Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

Book lovers are all in the discussion area, chatting about the charm of fantasy novels.

Inside the study of the Second Prince's residence.

The sandalwood incense wafted upwards, but it couldn't suppress the somber atmosphere that filled the room.

Li Chengze leaned back in a cushioned rosewood chair, toying with a lustrous mutton-fat jade teacup in his hand, his expression as calm as a still pond.

"Your Highness," Zhao Gao's voice was like two rusty iron plates rubbing together, hoarse yet carrying a chilling calm, "starting at midnight last night, a total of 137 assassination attempts occurred in the capital. Our men have been lying in wait, observing. The perpetrators were extremely clean and efficient, leaving no survivors, not even a trace of struggle was erased. They split into twelve small teams, retreating from Yonghe Ward in the east of the city, Anping Lane in the south, and other places. Without exception, the last place they disappeared was…"

Zhao Gao paused, lowered his eyelids slightly, and uttered four words: "The direction of the imperial city."

The curve of Li Chengze's lips slowly widened, forming an extremely mocking sneer. He gently placed the teacup in his hand on the table, making a crisp "tap" sound.

"Just as I expected." Li Chengze's voice was as gentle as if he were discussing the weather. "That high and mighty Emperor has finally lost his temper. He's going to overturn the chessboard and crush the pieces along with it."

Just then, a series of hurried and disorderly footsteps suddenly came from outside the study, accompanied by suppressed exclamations and attempts to stop the guards.

"Get out of here! All of you, get out of here!"

With a sharp, angry shout, the ornate carved wooden door of the study was violently pushed open. A fragrant breeze, mixed with a chilling cold, swept into the room.

At this moment, Li Yunrui could no longer maintain her usual aloof, mad, and charming composure. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and a few strands of hair clung to her pale, paper-like cheeks.

On the hem of that magnificent palace dress, there were even a few drops of dark red bloodstains that had splashed from who-knows-where.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her chest was heaving violently, like a lioness driven to the brink of rage.

Seeing Li Yunrui's furious and almost irrational state, Li Chengze did not show any panic or anger; he simply smiled faintly.

"Auntie, please calm down."

Li Chengze slowly stood up and walked to the large desk.

In the very center of the desk lay a black scroll, freshly transcribed in secret language.

He stretched out his long, slender fingers, picked up the intelligence report, and handed it to Li Yunrui across the desk.

"Take a look, this is the 'battle situation' from last night." Li Chengze's voice was unusually calm.

Li Yunrui snatched the scroll, her hands trembling slightly with excessive anger and a sliver of fear. She abruptly unrolled the scroll, her gaze sweeping over the words on it like a sharp sword.

With just one glance, Li Yunrui's pupils contracted deeply into a tiny black dot.

The scroll was covered with names written in dense strokes. Behind each name was a blood-red "X" drawn in glaring vermilion.

The Vice Minister of Rites died.

The Director of the Revenue Department of the Ministry of Revenue died.

The Left Battalion Commander of the Kyoto Garrison died.

The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review died.

……

A total of 137 names!

These names include Li Yunrui's trusted confidants whom he had painstakingly placed in the court over more than a decade, Li Chengze's henchmen whom he secretly recruited and promised great benefits, and key figures they used to control the underground forces in the capital.

It can be said that everyone on this list is the cornerstone that supports their influence in Kyoto.

And now, these foundations have been completely shattered overnight.

The intelligence report not only listed the names of all the officials who were killed, but also detailed the number of deaths, the manner of their deaths, and even the fate of their families—not a single one was spared.

Li Yunrui stared intently at the intelligence report, her lips trembling violently. Her once well-maintained and stunningly beautiful face was now contorted with a grotesque expression. She abruptly raised her head to look at Li Chengze, her voice trembling uncontrollably, filled with an incredulous fear: "These... these are all..."

"Yes." Li Chengze looked into Li Yunrui's eyes and nodded heavily, shattering the last shred of hope in her heart. "It was all done by Father. Besides him, who else in this world could silently eliminate so many court officials overnight? No matter how sophisticated the Censorate's assassination methods are, they couldn't have done it so flawlessly and on such a large scale. This was a scheme orchestrated by the Imperial Guards, shadow assassins, and perhaps even the hidden resources of the royal family."

Li Chengze walked around the desk to Li Yunrui's side, his tone turning icy: "Father has completely lost patience. He's no longer playing the balancing act; he's officially eliminating all of our allies in the court."

At this point, Li Chengze paused, his gaze sharp as a knife as he stared at Li Yunrui: "Not only that, Aunt. Just last night, Yan Xiaoyi personally led his men to completely surround your Princess's residence. Not even a fly could get in. Now, you are homeless."

Upon hearing the name "Yan Xiaoyi," Li Yunrui's body trembled violently.

Yan Xiaoyi was a ninth-rank archer whom she had personally promoted, and he was her most loyal hunting dog.

But now, this hunting dog, acting on the emperor's orders, has turned on her and surrounded her residence.

What an irony, and what despair!

Li Yunrui staggered back two steps, her back hitting the cold wall.

The black reel in his hand slipped to the ground with a dull thud.

Her eyes went through a period of intense struggle, fear, and confusion, but soon, the madness and ruthlessness inherent in the princess's bones regained the upper hand.

She abruptly raised her head, staring intently at Li Chengze, her eyes bloodshot as if burning, and said coldly, "Fine! Fine! Fine! Since he has no regard for family ties and wants to kill us all, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Li Yunrui stepped forward, grabbed Li Chengze's sleeve, and said urgently and frantically, "Chengze, what are you going to do next? You must have a backup plan, right? I can give you financial support! Although the accounts and keys to the Imperial Treasury should have been taken back by Emperor Qing's people, the wealth I've secretly embezzled and transferred over the years is astronomical! I have hidden vaults in Jiangnan, in Dongyi City, and even in Northern Qi! Just say the word, and all this money is yours! With this money, we can recruit soldiers, we can hire the best assassins in the world, we can..."

"Alright, Auntie."

Li Chengze waved his hand gently, interrupting Li Yunrui.

"Since Father Emperor dares to act so ruthlessly, disregarding the turmoil in the court and the opinions of the people, he is clearly prepared to wipe us out in one fell swoop. It would be impolite not to reciprocate, so as his son, I should naturally prepare a generous return gift for him."

Li Chengze ignored Li Yunrui and turned his head, his gaze falling on Zhao Gao in the corner. His voice was low and powerful: "Zhao Gao, tell me, how many people have safely entered the city so far?"