Cardinal Hui and Lady Mingyu, the two who charged in earlier, suppressed all the Imperial Sentinels and Jian Family guards by themselves. It was not that their enemies were too weak, but that they were simply too strong. When they worked together, they were nigh-unstoppable! Three more people walked in soon afterwards. They were the Imperial Princesses and Imperian Qiang. As they stood next to Minister Daiyuu and General Songlin, the prime minister immediately understood.
"When did you start working together?" he asked between narrowed eyes. His expression was extremely calm but menacing. That was far scarier than had he been angry. "I made sure there was no way to communicate with Minister Daiyuu or the Shui Family. It couldn't have been these past few days. So, when was it?"
"Surrender, Prime Minister Pon-Wai. This is your loss," Ming stated.
"Since when did Your Highness develop a sense of humor? Our army is four hundred thousand strong, and even if we exclude the Shui Family's reinforcements, that's more than a fourfold difference against the Alzar Kingdom. Assuming you detain or kill me, that won't change anything. The Alzar Kingdom will still fall today."
"Your Excellency is the face of the Imperial Council. Whatever you say, the Imperial Council will do. You can-"
"Force the Imperial Council to submit?" he laughed. "Kill me, if you can, but I won't be taken hostage." His indifference left Ming in a bind. He had successfully called her bluff.
"I can't stand his face! Let me hit him!" Xiuying shouted.
"Always the impatient one. It's one of your poorer traits, Your Highness." Shifting his gaze, he continued, "Minister Daiyuu, the Shui Family always emphasized harmony as its guiding principle. Yet, you've decided to not only betray the Imperial Council, but also the Xingyuu Empire too. Once this battle is over, your Shui Family… won't last long. I hope you're pleased with the consequences." While the man looked visibly uncomfortable, the prime minister found another target. "As for you, Protector Chang Jian… You do realize that you're raising your blade against your older brother, right? What would our parents think? They would be ashamed to call you, their son." His words clearly cut deep, because Chang's sword shook with hesitation. "However, you two can still take back your actions. Stand with me and the Imperial Council, and we will completely forgive you and your naivety. How about it?"
One had to admit that Prime Minister Pon-Wai was terrifying in his own right. In the span of a few short seconds, he managed to find and manipulate the weakest-willed people present. This ability of his was how he fooled the Featherwind Sect and kept an ironclad grip on the Imperial Council for so long. He could have succeeded in sowing discord, had Imperian Qiang not stepped in.
"Stop it. You're wasting your words. We know you're trying to stall us, so your soldiers can arrive."
"Imperian Qiang…" the prime minister hissed, his contempt and hatred for this man was obvious.
Although he was officially the second most powerful person in the Xingyuu Empire, right underneath the emperor, Imperian Qiang was unique. He was the patriarch of the Li Family, a family so powerful that their very existence could upset the balance of power in the Xingyuu Empire. In fact, many people, including the Alzar Kingdom, considered them one of the three great powers of the human world. That was why when the Imperial Council attacked the Li Family, the Alzar Kingdom immediately mobilized their troops to invade. Their military strength was that significant. Furthermore, Imperian Qiang was the late Emperor Lianghu's brother-in-law. Everything meant that his status rivaled, if not surpassed, Prime Minister Pon-Wai. It was no wonder the Imperial Council considered him an eyesore.
"Protector Chang, restrain him. We're taking him with us," Imperian Qiang said.
"I should have expected this from you and your traitorous family. Were you working together from the very beginning? You would even go as far as killing your previous patriarch to scheme against me. I must admit I'm impressed. You fooled us all."
"What nonsense."
"Lord Foshan suddenly retired from the Li Family's elder council, leaving his brother to take his place. In truth, Lord Fengji killed Lord Foshan and delivered his head in exchange for an alliance with the Imperial Council. That was your plan, wasn't it? To falsify your deaths in the Battle of Liguang, retreat to the Tailong River along with the Li Family, and watch us lose the Quiton Gates. This meant that after the dust had settled, the Li Family would come out on top."
"What?" Ming was stunned.
"Our grandfather is dead?" Xiuying widened her eyes in horror.
"Why are Your Highnesses so surprised? Unless…"
"Enough!" Imperian Qiang rushed up and clamped his mouth shut. "We've wasted enough time already. Let's leave!"
The prime minister was then knocked unconscious and picked up by Cardinal Hui, as his brother watched on, conflicted. Was this really the right thing to do? When it came to answer that question, he was undecided. The same went for Minister Daiyuu. Did he really lead the Shui Family to its doom? During these thoughts, everyone exited the building, where many of the Imperial Council's soldiers laid defeated on the ground. A large group of soldiers from the Shui Family greeted General Songlin. They were responsible for securing the area.
Xiuying asked, "Where are we headed next? Back to the kingdom's army?"
"No. Since our plan to use Prime Minister Pon-Wai failed, then we'll have to resort to our second plan. General Songlin, have your forces captured the military headquarters yet?" Ming wondered.
"Although we took them by surprise, the headquarters is still heavily guarded. It won't be that easy to breach. I suspect it'll take another thirty minutes."
"Then let's go! The Alzar Kingdom won't last for much longer. We need to end this battle as soon as possible!"
Meanwhile, Minister Daiyuu was second-guessing himself. Prime Minister Pon-Wai had guessed correctly that their alliance did not begin today. In fact, they had been working together ever since he relinquished the Shui Family's seal to the Imperial Council. Everything began before the Featherwind Sect and the Sword King's epic fight above the skies of Guanhuang. Minister Daiyuu and his daughter were confined to a room in the Imperial Court and kept under constant watch. As the prime minister said, they could not communicate with the outside world. The windows were sealed off, their meals were regulated, and the guards were heavily investigated. There was no chance for a mistake here. The prime minister had personally made sure of it since he understood their importance. Minister Daiyuu and the Shui Family was pivotal to the Imperial Council's power. Any interference could cause their downfall. However, even the prime minister could not figure out how Minister Daiyuu did it. He never would have guessed that the Featherwind Sect was behind it!
Thinking back to that day, Minister Daiyuu was resting in a chair with his eyes closed. Despite it being midday outside, his face was painted in stress and exhaustion. Although he acted like a salted fish by constantly giving vague promises to the prime minister and Minister Keigon, the truth was… he was unsure. After all, words were one thing, but actions were another. He wondered if he was making the correct choice. This indecision could be seen as cowardice, and it certainly was by his daughter, Minister Chan. She detested his spineless behavior that let everyone walk over him. It was the main reason they were in this plight to begin with. She could not stand to look at her father. This awkward air was relieved when she shrieked.
"What is it?" Minister Daiyuu shot up.
"A rat climbed on my arm!" the woman yelled, pointing at the little rodent scurrying on the table.
The man frowned. "I'll call for a servant to kill it."
"Wait! It's not running away… What is it doing?"
The rat was gesturing to its leg. Lady Chan looked closer and saw there was a piece of string there. She tugged on the string and unfurled a long strip of paper. It was hidden message! She was stunned. She heard of messenger pigeons before, but never messenger rats. Who could train rats like this? Nobody came to mind. Furthermore, pigeons worked because they flew between roosts. Rats could not be more different, so she had to wonder how this message found its way here. Perhaps, it was supposed to be for someone else? Doubtful, she scanned through the contents. That was when her mouth dropped in shock. It was truly addressed to her and her father, and it was written by the Imperial Princesses and Imperian Qiang! She could not believe it!