We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

Li Lin walked out of the East Palace with an expressionless face, feeling dizzy as if he was in another world.

He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the tightness in his chest, and his eyes subconsciously swept across the empty square.

It happened that Huang Jin was standing in the shadow of the corridor column with his hands hanging down. His usually calm and pleasing face was now covered with an indelible solemnity.

"Huang Daban?"

Li Lin walked over, his voice slightly hoarse.

Huang Jin suddenly woke up and said in surprise, "My Fourth Prince, you are finally out. Did you not offend His Majesty?"

Li Lin shook his head.

Huang Jin's face showed worry. "When I learned that His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince had returned to the capital, I immediately rushed here. I didn't expect to be a step too late."

Li Lin sneered, "It has nothing to do with you. It's the Second and Third Brothers who don't want me to see anyone else before seeing His Majesty."

Huang Jin also knew that all the princes were avoiding His Majesty and the position of Crown Prince.

But given his status, even if he was loyal to Li Lin and Li Che, he couldn't say much, so he could only say politely:

"Your Majesty said something to you, and I, an old servant, have said something extra. Please don't get angry. Times are different now..."

"It's alright." Li Lin said calmly, "His Majesty asked me to succeed the Crown Prince, but I didn't agree."

Huang Jin was stunned when he heard this. Could this matter be resolved by just saying "I disagree"?

Huang Jin has served Emperor Qing for decades, and even he feels terrified by the abnormal state Emperor Qing is currently displaying.

Not to mention refusing, who would dare to breathe loudly next to Emperor Qing?

Hundreds of eunuchs and palace maids are gone from the Eastern Palace. Do you really think they have retired and returned to their hometowns?

"Fourth Prince, this is no joke," Huang Jin said earnestly. "Everyone knows that position is difficult to accept. If His Majesty insists on you... you must quickly come up with a solution."

"Don't worry, Otomo." Li Lin glanced at the East Palace behind him, "This damn place, I don't want to come here again."

Emperor Qing did not force Li Lin to sit in that seat.

Although in front of Emperor Qing, Li Lin and Li Che's plan seemed like a joke.

Although the two old men, King Qin and King Jin, were full of tricks and wanted Li Lin to fall into the trap for them.

Li Lin is not good at strategy, but he also has his own way of survival.

Just one word: reckless!

No matter what Emperor Qing said, Li Lin didn't say a word.

If Emperor Qing spoke harshly, he would glance at the pillars of the East Palace with a strange look, reminding Emperor Qing of some not-so-pleasant memories.

He had the attitude of, "It's no use for my father to force me. If all else fails, I'll just follow Old Six's example and kill myself by banging my head against the wall!"

Emperor Qing had no way to deal with this tough guy, and in the end he could only wave his hand impatiently and drive him out.

Huang Jin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Li Lin was indeed fine. He was about to say something.

Boom——

The heavy palace door was suddenly pushed open. The sound was like a thunderclap, which frightened Huang Jin so much that his back bent.

Immediately afterwards, dense and orderly footsteps, like a surging black tide, rushed out from several palace gate corridors!

It’s the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Not three or five, but hundreds and thousands!

They all wore Feiyu suits, with cold embroidered spring swords slung around their waists. They had expressionless faces and eyes like ice-hardened blades.

The Jinyiwei acted swiftly, instantly blocking the main roads leading to the palaces and halls, guarding every palace gate and isolating the inside from the outside.

The palace maids and eunuchs who were originally sweeping the edge of the square were driven away in an instant like frightened birds, leaving only those dark figures nailed to the spot like rocks.

The air in the entire palace seemed to be sucked dry in an instant, leaving only a suffocating, rusty atmosphere.

Li Lin's heart sank suddenly. He looked at Huang Jin beside him, but saw that the latter also had a pale face. It was obvious that he was also unaware of the situation.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of hurried horse hooves sounded from the direction of the East Palace, breaking the dead silence.

A fast horse rushed into the palace gate guarded by the Jinyiwei like an arrow. The knight on the horse had a red flag on his back. He had an unimpeded way and galloped out of the imperial city!

Almost at the same time, several eunuchs in scarlet robes, holding bright yellow scrolls, hurried out from the direction of the Yangxin Pavilion.

His expression was solemn, as if he was holding a death talisman.

Decrees were issued one after another, and the voices echoed in the empty and depressing square:

"The Emperor, by the Mandate of Heaven, hereby proclaims: Zhang Qian, Assistant Minister of Personnel; Chen Mingyuan, Left Vice-Chief Censor of the Metropolitan Censorate; and Wu Xiang, Commander of the Imperial Guards... have formed a clique for personal gain and are plotting against the law. They are hereby stripped of their official positions, imprisoned, and rigorously interrogated! Their accomplices must also be apprehended without fail!"

Li Lin felt a chill in his heart, as if his heart was being gripped by an invisible hand.

He was very familiar with these names. Even though he was far away in Yan, he knew that these people were the prince's followers and had deep-rooted ties with the prince. They were the true loyalists of the prince!

Before he could come to his senses, he heard the eunuch shout:

"Urgently summon Prince Li Huan of Shu to the palace for an audience immediately! No delay!"

King of Shu?!

Li Lin's pupils suddenly contracted.

The King of Shu was enfeoffed in Shu, far away from the center of the government. When did he return to the imperial capital quietly?

Why did the emperor urgently summon him to the palace at this moment...when the crown prince had just passed away and the Eastern Palace's factions had been uprooted?

Huang Jin kept his eyes down, as if in a trance.

But at the moment when the decree read out the words "King of Shu", his drooping eyelids trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Your Highness!" Huang Jin's voice was extremely low, yet it carried an undeniable urgency. "We can't stay here for long. Let's go! Go to the Duke of Wei's residence! Don't ask anything, just go now!"

He spoke at an astonishing speed, and every word seemed to burst out from between his teeth.

Li Lin was stunned by the sudden urging and nodded subconsciously.

Huang Jin didn't say anything extra. He flicked his whisk, turned around and left, his steps so fast that they almost brought up a gust of wind.

Li Lin raised his head blankly and looked at the eaves of the East Palace, which symbolized supreme power.

The darkness overhead grew heavier, the sky dimmed rapidly, and heavy dark clouds hung low over the magnificent palaces, with an ominous dark purple hue at the edges.

got windy.

Carrying the biting chill of winter, it rolled up the fallen leaves and dust on the ground, swirling across the empty square and through the iron-silent Jinyiwei.

King of Shu? Why King of Shu?

. . . . . .

"King of Shu?"

At the Duke of Wei's Mansion, Zhu Chun frowned as he looked at his son-in-law who had returned safely from the palace.

Li Lin didn't even change his clothes and rushed to the Duke of Weiguo's mansion.

"Even I don't know when the King of Shu will enter the capital, but I do know that His Majesty is also on guard against me."

Zhu Chun's voice was low and hoarse, and his eyes were bloodshot. It was obvious that he had not slept well for a long time.

"You've seen it too. Whenever someone is carried out of the Eastern Palace, there's a bloody storm outside. Over the past few days, from the Ministry of Personnel to the Censorate, to the Imperial Guards... the list is so long, and the scope of those implicated is so wide, it's shocking."

Li Lin's Adam's apple rolled, and his voice tightened a little: "Father, you acted so quickly and so cruelly."

"Cruel?" Zhu Chun slowly shook his head. "This isn't cruel, Your Highness. This is cleaning up the mess!"

"Clean up...the house?" Li Lin frowned.

"good."

Zhu Chun's voice was firm and decisive:

"Do you think that the princelings who have occupied the Eastern Palace for many years are truly the crown prince's die-hard confidants? Wrong! Absolutely wrong!"

A hint of sarcasm flashed in Zhu Chun's eyes:

"Those people are loyal to the status of the Crown Prince! It's the title of heir apparent bestowed by His Majesty! As for who sits in that position, whether he's wise or foolish, alive or dead... does it matter to them?"

"It doesn't matter! As soon as His Majesty chooses someone to sit in the Eastern Palace, they'll pounce on him like hounds smelling blood, cheering him on!"

Li Lin only felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet.

Which one is the real Emperor Qing, the father he just saw who was unable to extricate himself from the grief of losing his son, or the ruthless and emotionless emperor described by Zhu Chun?

"The so-called Princelings' powerful and influential faction...is nothing more than a facade, tacitly approved and even personally fostered by Your Majesty!"

There was a subtle hint of fear in Zhu Chun's tone.

"It's to give the Crown Prince enough weight to control the various parties in the court and do the dirty work for him that he can't do himself!"

"The Crown Prince has always been the sharpest and most dangerous knife in His Majesty's hands."

"Since it is a knife in your hand, you must sharpen it to a razor-sharp edge before using it. If you find that the knife might cut your hand, or it has become dull and useless..."

Zhu Chun paused, his eyes shooting towards Li Lin like lightning: "The reason I sent someone to find you is to remind you not to get involved in this matter!"

"His Royal Highness the Prince of Qin has tarnished his own reputation for this, and his reputation for cruelty has spread throughout the entire imperial capital. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin is even more ruthless. For the things he has done, he deserves to be sent to the Heavenly Prison!"

"These two princes are so clever at avoiding suspicion and evading disaster! The throne of the Crown Prince is now a red-hot iron. Whoever gets involved will be the next target to be roasted on the fire! They don't even have time to hide!"

"Then...where's the King of Shu?" Li Lin finally asked, raising the biggest question in his mind. "Seventh brother has been away in Shu for many years, and his reputation is unknown. Why did the Emperor urgently summon him to the palace? And when did he return to the capital?"

When mentioning King Li Huan of Shu, the solemn expression on Zhu Chun's face suddenly deepened, and his brows were twisted into the shape of a "川" character.

He slowly sat down on the armchair behind the desk, leaning forward slightly. The dim light danced in his eyes, flashing sharp and complex light.

"King of Shu..." Zhu Chun lowered his voice even more, "You don't know, King of Shu..."

Zhu Chun was silent for a long time, and the air in the study seemed to freeze.

After a long moment, he slowly spoke, "Do you still remember last winter when you and His Royal Highness Prince Feng were assassinated in the imperial capital?"

Li Lin's pupils suddenly contracted, and the memory became clear in an instant.

How could he forget?

Groups of assassins suddenly attacked from both sides of the road. Even dozens of Jinyiwei were killed, and all the close confidants who had followed Zhu Chun for many years were instigated to rebel.

If it weren't for Lao Liu fighting to the death and trying his best to protect me from breaking out, I would have died on the spot!

After investigation, the clues were mysteriously cut off and the case was eventually left unresolved and became an unsolved case.

"Father-in-law, do you mean... the King of Shu?"

Li Lin's voice trembled slightly, and a terrible thought penetrated his mind like a poisonous snake.