Fantasy: After transmigrating, I effortlessly became a god.

"Duo'er, marry me!"

Xu Shicai's deep voice was warm and firm. After eight years, he finally said what he had wanted to say most.

As Yun Duo'er listened to Xu Shicai's words and felt the bronze bracelet on her hand that his mother had left for her daughter-in-law, her heart, which had been immersed in her own grief, began to waver slightly.

She looked up, tears welling in her eyes, her helpless gaze as if she had found a lifeline.

"Shicai, do you...do you really want to marry me?" Yun Duo'er's voice trembled, but it was full of expectation.

For those living in the martial world, simply being alive is the greatest luxury. If Xu Shicai doesn't despise her, what harm is there in her living a humble life?

Xu Shicai gazed at her affectionately and said firmly, "I do, Duo'er. I, Xu Shicai, will only love you in this life and the next. No matter what you are like, I will always be by your side."

"But……"

“There are no buts.” Xu Shicai said quickly and firmly, “From now on, Yun Duo’er is my wife, Xu Shicai.”

"Waaah..." Yun Duo'er threw herself into Xu Shicai's arms and cried out in anguish.

Inside the palace, the eldest prince, Lü Jun, had a ruthless look in his eyes. All his confidants had gathered in his palace to discuss matters.

"Useless, all of you are useless. Can you really make 100,000 guards disappear into thin air? 100,000 men! You can't even track down 100,000 of them. What use are you?"

One of the advisors spoke first: "I heard that Tie Jian broke through to the Spirit Fusion Realm this morning. Could it be that his selfishness has swelled and he wants to do something treasonous?"

These words caused the entire palace to fall silent. The eldest prince looked at a middle-aged man below him.

Prime Minister Zhao Baicheng sat at the lower end of the table. His deep, star-like eyes made it impossible to guess his thoughts. At this moment, he stood up and spoke to the eldest prince.

"Tie Jian did break through to the Fusion Spirit Realm this morning, but after being warned by the Fourth Prince, he did not take any further action against the Shengshi Huazhang Chamber of Commerce. He then led his troops back to the military camp and has not left since. No one from the Tie family has left Yan City either, so the possibility of a rebellion is unlikely."

The eldest prince, Lü Jun, asked in a somber tone, "Then where did he go?"

Prime Minister Zhao Baicheng shut up; he also wanted to ask where Tie Jian had gone.

"Before the guards disappeared, many people saw a pale blue beam of light descend from the sky. Could they have all been killed by that beam?"

Bang.

Lu Jun slammed his hand on the table. "Think before you speak. Even divine punishment leaves traces of a corpse. Get down and receive thirty strokes of the cane."

The speaker trembled, respectfully rolled out of the palace, and went to receive thirty strokes of the cane.

"The warden of the Underworld, Nightshade, was killed by Zheng Qian's girlfriend. The Underworld is home to the most vicious criminals in Wuyan Kingdom. Without a powerful expert to keep order, it's impossible to control them. Do you have any good candidates to recommend?"

Lu Jun's face was grim. He couldn't find the guards, but the Underworld couldn't be without a warden for even a day. He had to quickly select a powerful figure to oversee the prison, otherwise they would escape. Another bloody storm was about to erupt in the Kingdom of Wuyan.

No one dared to speak, for fear of being punished for saying the wrong thing. They all looked at Prime Minister Zhao Baicheng.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Baicheng's eyes deepened. "Yan City cannot be without an army for a single day, but the Underworld can be without prisoners. We are all willing to serve Your Highness and enhance the prestige of our nation."

Lu Jin looked at Zhao Baicheng in disbelief, then her shock turned into delight, and she bowed to Zhao Baicheng as a student.

"What the teacher said is absolutely right. Lü Jun will keep the teacher's teachings in mind."

Chancellor Zhao Baicheng was not only the head of all officials, but also the tutor of the eldest prince.

The emperor has never appointed a crown prince, so the eldest prince remains just the eldest prince and cannot rightfully inherit the throne.

Wuyan Kingdom governs the country based on filial piety. According to tradition, the eldest son succeeds to the throne. However, since the emperor has not spoken, no one can say that he is the crown prince and that Lü Jun will inherit the throne.

Prime Minister Zhao Baicheng's words were very clear: Yan City cannot be without an army for even a day. Therefore, he can summon the righteous army he has raised to enter Yan City. The underworld is full of prisoners, implying that anyone who opposes his succession can be killed. They all support the eldest prince's succession and the establishment of a new order in the Wu Yan Kingdom.

Lu Jun has already gained the support of General Zhang Zhi, and now he also has the support of Zhao Baicheng. All he needs to do now is find an opportunity to win over the Shadow Master of the Shadow Guard, and he can accomplish what he has always wanted to do.

To murder the king and seize the throne.

In Lü Jin's palace, he sat on an exquisite jade chair, his gaze deep and penetrating, as if he could see through the palace walls to the turbulent situation outside. He sighed softly, his voice filled with helplessness and worry: "Zhang Xinghai, what do you think of the disappearance of the guards and Zheng Qian's intrusion into the Underworld today?"

Zhang Xinghai was Lü Jin's confidant. After Jia Shi's death, he became Lü Jin's most trusted advisor. Everyone thought he was truly insane, but only Lü Jin knew that he had a burning passion to save the country and was only feigning madness because he had no other way to do so.

Zhang Xinghai lowered his head slightly, pondered for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "No matter what the reason for the disappearance of the Guard Army, Yan City cannot be without an army to protect it. Moreover, His Highness holds great power and has the support of the righteous army. If His Highness really has the intention to seize the throne, I'm afraid we will not be able to resist him."

Lu Jin nodded, a resolute look in his eyes: "I know. Our informant has reported that Zhao Baicheng is already discussing matters in my elder brother's palace. They're openly meeting, which shows my elder brother's ambition. But his eagerness might not be enough to secure Father's support. Father is so wise; how could he not see through their intentions? Besides, Wu Yan Kingdom governs based on filial piety, and the eldest son's succession is merely a tradition, not an ironclad rule. We still have a chance."

A hint of approval flashed in Zhang Xinghai's eyes: "Your Highness is absolutely right. But we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom; we must take action. I believe we should first consolidate our own power and at the same time seek the Emperor's support. Only with the Emperor's approval can we rightfully inherit the throne."

A resolute glint flashed in the Fourth Prince's eyes: "You're right. I will personally go to Father and express my feelings. At the same time, we must strengthen our defenses to prevent my elder brother and Zhao Baicheng from plotting against us."

They had planned everything meticulously, but they hadn't anticipated that Zhao Baicheng had openly supported the eldest prince, Lü Jun, in his attempt to assassinate the emperor. Now, the eldest prince only needed the support of the Shadow Guards to sideline the emperor and seize the throne.

Having reached an agreement, the fourth prince rose and prepared to go to the emperor's palace. He knew that this was a contest concerning the fate of the nation and his own future, and he had to give it his all to win the final victory.

Just then, a guard ran in.

"Your Highness, the Prosperous Era Chamber of Commerce has sent an invitation. Minister Xu Shicai is getting married to Yun Duo'er, and they invite Your Highness and Chairman Zhang to attend the wedding on West Fourth Street."

The two took the invitation and saw that the date was tonight.

Lu Jin looked at the invitation, pondered for a moment, and said, "You should go to this wedding banquet. Zheng Qian trampled down Qixin Tower and dragged and killed Jia Shi in the street. My subordinates are already dissatisfied with my not pursuing Zheng Qian's mistakes. If you go to the wedding, I'm afraid the morale will be unstable."

Zhang Xinghai scratched his head, looking worried, and advised, "Your Highness, Zheng Qian really did kill an entire battalion by himself in Lvchang County. Why don't you believe it? His girlfriend slaughtered so many experts from the Underworld Prison by herself, and even killed Night Fiend in one move. Why do you still care about your subordinates' thoughts? If you get Zheng Qian, you get the world."

Lu Jin was a little shaken. As soon as Zhang Xinghai arrived in Yancheng, he told him that Zheng Qian's ideas were advanced, his vision was broad and his abilities were outstanding. At the time, he did not take it to heart. How much ability could a head镖师 (bodyguard) in a small county town have?

Following Zheng Qian's subsequent series of achievements, he felt that Zheng Qian was a rare talent. Even now, he still believes that Zheng Qian is a bold and capable person, but he does not agree with Zhang Xinghai's saying that "getting Zheng Qian means getting the world."

"Do you know why I always call him Dad? It's because I think he's more capable than my dad. Even if my dad really causes trouble for him, he won't get any benefit. If it weren't for his ambition to travel the world with a sword, and his intelligence to pursue a career in politics, my dad would be nothing but a chicken in front of him."

Zhang Xinghai greatly admired Zheng Qian. Back when Zheng Qian was still in the Skin Refining Realm, he had already killed the Biqiang Sect members who were a hundred times stronger than him. From then on, Zhang Xinghai knew that Zheng Qian was a man of extraordinary intelligence, a hundred times more capable than his father who only knew how to fight.

This time, Lü Jin was truly wavering. He was mild-mannered, but when he proposed reforms to govern the country, he adopted a slow and gradual approach, lacking decisiveness—this was a weakness. However, he was very obedient to advice, which was also a strength. Not to mention anything else, just the fact that Zheng Qian's female companion was far superior to Ye Sha was enough to make him abandon everything to cultivate a relationship with Zheng Qian, and he immediately decided to listen to Zhang Xinghai's advice.

"Prepare generous gifts to attend the wedding banquet."