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

Chapter 639 Make Your Master Apologize
royal palace.

Liang Jin silently returned to the palace with the Imperial Guards led by the First Guard Commander.

The commander of the First Guard was as calm as still water, riding his horse at the front of the group, exuding a low-pressure aura that kept strangers at bay.

He seemed to be in a bad mood.

In particular, the promise he had made to Liang Jin about promotion has long been forgotten, and he hasn't even offered a word of explanation or reassurance.

However, Liu Shuxun, the battalion commander of the Xiliu Battalion, deliberately walked over to Liang Jin when the troops were dismissed, patted him on the shoulder, and lowered his voice:
"Commander Liang, last night... the Commander was worried about the Holy Body, so it's understandable that he was uneasy."

"The adults are certainly aware of your situation. Once they've recovered, the promotion will definitely be implemented."

His tone carried a subtle hint of sympathy and tact.

Liang Jin simply nodded slightly, his face revealing little emotion.

Battalion Commander?

He sneered inwardly.

His gains tonight far surpass what a mere battalion commander could achieve.

A mere honorary title is now as insignificant as dust in his eyes.

When he returned to his post, it was almost dawn, the darkest hour of the night.

A huge iron cage lay quietly in a corner of the palace wall.

By the dim light of the lanterns, one could see Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang huddled on a simple bed in his cage, snoring heavily, completely unaware of the dramatic turn of events that had taken place in his life that night.

Liang Jingang had been standing by the iron cage for a short while.

"sand……"

A figure, like a ghost blending into the night, silently slipped out from the deepest shadows at the foot of the palace wall.

The crimson python robe shone with a dazzling color in the dim morning light.

It's Zhao Bao.

The moment Liang Jin saw him, everything became clear to him, and a knowing smile appeared on his lips:

"Ha, that old fox, in the end, didn't personally get involved, but pushed you out instead."

Wang Jin said in his new residence that he wanted to "meet" Zhao Yu in person, but now he has only sent his trusted confidants.

This stance makes it clear that Wang Jin wants to leave himself enough room to maneuver and will not openly take sides until the final dust settles.

Zhao Bao stared at Liang Jin, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment and curiosity:

"Brother Jin!"

He strode closer, his voice low and incredulous:

"What method did you use to make the Grand Eunuch look at Zhao Yu differently, even..."

He paused, his expression complex.
"You sent me to convey your support?"

When Zhao Bao received this order, he was deeply shocked.

This means that Liang Jin and Wang Jin must have reached some kind of extremely important agreement that he could not have imagined!

But how is this possible?

How could a sixth-rank banner commander possibly have an equal dialogue with the Ninth Prince, who wields the Imperial Seal and commands thousands of henchmen?
This completely overturned Zhao Bao's understanding of power hierarchy.

Liang Jin met Zhao Bao's piercing gaze, his expression calm, but his tone carried an undeniable firmness:
“Zhao Bao, there are some things that Wang Jin didn’t tell you, and there’s a reason for that.”

"And I... don't intend to tell you either."

He paused, a faint, indescribable heaviness flashing deep in his eyes:

"Knowing too much might not be a good thing for you."

Regicide!

These two bloody words churned in his mind.

Regardless of their past or present lives, those who perform this act are almost always burdened with an ominous curse and rarely meet a good end.

Forced by circumstances, Liang Jin had no choice but to become a regicide, but he had no regrets about what he had done and was willing to bear the consequences himself.

But he didn't want to, and couldn't, completely drag Zhao Bao into this enormous secret and the endless dangers that followed.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Bao frowned deeply, a hint of confusion and resentment flashing across his handsome face.

Looking into Liang Jin's calm yet resolute eyes, he swallowed all his questions and simply nodded heavily.

"……I see."

"The Grand Eunuch instructed that there are some things that need to be discussed privately with the Prince of Huaiyang."

Zhao Bao adjusted his emotions and resumed his official tone.

Liang Jin nodded, walked to the iron cage, and unceremoniously tapped the cold iron bars with the scabbard of his sword:
"Your Majesty, wake up!"

Zhao Yu was startled awake from his deep sleep, his eyes still sleepy, and he was annoyed at being disturbed.

Liang Jin pointed to Zhao Bao beside him:

"This is Zhao Bao, the third head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. He has come on the orders of the Bureau Chief to speak with the Prince."

His introduction was concise and powerful, yet it resonated like a thunderclap in Zhao Yu's ears!

"The factory manager?!"

Zhao Yu was instantly wide awake, sprang up from the ground, and a sickly flush rose on his ashen face, his eyes bursting with wild joy!
Wang Jin! Your Excellency! The powerful eunuch Wang Jin has actually sent someone!

what does this mean?
opportunity!

His long-awaited chance to turn his life around has finally arrived!
The immense surprise made his body tremble slightly.

Liang Jin gave Zhao Bao a look, then turned and strode away, leaving the two of them alone.

Zhao Bao slowly squatted down in front of the iron cage, and through the cold iron bars, began a low and long private conversation with the down-on-his-luck prince inside.

As dawn broke, the darkness gradually dissipated, casting long shadows of the two figures onto the cold ground.

Whispers broke the silence beneath the palace walls, filled with probing, promises, and exchanges of power.

The conversation continued until the eastern sky began to lighten, and the brilliant morning glow, like splashed rouge, dyed half the sky red.

Zhao Bao finally stood up and nodded slightly to Liang Jin in the distance.

Then, with a swift movement, he vanished silently, like a drop of ink dissolving into water, disappearing into the interplay of the newly risen morning light and the shadows of the palace walls.

Liang Jin walked back to the iron cage.

Zhao Yu seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.

Although he was still in prison, the dejection and despair he had felt had vanished, replaced by an excited and hopeful spirit.

He saw Liang Jin, grabbed the iron bars excitedly, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement:
"Liang Jin! Did you hear that?"

"The Grand Eunuch! The Grand Eunuch is willing to lend me a hand!"

"With his good words before the Emperor, my escape from this predicament is just around the corner!"

"No, it's not just about getting out of trouble! It's..."

His eyes gleamed with the flames of ambition, and though he didn't say it outright, the meaning was clear.

Liang Jin simply smiled faintly and did not reply.

emperor?

He was already a cold corpse lying on the dragon bed.

Now, naturally no one would think of killing Zhao Yu anymore.

The real crisis came after the news of the emperor's death was made public!
At that time, those forces that covet the throne will probably eliminate him first, the prince who was once imprisoned by imperial decree but "unexpectedly" gained the support of the eunuch.

What he and Wang Jin had to do was to force Zhao Yu's dilapidated ship to the highest crest of the wave before the monstrous waves rose!

Zhao Yu was completely unaware of what Liang Jin was thinking.

He looked up at the magnificent sunrise, opened his arms as if to embrace the newborn dawn, and spoke with an unprecedented sense of ease and pride:

"A magnificent glow! Liang Jin, did you see it? This is an auspicious sign from heaven! A sign of great prosperity!"

"We...we can definitely succeed!"

Liang Jin also looked up at the blood-red sky, the crimson glow reflected in his deep eyes, but it only revealed a cold determination and urgency.

time is limited!
All his clones must immediately put aside all trivial matters and devote all their efforts to mastering the Heavenly Heart Tribulation!
Even the main body cannot afford to waste a single second on pointless waiting.

Soon, the Imperial Guards, who were changing shifts, arrived with orderly steps.

After Liang Jinli finished the handover, he returned with the crowd to the heavily fortified camp of the Southern Imperial Army.

He went straight to Xue Feng, stuffed the secret letter Zhao Yu had written into his hand, explained the situation, and exchanged no further pleasantries.

He then walked without stopping, passing through the camp, and arrived at the inconspicuous house at the exit of the secret passage.

Inside the residence, Empress Mu Congshuang remained calm, but the worry between her brows deepened.

Liang Jin briefly exchanged information with Ji Fei and Zhao Yiyi, who were in charge of the escort.

Zhao Yiyi's gentle gaze lingered on him, carrying a silent concern.

Clearly, she had a lot to say to Liang Jin and wanted to spend some time with him.

But Liang Jin was single-minded at the moment. He simply nodded and went straight to the backyard, locking himself in the quiet room.

Sit cross-legged and clear your mind of distractions.

Liang Jin's consciousness sank into his body, guiding his surging internal energy to flow endlessly along the mysterious path of the "Sacred Heart Technique," as he devoted himself to cultivating the Heavenly Heart Tribulation.

Time flew by as I immersed myself in my practice.

The light and shadow outside the window moved from dawn to noon, and then gradually slanted westward.

Liang Jin slowly finished his practice as the sun began to set and it approached his turn to be on duty in the afternoon.

He exhaled a long, stale breath, his eyes revealing a hidden glint.

He straightened his armor, pushed open the door, and prepared to return to the Imperial Guard camp to continue his duty at the palace.

Walking on the street back to camp, Liang Jin keenly sensed something unusual.

He slowed his pace, his gaze sweeping like a hawk over the hurried pedestrians, vendors hawking their wares, and residents chatting idly by their doors.

His brows furrowed unconsciously.

"There are too many martial artists... and the number is still increasing."

A warning bell rang in his mind.

Initially, the influx of martial artists into the capital could be explained by the upcoming Sizhou City Martial Arts Conference, which could be seen as a short-term stay.

But now, the density of martial artists on the streets and the sluggish feeling of "setting up camp" clearly indicate that many people intend to stay in the capital for a long time!
This is definitely not a normal phenomenon.

Especially with the throne about to change hands, the gathering of so many martial artists in the capital is enough to raise alarm.

With a thought, Liang Jin quietly brought up the system interface.

Sure enough, the number of glowing dots representing the ninth level of martial arts masters on the radar interface increased significantly.

"It's time to open!"

A cold glint flashed in Liang Jin's eyes.

Without hesitation, he activated [Nine Boundless Realms]!
……

The Nine Realms are boundless, the capital is desolate.

Zuifeng Tower still stands in the center of the illusory street.

Liang Jin thought that today's illusion would pass peacefully as usual, and he would just collect some scattered martial intent.

However, he saw Zhao Bao in Zuifeng Tower.

Zhao Bao's expression was solemn, his brows were furrowed, and his gaze frequently swept towards the door.

He had clearly been waiting there for a long time, his anxiety evident in his words.

A thought struck Liang Jin.

No wonder Zhao Bao didn't go to the Empress's palace to pay his respects today; it turns out he encountered a thorny matter.

He entered Zuifeng Tower without making a sound and found Zhao Bao.

When Zhao Bao saw him, the anxiety in his eyes eased slightly.

He immediately extended his finger, concentrated his inner strength, and quickly carved on the hard wooden tabletop, the characters deep and clear:
"Brother Jin, something's happened! There's been a dramatic upheaval in the imperial court today!"

"Several princes, including the Prince of Pingyang, the Prince of Guangling, and the Prince of Chu, were impeached by multiple censors at the same time. The charges ranged from privately hoarding armor and weapons and seizing farmland to communicating with foreign vassals, and so on!"

"More importantly, the evidence is conclusive, and the chain of witness testimonies and physical evidence is alarmingly complete!"

"The Grand Eunuch has ordered the Imperial Clan Court to detain the princes involved in the case. Those with serious offenses will be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review for strict investigation!"

"At this moment, several princely residences have been jointly sealed off by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Ministry of Justice, and are being thoroughly searched!"

Liang Jin was not surprised when he saw this.

It's as if Wang Jin is clearing obstacles and paving the way for Zhao Yu.

But Zhao Bao's next inscription made his eyes suddenly narrow:
"However, the problem is that this thunderous impeachment was definitely not launched at the behest of the Grand Eunuch!"

"The factory is conducting a full-scale, covert investigation into who is behind this!"

"But the slightest clues and various hints... all subtly point to the current prime minister—Li Qingru!"

Li Qingru!
Liang Jin was startled.

This civil official leader, backed by deeply entrenched powerful clans and with the Six Doors as his protectors, is a giant capable of rivaling Wang Jin! His sudden attack is clearly not aimed at just a few princes!
Liang Jin immediately carved the question on the table:
"In the capital today, how many princes can remain uninvolved?"

The person who benefits the most is naturally the most suspicious.

Zhao Bao's fingertips moved rapidly:

"Zhao You, the Prince of Shanyang, and Zhao Xun, the Prince of Changshan. Only these two!"

The answer is so clear it's almost brutal.

Liang Jin's brows furrowed even more.

The fact that these two people are safe and sound is no accident.

Behind each of them must stand a powerful force coveting that dragon throne!
Next, Zhao You and Zhao Xun will likely have a fierce battle.

Zhao Yu, the "fallen prince" still in the iron cage, has been temporarily overlooked because of his low profile and seemingly harmless nature.

But it could also become the first piece to be crushed in the storm at any time.

Liang Jin carved the following on the table with his fingertips:
"You must protect Zhao Yu!"

Although Zhao Yu appears extremely down on his luck now, who can guarantee that he won't be targeted by someone and assassinated at this time?
After all, Liang Jin can't stay by Zhao Yu's side 24 hours a day right now.

Zhao Bao nodded solemnly and responded with an inscription:
"Don't worry, Brother Jin! The eunuch gave the same instructions."

"We can't send people openly right now, but we're already secretly allocating manpower."

He knew all too well that the storm sweeping through the highest levels of power in the Great Qian Dynasty had reached its most intense and dangerous moment!
The outcome may be decided in the next few days!

After carving this sentence, Zhao Bao's expression did not relax; instead, it became even more solemn as he continued writing:

"There are two other important matters that I have only just learned about."

"Firstly, the eunuch has recently been sparing no expense in secretly recruiting and winning over various martial arts forces to his side! Among them, the most important is the 'Xuanyuan Sect'!"

Xuanyuan Sect?!

Liang Jin's eyes flickered slightly.

This sect is one of the leading martial arts schools of our time, with deep ties to the imperial family and the secret police, possessing profound knowledge and numerous masters.

One of his clones even had contact with an elder of the Xuanyuan Sect.

Zhao Bao wrote:

"According to reliable sources, the Grand Eunuch has already personally written a letter, inviting us with great rewards. The leader of the Xuanyuan Sect has already agreed, and his elite troops will likely arrive in the capital soon!"

"Secondly, there is a newly emerging secretive force—'Green Robe Tower'! This tower originated from the Western Regions Demonic Sect, specializing in assassinations, with elusive movements and ruthless methods!"

"The master of this place, Meng Xinghun, possesses unfathomable martial arts skills and once successfully assassinated Tu Xie Wang, a master of the Black Dragon Empire! This matter is one of the top secrets of the Investigation Bureau, Brother Jin, you must not divulge it!"

"The Grand Eunuch originally intended to ask Meng Xinghun to deal with that elusive and mysterious Grand Master of the Taiping Dao. However, with the situation in the capital suddenly becoming tense, the Grand Eunuch has urgently ordered him to lead the elite of the Green Robe Tower to the capital to provide assistance!"

"Judging by the time, it should be arriving soon!"

Liang Jin looked at this information without much surprise on his face.

Meng Xinghun, the master of Qingyi Tower, is actually his clone!
The envoy sent by the factory manager, the price offered, and the orders that were changed midway had already been transmitted to his consciousness simultaneously through the mysterious connection between his clones.

At this moment, the clone is traveling day and night, rushing towards the capital.

Before long, he will face his alter ego in reality for the first time.

The only regret is that the Great Master of the Way of Peace, in his clone, is trapped by the "crime" of kidnapping the princess and has completely stood on the opposite side of the Investigation Bureau, losing the possibility of being recruited by Wang Jin.

As the emperor's henchman, Wang Jin had no right to arbitrarily "recruit" traitors who harmed members of the royal family.

"If the chief eunuch isn't suitable, perhaps... someone else could be tried?"

Liang Jin's mind raced with thoughts.

If we can find a way to secretly infiltrate the capital with the powerful clone of the Great Teacher, the two powerful clones can support each other.

His ability to protect himself and stir up trouble will be multiplied!
The two quickly exchanged some information and opinions in the illusion before parting ways and returning to reality.

Liang Jin withdrew from the Nine Realms and continued walking towards the Southern Imperial Army camp.

The streets remained bustling, but his mind was completely absorbed in the intelligence he had just acquired and the impending storm.

Currently, the military and the maternal relatives are represented by Mu Canglong, the eunuchs by Wang Jin, and the powerful families by Li Qingru.

These three forces at the very top of the Great Qian Empire are clashing fiercely.

Originally, Wang Jin was an ally of the emperor, but later he even used the emperor to command the feudal lords, making him the most powerful.

But now that the emperor is dead, he has become like a rootless duckweed, and his strength has been greatly reduced.

Mu Canglong, who commands a large army and possesses the greatest deterrent power, is leading his troops in a fierce battle against the Black Dragon Empire in the northern border, making it difficult for him to provide immediate relief.

Within the capital, the civil official group led by Li Qingru has already gained an advantage on the surface... but how long can this advantage last?

Allies and enemies can switch roles at any time when it comes to the supreme position.

These are their rules for the power game.

Liang Jin silently memorized the names and known backgrounds of Zhao You, the Prince of Shanyang, and Zhao Xun, the Prince of Changshan.

He was waiting, waiting for the moment when the Qingyi Tower clone would arrive in the capital.

At that time, he will participate in this grand event with his own set of rules—more direct and more violent!
Soon, the majestic gate of the Southern Imperial Guard camp came into view.

However, the unusual scene outside the camp gate made Liang Jin stop in his tracks.

A very large and luxuriously decorated carriage, pulled by four exceptionally fine white horses, was quietly parked on the open ground beside the camp gate.

The carriage was made entirely of precious sandalwood, with curtains made of Shu brocade worth a fortune, and gilded bells hanging from the four corners, making a crisp yet aloof sound in the breeze.

Around the carriage stood more than ten guards with sharp eyes and bulging temples, their auras heavy and composed, clearly elite fighters.

Liang Jin recognized one of them.

It was Xue Feng!

Xue Feng spotted Liang Jin immediately and quickly went to greet him.

His face showed obvious anxiety, as well as a trace of complex emotions that lingered when facing Liang Jin.

He leaned closer to Liang Jin, his voice extremely low and rapid:
"Liang Jin! You're finally back!"

"His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting in the carriage for quite some time; he has important matters to discuss with me!"

Liang Jin's gaze swept over the carriage that displayed supreme power and wealth, and he understood.

Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang promised that as long as his secret letter arrived, the Crown Prince would personally come to visit.

Liang Jin had promised Zhao Yu that if the young master came looking for him, he would deliver Zhao Yu's message.

He nodded and took a step toward the carriage.

"and many more!"

Xue Feng suddenly reached out and stopped Liang Jin again.

His face held an almost pleading seriousness, and his voice was even lower, almost squeezed out from between his teeth:

"Liang Jin! Listen to me!"

"What is Your Highness's status? For you to condescend to personally wait for a mere banner commander like yourself outside the camp gate is already an immense favor and a great honor!"

"You...you must control your temper! You must never be so impolite and disrespectful to His Highness as you were last time!"

Liang Jin stopped and slowly turned his head to look calmly at Xue Feng.

Those clear eyes made Xue Feng feel a strange pressure.

Liang Jin's voice was not loud, but every word was clear:
“I know you are faithful to your Lord, so I will not hold it against you.”

"But I need to correct you..."

He paused slightly, his tone carrying a cold reminder:

“The one who was truly impolite and unreasonable last time was not me, Liang Jin, but your master, and... you.”

Xue Feng's face flushed red instantly.

A surge of anger, stemming from being offended, rushed to his head, and he almost lost control of his voice:
"Liang Jin! You are utterly unreasonable!"

"What time is it? Are you still getting hung up on these trivial details and arguments?"

"Your Highness wishes to speak of matters of vital importance to the nation and its people!"

"How can you be so muddle-headed? So clueless about the bigger picture? Why do you insist on arguing with me about these pointless things?"

"You're ungrateful! You don't know your place!"

Looking at Xue Feng's face, contorted with agitation, and listening to his furious accusations, Liang Jin chuckled softly.

That smile held no warmth, only a knowing mockery.

Instead of moving forward, he leisurely took a step back, completely widening the distance between himself and the carriage.

He stood there casually, arms crossed, a playful smile on his lips, calmly watching the furious Xue Feng, as if he were watching a farce.

Xue Feng was taken aback by his unusual behavior, then became even more agitated, with veins throbbing on her forehead:
"What...what do you mean by this? Why are you standing still?"

"Get in the car quickly! His Highness has been waiting for far too long! Do you know that?!"

Liang Jin's smile deepened, and he spoke slowly, his voice clearly reaching Xue Feng's ears:

"Means nothing."

"I just suddenly wanted to see whether I was the one 'entangled' with you, or whether you... insisted on 'entangled' with me?"

"You rich and powerful people are ridiculous. You are the ones who need our help, but you act like you're doing us a favor."

He shrugged, his tone as casual as if he were talking about the weather:
“Since Young Master Xue considers it ‘entanglement,’ then perhaps… we should stop entanglement.”

He suddenly turned around, as if to walk into the camp:

"Farewell."

"Please, don't bother me again in the future."

Xue Feng was shocked.

"stop!"

He lunged forward, blocking Liang Jin's path, his voice trembling with shock and anger:

"Liang Jin! What exactly do you want?! What do you want?!"

Liang Jin stopped in his tracks, the smile on his face vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold, oppressive calm.

"What do I want?"

He looked directly into Xue Feng's wide eyes, which were filled with anger and confusion, and said, word by word:

"Okay, then I'll tell you clearly what I want."

“I came to see your young master with sincerity, but you, Xue Feng, as his subordinate, not only failed to introduce him properly, but also made unwarranted accusations against me, spoke rudely, and obstructed me in every way.”

This has already made me very unhappy!

His gaze was sharp as a knife, as if piercing through Xue Feng and striking directly at the ornate carriage:

"The servants are so unruly and have been misbehaved. What is the root cause? It is naturally that the master has failed to supervise and educate them properly!"

Liang Jin's voice suddenly rose, carrying a resolute determination:
"So now, I'm giving you two choices."

"First, as I said, let's part ways and go our separate ways. Don't bother me anymore!"

"second……"

He raised his hand and pointed unabashedly at the rosewood carriage that symbolized supreme power and wealth:

"Let your master, the heir apparent of the Prince of Huaiyang, Zhao Hongyi."

"Get out of the car yourself, walk up to me, and apologize for his lax management of his subordinates and for Xue Feng's rudeness—"

"Apologize to me!"

Xue Feng looked at Liang Jin as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world. He stared at Liang Jin with the eyes of someone looking at a madman or an incomprehensible person.

His face turned from red to green, then from green to white; his chest heaved violently, his lips trembled, and it took him a long time to squeeze out a few words through clenched teeth:
"You...you're insane?! You've lost your mind?!"

A mere Imperial Guard captain actually dared to demand that His Highness the Crown Prince get out of his carriage and apologize to him?!
This is simply the most ridiculous thing in the world!

That's wishful thinking!
however!
Just as Xue Feng was trembling with anger and was about to unleash a furious tirade, he was about to do something drastic.

"Squeak-"

The tightly closed door of that luxurious carriage was slowly pushed open from the inside!

A young man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, wearing a jade crown, with a handsome face but a lingering air of arrogance, stepped off the carriage with slightly stiff movements, supported by the attendants inside.

It was Zhao Hongyi, the heir apparent of the Prince of Huaiyang.

His face was expressionless, but his eyes were complex and unfathomable, containing suppressed anger, humiliation at being offended, and even a hint of...deep-seated incomprehension and caution.

His gaze bypassed the stunned Xue Feng and landed directly on Liang Jin:

"What General Liang said is very true."

"Just now... it was indeed due to my failure to discipline and manage my subordinates properly!"

He took a small breath, easing his clenched fist.

Then, as if making a decision, he took a step forward, bowed slightly to Liang Jin, and said:

"This young master... personally alighted from the carriage to apologize to Commander Liang for Xue Feng's disrespectful behavior!"

(End of this chapter)