The next day, Elder Zhen sent a servant to Yi Ling's inn without explaining the reason. Deciding it was important, Yi Ling went to the Crown Prince's palace with Linyu and the Viridis in tow.
Elder Zhen greeted them warmly as they arrived.
"Doctor Yi, you've arrived. Please, this way!" he motioned for them to follow him. "The Crown Prince was able to stabilize his powers quicker than I anticipated."
"I expected that much. No matter, I have some matters to discuss with him." Yi Ling wanted to start her plans without delay.
The Crown Prince was sitting in the garden, drinking his morning tea as he awaited his new master. He couldn't wait to avenge his mother and himself. Xiang Ren had to go. Seeing the four figures approaching, he stood up and greeted them.
"Master!" He cupped his fist and bowed.
"En, I see that you're doing well. I take it that you're ready." Yi Ling sat down in the chair opposite Xiang He.
Xiang He ordered drinks for the three. Elder Zhen happily accepted the task. When he returned, Yi Ling and Xiang He had already finished planning for that night's events. Yi Ling took a sip of the tea and complimented Elder Zhen.
After finishing their tea, Yi Ling, Linyu, and the Viridis stood up to leave. They needed to prepare for the night's events. Xiang He bowed as they left, then turned to Elder Zhen to inform him of the plan.
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Two shadows sat perched in a tree, looking down at an old manor. It was shabby and slightly torn down, guarded by two 5th Ranked Dawning Stage cultivators. They were mere ants compared to the shadows.
They had already scouted the area and knew the target was inside. Silently, they leapt into the air and took their respective positions. They threw vials toward the manor, causing loud explosions upon impact.
The two guards panicked and shouted warnings to the people inside the manor.
"The manor is burning! Quickly! Get out!"
"Master Xiang Ren!! The manor is burning! There are assassins!"
They yelled loudly, spreading the alarm. Inside, people gambling started to panic and ran toward the back exit, a feature installed for such emergencies.
Xiang Ren was the first to get out. His eyes went wide as he observed the fire. Although he had many businesses in the Kingdom, this one generated significant income. It was illegal to gamble in Xiang Kingdom, a law made by his father, the late emperor. Xiang Ren had never understood why and resented it. One of his ambitions was to remove this law if he ascended the throne, enabling him to generate more money for himself.
"If only I had been born first, instead of my older brother. If only she had met me first, she would never have died. It was all my brother's fault. I will never stop until I become Emperor," he thought, clenching his fist.