The Empress has abandoned me? I'll support a new emperor and destroy your kingdom!

Around the courtyard walls and the alleyway they had just rushed into, a large number of men wielding crossbows, wearing leather armor, and with cold eyes suddenly emerged. They were the most elite veterans of Blackwater Town under Zhao Jianing's command!

The crossbow bolts were nocked, their cold glint flashing, completely surrounding the "Night Owl" assassins in the courtyard and alley.

At the same time, a figure in a blue robe appeared above the courtyard wall.

Su Che stood with his hands behind his back, calmly looking down at the "Night Owl" assassins struggling like trapped beasts, as if they were a group of ants.

"Lay down your weapons, and you may be allowed to die a complete death." Su Che's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every assassin.

The leader of the "Night Owls" looked on in despair, then turned to madness, roaring, "Kill!" and leading his men in a final desperate fight.

Their answer was the cold, dense sound of crossbow bolts piercing the air, like a swarm of locusts.

The main battlefield is Liuyin Lane.

With the addition of Zhao Jianing's troops and "Di Ting" personnel, and the elimination or escape of Blood Shadow Tower assassins, the battle situation became a one-sided crushing defeat.

Although the "Night Owl" assassins were fierce and brave, they were quickly divided and annihilated under the overwhelming superiority of their troops, meticulous planning, and the overwhelming advantage of the terrain.

Deputy Commander Feng and the remaining palace guards were dumbfounded.

They had never seen such efficient, ruthless, and perfectly coordinated killing.

Who exactly are these suddenly appearing reinforcements?

The battle ended quickly.

Dozens of corpses lay scattered in the alley, their blood staining the bluestone slabs red.

Zhao Jianing was leading his men to quickly clean up the battlefield, collect weapons, finish off the surviving victims, and swiftly remove their own casualties. The whole process was so fast it was almost impossible to keep up.

The owl leaped down from the roof of the carriage, came to the window, and whispered, "Your Highness, the thieves have been eliminated. Please move on; this place is not safe to stay any longer."

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Yun Jin, though slightly pale, looked calm as she stepped out of the carriage with Qing Dai's help.

She glanced at the mess and corpses on the ground, her brows furrowing slightly, but she didn't say anything. Under the protection of Night Owl and the regrouped guards, she quickly boarded another carriage that had been prepared in advance and was completely undamaged.

"Return to the residence," Yun Jin ordered briefly.

The convoy set off again, speeding away from the alleyway where a bloody battle had just taken place.

Only a small number of people were left to handle the aftermath, and the Lin Yuan government office was "notified".

……

The First Prince's residence, a secret room.

Yun Jie was as restless as an ant on a hot pan.

Mr. Jia also frowned, constantly looking towards the door.

"Why haven't we heard anything yet?!" Yun Jie growled irritably. "The entire 'Night Owl' team has been mobilized, along with the Blood Shadow Tower's top assassins. Does it really take this long to deal with Yun Jin?!"

"Your Highness, please rest assured, perhaps... perhaps there will be some delays on the way," Mr. Jia comforted him, but a sense of foreboding lingered in his heart.

According to the plan, there should have been good news or at least news by now.

"Report—!" A trusted aide scrambled into the secret room, his face deathly pale. "Your Highness! Something terrible has happened! Willow Shade Alley... Willow Shade Alley..."

"What happened in Willow Shade Lane? Tell me quickly!" Yun Jie grabbed his collar.

"The entire army...the entire army has been wiped out! Of the forty-seven members of 'Night Owl,' not a single one survived! Of the five assassins from Blood Shadow Tower, four were killed and one was captured! Princess Jingguo...the princess's carriage is unharmed and she has returned safely to her residence! The people from Lin Yuan Prefecture...have arrived at the scene and are currently clearing the area..."

"Pfft—!" Yun Jie was struck as if by a heavy blow. He suddenly released his grip, staggered back several steps, and spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his chest red. His vision went black, and he fell backward.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!" Mr. Jia and his confidants hurriedly helped him up.

Yun Jie's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, his eyes filled with unbelievable terror, rage, and... a chilling coldness.

Forty-seven elite "Night Owls" were wiped out! The Blood Shadow Tower assassins were almost completely annihilated!

How is this possible?! Just how terrifying is the power hidden around Yun Jin?!

Those weren't guards! Those were soldiers! Elite troops who had weathered mountains of corpses and seas of blood!

And that "Mr. Su"... He didn't even show his face, yet he lost his most capable henchman!

"Investigate...investigate for me..." Yun Jie hissed, his voice like a broken bellows, "Those people who suddenly appeared...that Mr. Su...who...is he?!"

Before he could finish speaking, another urgent report came through.

"Your Highness! Urgent dispatch! Military situation in the Northern Frontier! The Northern Di King, Luandi Modu, has personally led 50,000 cavalry in a fierce attack on Shuofeng City! The city's commander has been killed in battle, and the city's defenses are in dire need of reinforcements! We request the court to send reinforcements immediately!"

Northern Frontier! Shuofeng City is in grave danger!

Yun Jie's vision went black again, and he almost fainted.

Internal troubles were not yet resolved when external threats arrived! And it happened when he was at his most vulnerable and weakest!

"Your Highness! Your Highness, take care!" Mr. Jia hurriedly pinched his philtrum.

Yun Jie was panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot.

It's all over... It's all over! The assassination failed, the elite troops were wiped out, and war has broken out again in the northern frontier.

He seemed to see the position of crown prince slipping further and further away from him.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Emperor Yunhong received two urgent reports almost simultaneously.

A report came from the prefect of Linyuan, who was trembling with fear: Princess Jingguo had been the target of a large-scale assassination attempt in Willow Shade Lane. Fortunately, the princess's guards fought desperately and wiped out all the intruders. The princess was unharmed and had returned to her residence to calm her nerves.

Dozens of black-clad corpses were found at the scene, their weapons of unusual design, suggesting they were highly trained assassins.

The other document was an urgent request for aid from Shuofeng City, forwarded by the Ministry of War.

The emperor looked at the two reports and remained silent for a long time. Only his heavy breathing could be heard in the hall.

The assassination in Willow Shade Lane—who was behind it is self-evident.

Such a scale, such ruthlessness—this is an attempt to kill Yun Jin!

Yun Jin not only emerged unharmed, but also annihilated the intruders. The guards around her, or rather, the power behind her, were terrifyingly strong.

The invasion of the Northern Barbarians only compounded the problem. If Shuofeng City fell, the gateway to the northern frontier would be wide open, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Issue the imperial decree," the emperor finally spoke, his voice hoarse and cold, "Princess Jingguo has been frightened. The Imperial Medical Bureau is to send its best physicians to the palace to treat her, and bestow upon her calming medicines. All expenses shall be drawn from the Imperial Treasury, ensuring that the princess rests properly."

"Order the Ministry of War and the Five Military Commands to immediately convene a meeting at the palace! The war in the northern frontier is of utmost urgency!"

"Furthermore," a ruthless glint flashed in the Emperor's eyes, "order the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to jointly investigate the Liuyin Lane assassination case! Investigate it for me! Find the mastermind behind it, and whoever is involved, punish them severely!"

"yes!"

The eunuch obeyed and left. The emperor sat alone in the empty hall, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest of the dragon throne, his gaze unfathomable.

Internally, there was a power struggle and assassination attempt; externally, a powerful enemy was knocking on the gates.

This land, this imperial court, is already filled with the impending storm.

And what role will Princess Jingguo, who has just returned safely from the bloodshed, and the mysterious "Mr. Su" behind her play in this escalating storm?

The emperor's brows furrowed deeply.