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

Yang Xingye was carried out of the main hall with a very ugly look on his face.

And what happened today was quickly spread.

Whether it was Yang Xingye being scolded or Chu Ning ordering Jia Yu to investigate the assassination, each one was enough to terrify the people of Jinyang.

Not to mention that Yang Xingye was reprimanded, just the fact that Jia Yu was in charge of investigating the matter was terrifying.

Everyone in this world knows that Jia Yu is ruthless and if you fall into his hands, there is no possibility of resistance at all.

For a time, people in Jinyang City were in panic.

But for five consecutive days, there was no movement in the city, which made everyone confused.

It was not until the sixth day that Jia Yu personally led people to greet them outside the city, and everyone finally reacted.

It turns out that Jia Yu is waiting for someone!

Outside Jinyang City in August, the autumn wind gradually rose, swirling on the official road with the withered yellow leaves.

Jia Yu, wearing a dark blue Feiyu suit and an embroidered spring sword on his waist, led more than 20 Jinyiwei and stood solemnly at the city gate.

In the distance, dust was flying and a team of black-armored cavalrymen were approaching with the sound of orderly horse hooves. The man leading them was wearing official uniform, with an upright figure and a resolute face. He was Yun Jianye, who was summoned to the capital.

Jia Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, and when Yun Jianye stopped his horse, he immediately stepped forward and saluted, his voice hoarse but respectful:

"Lord Yunyun has traveled all the way here, you must have worked hard. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard that Lord Yun was coming, so he specially ordered me to wait here."

Yun Jianye dismounted, clasped his fists, and said with a smile, "Master Jia, you are too polite. I am flattered by the Crown Prince's kindness."

The two men's eyes met, and a trace of scrutiny flashed in Jia Yu's eyes, while Yun Jianye looked calm, as if it was just an ordinary greeting.

Jia Yu stepped aside and said, "Master Yun has come from afar, why don't you go into the city and rest first? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has prepared some wine at the camp to welcome Master Yun."

Yun Jianye nodded and walked side by side with Jia Yu. Behind him, the Jinyiwei and black-armored cavalry followed silently. The atmosphere was subtle and tense.

After walking a distance, Jia Yu suddenly whispered, "Master Yun, do you know that the mastermind behind Yang Xingye's assassination has not yet been identified?"

Yun Jianye did not stop, but his eyes narrowed slightly: "I have heard a little bit about it."

Jia Yu raised his lips slightly, and said in a gentle but meaningful voice: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince intends to let Lord Yun supervise this case together."

"After all, Jinyang has just surrendered, and the people are unstable. If we can use this incident to establish our authority, future governance will be much smoother."

Yun Jianye knew clearly in his mind that Chu Ning wanted to use him to intimidate the people of Jin State.

He hesitated for a moment, then laughed out loud, "Your Highness the Crown Prince has thought things through. Yun will fully cooperate with Lord Jia in investigating the case and will never let the villains go unpunished!"

Jia Yu nodded with satisfaction: "With Lord Youyun's help, this case will surely be solved."

The two looked at each other and smiled, each with their own thoughts.

In the distance, the setting sun dyed the sky red, and the outline of Jinyang City became deeper and deeper in the twilight, like a dormant beast, waiting for the wind and rain to come.

Just as the two were heading to the palace, a conspiracy was taking place in a large manor.

Thirty miles outside Jinyang City, there is a hidden manor hidden among the dense forests.

The manor is loose on the outside but tight on the inside. It looks like an ordinary wealthy family's house, but in fact it is densely covered with secret sentries. Even a bird flying over the treetops will attract vigilant eyes in the dark.

Deep in the manor, there was a secret room with its doors and windows tightly closed. Four bronze oil lamps were burning dimly, casting four shadows on the mottled stone walls.

"Yun Jianye has arrived in Jinyang today. Everyone, if we don't take action now, it will be too late."

The speaker was a burly middle-aged man with thick eyebrows like swords and deep eye sockets. He was Zhao Pan, the patriarch of the Zhao clan, the most powerful among the old clans of the Jin State.

He was dressed in a dark suit, with an unsheathed dagger hanging from his waist. His knuckles were thick and covered with calluses, and he was banging hard on the sandalwood tabletop, causing the teacup to buzz.

Sitting opposite him was a thin old man, the patriarch of the Bai clan - Bai Miao.

His hair and beard were all white, his face was haggard, but he had a pair of hawk-like eyes, so sharp that they seemed to be able to pierce people's hearts.

He was wearing a gray linen robe with dark patterns embroidered on the cuffs. His fingers slowly stroked a bronze ring and sneered:

"Brother Zhao, after Yang Xingye was assassinated, the Chu people have already guarded Jinyang like an iron barrel. To assassinate him at this time is tantamount to walking into a trap."

"Are we just going to watch Yun Jianye ride on our heads?" Zhao Pan's eyes widened with anger, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Don't be impatient."

A warm voice sounded, and the Lin clan leader, Lin Jian, gently raised his hand.

He was about forty years old, with an elegant face, dressed in an indigo long gown, a jade belt around his waist that shone brightly, and a folding fan in his hand was gently waving, as if he was not planning an assassination, but drinking tea and discussing poetry.

However, those seemingly gentle eyes concealed unfathomable calculations.

"Although Yun Jianye is a civil official, he is highly valued by Chu Ning. He is definitely not someone you can easily deal with. If you act rashly, you will only alert the enemy."

"Then according to Brother Lin's opinion, what should we do?"

The Meng clan leader, Meng Xiao, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke.

He was a short and stocky man with dark skin and a face full of flesh. He wore a necklace of animal bones around his neck and a wolfskin coat over his coarse cloth shorts. He exuded a rough and untamed air.

At this moment, he was using a dagger to carve a piece of wood, sawdust fell down, and the cold light of the blade reflected his sinister eyes.

Lin Jian closed his folding fan and tapped his palm gently: "Let's test it first."

"How to test?" Zhao Pan narrowed his eyes.

"Yun Jianye has just arrived, so he has to inspect the counties in Jinyang."

Lin Jian smiled slightly: "We might as well set up an ambush on the road he must pass. If we can succeed, it would be the best. If not..."

He paused, a cold light flashed in his eyes: "It can also explore the depth of Chu people's defense and pave the way for future plans."

Bai Miao hesitated for a moment, and clenched his ring with his skinny fingers: "This plan is feasible, but it must be done cleanly and without leaving any handle."

"This is simple."

Meng Xiao grinned, revealing his sharp white teeth.

"I have a group of assassins under my command. They are wild bandits. Even if they fail, they can't trace it back to us."

Zhao Pan slammed the table and stood up: "Okay! Let's do it!"

"Wait a minute."

Lin Jian suddenly raised his hand: "If the assassination fails, the Chu people will definitely investigate thoroughly. We need to think of a way out in advance."

Bai Miao sneered: "Retreat? The Jin State has been destroyed, how can we retreat?"

He slowly stood up, his grey robe fluttering in the wind: "Either restore the country, or... die."

The secret room was silent for a moment, with only the crackling of the oil lamp as the sound.

After a long while, Lin Jian sighed softly and opened his folding fan with a swish: "Since that's the case, everyone, get ready."

The four of them stood up at the same time. Zhao Pan clasped his fists, with murderous intent in his eyes.

Bai Miao nodded slightly with a grim look. Meng Xiao licked the blade and grinned.

Lin Jian still had a faint smile on his face, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

The oil lamp flickered, and four shadows twisted and overlapped on the wall, like the whispers of evil spirits.

Outside the window, the autumn wind was howling, as if foreshadowing that Jinyang City was about to usher in a bloody storm.

The person they were discussing was unaware of the danger that was approaching and followed Jia Yu to the Jin Palace!