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

Chapter 640 New Information
When Xue Feng heard that the Crown Prince Zhao Hongyi had actually agreed and even personally apologized to Liang Jin, he was shocked.

This struck him like a thunderbolt, and he froze on the spot!
The next second, he snapped back to his senses, his face drained of color, and he was so anxious that he almost lunged forward to stop him:

"Your Highness! Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"

His voice trembled with extreme shock and humiliation:

"You are a prince of immense wealth and status! It is already an immense favor that you have come to seek him out in person! How... how can you bow down and apologize to such a lowly official?"

"This...this is utterly upside down, a violation of all moral principles! If word gets out, how will the Prince's Mansion save face?!"

Zhao Hongyi suddenly raised his hand, his movement carrying an undeniable decisiveness, forcefully stopping Xue Feng's lunging figure.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger and humiliation surging in his eyes, and forced a very strained, even somewhat distorted smile onto his face, his gaze piercing Liang Jin like needles:

"General Manager Liang, are you satisfied now?"

Each word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying a heavy weight.

Liang Jin simply stood there quietly, meeting Zhao Hongyi's almost fiery gaze, and slowly and firmly shook his head.

There was even a faint, infuriatingly amused smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

This silent rejection, like the last straw, completely broke Xue Feng's taut nerves!

He could no longer stand by and watch the Crown Prince suffer such a humiliating disgrace!
A surge of courage and valor rushed to the top of his head.

He suddenly took a step forward, his eyes bloodshot, and before Zhao Hongyi and Liang Jin could react, he swung his large, fan-like hand and slapped himself hard across the face with all his might!
"Snapped--!!!"

A crisp, loud slap rang out in front of the silent camp gate!

The force was so great that half of Xue Feng's cheek swelled up instantly, and a trickle of blood even seeped from the corner of her mouth.

He endured the dizziness and excruciating pain, his voice hoarse, carrying an almost tragic resolve:

"Liang Jin! Isn't that enough?!"

"It's my fault, Xue Feng, for looking down on people! It's my fault, Xue Feng, for not knowing the rules! I've offended you! If you want to fight or kill, come at me!"

He pointed to his swollen face, his eyes wide open, staring intently at Liang Jin:

"The fault lies entirely with me, Xue Feng! It has nothing to do with His Highness! I beg you... please stop making things difficult for His Highness!"

His act of slapping himself in the face was less an apology and more a form of extreme moral blackmail.

She attempted to sacrifice her own life to preserve the crown prince's dignity.

Liang Jin stared coldly at the glaring handprint and the seeping blood on Xue Feng's face, his eyes showing no emotion, only undisguised disgust.

He scoffed, his voice icy:

"So what if you apologize?"

"So what if you slap yourself?"

"You think this will make you seem loyal, force me to comply, and make me have no choice but to forgive you?"

He shook his head, his tone utterly contemptuous:
"Xue Feng, give me a break. I, Liang Jin, don't fall for that!"

As Zhao Hongyi watched Liang Jin's unyielding and relentless pressure, his chest heaved violently, and the last shred of composure he had been maintaining crumbled.

He gritted his teeth, his voice low and menacing, like a volcano about to erupt:

"Then...I wonder, General Liang, what exactly do you... want to be satisfied?!"

Every word contained an impending outburst of anger.

Liang Jin's gaze finally shifted from Xue Feng to Zhao Hongyi's handsome face, which was slightly contorted with humiliation. A smile of interest curved his lips.

"Your Highness apologized for your lax management of your subordinates, and I accept that."

His tone shifted abruptly, and his gaze suddenly sharpened:

"However, Your Highness seems to have forgotten something else."

"Last time, when I, Liang Jin, personally paid a visit, how did Your Highness 'treat' me and my friends?"

"If I hadn't had someone help me, I probably wouldn't have been able to leave standing up that day, and I might even have lost my life."

"Your Highness, shouldn't you also apologize for this?"

Xue Feng could no longer hold back and roared in a hoarse voice:

"Liang Jin! You're pushing your luck and going too far!"

His hand was already on the hilt of the knife at his waist!

This is an absolute and blatant insult!

However, to Xue Feng's and all the guards' surprise.

Zhao Hongyi's body stiffened abruptly, then he slowly bent over again!
He faced Liang Jin, clasped his hands in a fist salute, his movements so precise they were almost rigid, yet his voice carried an extreme, suppressed calm:
"General Manager Liang... is right."

He paused, as if every word was burning his throat:

"It was Hongyi... young and ignorant, who neglected General Manager Liang and... that young lady last time."

"Hongyi...I apologize on his behalf!"

He bowed deeply:
"Please forgive me, General Liang... and please convey Hongyi's apologies to that young lady."

Looking at the Crown Prince's back, which was almost bent at a ninety-degree angle, Xue Feng felt a rush of heat to his head and his vision go black.

His heart was in turmoil. What exactly was written in the prince's secret letter?!

How could such a proud and arrogant prince be willing to endure such a humiliating disgrace?!

Where exactly does Liang Jin get his skills?!
Looking at Zhao Hongyi's lowered head and tense back, Liang Jin finally nodded in satisfaction, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing the weather:

"Wouldn't it be better if it was like this earlier?"

"To save everyone from wasting so much time and causing so much trouble, which would make everyone... unhappy."

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken a step and walked straight up to Zhao Hongyi.

Zhao Hongyi was about to straighten up.

Liang Jin's seemingly casual hand had already gently pressed on his left shoulder.

"Well!"

Zhao Hongyi felt an unimaginable, immense force suddenly pressing down on him!

That wasn't brute force, but rather contained a kind of cold, heavy, terrifying will that seemed capable of freezing blood and crushing bones!
His back, which had just straightened, was bent back down instantly by the force of that hand, just like a fragile reed!

He tried his best to stand up straight, but his legs felt like they were made of lead, and his kneecaps groaned softly as he struggled to bear the weight.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner shirt!

Just as Zhao Hongyi's face turned pale, almost crushed by the invisible pressure.

Liang Jin leaned slightly forward, his lips almost touching his earlobe, and whispered slowly, in a voice only the two of them could hear, like the friction of ice:

"His Royal Highness..."

"You should be glad..."

“Your father and I... are standing on the same side.”

"otherwise……"

Liang Jin's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a faint hint of killing intent:
"You no longer have the chance to stand here... and apologize to me."

hiss!
Zhao Hongyi gasped sharply!
A bone-chilling cold instantly shot from the tailbone to the top of the head!
His blood seemed to freeze at that moment!
Liang Jin's words were calm, yet they were like a cold dagger, precisely piercing through all his pride and pretense, reaching the depths of his soul!

This is no exaggeration or intimidation!

He could clearly sense the undisguised, deadly threat and murderous intent behind those words!
Just as Zhao Hongyi was trembling violently and almost suffocating, the mountain-like pressure on his shoulder suddenly disappeared.

Liang Jin had already withdrawn his hand, and his face had returned to that harmless and relaxed smile, as if the terrifying oppression and whispers from just now had never happened.

Zhao Hongyi felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He staggered back a step, panting heavily, and looked at Liang Jin with eyes full of fear, anger, and an indescribable... terror.

He clenched his teeth so tightly that a faint taste of blood filled his mouth.

He still finds it hard to believe that he was actually threatened by a mere flag commander!
Liang Jin, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He clapped his hands and walked straight to the luxurious rosewood carriage, his tone light and cheerful:
"Your Highness, let's get in the carriage."

"His message can only be given to you alone."

As he spoke, he unceremoniously reached out and pulled open the heavy car door, then bent down and climbed inside.

His movements were so natural, as if he were the master of the place. The maids who had been standing in the carriage were startled and gasped, hurriedly lifting their skirts and running off the carriage.

Zhao Hongyi stood there, his face so dark it could drip water, his chest heaving violently, staring intently at the slightly swaying carriage curtain.

Xue Feng and his guards fell silent, barely breathing. They could clearly feel the almost tangible rage and humiliation emanating from the prince.

A few breaths later, Zhao Hongyi's lips suddenly twitched upwards, emitting two low and eerie laughs:

"Hehe...hehe..."

The laughter was filled with resentment and a near-mad, repressed energy.

Immediately afterwards, the gloom on his face vanished, and miraculously, a relaxed, even somewhat enthusiastic smile appeared on his face, as if nothing had ever happened.

He straightened his robes, walked towards the carriage, bent down, and crawled inside.

The heavy car door slammed shut, isolating the inside from the outside.

No one knows what kind of conversation took place between the two people of vastly different social statuses inside that narrow yet luxurious carriage.

Time seemed to pass in a fleeting instant, yet also felt incredibly long. "Squeak—"

When the carriage door opened again, Liang Jin nimbly jumped off the carriage, landing silently.

He didn't even glance back at the carriage, nor did he pay any attention to Xue Feng's complicated expression beside him.

He simply straightened his ordinary Imperial Guard uniform, then strode towards the camp gate without looking back, his figure quickly disappearing behind the imposing gate.

Xue Feng rushed to the car door and anxiously whispered:

"Your Highness?!"

The carriage was deathly silent, save for the two chilling words uttered by Zhao Hongyi, words that seemed to be squeezed out from the deepest hell:
"Go back to home!"

The carriage slowly started moving, rolling over the bluestone road, heading towards the prince's residence.

Xue Feng stood there, watching the carriage disappear into the distance, her heart filled with worry.

He could imagine how unpleasant the prince's face must be inside the carriage.

However, he was responsible for guarding the palace, so he could only suppress his worries and turn around to walk quickly towards the palace.

……

Southern Forbidden Army Camp.

Liang Jin has already returned to his tent.

He was methodically tidying up his armor and sword, the clanging of the metal parts adding a touch of grimness to the silent tent.

His movements were steady, his eyes calm, as if the thrilling conflict outside the camp gate had never happened.

Just then, the information panel in front of him, invisible to others, silently updated its contents:
[Complete sect missions today: 5]

[Amount of information available: 5]

[Intelligence 1: Zhen Lei, the leader of the Four Great Constables, is galloping back to the capital. He is in turmoil, torn between the blood feud of his clan's annihilation and the decades of nurturing he received from the Six Doors. If one can help him untangle this knot, he may offer his full assistance, forging a heavy debt of gratitude.]

[Intelligence 2: First-Class Imperial Bodyguard Xu Long has received a secret decree from the Empress, ordering him to kill Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang! Xu Long knows this is a self-destructive act, so he seeks out his nephew, Xu Xu, the commander of the Imperial Guard's Xiliu Battalion, and lures him with a large reward, strictly ordering him to seize the opportunity to end Zhao Yu's life while on duty tonight!]

[Intelligence 3: Prime Minister Li Qingru has secretly invited Shen Wujiu, the chief constable of the Six Doors, and Tong Shan, the commander of the Northern Imperial Guard, to meet secretly tonight at Qingquan Villa in Kongxin Mountain outside the city. The three will discuss the sudden changes in the capital and probe each other's true stances.]

[Intelligence 4: Wan Shanglou, the head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, is secretly following the Qingyilou troupe and will arrive in the capital together at dawn. Having heard that the newly appointed third head, Zhao Bao, is deeply favored by the Bureau Chief and is enjoying great success, Wan Shanglou is filled with resentment and has decided to find an opportunity upon returning to the capital to give this rising star a lesson he will never forget, letting him know who truly reigns supreme among the four heads of the Criminal Investigation Bureau!]

[Intelligence 5: Wen Sanzhu, the henchman of the Heaven and Earth Hall, is huddled in the cellar of the Xu family mansion in Wusan Lane, Beijing, drenched in cold sweat, gripped by terror. The Hall Master has given a strict order: Begin at this hour, wreak havoc in the capital! Wen Sanzhu knows this is a crime punishable by the extermination of his entire family and wants to escape, but the thought of the Heaven and Earth Hall's ruthless methods of hunting down traitors fills him with dread, his heart breaking. If you can help him escape safely, you can gain his unwavering loyalty.]

Liang Jin was slightly surprised to see this; there were actually five pieces of intelligence today.

However, he quickly realized that he had completed two extra Imperial Guard missions last night, so he naturally had two more intelligence reports than usual.

Liang Jin was roughly aware of the first piece of intelligence.

Two days ago, Zhen Lei did indeed find Liang Jin's clone, the Great Master of the Way of Peace, and also met Shen Cangming, confirming his identity as a survivor of the Youhuan Clan.

Liang Jin, the Great Teacher of Virtue, had also invited Zhen Lei to seek justice for the Youhuan Clan, intending to recruit Zhen Lei into his ranks.

However, Zhen Lei was in a state of turmoil and refused Liang Jin's invitation, choosing instead to leave.

Liang Jin could understand this.

Although the imperial court harbored hatred towards Zhen Lei for the extermination of his clan, he was raised by the court from childhood and received the power and status bestowed upon him by the court. Even his martial arts skills and abilities were taught by the Six Doors.

His life for decades was a gift from the imperial court, and it would be difficult to give up these things in a short period of time.

But Liang Jin knew that Zhen Lei would soon understand.

Liang Jin learned from Wang Jin that Emperor Taizu Zhao Wuji spared Zhen Lei's life so that one day he could use Zhen Lei's bloodline to lift the curse on the royal family.

Perhaps when Zhen Lei learns the truth, he will be able to make up his mind.

The second piece of information was both reasonable and unexpected.

"These people are really quick."

Liang Jin couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Just an hour ago, he told Zhao Bao in the Nine Realms that someone might harm Zhao Yu and that Zhao Yu needed to be protected.

But who would have thought that so soon, someone would be planning to attack Zhao Yu in the middle of the night.

However, now that we know who intended to kill Zhao Yu, dealing with them becomes much easier.

Liang Jin didn't pay much attention to the third piece of information.

Those in power are playing their games according to their own rules, which has little to do with Liang Jin at the moment.

The fourth piece of intelligence is related to Zhao Bao, and Liang Jin plans to give Zhao Bao a hint when he has time.

What truly concerned Liang Jin was the fifth piece of intelligence!

"Making a scene in the capital?"

"Does this Heaven and Earth Hall have such audacity?"

Liang Jin knew a little about Tianditang.

They are an organization that spans multiple regions of the Great Qian Dynasty, specializing in recruiting desperate outlaws from the martial arts world. They operate on a "pay-to-do" basis, providing services specifically for the wealthy and powerful, and are willing to do any dirty work, including murder, extortion, blackmail, kidnapping, and arson.

Miao Yuanzheng, a member of the Taiping Dao, once held a low-ranking position as a knife-wielder in the Tianditang. He later secretly left the Tianditang and retired to Taiyang County. After joining the Taiping Dao, his identity was recognized.

Liang Jin had originally prepared for the Heaven and Earth Hall to come and cause trouble for Miao Yuanzheng. According to the hall's rules, Miao Yuanzheng would be hunted down to death.

However, Tian Di Tang was also a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. After seeing the power of Taiping Dao, they never bothered Miao Yuanzheng.

Ultimately, it comes down to the Tianditang's insufficient strength.

Although their backgrounds are complex, it is precisely because they are too complex that they can easily recruit mediocre people, but find it difficult to recruit truly skilled individuals.

In addition, they are despised by the righteous sects of the martial arts world, making it difficult for them to appear in the public eye, and they can only make a living in the shadows.

But who would have thought that they would actually end up in the capital?

And... they even tried to cause trouble in the capital?!

This forced Liang Jin to re-emphasize the third piece of intelligence he had previously overlooked:

"The leaders of the Six Doors and the Northern Imperial Guard, who are responsible for maintaining security and order in the capital, are not in the capital tonight."

"If someone were to cause trouble at this time... it would probably create a huge commotion!"

"The timing of the Heaven and Earth Hall's plan to cause trouble is too coincidental; it is probably a deliberate arrangement by someone."

Unfortunately, the intelligence only revealed the fear of Wen Sanzhu, a low-level knife wielder.

The true schemes, scale, specific goals, and mastermind behind the Heaven and Earth Hall remain shrouded in mystery.

How many forces will be involved in this chaos tonight?
How wide will the impact be?

What level of damage would it cause?
Everything is still unknown.

Liang Jin frowned.

The waters of the capital are deeper and more murky than he had anticipated!

His only concern was whether this premeditated chaos would affect the residence where Empress Mu Congshuang was hiding.

However, the thought of Ji Fei being there and the backup plan he had prepared in the locked room of that mansion made him feel somewhat at ease.

"That's it!"

Liang Jin took a deep breath, suppressing his chaotic thoughts, and his eyes regained their firmness and coldness:
"No matter how they scheme, I'll just follow my own plan and pace."

At this moment——

"Woo——!!!"

A deep, resonant bugle call suddenly shattered the silence of the camp!
This is a signal to assemble!
A glint flashed in Liang Jin's eyes. Without further hesitation, he quickly donned his armor, fastened his waist knife, and strode out of the tent, joining the flow of people heading towards the training ground.

Once the Imperial Guards had formed ranks, they marched toward the palace with orderly, heavy steps, like a black torrent of iron, at the command of their officers.

The palace walls stood tall, and dusk deepened.

Liang Jin completed the handover with the previous Imperial Guards and stood firm at his familiar post like a rock.

Inside the iron cage, Prince Zhao Yu of Huaiyang remained in a good mood.

He was enthusiastically recounting to Liang Jin his "great achievements" in governing his fiefdom and his "brilliant and capable" youth, his face beaming with boundless anticipation and pride for the future.

He was completely unaware that someone was plotting to take his life that night.

Time slipped away second by second amidst Zhao Yu's incessant chatter.

The shadows of the palace walls lengthened slowly as the moon moved, and a deeper night enveloped the earth.

All was silent except for the faint sound of a wooden clapper in the distance and the monotonous footsteps of patrolling soldiers, which made this corner of the palace seem even more eerily quiet.

At this time of night, when all things are asleep and exhausted, it is precisely when people's hearts are most relaxed and darkness is most active.

at last.

Several figures were slowly approaching from a distance.

Liang Jin's gaze, like that of a hawk in the dark, had already locked onto these uninvited guests.

A cold, knowing smile curved his lips.

"finally come."

(End of this chapter)