Lin Mansion, Imperial City;
Song Yue was reading a popular romantic novel while Lin Xue was busy with her sword training.
All of a sudden, a couple of soldiers rushed into the training ground, interrupting Lin Xue's training.
"What is it?" She was annoyed that her training has been interrupted. A frown appeared on her face.
"Milady, something bad happened."
One of them proceed with reporting to her about the incident that happened at Song Mansion. Song Yue who was nearby stood up in shock. She immediately rushed towards him, "What happened? Tell me the details."
The second soldier explained everything from the appearance of a unique moving metal vehicle or puppet to its sudden rampaging within the Song Mansion's compound, heavily injuring the minister.
"My father is gravely injured?" A look of panic appeared on her face. "Xue Xue, I have to go."
"Wait, I'm coming with you." As Lin Xue offered to come along, for some reason, the soldiers were troubled and looked at each other before one of them hurriedly bowed his head, "Lady Lin, the city is in chaos right now. Your presence might attract enemies. If anything happens to you, our heads will be rolled on the ground…"
"Don't worry. Yao Ling will follow me." Lin Xue assured them that with a six-circle realm expert sitting beside her, she'll be safe from any ambushes and she doesn't need their protection.
As soon as the two soldiers heard the name, their faces stiffened for a second before one of them directly kneeled before the heiress of the Lin clan, "Milady, I beg you. We got a report that Lord Song was confirmed to be a 6-circle realm. Even he was brought to the brink of death. We don't know whether this fiend will launch against you. If something happens to you, our heads will be rolled off from the ground.
While Lin Xue thought about her father's character, she felt like it might be possible for the Minister of Personnel to show his wrath on the guards. Lin Xue didn't consider it but Song Yue thought of the possibility of the third prince's anger on the poor soldiers.
She felt pity for them. So, when Lin Xue tried to insist that she will come in secret since Song Yun is also close to her, Song Yue told her that she will go alone. "After everything gets cool down, you can visit my father."
"What are you still waiting for? Let's go." Song Yue impatiently told to the kneeling soldiers to hurry up and prepare the carriage for her return.
She thought she would be fine if she aboard a normal carriage and let the soldiers accompany her in civilian clothes. However, she didn't expect that as soon as the vehicle crossed Valley Street, the carriage suddenly stops and the soldiers enter the cabin without her permission.
"What are you doing… mmphf…" Her mouth was quickly closed by one of the soldiers before taking control of the situation. The carriage continued to move while the Lin clan soldiers sat managed to abduct the Song Clan heiress.
As for why they did this?
It's because they were originally spies of the Nie Clan who were planted at Lin Clan's Mansion long ago. For five years, they have been serving like normal security guards; accompany Lin Xue, and sometimes, her younger brother or her mother, and gained considerable trust from everyone.
Their actual mission is to abduct either of the children of Lin Wuying and use them as a bargaining chip for the Crown Prince's kingship.
Nie Rougang upon receiving the news of the attack on the Song Clan thought that it's the best time to mobilize them as his earlier plan might take several years. After all, the King himself is super healthy. Unless the King will be assassinated, it will be impossible for the Crown Prince, Shang Zexi to claim the throne.
So, he acted right away. As for what he will be getting in return, it is his resignation from his post. When Song Yun retires, then, someone from Song Clan will have to take over his position.
Despite women having several rights in the Imperial Empire of Phoenix, like even becoming the head of their respective clan, no woman was ever appointed as a minister in the royal court. In fact, except for the current Empress, Empress Dowager, maids, and dancers, no other woman irrespective of their position is even allowed to step inside the courtroom.
This thing hasn't changed in the past 3500 years and probably will not change as long as the Shang family rules the Empire.
It means that Song Yue cannot hold the post of the minister after her father resigns. He doesn't have other heirs too. The most ideal candidate would be Song Chang, who is the elder brother of Song Yun and is currently working at the Central Secretariat, a department responsible for drafting policy.
The biggest advantage of Nie Rougang here is that Song Chang is in cahoots with Nie Clan. It was mainly because of the previous clan head's decision of making Song Yun his successor despite Song Chang is the eldest.
Song Chang hates Song Yun and most likely will strengthen the Crown Prince's faction once his appointment will be finished.
After the two spies rode for twenty minutes, they successfully crossed the inner sector of the city and reached the outer sector where the poorer section of the society lives.
Both of them were now even more alert with how bustling the streets are. So, they made sure to knock Song Yue out and constantly keep an eye on her as the horse carriage slowly made its way towards the outskirts. According to the orders they received, a man will be waiting for them at the shores of Lake Beihai, located in the western part of the outer sector.
That person will replace the coachman and takes the carriage to the hidden lair where they will keep Song Yue hostage until the Nie Clan's work is done behind the scenes.
Everything was fine without any disturbance until they reached the lakeshore where twin dragon statues are located at the entrance of an abandoned millennium-old temple. It was the place where their helper should be waiting but instead, there's a huge battle tank is parked with an Android sitting on top of it with his arms crossed. He has a sword placed with him.
"Target Found"
His eyes glowed in red upon discovering the carriage.
He leaped towards the carriage and slashed the sword. The neck of the poor horse rolled on the floor, scaring the hell out of the coachman who is nothing but a civilian without any fighting prowess. The coachman screamed and ran away in fear.