As soon as I put it on, I met a sickly man

Ding Chen and Xiaoxuan strolled in the bustling market. The dazzling array of goods and the bustling crowds seemed to have nothing to do with them.

Xiaoxuan was happily picking out gadgets, while Ding Chen was preoccupied, with a lingering gloom hanging between his brows.

Although Prime Minister Wang was executed, there seemed to be undercurrents beneath his peaceful life.

"Have you heard? Although Master Ding has made great contributions, the emperor doesn't seem too happy."

"That's right. His achievements are so great that they threaten his master. Serving the king is like serving a tiger. I'm afraid Mr. Ding will have a hard time in the future."

"Shh, keep your voice down, be careful with your mouth."

The whispers around him pierced Ding Chen's eardrums like needles. He stopped abruptly. Xiaoxuan also noticed his abnormality and asked with concern, "Brother Chen, what's wrong with you?"

Ding Chen forced a smile and said, "It's okay, let's go."

After returning home, Ding Chen could no longer suppress his inner restlessness. He locked himself in the study and paced back and forth.

The speed at which these rumors spread and the wide range of their reach are by no means accidental; there must be someone manipulating them.

He immediately thought of General Lin, an old and highly respected general in the court, who might be able to give him some guidance.

General Lin frowned after listening to Ding Chen's narration. "This matter is of no small importance. The person behind this has sinister intentions. I will definitely help you find out the truth."

The two began a secret investigation, but found very few clues, like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Just when they were at a loss, they met Prince Zhao's confidant Xiao Shunzi outside the palace gate.

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Ding? Why, are you here to see the emperor again? The emperor has been in poor health recently and is not seeing guests." Xiao Shunzi said in a sarcastic tone, his voice full of provocation.

"Xiao Shunzi, stop being sarcastic here. We are doing business, you'd better not meddle in other people's business!" General Lin shouted angrily, his hand already on the hilt of the sword.

"General Lin, don't be angry. I'm just kindly reminding Mr. Ding that there are some things that you shouldn't get involved in, so as not to get yourself into trouble." Xiao Shunzi still had a playful smile on his face, without any fear at all.

Ding Chen grabbed General Lin and said, "General Lin, there's no need to waste words with him." He stared at Xiao Shunzi with cold eyes, and had a bold guess in his mind.

"let's go."

Looking at the departing backs of Ding Chen and General Lin, Xiao Shunzi showed a sinister smile at the corner of his mouth, turned around and disappeared in the shadow of the palace gate.

Ding Chen lowered his voice and said to General Lin, "General Lin, I think we should..." He paused and turned his gaze to an inconspicuous corner not far away, where a black shadow flashed by.

"Shadow Wind?" Ding Chen whispered.

Yingfeng followed Xiao Shunzi like a ghost, shuttling between bustling streets and deep alleys.

Xiao Shunzi's destination is a hidden manor on the outskirts of the city, which is heavily guarded and difficult for ordinary people to approach.

With his superb stealth skills, Yingfeng sneaked into the manor silently and finally heard the conspiracy between Xiao Shunzi and Prince Zhao outside the study.

Sure enough, it was Prince Zhao who spread rumors and sowed discord between the Emperor and Ding Chen!

He intended to weaken Ding Chen's power and pave the way for seizing power in the future.

Ying Feng heard Prince Zhao's conspiracy clearly and quickly passed the information to Ding Chen.

Ding Chen and others acted decisively and decided to take the initiative and present the evidence they had to the emperor.

However, Prince Zhao had planned this in advance and took the initiative to turn the tables in front of the emperor, falsely accusing Ding Chen and others of fabricating evidence and intending to rebel.

He cried and spoke sincerely, disguising himself as a loyal victim, while Ding Chen became a traitor with ulterior motives.

For a time, the situation in the court was changing rapidly and the atmosphere was tense.

The emperor frowned, unable to distinguish the truth from the false, and was caught in a dilemma.

Ding Chen argued with reason, but it was difficult to change the situation. Prince Zhao's evil plan seemed to have succeeded.

At this critical moment, Xiaoxuan held Ding Chen's hand tightly, and she looked at Ding Chen with a firm look...

Xiaoxuan held Ding Chen's hand tightly. She looked at Ding Chen with firm eyes, indicating that she would stay with him no matter what happened.

Ding Chen felt Xiaoxuan's support and was deeply moved. He shook Xiaoxuan's hand in return, and a warm feeling surged through his body.

A sudden mutation occurs!

Seeing that the situation was not good, Prince Zhao waved his sleeves and shouted: "Catch the rebels!" The assassins lurking in the dark rushed out like a tide, and the flashes of swords and shadows instantly covered the entire hall.

General Lin roared, drew his sword, and like a tiger descending from the mountain, the assassins fell to the ground wherever the blade went.

Yingfeng's figure is ghostly, shuttling between the assassins, and every move he makes is accurate and deadly.

Ding Chen protected Xiaoxuan while fighting and retreating, with each move being ruthless and leaving no room for her.

However, the number of assassins was too large, and Ding Chen and others gradually felt overwhelmed.

At this moment, the emperor sat high on the dragon throne and said in a cold tone: "Stop it! Arrest Ding Chen and others and await your punishment!" The guards rushed forward and surrounded Ding Chen and others.

Although Ding Chen and others were unwilling, they had no choice but to surrender.

Prince Zhao raised the corner of his mouth in a sinister arc, and the smugness in his eyes was not concealed at all.

On the way to the dungeon, Ding Chen looked back at the magnificent imperial palace, and an indescribable sadness surged in his heart.

Xiaoxuan leaned against him tightly, silently transmitting her strength.

General Lin and Yingfeng looked solemn, and it was unknown what they were thinking about.

The dungeon door slowly opened, and a cold, damp smell hit me in the face...

"Go in!" The jailer pushed them in roughly.