I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

"At that time, His Majesty will be furious, and the Blood-Induced Array will be activated, causing great chaos in the capital's fortunes and revealing signs of disaster."

"All of this will serve as irrefutable evidence that Murong Qiming colluded with evil spirits in an attempt to overthrow the dynasty!"

"By then, the entire Murong family will be executed, and that will be the least of their worries!"

"And our Duke Anguo's mansion, having restored order, uncovered the treacherous plot, and turned the tide, deserves the greatest credit!"

The conspiracy in the study was transmitted to Zhao Zian's mind through Xiao Bai's eavesdropping.

At this moment, the deadly trap set by the Duke of Anguo's mansion was no longer a secret.

A moment later, Xiaobai returned, transformed back into a white fox, and jumped into Zhao Zian's arms.

Zhao Zian opened his eyes.

Murong Qingxue watched him nervously from the side.

"Mr. Zhao, what have you discovered?"

Zhao Zian stroked Xiaobai's soft fur and exported all the information he had just obtained.

With each additional word she spoke, Murong Qingxue's face grew paler.

"How dare they...how could they!"

If it weren't for Zhao Zian, the Murong family would have been doomed in three days!

"Why wouldn't you dare?"

"In their eyes, your Murong family is nothing more than a stepping stone on their path to higher power."

"What's so daring about crushing a stone?"

He stood up, walked to the table, picked up a pen, and quickly began to sketch on the white paper.

That's a simplified topographical map of the Temple of Heaven.

He accurately pointed out nine locations.

"Play along? No."

Zhao Zian's lips curled up.

"This plan is too petty and too dirty."

"Since Li Shengde likes to sing opera, I will help him build a bigger stage."

"Give him a surprise that he'll never expect."

"Mr. Zhao...this...this is too risky!"

Murong Qingxue's voice trembled.

"The Temple of Heaven is heavily guarded; infiltrating it is already a near-certain death situation, let alone tampering with the grand formation!"

"That Blood-Attracting Array is an ancient and deadly array. A slight misstep will backfire, causing your soul to be scattered!"

Zhao Zian chuckled softly.

"Don't worry, to me, that's not a fierce formation, it's raw material."

"Li Shengde only knows one side of the story, not the other."

"The foundation of the Blood-Guiding Array is to leverage the spiritual energy of heaven and earth with the essence and blood of living beings."

"He wants to use it to bring disaster, but I can use it to bring good fortune."

"Which one to activate depends on the array master's skill, and he's... nowhere near that level."

He turned around, his gaze falling on Murong Qingxue's still-shaken pretty face.

"As for evidence, a combination of truth and falsehood is the killer move."

"He likes to forge documents, doesn't he? I'll show him what it's like to be caught red-handed."

Zhao Zian's plan was simple and brutal.

The first step is to change the formation.

The second step is to renew the license.

The third step is to lure the enemy into the trap.

"noob."

He stroked the head of the little fox in his arms.

"You'll have to work hard tonight. First, go to the Murong residence, then explore the Duke of Anguo's mansion."

Little White let out a sob.

"After it's done."

Zhao Zian looked at Murong Qingxue.

"Minister Murong will know how to choose."

……

Three days later, the grand ceremony to worship Heaven will be held.

The Temple of Heaven's Circular Mound Altar is solemn and dignified, with banners fluttering in the breeze.

The Great Qian Emperor sat high under the canopy, with civil and military officials lined up on both sides.

Murong Qiming, as the Minister of Rites, is the chief officiant today.

Dressed in elaborate sacrificial robes, he solemnly read the eulogy.

Zhao Zian and Murong Qingxue stood on the periphery of the crowd watching the ceremony.

Murong Qingxue stared at Duke Anguo, Li Shengde, who was standing at the front of the officials.

Everything was unfolding according to his script.

When Murong Qiming read the end of the eulogy.

"...May Heaven bestow blessings upon the Great Qian Dynasty forever!"

It's now!

Li Shengde took a step forward and knelt down before the emperor with a thud!

"Your Majesty! I am guilty!"

"I failed in my duty, allowing treacherous officials to infiltrate the court and wreak havoc on the nation. I am guilty beyond reproach, even if I were to die a thousand deaths!"

This astonishing kneeling caused an uproar throughout the venue.

Emperor Murong De frowned.

"Duke Anguo, what do you mean by that?"

Li Shengde suddenly looked up and pointed at Murong Qiming!

"Your Majesty! It's him!"

"Murong Qiming, Minister of Rites, colluded with the Moon Worship Cult."

"They intend to commit treacherous acts during the sacrificial ceremony to overthrow our great Qian Dynasty!"

"You're spouting nonsense!"

Murong Qiming was so angry that he trembled all over.

"Li Shengde, how dare you slander an official appointed by the imperial court!"

"Stain?"

Li Shengde sneered and pulled out a memorial from his pocket.

"Your Majesty, I have already ascertained that Murong Qiming was in cahoots with the leader of the Moon Worship Cult; the evidence is irrefutable!"

"Your Majesty, I implore you to order a search of the Murong residence; we are sure to find evidence of their crimes!"

The Imperial Censor Wang and others he had arranged immediately stepped forward to second the motion.

"Please, Your Majesty, make a wise judgment!"

"Investigate Murong Qiming thoroughly to uphold the law!"

The emperor looked at Murong Qiming with suspicion in his eyes.

Just then, something unexpected happened!

Boom!

A deafening explosion reverberated in everyone's mind.

It is the sound of solemn bells and chimes!

Everyone looked up at the sky.

The once clear sky was now enveloped in a blinding golden light!

Above the Circular Mound Altar, the fortune of the capital city was drawn together by a force, converging and transforming into a golden canopy!

Auspicious purple clouds travel 30,000 miles eastward!

Auspicious clouds rolled across the sky!

A peaceful atmosphere swept over everyone, cleansing their minds and bodies.

The emperor, seated high above, felt a warm current flow through his entire body.

The fatigue from years of reviewing memorials vanished, and even a lingering ailment from a few years ago seemed to have healed.

"This...this is..."

"Auspicious omen! An auspicious omen has descended from heaven!"

"Dragons and phoenixes bring good fortune, and purple clouds rise from the east! This is an omen of great prosperity! Heaven blesses our great Qian Dynasty!"

The officials were initially shocked.

Li Shengde was completely dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at the sky.

What about the Blood-Guiding Array?

What happened to the promised natural disaster?

What about the earth shaking, flying sand and stones, and thunder and lightning?

Why did it turn out like this?! Why?!

At this moment, Murong Qiming, who had been silent all along, also came to his senses from the shock.

He didn't know what had happened.

But he knew that this was definitely not the illicit affair that Li Shengde had described!

The emperor stood up from the dragon throne and laughed loudly.

"Good! Good! Good! May Heaven bless the Great Qian!"

"Minister Murong has rendered meritorious service in presiding over the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven; he deserves a reward!"

Li Shengde's heart sank to the bottom.

It’s over.

It's all over.

His deadly scheme actually turned into the enemy's achievement!

How is this possible! Where exactly did things go wrong?

Just as he was feeling lost and disoriented, a witness he had arranged suddenly rushed out.

He knelt down with a thud, pointing at Li Shengde.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please investigate! It was the Duke of Anguo! It was the Duke of Anguo who forced this humble subject to falsely accuse Lord Murong!"

"He said he would create disaster during the sacrificial ceremony and then frame Lord Murong for it."

"He said this is called...this is called setting things right!"

The entire room fell silent.

All eyes were on Li Shengde.

Zhao Zian nodded in a certain direction from the crowd.

One of the Imperial Guard commanders, whom he had already gotten to know through Su Mei, immediately understood.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting to the emperor, and said...

"Your Majesty, I suspect that the Duke of Anguo is plotting something sinister and intends to disrupt the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven. I request that Your Majesty order a search of the Duke of Anguo's residence!"

The emperor's gaze had turned cold.

The auspicious signs made him deeply believe in destiny.

Li Shengde's behavior at this moment contrasts sharply with his earlier accusations.

"allow!"

The emperor's voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Order the Imperial Guards to immediately seal off the Duke of Anguo's residence, and search it inch by inch for me!"

"As you command!"

The Imperial Guards departed.

Li Shengde collapsed to the ground.

Not only did he fail to bring down Murong Qiming, but he also pushed himself into the abyss!

Less than half an hour later, the commander of the Imperial Guards returned on horseback.

"Your Majesty!"

"Secret letters in which the Duke of Anguo colluded with the Moon Worship Cult were found in a secret room in his study."

"And... multiple cult artifacts! Caught red-handed!"

The emperor stepped down from the high platform and walked step by step to Li Shengde, looking at him.

"What a brilliant move to set things right, what a remarkable turn of events!"

"Li Shengde, what else do you have to say?"

Li Shengde was ashen-faced.

"Drag it away!"

The emperor suddenly flicked his sleeve.

"Lord Anguo, Li Shengde, and all his cronies have been imprisoned in the Imperial Prison to await their fate!"

With the sealing up of the Duke of Anguo's mansion, Li Shengde's entire faction fell from power.

The turmoil in the capital gradually subsided.

After this incident, Murong Qiming received even greater favor from the emperor.

Zhao Zian, on the other hand, also gained a firm foothold in the capital.

A few days later, Murong Qiming personally paid a visit to Zhao Zian.

Inside the study, the two sat facing each other and talked.

Murong Qiming knew very well that without Zhao Zian's planning and secret assistance, he would not have achieved his current success.

During the conversation, Zhao Zian mentioned Murong Qingxue.

Murong Qiming glanced at Zhao Zian and finally nodded.

He promised not to interfere with Murong Qingxue's free choice.

Having received Murong Qiming's promise, Zhao Zian felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders.

He found a house in the capital.

Although not as luxurious as the mansions of dukes and marquises, it was spacious and comfortable enough to accommodate a family.

After everything settled down, Zhao Zian set off back to Liuxi Town.

When he appeared in front of Li Suqin and Li Hongyun, the two could hardly believe their eyes.

Li Suqin was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes.

Li Hongyun was even more excited and kept pestering Zhao Zian with questions.

After getting ready, Zhao Zian, along with his sister-in-law and younger sister, boarded a carriage bound for the capital.

The carriage left Liuxi Town and headed towards the capital.

Zhao Zian sat in the car, watching the scenery outside the window gradually recede into the distance.

This is just the beginning; a wider world awaits him in the capital.