Chapter 473 304: Emperor Qin's Poison in His Bones, Contenders Eye the Throne (Part 2)

Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm expert Yien Chong, clad in armor, bowed to report.

King of North Snow sat on the throne, tapping his finger on the golden chair.

"General Yien, do you think the timing is right?"

"Your Majesty, I believe if Emperor Qin is truly poisoned, he won't live much longer. Once Emperor Qin dies, Qin Capital will surely be in chaos, and that will be the best time."

"What if Qin Capital covers up the death of my eldest brother?"

"Well... the death of Emperor Qin is such a major event, Qin Capital can't possibly hide it."

"Can't hide it?" King of North Snow shook his head and said, "General Yien, if Emperor Qin is truly poisoned and passes away, our North Snow Army will be too late to claim Qin Capital."

"The best time is when Emperor Qin is poisoned but not yet deadly, and various parties are acting restlessly."

"Your Majesty, please give the command." Yien Chong knelt down.

"You are to immediately infiltrate Qin Capital and make sure to ascertain whether Emperor Qin is poisoned. I will have the Pei Family cooperate with you."

"As you command."

"You may leave."

"Your Majesty, Blood Evil is outside the hall."

"Let him in."

"Yes."

Yien Chong withdrew, and Blood Evil entered the grand hall clad in a blood-red robe.

"Blood Evil, lately you've been visiting my North Snow County quite frequently." King of North Snow looked down from above.

"King Shuo," Blood Evil bowed and greeted, "I heard that Emperor Qin has been poisoned by the Blood Leech."

"Blood Evil, you're certainly well-informed."

"King Shuo, how can such an opportunity be missed easily?"

"Blood Evil, you're rather impatient."

"King Shuo, presently the Qin Dynasty is besieged on all sides; the West Tiger Armor and Southern Sikong have both fallen into Emperor Qin's hands, and the Eastern Expedition Army is resisting Yiyang Kingdom, with Qin Capital only having the Huang Forbidden Army." Blood Evil expressed the current situation of the dynasty.

King of North Snow remained silent.

A moment passed.

"The poisoning of Emperor Qin is still being confirmed; rashly deploying troops might lead to subterfuge."

"...." Blood Evil showed an expression of contemplation and then asked, "Was the recent Blood Leech incident in the eastern suburbs orchestrated by King Shuo?"

King of North Snow smiled without speaking, which could be taken as confirmation.

"I understand." Blood Evil bowed and departed.

"Haha, Blood Evil, as long as you understand my painstaking efforts." King of North Snow looked at the heavy snow outside and remarked, "I received news yesterday that remnants of the Yan Dynasty have appeared."

"Hmm?" Blood Evil's gaze tightened, "Where?"

"In Insect Tail Valley, between Qin Capital and Taihua County."

"...."

....

Qin Capital, Imperial City, Jinluan Hall.

"Master Tang, I beg you, let me see my father."

Outside the hall, a woman's voice was heard.

"Princess Zhenyang, please return, His Majesty is recuperating." Tang Guang's expression was cold.

"Master Tang...." Princess Zhenyang was still wearing her hunting attire, looking somewhat disheveled, and there were bloodstains on her body.

"Someone, take Princess Zhenyang away for treatment."

"Yes." Several guards escorted the Seventeenth Princess away.

Inside Jinluan Hall.

Emperor Qin sat unharmed on the throne, looking over something.

Tang Guang bowed as he entered the hall.

"Has Little Seventeen left?"

"Reporting to His Majesty, I've already ordered that the Seventeenth Princess be sent away."

"Hmm." Emperor Qin lifted his head, "Master Tang, you should know Little Seventeen is my most cherished daughter."

"Your Majesty...," Tang Guang immediately bowed, "I neglected my duty, failing to detect that ten people had infiltrated the hunting grounds."

"Is it negligence?" Emperor Qin's eyes were calm, yet a chill emanated from them.

"Your Majesty." At this moment, Hoong Xiao emerged from the shadows, respectfully saying, "Regarding this matter, I also have neglect in supervision."

Emperor Qin looked closely at the two of them, then lowered his gaze again, speaking calmly: "The hunting grounds in the eastern suburbs cover a hundred miles; oversight is inevitable."

Being experts of the Astronomical Bureau in the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, they were his right-hand men, hence he could not easily punish them.

"How's the substitute?" Emperor Qin asked.

"The Blood Leech's poison is extremely potent; I've already used the Red Flame Roasting Flame to clear most of the poison from his body, but to completely remove it is nearly impossible." Hoong Xiao respectfully replied.

"How long can he live?"

"As long as ten days, as short as three days."

"Three days....," Emperor Qin pondered, and then said: "Let him continue to stand in for me."

"Is Your Majesty planning to?"

"Hmm, I want to see who, besides King Shuo, is coveting my throne."

"Master Tang, Master Hoong, inform anyone who comes to inquire about my health that I'm fine."

"But, for the next ten days, there will be no court sessions, and the substitute must not appear."

"Furthermore, discreetly spread the news that I've been poisoned to the bone marrow and don't have much time left."

"I'm curious who will become impatient first."

"Yes." Tang Guang and Hoong Xiao obeyed the orders.

"Your Majesty, about Sikong Heng...."

"Lock him up first, I'll speak when I have full control over the Sikong Army."

"Yes."

"...."

....

Qin Capital, Inner City, Chu Ming.

Chu Ming and Fang Xiao sat across from each other, hot wine brewing on the table.

"Young Master, how did you know there was something wrong with those captives?" Fang Xiao asked curiously.

"Instinct." Chu Ming replied with a smile, "I gained it once I cultivated to the Meridian Unlocking Realm."

"...." Fang Xiao paused, seemed to believe, yet perhaps did not fully, but it was not important.

"Young Master, with His Majesty poisoned, Qin Capital is likely to fall into chaos."

"More or less, it will certainly become chaotic; Housekeeper Fang, don't leave the residence if you have nothing to do."

"Rest assured, Young Master, I'm aware of my own limitations."

"...."

The two drank hot wine and casually chatted.

After dining, Chu Ming returned to his room.

With a light sweep of his sleeves, the day's gains appeared before him.

Thirty-seven Mountain-shaking Beads, Torrential Wave Beads, four peculiar stone shards, and a chunk of Blood Leech flesh.

He first picked up the Mountain-shaking Bead to examine it; the bead was the size of a goose egg, smooth and round like crystal glass, with quite a unique texture.

After observing for a long time, he still couldn't discern what kind of refining produced this bead.

Subsequently, Chu Ming picked up a Torrential Wave Bead to inspect it; this bead was similar in shape to the Mountain-shaking Bead but was light blue in color.

"Five Mountain-shaking Beads gravely injure the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm... eight destroy the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm...."

"Thirty-seven beads, ample for four or five uses."

A trump card, yet another added.

Chu Ming showed a delighted expression, gathered up the beads, and turned his attention to the four peculiar stone shards.

These four shards looked no different from ordinary stone shards yet were different in reality.