Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
The lights are still on.
A biting cold wind lingered in the hall, shrouded in an indescribable chill.
The air was filled with a strong smell of blood, which was nauseating.
Even though the heavy rain outside the temple washed away the traces of tonight's sins, it could not wash away the cold air that oppressed my heart.
In the yard, there were several corpses lying in all directions.
The scene was extremely tragic.
It was eerily quiet all around!
The elite troops under the Third Prince had already taken control of the entire Yangxin Palace.
Inside the hall.
The third prince, dressed in armor and fully armed, walked slowly into the hall surrounded by his subordinates.
Passing through the towering hall, the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood. Just ahead, behind a distant screen, a smear of blood glared.
Outside the inner hall, fully armed soldiers had already surrounded the front hall, making it impossible to get out.
Everyone's face was solemn, not even breathing heavily. They stared intently at the inner hall ahead...
In the inner hall, a faint light was burning, which seemed to be about to go out at any time.
Inside the hall, there were only a few guards still resisting stubbornly.
But even so, no one present dared to underestimate it.
Everyone knows that the person inside is the current Crown Prince of the Daning Dynasty!
That’s their goal tonight!
…
As he stepped into the inner hall, the Third Prince felt that his aura was a little weaker for some reason.
An indescribable feeling of oppression enveloped his heart.
He raised his head with a gloomy expression and looked forward.
Just one step away!
He was only one step away from success!
But perhaps it was the shadow that had been hanging over him for so many years that made him still feel a little uneasy even in such a situation.
He stopped and stared ahead coldly.
Don't move!
"Since you are here, are you afraid to come and see me?"
Just when the atmosphere was becoming depressing, Li Ci Ning's voice came from behind the screen in the inner hall.
Not too cold, not too indifferent, not feeling too many emotions.
The third prince's expression changed slightly, as if he had suffered a great humiliation.
"Humph, what is there that this king is afraid to see?!"
The third prince had a gloomy expression on his face as he stepped into the inner hall, behind the screen.
Passing through the screen, you can see the scene behind the screen at a glance.
At this moment, the inner hall was in a mess. It had experienced a melee not long ago. The only two guards left in the hall were staring at the third prince at the door with solemn and vigilant expressions.
Crown Prince Li Ci Ning was dressed in silver-white brocade and was quietly working at his desk. His face was as pale as ever, but his expression was calm.
When the Third Prince walked in, he slowly sat up and looked up, his eyes showing no sign of surprise. He didn't even seem panicked or angry, as if he wasn't aware of his current situation at all!
"Third brother, you're here!"
At this moment, for some reason, the Third Prince's expression became increasingly ugly.
Especially when he saw Li Ci Ning's calm expression and the look that was directed at him without any fear, the Third Prince felt an immense anger surge in his heart.
Why don't you panic?
Why aren't you scared?!
Your life is in my hands. I've already defeated you... Why don't you respect me at all?!
Anger suddenly surged up, and the Third Prince's face became ferocious for a moment, but soon returned to normal.
"I am coming!"
The Third Prince looked down at him coldly and said, "You lose!"
The books on the desk were blown to pieces by the cold wind and scattered all over the floor. Li Ci Ning picked up the teacup on the table and realized that the hot tea had already gone cold.
He put down his teacup and glanced up at him: "What if I win? What if I lose?"
"You don't have to pretend to be calm!"
The Third Prince sneered, "After tonight, everything in the world will belong to me!"
"If you beg me now, I might consider letting you die quickly!"
The Third Prince was growing increasingly restless. He didn't like this feeling. He was clearly in control of everything, yet why, when facing Li Ci Ning, did he still feel an inexplicable... unease?
Li Ci Ning was silent for a while, then he sighed deeply, "Are you so eager to take my position?"
"For this, you're not afraid to risk being criticized and criticized by the whole world, and even kill your own brothers?!
The Third Prince's eyes were icy: "The Royal Family has never had any brothers. Since ancient times, the winners have always been kings and the losers have always been bandits!"
In his eyes, there had never been any brotherhood. They were born in the heavenly family, destined to be enemies in the future!
Either you die or I live!
It has been like this since ancient times!
Li Ci Ning met the cold gaze of his fellow brother in front of him, filled with deep hatred for him.
He was silent, and said, "I never thought that you have been blinded by power and have become so crazy!"
At this point, Li Qining coughed twice, his face turning even paler. Perhaps it was because of the cold wind that had blown too much tonight, and his body was getting thinner.
"I have considered this before. Since you, Third Brother, like my position as Crown Prince, I can ask Father to give you the position!"
The third prince's pupils suddenly shrank, but then he sneered in his heart.
Will he believe it?
Who wouldn't be afraid of the position of crown prince?
Will he give it to me on his own initiative?
Do you think you are stupid?
Li Qining seemed unaware of the change in the Third Prince's expression. He sighed and said, "But Third Brother, you are too cruel. Your style of action is brutal and your methods are too ruthless... You are not a qualified emperor!"
Hearing this, the Third Prince sneered disdainfully: "Do you think you will be a qualified emperor?"
"Neither am I."
Li Ci Ning shook his head slightly. He knew his limitations. Given his temperament, he couldn't guarantee he'd be a qualified emperor. But for the people of the world, a docile emperor was always better than a tyrannical one.
"Neither you nor I are fit to be emperor..."
Li Ci Ning spoke slowly, but was interrupted impatiently by the Third Prince.
"I don't need you to judge whether I'm suitable or not!"
He hated being lectured, whether by his father or by Li Ci Ning. He was annoyed by these people's incessant chatter. For the Third Prince, he trusted his fists more than anything else. He got what he wanted, and he got it himself.
Just like right now!
"It doesn't matter whether it's suitable or not. What matters is that everything is mine now!"
The Third Prince sneered, "I got everything I wanted on my own!"
"And you have completely lost to me!"
Looking at his brother who used to be superior to him, he saw that he was now in his hands.
At this moment, the Third Prince felt an indescribable sense of relief. It was as if the emotions that had been suppressed for years were finally released.
Looking at his third brother who used to be respectful to him, but was now blinded by power and had such a ferocious look on his face, Li Ci Ning felt heavy-hearted.
"Turn back now, before anything bad happens, there's still time."
Li Ci Ning looked at him calmly.
"Turn back?!"
The Third Prince seemed to have heard something hilarious. He grinned and said, "Why would I turn back? I've already got everything I wanted... The palace and the capital are now under my control, and so is your life..."
"You no longer have any guards who can protect you. I can finish you off with just one sword... The world is within my grasp!"
"No one can stop me. Tomorrow morning, I will ascend the throne and be crowned emperor! Then, the world will belong to me!"
"Why should I turn back?!"
Li Qining's eyes finally turned cold: "You are so cruel and crazy that you even dare to attack my father?!"
The Third Prince grinned grimly and said, "If he is willing to obey and issue an abdication decree, I can spare his life. If he doesn't know what's good for him, don't blame me..."
Now that the capital city and the imperial palace are under his control, it is no longer anyone else's turn to point fingers at him!
The Third Prince had always wanted more than just Li Ci Ning's position as Crown Prince. He wanted to take the coveted throne of the Emperor in one go!
"brute!"
Li Ci Ning's expression finally changed slightly.
Although he had a premonition, Li Ci Ning was still angry when he heard it from the third prince himself.
Not only did he want to kill himself, he even wanted to kill his father...
Is he going to be the emperor who murdered his father and brother, be nailed to the pillar of shame, and be infamous for eternity?!
"You're finally angry!"
When the third prince saw that Li Ci Ning's expression finally changed, he felt more proud and happy.
This is the scene he wants to see!
This is the result he wants!
"I originally thought you were just unscrupulous and ruthless, but I didn't expect that you have even lost the last bit of humanity!"
Li Qining looked at him coldly: "If you become the emperor, how can our Daning Dynasty have a peaceful day? What kind of miserable life will the people of Daning live in?!"
"You must not be allowed to sit in this position."
The Third Prince sneered, "It's probably too late for you to say this now!"
Li Ci Ning flicked his sleeves and looked at him coldly: "That's not necessarily true!"
At this moment, for some unknown reason, Li Qining's demeanor suddenly changed. Although he still looked weak, as if he would collapse at any moment, the invisible oppressive aura emanating from him made the Third Prince feel uneasy.
how so?
The third prince was filled with resentment.
He was clearly in control of the situation, so why did he still subconsciously feel a little frightened?
"you……"
The third prince was about to speak.
The next second, a burst of noise suddenly came from outside the hall, accompanied by hurried footsteps and sudden screams.
The Third Prince's expression changed, and he turned his head abruptly: "What's going on?!"
A figure outside the hall rushed in with staggering steps.
"Your Highness, this is bad! Many Imperial Guards and experts suddenly appeared outside. We are surrounded!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Third Prince's expression suddenly changed.
How could there still be imperial guards?
As if realizing something, he suddenly turned his head and stared at Li Ci Ning: "It's you?!"
Li Qining looked at him expressionlessly: "Why do you think I'm not prepared?"
At this moment, the third prince finally realized what was causing the uneasiness in his heart!
Tonight went so smoothly!
It went so smoothly that he felt a sense of trance and unreality, and this sense of unreality was the source of his uneasiness and fear.
So, he was already prepared?
The Third Prince, realizing his plan had been exposed, turned pale. Outside the palace, rapid footsteps accompanied by sounds of fighting were heard, clearly indicating a formidable force.
The clash of swords and the screams rang out again, endlessly.
He suddenly stared at Li Ci Ning, who was still sitting at his desk with a calm expression, and anger and fear suddenly surged up in him.
"Kill him!"
"quick!"
The third prince roared in a deep voice from his throat.
So what if we are surrounded and trapped?
His plan had already been largely successful, the capital was already in his hands. Even Li Ci Ning's life and death depended on his decision.
As long as he was killed, the morale of the guards outside would plummet, and they would be leaderless. Even when the troops outside the capital arrived, they still couldn't change the situation!
"kill!"
Following the Third Prince's order, the surrounding soldiers drew their swords and murderous aura instantly filled the air.
But the next second, screams suddenly rang out all around.
The third prince suddenly turned his head and saw an incredible scene.
Some of the soldiers who had originally surrounded the palace suddenly pointed their swords at their comrades. Some of them were caught off guard, not expecting their own men to attack them, and were instantly struck, falling to the ground.
The Third Prince's pupils suddenly shrank when he saw this scene: "You guys?!"
He seemed to realize something and suddenly turned his head to look at Li Ci Ning, shocked and terrified: "It's you?!"
Li Ci Ning looked at him calmly, but his pale face seemed to have a terrifying and oppressive aura.
"You've planted so many spies around me over the years. Can't I plant someone around you?"
The Third Prince was filled with shock and fury. He had never imagined that there would be so many traitors among his own men. Seeing the 'traitors' outside the palace taking care of their accomplices nearby, they rushed directly into the palace.
"Your Highness, be careful!"
The confidants who were protecting the Third Prince drew their swords and stopped the approaching "traitors"!
"Your Highness, kill the prince first!"
A confidant in the crowd shouted.
As long as Li Ci Ning dies, everything will be over!
Must kill him first!
This angry shout brought the frightened and angry Third Prince back to his senses.
He stared at Li Ci Ning, who was still sitting at the desk, motionless, and a deep fear arose in his heart for some unknown reason.
But right now, he didn't have time to think so much!
I thought the outcome was certain, but I was tricked.
At this moment, the Third Prince only wanted to kill Li Ci Ning. He suddenly drew the long sword from his waist and stabbed at Li Ci Ning.
The two guards beside Li Ci Ning stepped forward and stood in front of the third prince.
“Go to hell!”
The third prince leaped up and slashed down with the sword in his hand. His momentum was like a rainbow, and he instantly pushed back the two guards.
The two guards were terrified, as if they hadn't expected the Third Prince's martial arts skills to be so impressive!
"Protect His Highness!"
The two guards were stunned for a moment, then quickly surrounded them.
"court death!"
At this moment, the third prince's eyes were slightly red, and there was only Li Ci Ning in his eyes!
Kill him!
He swung the heavy sword in his hand and swept it forward again, and the heavy sword hit the two guards heavily.
"Bang!"
The two guards were knocked back four or five steps again, their faces pale and their bodies churning.
The Third Prince's martial arts skills are so strong?!
He hid it so deeply?!
"Li Ci Ning, prepare to die!"
After repelling these two guards, there was no longer any obstacle in front of the Third Prince.
The Li Qining before him was a powerless infant. The Third Prince's heavy sword was approaching him in the next second, ready to take his life!
In the cold light of the heavy sword, Li Ci Ning's calm and unperturbed eyes and the gloomy and ferocious face of the third prince were reflected.
All of this, the picture is almost frozen!
until……
A long sword appeared silently from behind the third prince and was placed against his neck.
"Your Highness, stop it!"
The cold sword pierced the bones, making people stiff all over.
The Third Prince's body trembled and he stood there in a daze.
He suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with astonishment and deep disbelief.
"you……"
In the sight, a middle-aged man in Confucian robes was standing behind the Third Prince, holding a sword against his neck.
Facing the Third Prince's questioning, astonished, angry, complicated and disbelieving look, Situ Yan remained calm.
"Your Highness the Third Prince, I'm sorry!"
"I'm undercover!"
“…”
