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The Crown Prince seemed to sense Lin Xiu Wen's gaze and instinctively touched the jade pendant at his waist, then smiled, "What is Minister Lin looking at?"
Lin Xiu Wen withdrew his gaze and replied respectfully, "I merely find Your Highness's jade pendant quite unique."
A flicker of wariness crossed the Crown Prince's eyes, but he quickly returned to his usual demeanor. "This was a gift from my father, very precious and indeed distinctive." He turned to Princess Ashide, "You must be the Northern Khan? Truly impressive."
Ashide nodded slightly. "I have met His Highness."
The Crown Prince nodded in satisfaction. "Regarding the Marriage Alliance, I have already reported it to my father. I wonder if the Khan..."
"Your Highness," Lin Xiu Wen suddenly interrupted, "there is something I do not understand."
The Crown Prince frowned. "What is it?"
Lin Xiu Wen looked directly at the Crown Prince. "Minister Su said before his death to 'be careful of the Crown Prince.' What did he mean by that?"
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. The Crown Prince's expression darkened instantly. "Lin Xiu Wen, what do you mean by that?"
Lin Xiu Wu and Liu Rumei subtly shifted positions, encircling the Crown Prince. Ashide also gripped the curved dagger at her waist.
"Your Highness," Lin Xiu Wen said firmly yet respectfully, "I just find it strange. Why would Minister Su say such things before he died? Moreover..." He pointed at the jade pendant at the Crown Prince's waist. "I have seen this pendant on Remnants from the Eastern Depot."
The Crown Prince's face changed dramatically. "You dare! Someone, seize this rebellious minister for speaking out of turn!"
However, the surrounding Imperial Guards remained motionless.
"You..." The Crown Prince was filled with both anger and shock.
Liu Rumei stepped forward. "Your Highness, these Imperial Guards are all disguised by the Imperial Guard. The real Imperial Guards have already been controlled by General Lin Xiu Wu."
Lin Xiu Wu nodded. "That's right. We have long suspected Your Highness had colluded with the Eastern Depot but lacked solid evidence until now."
The Crown Prince suddenly burst into laughter. "Good, very good! I never expected to fall into your hands. But..." A glint of madness flashed in his eyes, "Do you think you've won just like this?"
He abruptly tore off the jade pendant and smashed it to the ground. At that moment, a thick smoke billowed up.
"Be careful!" Lin Xiu Wen shouted. "The smoke is poisonous!"
Everyone quickly retreated. When the smoke cleared, the Crown Prince had vanished without a trace.
"Chase him!" Lin Xiu Wu was about to lead a pursuit when he was stopped by Lin Xiu Wen.
"Brother, there's no need," Lin Xiu Wen shook his head. "Since the Crown Prince was prepared, he must have an escape plan. What’s most important now is..."
He turned to Ashide. "Khan, I’m afraid we need you to enter the palace immediately to meet with His Majesty."
"I understand. As the Northern Khan, my words should convince the Emperor of the Crown Prince's conspiracy."
At that moment, Su Wanqing suddenly spoke up, "Wait! I... I might know where the Crown Prince is."
Everyone looked at her in surprise. Su Wanqing took a seal from her father's corpse. "This is my father's study key. He often went to the study alone late at night; I suspect..."
Lin Xiu Wen's eyes lit up. "Quick, take us there!"
In the Su Mansion's study, they discovered a secret room filled with correspondence—evidence of the Crown Prince colluding with the Eastern Depot and Northern Barbarians.
"I see..." Lin Xiu Wen flipped through the letters. "The Crown Prince has long been in league with the Northern Barbarians, intending to use their power to seize the throne. The Eastern Depot is merely one of his pawns."
Liu Rumei frowned. "But the Crown Prince is already the heir apparent; why would he still..."
"Because the Emperor has long sensed his ambitions," Lin Xiu Wen pointed to a Secret Letter. "The Emperor has been secretly assessing other princes, looking to establish a new heir. Upon learning this, the Crown Prince resorted to desperate measures."
Just then, a shout of alarm came from outside.
"Not good!" an Imperial Guard rushed in, panic-stricken. "The Crown Prince has led rebels into the palace!"
Lin Xiu Wen made a quick decision. "Brother, you take troops to protect the Emperor. Ms. Liu, you lead people to secure all key routes in the capital. Khan, please accompany me into the palace to see the Emperor."
He turned to Su Wanqing. "Miss Su..."
"I want to go too," Su Wanqing said firmly. "Though my father was wrong, I must see the truth revealed with my own eyes."
The group split up. Lin Xiu Wen led Ashide and Su Wanqing through a secret passage into the palace.
In the imperial study, the Emperor was cornered by the Crown Prince.
"Rebellious Son!" the Emperor shouted angrily. "How dare you..."
"Father," the Crown Prince sneered, "you forced my hand. Since you refuse to pass on the throne to me, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
At that moment, as the Crown Prince raised his sword, Lin Xiu Wen and his companions burst through the window.
"Stop!" Lin Xiu Wen shouted.
The Crown Prince was startled but quickly regained his composure. "You came just in time; it saves me from searching for you one by one."
He clapped his hands, and a group of Dead Soldiers surged from the shadows.
Ashide drew his curved blade. "Lin, I'll hold them off. You get the Emperor out!"
But Su Wanqing suddenly said, "Wait! Your Highness, look at this!"
She raised a jade pendant, the very one that the Crown Prince had shattered earlier.
The Crown Prince's face changed dramatically. "How... how is this possible?"
Lin Xiu Wen explained, "That one was a fake. The real jade pendant was swapped out long ago."
Only then did the Crown Prince realize he had been tricked, and in a fit of rage, he shouted, "Kill them!"
In the chaos, Lin Xiu Wen protected the Emperor as they retreated to safety. Ashide fought ten against one, driving back all the Dead Soldiers. Su Wanqing seized the opportunity to present the evidence to the Emperor.
Looking at the irrefutable proof, the Emperor was heartbroken. "Rebellious Son! You..."
Seeing that the situation had turned against him, the Crown Prince suddenly burst into laughter. "Father, do you think this is the end? The Northern Border army has already..."
"They have retreated." Ashide said coldly. "I have already issued orders for withdrawal. Your Highness, your scheme has completely failed."
The Crown Prince slumped to the ground, his face ashen.
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