an assassination attempt by an enemy country; it felt more like an internal power struggle."

Liang Jin's gaze was fixed on the core of the Royal Guard, which had become much sparser after being constantly divided.

Only twenty-odd personal guards, one Xuanluan Guard, Hong Wei himself, and Bei Huan, who clung to the Empress's carriage like maggots, remained within three steps of it!
Under Hong Wei's command, this exhausted and fearful team had unknowingly left the main body of Qingluan Peak and ventured deep into the cliff area behind the mountain—Baizhang Cliff!

This place is extremely dangerous!

The cliff face is as if cleaved by a knife and axe, plunging straight into the deep ravine.

The valley is shrouded in mist and clouds year-round, and the damp, cold mountain winds spiral upwards along the steep cliffs, emitting a mournful wail like a ghost's howl.

The terrain is steep and rugged, with very limited footholds.

The pine trees in the mountains roared wildly, adding to the desolate atmosphere!

Now, it's clear to everyone that Hongwei's decision-making was flawed.

Hong Wei was breathing heavily, speaking to the last remaining Xuanluan Guard and Beihuan, seemingly explaining or shirking responsibility.

Xuanluan Guard's face was extremely ugly, and his right hand was already on the hilt of the sword at his waist!

Her eyes blazed with barely contained anger and doubt as she stared intently at Hong Wei!

Clearly, she had become suspicious of Hong Wei.

The old monk's reaction was the most direct!
His emaciated body suddenly erupted with a heavy, mountain-like aura!
An invisible yet resilient wall of qi, like a translucent glass bowl, instantly enveloped the area three feet around Empress Mu Congshuang!

This isolated her from all the guards, palace maids, and even Hong Wei!
His face was ashen, his deep eyes sweeping over Hong Wei and the remaining Xuanluan Guards, filled with a cold warning and distrust!

No one can get any closer to the Queen!
Including the Empress's trusted maids!
Empress Mu Congshuang stood behind Beihuan, her face as cold and hard as iron!
She didn't cry in panic, nor did she give weak and powerless rebukes.

The magnificent phoenix crown still shone steadily on her head with a cold light, but she just pursed her lips tightly, her phoenix eyes like frozen pools.

"The show has begun!"

Liang Jin hid in the shadows, a cold smile curving his lips.

"But what else is hidden behind this stage?"

His gaze suddenly pierced through the distance of space, tearing through the thick, surging clouds of the cliff below, like cotton wool!

At the bottom of a hundred-foot cliff!

The sight at the bottom of the cliff made his pupils shrink to pinpoints!
A group of people are quietly hiding at the edge of the dense forest at the bottom of the misty valley!
They were also dressed in black and their faces were covered with masks, like a group of living corpses crawling out of the cracks of hell!

however!
At the very heart of this group of sinister, masked men—

There was a woman standing there!
A delicate phoenix crown, exactly the same style as the nine-dragon, nine-phoenix crown on Mu Congshuang's head!
He wore a bright yellow phoenix robe made of the finest palace brocade according to the highest standards, with nine phoenixes coiled around it and five-colored auspicious clouds rising above it!

And that face, slightly raised beneath the mask...

Her skin was like solidified cream, her nose delicate and her lips like sandalwood, her eyebrows like willow leaves… It was none other than—

The appearance of Empress Mu Congshuang!

A person who is exactly the same as Mu Congshuang in terms of clothing, figure and appearance!
It looks like a perfect replica!
Like a reflection in a mirror!

At this moment, Liang Jin finally understood:
"They're trying to pull a switcheroo, putting on a good show of a real and fake empress!"

This is hardly an assassination attempt on the king!

This is clearly an audacious identity subversion!

They want to replace the Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty with a fake Empress who was found from who-knows-where!
The interests involved behind this conspiracy are enough to overturn the world!
Now, Liang Jin only cares about one question:
"With a master like Bei Huan around, it won't be easy to pull off a switcheroo under his nose."

"Unless... a master who can control joy and sorrow is present, it is impossible to guarantee a successful substitution."

After all, joy and sorrow were inseparable from the true empress!

This old monk is like a pillar of strength that stabilizes the sea!

Even if Hong Wei betrays them, with only these few masked assassins in front of them, even with the fake one... it's absolutely impossible for them to pull off this unbelievable switch right under Bei Huan's nose!

Liang Jin's gaze was like the most precise scalpel, frantically scanning all directions from the top of the cliff to the bottom!

Searching for that inevitably existing supreme master who can withstand joy and sorrow!

The result was...

absolutely not!

Beside the fake empress at the bottom of the cliff were only a few masked guards whose auras were between the fourth and third ranks!

The remaining Hongwei and Xuanluan Guards on the cliff top are like clay chickens and earthen dogs in the face of joy and sorrow!
None of them are enough to match joy and sorrow.

"unless……"

A possibility came to Liang Jin's mind:
"Joy and sorrow... are not the loyalty of a guardian dog!"

"He... is the mastermind behind this shocking conspiracy?!"

If that's the case, then everything makes sense!

Indeed, if the scheme of switching the beams and pillars is orchestrated by the joys and sorrows, then judging from the current situation, the success rate will be very high.

Conversely, the success rate will be terribly low.

Liang Jin believed that anyone who dared to harm the Empress must be no fool.

Since they planned this operation, they must have ensured that it had a high probability of success.

Once Liang Jin understood this, he could no longer remain calm!
"Now, I can't just sit idly by."

A cold glint flashed in Liang Jin's eyes.

Sorrow and joy are his greatest enemies, so Liang Jin naturally has to find ways to stop what Sorrow and joy want to do.

Especially since it's such a momentous event.

If such a treacherous "fake empress" were to successfully ascend to the throne, the underlying forces behind the joys and sorrows would be terrifyingly powerful.

It will be even more difficult for Liang Jin to seek revenge on him then.

So more importantly...

Destroy it!
Let joy and sorrow ultimately lead to failure!
Kick him out of this easily attainable abyss of conspiracy!

Liang Jin suddenly stood up from behind the pile of stones where he was hiding!

The scarlet vertical pupils on the [Si] face seemed to sense the master's killing intent, and the red light intensified!

His gaze, sharp as a blade, locked onto the group of shadowy figures at the bottom of the cliff and that glaring "fake queen".

"Shh-!"

Liang Jin's figure was like a dragon breaking free from its restraints, rushing towards the bottom of the abyss, shrouded in mist, at an extremely fast speed!

(End of this chapter)