The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 685: The Hidden Conspiracies and Undercurrents Cannot Be Concealed

This was the meeting place he had arranged with the old nobles.

The night breeze was chilly, so he pulled his cloak tighter and went inside.

"Lord Chen, you've arrived."

He was greeted by an old nobleman he had met before, who wore a cautious smile.

"Of course, the recent situation makes me value our cooperation even more."

Chen Zhong smiled slightly and responded cautiously. The other party's response made him realize that this trip was no small matter.

During the ensuing conversation, Chen Zhong subtly steered the conversation, revealing some information about a large-scale secret gathering.

But he knew that this was far from enough.

He needs to get closer to the key figures who are actually planning this.

A few days later, in the capital, Lin Qiming received replies from many underground forces, and his investigation network was rapidly expanding.

Meanwhile, a trusted intelligence officer arrived to report on the frequent movements of the suspicious targets and provided more specific details.

"Very good, keep following up, but don't give yourself away."

The tension between his brows eased slightly as he gave instructions.

He then went back to his desk and analyzed the information in detail, finally discovering the complex puzzle within.

At the same time, Chen Zhong was also ready.

He knew the rally would be held in a secluded mountain lodge; this was his last chance.

He set off alone for the mountain villa, his expression resolute, having made a desperate decision.

Late at night, the villa was brightly lit, and whispers echoed in the hall.

Chen Zhong calmly looked around; everything about him hinted at a conspiracy.

He began to ask questions proactively, cleverly uncovering more inside information and further shortening the delicate distance between himself and those old nobles.

The clock kept ticking, and the efforts of both sides began to converge.

The information gathered reveals a picture of mutual influence between the two areas south of Beijing, and an unsettling shadow is gradually outlining a panoramic view.

This is a shocking conspiracy against the Ming Dynasty.

Upon learning this, Zhu Xiong Ying's face hardened, and he immediately issued an order: "Any slightest movement must be reported to me immediately."

The next morning, Chen Zhong quietly left the villa, hiding the intelligence he had in his hands in a secret bag inside his clothes as the sun rose.

The mountain road was rugged, but his steps were firm and swift, because he knew that time was of the essence and that any delay could cause him to miss the opportunity to deliver the crucial information to the capital.

Along the way, he frequently looked back to make sure no one was following him, until he arrived at a hidden delivery point.

Meanwhile, in the capital, Lin Qiming was anxiously waiting in his study, the cryptic information weaving together in his mind like a giant net.

His intelligence agents entered one after another, bringing back the latest developments from all sides.

Suddenly, a young messenger rushed in and handed over the intelligence.

Lin Qiming quickly scanned the contents of the article, his expression changing drastically. This was a complex situation he had never imagined.

A constant alarm bell rang in his mind. He quickly handed the paper in his hand to his assistant and announced, "Immediately mobilize all resources to closely monitor these targets."

While assigning several reliable subordinates to closely monitor the matter, he also convened a group of advisors to work intensively on developing a strategy.

Lin Qiming knew that this operation could not afford the slightest mistake, because they were facing an unprecedented danger.

At the same time, Zhu Xiong Ying, who was in the palace, put down the letter in his hand and looked out the window into the distance with a solemn gaze.

Subsequently, he resolutely set about going to the mountain villa to investigate in person, determined not to let the conspiracy succeed.

Knowing the gravity of the situation, he secretly summoned his trusted generals to discuss deployments. "Safety is the top priority."

Zhu Xiong Ying instructed, "Never let any suspicious points go unnoticed."

Chen Zhong had already placed several hidden agents around the villa to ensure a quick evacuation if necessary, and maintained real-time communication with Lin Qiming via carrier pigeons.

At this moment, the cries of night birds echoed from the dense forest, seemingly warning of the approaching storm. Chen Zhong remained motionless, only the wary glint in his eyes revealing his inner solemnity.

As time went by, an invisible tension filled the air.

Behind the festive decorations in the capital, undercurrents are surging.

Two nights later, the lights of the capital city shone brightly as usual, but could not conceal the undercurrents of conspiracy.

Lin Qiming sat in his study, surrounded by silence, with only the ticking of the wall clock breaking the silence.

His gaze was fixed on the map on the table as he pondered his next course of action.

The assistant beside him said solemnly, "Qiming, these locations we have information on seem to be connected."

Lin Qiming nodded: "That's right, the target is becoming clearer. We must be quick and make our move before they do."

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door, and an intelligence officer rushed in, reporting in a low voice: "The arrangements at the villa are complete, and some of the information for tonight has been delivered."

Lin Qiming showed a hint of relief, took the intelligence report, and after reading it, he turned to his assistant and said, "Send this intelligence report to Zhu Xiong Ying immediately. He needs to know everything."

Meanwhile, Zhu Xiong Ying, who was lurking in the shadows, tapped the letter in her hand; it was the latest news sent by Lin Qi Ming.

The letter stated that key figures would gather at a secluded teahouse in the east of the city to plan their next move.

He turned to General Li beside him and said, "Arrange for someone to keep a close watch on the east side of the city. If there is any movement, report it immediately."

General Li replied in a deep voice, "I will arrange for elite troops to go all out."

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded in satisfaction, then looked towards the direction of the capital and thought: We must take precautions.

To achieve this goal, he decisively ordered: "The doubles left in the palace must be made to be lifelike to prevent any possible accidents."

As night deepened, Chen Zhong quietly appeared at the edge of the woods, taking in everything around him.

He was used to the messages that came his way, but tonight's message was particularly unusual.

After observing the surroundings where there was no candlelight and confirming that everything was in order, he quickly released the carrier pigeon, sending it with important information directly to Lin Qiming's study.

When Lin Qiming returned to his study and saw the carrier pigeon again, he fell into deep thought once more.

After some deliberation, he ordered: "Have all personnel proceed according to plan, and inform Zhu Xiong Ying that we will reunite in the subsequent operation."

Deep within the capital city, as the tense atmosphere intensified, everyone was engrossed in their respective missions, daring not to slack off in the slightest.

Zhu Xiong Ying had changed into ordinary clothes and was preparing to go to the secret meeting place in the east of the city at dawn.

He knew that this step concerned the fate of countless people and that he had to proceed with extreme caution.

"There may be dangers in the future, so we must be absolutely prepared."

Zhu Xiong Ying gave earnest instructions to several of his trusted generals.

The faint light before dawn shone on Zhu Xiong Ying's face. He had disguised himself as a simple merchant, and his plain clothes concealed his identity as a grandson of the Ming emperor.

His trusted generals followed closely behind, silently protecting him on either side.

He said in a low voice, "Did you all hear that? No matter what happens, you need to stay calm and act prudently."

The generals nodded in unison, deeply respecting this young leader.

The streets were quiet, with only the occasional soft chirping of birds, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere inside the teahouse in the east of the city.

(End of this chapter)