Faced with the so-called "evidence," Emperor Xia was completely convinced.
The pieces of "evidence" seemed to interlock, pointing to a chain of conspiracy similar to one from decades ago. This perfectly aligned with Emperor Xia’s own suspicions.
During the morning court session, Emperor Xia furiously denounced the treacherous ambitions of the Da Kuo Royal Court, the Southern Barbarian Hundred Races, the Western Rong, and other powers. He ordered the Border Army to heighten their alert and even began contemplating a preemptive strike.
’If you want a war, then I shall strike first.’
The court and the country were thrown into turmoil. The war hawks eagerly prepared for a fight, the doves were deeply concerned, and the Neutral Faction was caught in a difficult position. The entire Great Xia Dynasty’s attention was drawn to its borders and the external threat.
Meanwhile, the true mastermind was lounging in Wenhua Hall, enjoying massages and being hand-fed by Qiuci Dancers. After choosing one or two pleasing beauties to favor for a while, he was once again escorted by a flock of them to his Practice Room for a good "rest."
During this time, he overheard many Palace Attendants discussing the matter with concern.
"I hear there’s going to be a war. I wonder if it will affect us."
"White Jade City is so far from the border, how could it possibly affect us? The Da Kuo Royal Court and the Southern Barbarian Hundred Races are getting so brazen, daring to move against Great Xia again. Aren’t they afraid of repeating past mistakes?"
"No wonder so much has been happening lately. So it’s the Da Kuo Royal Court and the Southern Barbarian Hundred Races making their move. That explains it. How could mere Sects or Gangs have this kind of power?"
"I used to suspect it was some Prince or Princess stirring up trouble, but thinking about it now, which of them could pull off so many major incidents? His Majesty is truly brilliant for seeing through the enemy’s plot."
Hearing these discussions, Xia Wuyang also suddenly realized that many of the things he had done recently were indeed beyond the capabilities of a single person or an ordinary faction. No wonder Emperor Xia suspected the Da Kuo Royal Court and the Southern Barbarian Hundred Races.
’Come to think of it, that makes sense. It’s actually quite plausible.’
After all, who would have ever guessed that he possessed the Companion Talent, Personal Space, with an area of over three hundred cubic meters inside, capable of holding vast amounts of resources and treasures?
With a faint smile, he pushed the thoughts aside and continued to cultivate in peace, preparing to consolidate his Foundation, enhance his True Qi Seed, and forge his first Spiritual Vein.
At the same time, an urgent report arrived from the border. It stated that nearly a thousand of the Da Kuo Royal Court’s Iron Cavalry had ridden south, plundering a significant amount of the Great Xia Dynasty’s resources and people. The Northern King made no move to respond, seemingly still holding a grudge over the deposing of the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen.
Fortunately, this contingent of Iron Cavalry quickly retreated. However, this only served to further confirm Emperor Xia’s judgment, making him even more convinced that an external enemy was behind everything.
Emperor Xia convened an overnight military conference in Yangxin Hall, dispatching troops and generals and arranging defenses.
Some Princes and Princesses also volunteered for battle, hoping to use the opportunity to earn merits and contend for the now precarious position of Crown Prince.
Undercurrents surged within the Deep Palace, but Wenhua Hall remained exceptionally calm. Xia Wuyang lay in Ah Yuela’s embrace, watching the last crabapple blossom quietly bloom in the twilight. He then turned, embraced the beautiful woman, and began to enjoy himself.
A spring breeze swept by, and petals fell like snow. In the unknown depths of the Eastern Palace, a True Monarch was waiting quietly, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
This grand drama was still far from its climax. The chips in Xia Wuyang’s hands were growing more numerous and more valuable, gradually beginning to surpass even those held by Emperor Xia.
「On the White Dragon Riverbank, where a chill lingered in the spring air, several days of continuous drizzle had washed the bluestone paths to a faint sheen.」
The Cao Bang Headquarter was situated in White Jade City’s most prosperous dock district. Its sprawling, seven-courtyard-deep compound was one of many, its black tiles and white walls appearing grim and oppressive in the hazy, misty rain.
This was a crucial hub controlling the Great Xia Dynasty’s north-south canal transport. Every day, over a thousand grain and salt barges were dispatched from here. Silver flowed in and out like water, and its power was so immense that even local officials had to treat it with deference.
Previously, the Cao Bang was secretly controlled by the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen, serving as one of his most important sources of funding. But with Xia Wuchen’s downfall, the Cao Bang had temporarily adopted a neutral stance and had yet to pledge allegiance to a new master.
However, many Princes and Princesses were already vying for the Cao Bang’s support, trying to bring the gang into their fold, but none had succeeded yet.
At this very moment, something closely related to Xia Wuyang was happening within the Cao Bang. News of it would soon be delivered to Xia Wuyang through the channel of the Shadow Guard Chief, Zheng Zhicang.
In the Practice Room of Wenhua Hall, the soft glow of a Luminous Pearl illuminated Xia Wuyang’s serene face. After a night of arduous cultivation, his River True Seed rotated slowly in his Dantian, absorbing Water Attribute Spiritual Qi and growing ever more stable and powerful.
As dawn approached, Xia Wuyang had just left the Practice Room. He was planning to find a beauty to favor for a while, grab a bite to eat, and then conveniently return to his cultivation when he noticed a bird outside giving him a signal.
Outside the window, the spring rain pattered against the glazed tiles, the sound as fine as silkworms munching on mulberry leaves.
A glint flashed in Xia Wuyang’s eyes. He immediately went back to apply a Disguise, slipped quietly out of the Practice Room, and retrieved the latest intelligence report from Zheng Zhicang at a nearby drop point.
Most of the contents pertained to Emperor Xia, but one seemingly inconspicuous item made Xia Wuyang’s expression change slightly.
"For Your Lordship’s eyes only: The orphaned children of the former Vice Grand General of the Eastern Palace Imperial Guard, Yue Zhan—the siblings Yue Yulong and Yue Yufeng—infiltrated the Cao Bang Headquarter a day ago to assassinate Vice Gang Leader ’Iron-Handed Yama’ Zhao Tianxiong. They failed and were captured. They are now imprisoned in the headquarter’s Water Prison. Zhao Tianxiong was the mastermind behind the plot to frame Yue Zhan back then. The Cao Bang was originally part of the Third Prince’s Faction. With the Third Prince’s fall, the gang is rife with internal strife and the situation is chaotic. The Yue siblings attempted to take revenge amidst the chaos but were captured by Zhao Tianxiong."
The silk paper turned to dust in his True Qi. Xia Wuyang’s face darkened.
An honest and resolute face appeared in his mind. It was the face of Yue Zhan, the great minister who, along with Mo Qianqiu, had served as his civil and military advisors—his right and left hands.
In those days, the Crown Prince’s Mansion was at its zenith. Yue Zhan was the Vice Grand General of the Imperial Guard, his status second only to Grand General Tantai Zhan. He was fiercely loyal and possessed superb martial skills, a capable and powerful general who originally had the potential to succeed Tantai Zhan.
During a spring hunt, an assassin had secretly fired a poisoned Crossbow Arrow straight at Xia Wuyang’s back. It was Yue Zhan who had blocked the arrow with his own body. Although he was lucky to survive, the poison left him with chronic health problems.
Later, following Xia Wuyang’s deposal, the Crown Prince’s Mansion collapsed. The loyal Yue Zhan was framed for multiple crimes: colluding with foreign enemies, accepting bribes, murder, arson... Most of these charges had no evidence. The only one that was "rock-solid" was accepting bribes, and the one who provided the evidence was none other than the Cao Bang branch leader at the time, Zhao Tianxiong, who was now the Vice Gang Leader of the Cao Bang.
His position in the Cao Bang could be described as second to one and above tens of thousands. The very reason he was able to become Vice Gang Leader was because of this incident.
It was this frame-up, riddled with holes, that led to Yue Zhan, the Vice Grand General of the Imperial Guard, dying with a grievance. Even his family was implicated and almost completely wiped out.
To think that Yue Zhan had actually left behind a pair of fraternal twins... This discovery filled Xia Wuyang not only with excitement but also with immense indignation.

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