"The entire army annihilated?"

Just having sat down in the living room, Shi Hongchuan almost jumped out of his chair before he could finish his cup of hot tea.

"Yes." Shi Mansion's steward Shi Ce bowed as he reported, still shaken by the sight of thousands of corpses floating on the ocean: "We also found the corpse of Zhao Wuji, the Sect Leader of Ba Dao Sect... If I'm not mistaken, Ba Dao Sect's entire army has been annihilated."

"How did they manage that? How did they manage that? This is Phoenix City, after all, this is Phoenix City!" Shi Hongchuan put down the teacup in his hand, pacing back and forth in the living room.

The complete annihilation of Ba Dao Sect led him to consider another possibility.

If they could wipe out Ba Dao Sect on Moon Island, could they not also wipe out the Shi family on Moon Island?

However strong Shi family's security might be, it can't compare to the number one sect in the world.

If this time their target was the Shi family... Could the Shi family escape this calamity?

The answer was no.

The reason they hadn't acted against the Shi family was partly to avoid alerting the enemy, and another reason, which he was unwilling to admit...

The Shi family wasn't worthy!

Indeed, they didn't care about the Shi family, or they thought the Shi family wasn't worth their efforts.

This truly is... a painful blessing.

This also made him rethink whether betting all his resources on Shen Wuxiang winning was too risky.

What if Tang Fei's side won?

Or if Tang Fei took offense at the Shi family and pulled the same stunt tonight...

Who could withstand that?

That kid's not easy to deal with; talking about massacres like it's nothing.

"Hongchuan, should we immediately report to the Military Minister?" Seeing his younger brother's mix of shock and fear, Shi Hongyun urged with urgency.

Although Shi Hongyun was the Head of the Shi Family, the real decision-maker was his younger brother Shi Hongchuan.

After all, the younger was on a governmental path, and was about to become one of the Imperial Three Ministers, a prominent post.

"No rush." Shi Hongchuan waved his hand, speaking out: "Reporting is necessary, but I shouldn't be the one doing it to the Military Minister..."

He decided to distance the Shi family from this incident, the downfall of Ba Dao Sect also served as a wake-up call.

The Shi family needs reserve strategies, and can't hook their fate entirely to one side.

Could betting on Tang Fei's side be possible?

Thinking about how he's about to seize the position of Finance Minister from Tang Fei's father-in-law, Shi Hongchuan felt a bit jittery.

Originally, he coveted this position for long, determined to win...

He still desires it now, but doesn't want to antagonize the Sheng Family too intensely.

It's really making his headache.

Besides, if Shen Wuxiang learns of this news, he will undoubtedly be furious.

Anyone calling him now would be courting disaster...

He couldn't bear Shen Wuxiang's wrath himself.

Now is his critical moment for rising to power; carelessness could send the cooked duck flying away.

"Then who will report it?"

"The person who tied the knot should untie it." Shi Hongchuan pondered briefly, his mind already made up: "If the sky falls, let the tall ones hold it up."

------

Sun Shehu was stunned when he received the call from Shi Hongchuan.

He truly was dumbstruck, his mind buzzing.

The annihilation of Ba Dao Sect...

Well, this outcome he could still handle.

After all, with the disappearance of the number one sect in the world, wouldn't the second now become the first?

There were many sects eager to serve the Shen family, countless options awaited him.

But the surrender of thirty thousand of the Undying Army was an unbearable weight for him.

The Undying Army was Shen family's personal troops, the inner circle's inner circle.

Shen Wuxiang rose through the ranks within the Undying Army, gradually reaching the high position of Imperial Military Minister.

After decades of growth and purging, the Undying Army from top to bottom were all Shen family people.

This was also why he initially recommended General Bai Qi from the Undying Army for rescue...

"How could they betray?"

Sun Shehu couldn't fathom.

Of course, now was not the time to delve into reasons, more pressing matters lay ahead.

For instance, finding a scapegoat.

His mind raced, his gaze turned sharp in an instant as he marched towards Zhong Tianque's location in Taiji Palace.

Bam!

Sun Shehu kicked open the grand doors of Taiji Palace, shouting, "Zhong Tianque, you did a fine job."

Zhong Tianque was discussing state affairs with State Councilor Zhang Wanli when Sun Shehu barged in angrily. Zhang Wanli quickly got up and said, "Your Highness, I'll come back later to report work to you."

With that, he turned and left.

As he walked, he began to run...

When deities fought, we little devils... little deities must flee far away.

Accidentally, it could be the end...

Zhong Tianque set down the papers in his hand, forcibly calming his anger, and looked expressionlessly at Sun Shehu, speaking in a low voice, "Mr. Sun, I do not know what I have done to incur such wrath from you?"

"You don't know?" Sun Shehu strode up to Zhong Tianque, pointing at him, cursing, "You did a fine job... now you put on an innocent face? What? Want to extricate yourself?"

"Mr. Sun, I truly do not know what happened. Even if it's death... please let me die with understanding."

Zhong Tianque was quite angry.

Thus he seethed internally.

No matter what, he was still the Empire's titular Crown Prince.

Shen Wuxiang disregarding him was one thing, but Sun Shehu... How dare a servant kick open his palace doors?

Had it been before, he'd have had him dragged out and executed.

It's a pity, the past is the past, the good days are over...

"Well, I'll let you die knowing the truth." Sun Shehu glared coldly at Zhong Tianque and said, "You ordered the Undying Army, led by Bai Qi, to support the Ba Dao Sect... and now, the entire Ba Dao Sect has been annihilated, and Bai Qi has led thirty thousand elites to defect. What do you have to say?"

"???

Zhong Tianque looked at Sun Shehu with astonishment.

First came shock.

The Ba Dao Sect was wiped out?

The Undying Army surrendered?

Next came anger.

If he still didn't understand Sun Shehu's intentions, then he would be an idiot.

This damn thing is meant to make him take the blame.

This burden is too heavy, and his slender arms and legs simply cannot bear it.

"Mr. Sun, it was your suggestion at the time to have Bai Qi of the Undying Army lead the army to assist... now Bai Qi has defected, what does that have to do with me?"

"Nonsense. It was you who hinted for General Bai Qi to go for assistance, and Shen Que and I didn't want to offend you, so we agreed with your suggestion. Now you want us to take responsibility?"

"Zhong Tianque, don't think we don't know what you're thinking... I'll tell you, you're already entangled with the Shen Family, we're all grasshoppers on the same rope... one falls, all fall, one prospers, all prosper. If this big ship sinks, none of us will survive."

"Adding sin to others finds no shortage of excuses? Sun Shehu, I understand your intentions... aren't you just trying to pin the blame on me due to the serious consequences?"

"I tell you, even if this becomes a lawsuit in front of the Military Minister, I still have things to say... Who recommended Bai Qi? Can my words control the Empire's military affairs?"

"Fine, if you want to sue, then I'll sue with you... I want to see exactly who the Military Minister listens to..."

After Sun Shehu threw his tantrum in front of Zhong Tianque, he turned and walked outside.

His purpose for coming here had been achieved, and now he must do what he truly should do.

How to make Shen Wuxiang believe this was Zhong Tianque's suggestion...

Would Shen Wuxiang believe it?

No.

Shen Wuxiang knows Zhong Tianque is a puppet, his influence on the military is extremely limited.

However, he is sensitive and suspicious, what if?

After all, the Zhong Family has a history, with Zhong Yu Xiu Xue joining the bandit camp, and Zhong Daoling even teaming up with Xuanyuan Mingjing trying to target the Shen Family's Great Grandmaster...

At the very least, make Shen Wuxiang suspect Zhong Tianque.

In that case, he wouldn't be carrying the blame alone, but would have others sharing the fallout with him.

Bang!

Zhong Tianque grabbed the coffee cup and fiercely threw it out.

Then he smashed everything he could on the desk and pushed anything he could.

"Too much bullying!"

"Really too much bullying!"

"Wretched lackeys... deserve death, all deserve death..."

------

It must be said, Zhong Tianque was completely overwhelmed by Sun Shehu's chaotic antics.

No sense of morality at all, no sense at all.

Very malicious, very despicable, very strong-handed...

Holding a muck-bedpan and slamming it into your face.

And you're not even allowed to dodge...

Zhong Tianque felt as if he's about to turn into a Ninja Turtle, and a green-haired one at that...

Yet, he couldn't stomach this maneuver.

Because he knew how severe the consequences would be.

If Shen Wuxiang started doubting him because of this, or even blamed him for the matter...

His life would be cut short.

He wouldn't even qualify to be a puppet anymore.

Upon hearing the commotion, Crown Princess Consort Dongguo Chenxi hurriedly came over.

"Your Highness, what happened?"

"Sun Shehu went too far."

"He wants me dead..."

"He wants us dead..."

-------

Dongguo Chenxi saw that Zhong Tianque was already on the brink of collapse, she stepped forward to hold him tightly, comforting, "Your Highness... Your Highness, calm down first, take a breath."

"Your Highness, whatever it is, we can face it together, discuss it together... but first, tell me what actually happened?"

With nothing left to smash or break before him, Zhong Tianque had his inner rage dissipated somewhat, panting heavily as he recounted the recent events.

Dongguo Chenxi listened and was also acutely aware of the seriousness, then said, "This matter is indeed very troublesome, Sun Shehu is blatantly trying to make us take the fall for him."

"Will Shen Wuxiang believe his nonsense?"

"Of course, Shen Wuxiang won't believe entirely, but Sun Shehu is a family servant... Shen Wuxiang even if he doesn't believe, would just scold him."

"It's different for us, we.... even caught on just a bit, it's like the weight of Mount Tai, capable of crushing us completely."

"Don't forget, ever since that matter with Uncle, Shen Wuxiang has been guarding against us..."

Zhong Tianque's face turned ashen.

Zhong Daoling teamed up with Xuanyuan Mingjing to besiege Shen Boyu, unexpectedly he got greedy, trying to kill Xuanyuan Mingjing as well...

As a result, both of them lived, whereas he vanished without a trace.

But, reap what you sow.

Now, all the repercussions must be borne solely by him.

"Do we have any way out?"

Zhong Tianque grabbed Dongguo Chenxi's cold little hand, like grasping the last straw, "Do we have any way out?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.