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

Although the six family heads were unwilling, they had to bow and retreat under the intimidation of the imperial guards.

After they left, Chu Ning immediately summoned Li Junxian and said, "Immediately seal all palace gates. No one is allowed to enter or leave. At the same time, send people to protect Princess Xiuning."

Li Junxian took the order and left.

Wu Zhao suddenly staggered, and Chu Ning quickly supported her: "Are you okay?"

Wu Zhao shook her head and forced a smile: "I'm fine, but... I established the inner guards with my own hands, and now there is a traitor."

There was a hint of loss in her voice that was hard to conceal.

Chu Ning sighed softly and gently held her hand: "This is not your fault. Someone has been planning this for a long time and is waiting to strike tonight."

Wu Zhao looked up at him, a complex light flickering in her phoenix eyes: "Do you really believe that I have nothing to do with this?"

Chu Ning nodded without hesitation: "I believe you. If you want to harm me, there are better opportunities. Why choose to do it in your own palace during the Lantern Festival?"

A flicker of emotion flashed across Wu Zhao's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by worry: "But those arrowheads are indeed used exclusively by the inner guards."

“That’s exactly the point.”

Chu Ning's eyes flashed, "The real murderer deliberately used the inner guards' arrows to alienate us. Moreover, the deaths of the two heads of the Cui and Li families were too coincidental. It must have been intentional."

Wu Zhao's pupils shrank slightly. "You mean... one of the remaining six family heads might be a traitor?"

"Shh..."

Chu Ning made a silent gesture and said, "It's too early to draw conclusions now. Let's go to the Internal Security Base to investigate first."

Just as the two were about to leave, they suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the hall.

An inner guard came running over in panic and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, the inner guard deputy commander Chen Ping, he... he committed suicide in his room!"

Wu Zhao and Chu Ning looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes.

Chu Ning said in a deep voice: "Take us to see it."

The night was deep, and the flickering candlelight in the side hall of the imperial palace cast a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

Half an hour later, at the palace.

Wu Zhao and Chu Ning walked quickly into the hall with a team of guards. In the center of the hall lay a corpse. It was Chen Ping, the deputy commander of the inner guards.

His face was blue and purple, with a trace of black blood at the corner of his mouth. It was obvious that he had committed suicide by taking poison not long ago.

Wu Zhao stared at Chen Ping's body with cold eyes, her voice low and majestic: "Why did he commit suicide by taking poison?"

The eunuch beside him knelt tremblingly and said in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, after Deputy Commander Chen learned that you and the Emperor of Chu were safe and sound, he... committed suicide by taking poison."

Chu Ning sneered, his eyes flashing coldly: "It seems that he knew he couldn't escape, so he just died."

Wu Zhao was so angry that she clenched her hands tightly, and her nails almost dug into her palms.

She took a deep breath, her voice filled with suppressed anger: "I have treated him well, why would he betray me?"

At this moment, Li Junxian quickly walked into the hall, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and reported: "Your Majesty, I have found out that the two inner guards who participated in the assassination today are both Chen Ping's confidants!"

Wu Zhao's expression suddenly changed, and her phoenix eyes were filled with murderous intent: "It is indeed him! I didn't realize that he was hiding so deeply!"

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall. Zhao Yu came in quickly, holding a secret letter, his expression solemn:

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Guards are reporting urgently!"

Chu Ning took the letter, unfolded it quickly, glanced at the contents of the letter, and his face suddenly became gloomy.

He snorted coldly and handed the letter to Wu Zhao: "Chen Ping is actually the adopted son of the Han Emperor Chen Pin! He has been placed in the Zhou Dynasty since he was young, with the purpose of letting him infiltrate the inner guards and wait for an opportunity to act!"

Wu Zhao took the letter, her fingertips trembling slightly.

After she finished reading, anger surged in her phoenix eyes, but there was also a hint of indescribable fatigue:

"No wonder... No wonder he was able to hide for so many years without even me noticing."

Chu Ning sneered, "How can the Han Dynasty sit idly by and watch our two dynasties merge? They've even deployed such a cunning move. It seems they're really desperate."

Wu Zhao sighed, her face pale. "What should I do next?"

Chu Ning's eyes flashed with coldness, and his voice was cold and resolute: "Since they want to play tricks, then we will play along!"

"First, thoroughly investigate all the internal guards that Chen Pingan has planted. Isolate and interrogate them all. Leave no one alive!"

"Second, immediately seal the city gates and conduct a thorough investigation of the eight great families!"

Wu Zhao nodded slightly, her eyes filled with murderous intent: "Li Junxian!"

"I'm here!" Li Junxian responded with a fist salute.

"Immediately mobilize the Imperial Guards, seal off the Imperial City, and search for anyone associated with Chen Ping!"

"Yes!" Li Junxian took the order and left.

Chu Ning looked at Zhao Yu and said, "Pass on my order. The Jinyiwei will take action immediately and keep a close eye on the eight great families, especially Xie An and Zheng Huan!"

Zhao Yu clasped his fists solemnly: "I obey your command!"

Outside the palace, the lights of the Lantern Festival were still bright, but inside the palace, there was an undercurrent.

Wu Zhao gazed at the night outside the palace, her eyes deep and profound: "Chen Pin... How dare you place a pawn right under my nose? You're so bold!"

Chu Ning stood with his hands behind his back, a sneer on his face: "Since he dared to attack, don't blame us for fighting back."

Wu Zhao turned to look at him, a look of determination flashing in her eyes: "Chu Ning, this time, we must not be soft-hearted."

Chu Ning's eyes were cold and icy: "Don't worry, I will make the Han Dynasty... pay the price in blood!"

Holding the golden order granted by the emperor, Li Junxian led three thousand elite imperial guards and rushed towards the four gates of Luo like a black tide.

"By order of His Majesty, the city gates are sealed immediately! No one is allowed to enter or leave! Anyone who disobeys this order will be executed!"

His voice was like thunder, echoing in the night.

The soldiers defending the city moved upon hearing the order, and the heavy city gate slowly closed under the twisting of the iron chain, making a dull roar.

The torches on the city walls were like dragons, illuminating the stern faces of the imperial guards. The archers were lined up and on standby, their arrows flashing coldly, intimidating anyone who dared to approach.

At the same time, teams of imperial guards rushed straight to the mansions of the eight great families like sharp swords drawn from their sheaths.

The sound of horse hooves shattered the hustle and bustle of the Lantern Festival night, and the sound of armor colliding was terrifying.

"Surround them!" Li Junxian shouted coldly, "No one is allowed to enter or leave. Anyone violating this rule will be charged with treason!"

In front of the Xie Mansion, Xie An's eldest son, Xie Qing, glared at him angrily: "General Li, what do you mean? My Xie family has been loyal for generations..."

"Act according to orders!"

Li Junxian interrupted without hesitation: "Thank you for your cooperation, otherwise..."

He pressed his hand on the hilt of the knife, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

The same scene was played out in front of the residences of Zheng, Lu, Wang and others.

Zheng Huan stood inside the mansion gate, looking through the crack in the door at the strict military formation outside, his face changing from gloomy to bright.

He whispered to the housekeeper, "Go to the cellar quickly and get those letters..."

"It would be better for Duke Zheng to stay calm."

Li Junxian's voice suddenly came from the top of the wall. He had already jumped onto the wall and looked down coldly:

"Your Majesty has ordered that all members of the eight great families must not touch anything without permission from now on!"

The night deepened, and Los Angeles fell into a grim silence under this iron-fisted blockade.