The Cold-Faced God of War's Favored Concubine Is Not to Be Tried

Seeing this, the secret guard continued, "Master, we still have a chance. As long as we act carefully and don't reveal our true identity, we should be able to escape danger."

Zuo Wenyuan nodded in agreement and fell into deep thought again, thinking about the next plan and strategy.

Suddenly, Zuo Wenyuan's eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if he had thought of a brilliant idea. He looked up and looked around, only to find that the study was already in a mess, with tables and chairs overturned and books and papers scattered all over the floor. He frowned and immediately ordered the secret guard to prepare pen, ink, paper and inkstone so that he could put his ideas into words as soon as possible.

After a while, the secret guard quickly prepared the brand new four treasures of the study. Zuo Wenyuan stood in front of the table, took a deep breath, and calmed himself down. He pondered for a moment, thinking about the content of the letter in his mind, making sure that every word was just right.

Finally, he picked up the pen, dipped it in ink, and began to write. His handwriting was vigorous and powerful, and every stroke revealed firmness and decisiveness. Soon, the letter was completed. He carefully folded the letter and handed it to the secret guard standing beside him.

He whispered something in the secret guard's ear. Although his voice was low, every word was full of trust and confidence. The secret guard nodded to show that he understood, and then left quickly.

However, Zuo Wenyuan did not know that this letter he had carefully written would later become the fuse for the execution of his entire family.

At night, the moonlight fell on the bluestone slabs of the Zhanwang Mansion, revealing a quiet and mysterious atmosphere. Ming Liu's figure was agile, like a black lightning, and he quietly flashed to the door of Yan Lingxiao's study. He knocked on the door gently, and his voice was low and respectful: "Your Majesty, I am back!"

In the study, the lights were dim. Yan Lingxiao sat at the desk, playing with a jade pendant in his hand. When he heard Ming Liu's voice, he raised his head and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes. A deep and powerful voice came from inside the room: "Come in!"

Ming Liu pushed the door open and then closed it behind him, isolating himself from the outside world. He walked in front of Yan Lingxiao, knelt on one knee, and reported respectfully: "It is just as Your Majesty expected. Zuo Wenyuan wrote a secret letter, and his secret guards took the letter out of the city. I followed him outside the city, but the man showed no intention of stopping. I guess he planned to deliver the letter himself. I have sent someone to follow him. Your Majesty, what should we do next?"

Yan Lingxiao raised his eyebrows when he heard this, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. He put down the jade pendant in his hand, stood up, walked to the window, looked at the moonlight outside the window, and said in a deep voice: "Well, you did a good job. Just continue to follow him, and don't touch him for the time being."

Ming Liu secretly admired the prince's wisdom and decisiveness. He knew that the prince had already expected Zuo Wenyuan to take action, so he arranged for him to monitor him. Now, as expected by the prince, Zuo Wenyuan really wrote a secret letter and sent it out. Ming Liu couldn't help but admire the prince's strategy even more.

Yan Lingxiao turned around and looked at Ming Liu, with a hint of deep meaning in his eyes: "Zuo Wenyuan is a man with deep scheming and vicious means. Since he dared to write a secret letter and send it out, he must have a backup plan. We must act carefully and not alert the enemy."

Ming Liu nodded in agreement. He knew what the prince meant. Although Zuo Wenyuan was extremely powerful, he was nothing more than a clown in front of the prince. What the prince had to do was to gradually reveal his true colors and leave him nowhere to hide.

Ming Liu had a plan in mind, so he retreated and continued to arrange the secret guards to follow Zuo Wenyuan. Yan Lingxiao stood in front of the window, looking at the night sky in the distance, thinking about the next plan in his mind.

Early in the morning of the second day, the sun shone through the mist onto the magnificent palace. Yan Lingxiao, dressed in black court robes, walked steadily into the palace to attend the morning court.

The atmosphere in the court was solemn, with civil and military officials standing on both sides, each with their own agenda, secretly trying to figure out the emperor's intentions. The emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, his face dignified, his eyes like torches, scanning the ministers below.

Suddenly, the emperor mentioned that the war in the southern barbarians was tense and needed someone to lead troops to support them. His words echoed in the court, but surprisingly, no one in the court stood up to agree. Everyone lowered their heads to avoid meeting the emperor's eyes, fearing that their names would be called.

Upon seeing this, the emperor angrily slapped the armrest of the dragon throne and shouted angrily: "What a bunch of good-for-nothings! What's the point of me keeping you around? At the critical moment, you are all a bunch of cowards!" His voice echoed in the court, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

There was a sudden silence in the court, and no one dared to speak out in rebuttal.

The emperor's eyes swept among the ministers and finally fell on Yan Lingxiao. He knew Yan Lingxiao's military talent and prestige, but he had just handed in the tiger talisman, and letting him lead the troops to war at this time would undoubtedly be a slap in his face. However, the situation forced the emperor to consider this option.

He cleared his throat and asked, "Old Four, you founded the Tiger Dragon Army. Which general do you think is more capable of leading the Tiger Dragon Army to fight against the Southern Barbarians?"

Yan Lingxiao stood in a corner of the court, and sneered in his heart when he heard the emperor's words. He naturally understood the emperor's intention, which was to test his attitude and ambition. He took a sip of the hot tea in his hand, his eyes deep, as if he could see through everything.

He raised his head, looked directly into the emperor's eyes, and said in a calm but firm voice: "Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth?"

The emperor frowned and gestured for him to continue speaking in dissatisfaction.

Yan Lingxiao smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, you said it yourself, the Tiger Dragon Army was founded by me, so naturally I am the most suitable general to lead them."

The emperor's face darkened when he heard this. He was about to get angry when Yan Lingxiao continued, "However, since I have already handed over the tiger talisman, it is up to you, Your Majesty, to make the arrangements. As for Your Majesty asking for my opinion, forget it. I have been fighting on the battlefield outside, so how can I know the talented people around Your Majesty?"

As soon as these words came out, the court suddenly fell silent. The emperor's face was uncertain, and he was obviously very angry about Yan Lingxiao's words. He didn't expect Yan Lingxiao to reject his temptation so directly, without giving him any face.

He wanted to refute but couldn't find a reason. After all, everything Yan Lingxiao said was true.

After Yan Lingxiao finished speaking, the court seemed to have fallen into an ice cellar, cold and silent. He ignored everyone's gaze, including the emperor sitting on the dragon throne, and crossed his legs while continuing to sip the hot tea in his hand.

His movements were calm and graceful, as if all these disturbances had nothing to do with him. The aroma of tea, accompanied by his slightly closed eyes and a faint smile, made him look so relaxed and contented.

The emperor was furious when he saw his appearance. He thought that after Yan Lingxiao handed over the tiger talisman, he would behave himself and stop being so arrogant. But he didn't expect that he was still so arrogant, as if the whole court couldn't tolerate a big Buddha like him.

The emperor's brows were furrowed, his face was livid, and he grasped the armrests of the throne to calm his anger.