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

It was a dark night, and the cold wind whistled past with fine snow particles, shrouding the entire capital city in a solemn atmosphere.

Three inconspicuous green-covered carriages slowly drove in from outside the city, and the wheels made a creaking sound as they rolled over the snow.

The car curtain was lowered, and the figure inside the car could be vaguely seen swaying.

"Sir, the post house is just ahead." The coachman lowered his voice and said.

Inside the car, Pei Yanzhi nodded slightly, but his eyes glanced around vigilantly through the gap in the curtains.

Their trip was secret, and they had deliberately changed into ordinary merchant attire, even the carriage was disguised, but for some reason, he always felt a little uneasy.

"Brother Sima, Brother Cui, although this trip went smoothly, I always feel something is wrong." Pei Yanzhi frowned.

Sima Hui gently waved his feather fan and smiled calmly, "Brother Pei, you're worrying too much. We're going on this trip without anyone noticing, and it's the dead of night, who would notice us?"

Cui Gaoxuan also agreed: "Exactly. Even if someone discovered that we left the city, they might not know who we went to meet."

Pei Yanzhi frowned slightly and was about to say something else when suddenly the carriage stopped abruptly. The three of them swayed and almost fell down.

"What's going on?" Cui Gaoxuan asked sternly.

The driver's panicked voice came: "Sir, there's someone blocking the road ahead!"

The expressions of the three people suddenly changed, and Pei Yanzhi pulled open the car curtain.

On the dim street, several dark shadows stood in the snow like ghosts. The leader was wearing a crimson official uniform and an embroidered spring sword on his waist. It was none other than Jia Yu, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

"My three lords, why are you leaving the city so late at night?" Jia Yu's voice was as cold as a knife.

Pei Yanzhi forced himself to remain calm, bowed and smiled, "So it's Commander Jia. We're new here and quite curious about the scenery of Chu, so we took advantage of the night to go out of the city to enjoy the snow. We didn't want to disturb you, sir."

Jia Yu sneered, "Appreciating the snow? You three are quite elegant, but why would you disguise yourself and go to the Scorpion Clan camp to enjoy the snow?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the three of them turned pale instantly.

Sima Hui's feather fan snapped shut, and Cui Gaoxuan subconsciously reached for his waist—even though they were not wearing swords.

Jia Yu took in their reactions, his eyes gleaming even colder. "Don't panic, my three lords. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has ordered that envoys entering the capital should be treated with courtesy. However..."

He changed the subject: "If anyone has ill intentions, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Pei Yanzhi took a deep breath and forced a smile, saying, "Commander Jia, you are too kind. As envoys, how could we..."

"enough!"

Jia Yu interrupted sharply: "Please go back to the inn and rest. Remember, in the capital, nothing can be hidden from the eyes of the prince."

After saying that, he waved his hand and the Jinyiwei immediately made way.

Three carriages drove slowly by, but the atmosphere inside was so solemn that it was almost suffocating.

Jia Yu watched the carriage go away, then immediately turned to the captain of the Jinyiwei beside him and said, "You take your men to keep an eye on them, I will go and report to the Crown Prince."

In just the time it takes to stick up an incense stick, Jia Yu was already in the main hall of the East Palace, reporting in detail what he had seen tonight.

The candlelight in the hall flickered, illuminating Chu Ning's handsome yet cold face.

After listening to Jia Yu's report, he couldn't help but sneer, "These three really are ruthless. They're trying so hard to win people over on their first day in the city. They're really impatient."

Jia Yu looked up, a hint of doubt in his eyes: "Your Highness, are they really confident that they can win over so many people? Even Gongsun Yi..."

He paused. "But as far as I know, His Highness has already agreed to Gongsun Yi's request and is willing to sell him grain, in exchange for him sending troops to contain the Tang Dynasty's border."

"Such a simple condition, does Gongsun Yi intend to break his promise?"

Chu Ning played with the jade ring in his hand, his expression indifferent: "If the three great dynasties offer a higher stake than this one, or if their plan is enough to impress Gongsun Yi, then success is not impossible."

He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the falling snow outside, and said in a cold voice: "I have never truly trusted outsiders."

"Even though Minister of Revenue Liu Shouren is already trading grain and fodder with Gongsun Yi, I still hold this Scorpion Clan general in the belief that he is not of our race and must have different hearts."

Jia Yu's heart was shocked.

He had followed the prince for many years and knew that although this master appeared gentle as jade, he was actually cruel and ruthless.

If Gongsun Yi really dares to break his promise, he may not be able to return to the Scorpion Clan!

Chu Ning turned around, murderous intent in his eyes. "I'm not surprised that Gongsun Yi was persuaded by the other party. If the three great dynasties wanted to win him over, they would definitely offer more than I do!"

He slowly walked back to the desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the tabletop. "However, this is fine. Since someone is seeking death, I will grant their wish."

Jia Yu asked cautiously, "Your Highness, what are you planning to do..."

Chu Ning's lips curled up in a cruel arc: "When the coronation ceremony comes, I will entertain them well. Do they want to make me lose face? Hehe..."

A cold light flashed in his eyes: "I also want to tear off their hypocritical skin!"

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the occasional crackling sound of the charcoal fire.

Jia Yu knew that the prince was really angry.

The collusion between the envoys of the Three Kingdoms and the Scorpion Clan is tantamount to digging up trouble.

"Master Jia." Chu Ning suddenly spoke.

"I am here."

"Send more personnel to keep a close eye on the envoys from the three kingdoms and Gongsun Yi. In addition..."

Chu Ning took a secret letter from the table and said, "Send this letter secretly to Brother Thirteen of Yanzhou and ask him to prepare."

Jia Yu took the secret letter with both hands, and he already understood in his heart - the prince was going to take a two-pronged approach, not only to thwart the conspiracy of the envoys of the three countries at the ceremony, but also to take action against the Wei State.

"Sir, obey!"

Chu Ning waved his hand, and Jia Yu bowed and retreated.

The moment the palace door closed, Chu Ning's gaze fell outside the window again.

The snow is falling even heavier.

"Want to play? I'll play big with you guys." He whispered to himself, his voice dissipated in the wind and snow.

At the same time, the envoys from the three kingdoms returned to the inn and immediately closed the doors and windows.

"We've been discovered!"

Cui Gaoxuan's face turned pale: "Chu Ning must have known that we went to see Gongsun Yi!"

Sima Hui waved his feather fan hastily: "This is troublesome. Our plan may be..."

"Why panic!"

Pei Yanzhi interrupted sharply: "Even if he knew we went to see Gongsun Yi, he might not know what we talked about!"

Cui Gaoxuan smiled bitterly: "But Jia Yu's attitude is clearly..."

"Now is not the time to panic."

Pei Yanzhi said in a deep voice, "The most urgent thing is to confirm Gongsun Yi's attitude. If he retreats at the last minute, we will truly fail."

Sima Hui pondered for a moment and said, "How about this? Tomorrow I'll go and test Gongsun Yi again under the pretext of visiting him."

Pei Yanzhi shook his head: "It's too dangerous. The Jinyiwei must have been watching our every move."

The three fell into silence.

Outside the window, the wind howled, as if mocking their plight.

Suddenly, Cui Gaoxuan's eyes lit up: "Got it! We can pass the message through Zhou Yanru!"

"He is the Minister of Rites. His entry and exit to the post station is legitimate and will not arouse suspicion."

Pei Yanzhi thought for a moment and nodded slowly: "This is the only way, but we have to hurry, there are only twenty days left until the ceremony."

The three of them looked at each other and saw determination in each other's eyes.

They knew that from tonight, the game had entered its most dangerous stage.

If successful, the three kingdoms will benefit.

If defeated, no remains will be left.