Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

In the State of Jin, dusk came particularly early in Haitang City. Just after the hour of You, the sky was dyed with a layer of dark red.

Ji Yinghao, who was already the crown prince of the State of Jin, stood on the roof of the Zhaixing Tower, looking at the densely packed houses in the distance, playing with a green jade ring in his hand.

This was the birthday gift Chu Ning gave him last year, with the four small words "Loyalty to Each Other" engraved on it.

"Your Highness, it's time to return to the palace."

The attendant Li Zhong reminded in a low voice: "The city has been uneasy recently. I heard that spies from the Qin State have sneaked in."

Ji Yinghao chuckled and put the ring back on his thumb: "Ying Zheng, that fellow, he claims to be the number one emperor in the world, but this is all he can do."

However, Qin's spies were very powerful, especially the masters of the Black Ice Platform, who were almost impossible to guard against.

Now is a time of great trouble. It is better to have less trouble than more. Let's go back to the palace first.

Ji Yinghao turned and went downstairs, his black brocade robe fluttering like crow feathers in the twilight. Li Zhong followed closely behind him, his right hand always on the hilt of the sword at his waist.

The long street below the Zhaixing Tower was empty, with only the autumn wind blowing the fallen leaves swirling on the bluestone slabs.

Ji Yinghao suddenly stopped and his nose twitched slightly: "There is a smell of blood."

This was his secret base, and all the correspondence between him and Chu Ning used to take place here.

The incident of Chu Ning being poisoned caused a sensation in the world. He was very worried about Chu Ning's injury, so he went there in person.

In order to keep it secret, he did not come here with a big fanfare, and even brought only a few guards.

But I didn't expect that as soon as I left this place, a smell of blood hit me in the face, and the guards who stayed here had disappeared.

Before he finished his words, three dark shadows swooped down from the roof, and the cold light went straight to Ji Yinghao's throat.

Li Zhong drew his sword to block, and the sound of metal clashing pierced the night sky.

Ji Yinghao retreated violently, and a hidden weapon shot out from his sleeve, forcing back an assassin.

"People from Bingtai?" Ji Yinghao sneered: "Is Yingzheng so eager to take my life?"

The assassin did not answer, and the three men approached in a V-shaped formation.

Under the moonlight, the short blades in their hands glowed with a faint blue luster, obviously poisoned. Li Zhong fought with one of them, while the other two went straight for Ji Yinghao.

Ji Yinghao's martial arts skills are among the best among the younger generation of Jin State, but he is still in danger when facing two top masters of the Black Ice Stage.

His brocade robe was torn in several places, and blood stained the lapels.

Seeing this, Li Zhong rushed to Ji Yinghao despite being stabbed and said, "Your Highness, please leave!"

"Walk?"

Ji Yinghao wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, with a bit of madness in his eyes: "How can I, Ji Yinghao, be a cowardly person?"

He suddenly pulled off the jade pendant from his waist and threw it to the ground, with the sound of jade breaking.

This is the distress signal from the Prince of Jin!

However, no reinforcements arrived from afar, and it was obvious that the entire street had been blocked.

The assassin's attacks became more and more fierce, and Ji Yinghao gradually became unable to cope with it.

He recalled the scene of riding horses with Chu Ning several years ago, when they agreed to work together to fight against Qin's ambitions.

Now it seems that this agreement may have to be broken.

Ying Zheng's methods were too brutal. The assassin in front of him was so skilled in martial arts that he could only look at his back, unable to deal with him at all.

"Pfft!"

With a sound, a short blade pierced into Ji Yinghao's chest.

He staggered back and leaned against the wall, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth.

Li Zhong's eyes were bloodshot, but he was tightly entangled by the other two assassins.

Ji Yinghao felt his consciousness begin to blur. He struggled to take out a silk handkerchief from his arms. It was a token of love that Chu Ning had given him.

He wrote a few words on it with his bloody fingers, and then stuffed it into Li Zhong's hand: "Leave it to...Father..."

Li Zhong took the handkerchief, tears in his eyes: "Your Highness!"

"Tell Father..."

Ji Yinghao's voice became weaker and weaker: "Form an alliance with the State of Chu... the Zhou Dynasty... to fight against the State of Qin..."

His eyes began to blur, but he still stared at Li Zhong: "It must be passed on to..."

The assassin's short blade fell again, and Ji Yinghao slowly closed his eyes.

He seemed to have returned to the day when he first met Chu Ning, with the spring breeze blowing and the crabapple blossoms in full bloom.

"Chu Ning... avenge me...!" These were his last whispers.

In his mind, he recalled the first time he met Chu Ning. He was just a poor prince who was ostracized by other princes because he was an illegitimate child.

If it weren't for the fact that Jin State needed refined salt, even he might not have made friends with Chu Ning.

In a few years, his status in Jin State rose sharply because of his relationship with Chu Ning.

Originally, the Emperor of Jin was still undecided about the position of Crown Prince, which led to conflicts among several princes.

But he emerged as a rising star and cooperated with Chu Ning in the refined salt business, which boosted the economy of Jin State and greatly increased his reputation and status.

In the past two years, Chu Ning defeated Qin, Wei and Han successively, and became famous.

This also made the Emperor of Jin see the future of Jin, and he appointed him as the crown prince without hesitation.

All of this was brought about by Chu Ning.

The more powerful Chu Ning became, the more secure his position in Jin became.

But it was precisely because of this that Ying Zheng attacked him.

The geographical location of Jin State was too special. It was adjacent to Qin State but separated by a river, making it impossible for the Qin army to take over Jin State.

The Jin navy was very powerful, which made the Qin army unable to attack the Jin state. However, they had to worry about Qin and Zhao. After the Zhou Dynasty went to war, it was ambushed by the Jin state.

Therefore, Ying Zheng chose to attack the State of Jin first.

Only when Jin was in chaos could Qin be at ease to take action against Chu and Zhou.

Now, Ji Yinghao can't survive, and the next few princes will definitely fight with each other for the position of crown prince.

Under such circumstances, no one dared to send troops to Qin, nor did they dare to make friends with Chu or Zhou.

Ying Zheng’s goal was achieved!

Thinking of this, Ji Yinghao's cloudy eyes slowly closed.

He has done what he could.

Although he really wanted to join forces with Chu Ning, unfortunately, things were beyond his control and he had already completed the last journey of his life.

The last thought in his mind was fixed on Chu Ning.

He was unwilling to die at the hands of an assassin, nor was he willing to see Qin disrupting Jin!

He hopes Chu Ning can avenge him!

At this moment, the guard Li Zhong took advantage of the assassin's distraction and jumped onto the roof.

Hearing the footsteps of pursuers behind him, he ran wildly in the night, clutching the blood-stained silk handkerchief tightly.

Under the moonlight, the words on the handkerchief were faintly discernible: "Qin wants to swallow up the world, Chu and Jin should work together."

Even if His Highness was killed, he still cared about the State of Jin.

While running quickly, she couldn't help but look back at the body lying in the dust in the distance. Her crystal tears were like a kite with a broken string, dancing in the wind.

"Your Highness, don't worry, I will definitely deliver this item to His Majesty!"

Li Zhong gritted his teeth and wiped away his tears, then without looking back, he rushed into the street alley.

The Black Ice Stage masters behind him looked at each other and said coldly, "Separate and chase him. We must not let this man live!"

"Also, the things in this person's hands must not fall into the hands of Emperor Jin!"

The three of them immediately chased after him.