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”What do you all think, how should we deal with Qin Tian now?” The Ninth Prince’s gaze swept over the crowd.

”Your Highness, Qin Tian is just a minor issue. Our immediate priority is to deal with the Crown Prince. A mere Qin Tian doesn’t warrant our concern.”

A man in a gray robe sitting next to the Ninth Prince was the first to speak.

This man spoke slowly and calmly, sitting beside the Ninth Prince and serving as his most trusted advisor, Mr. Li.

Mr. Li had quite a reputation, well-known in the court alongside his junior, Mr. Wu, both regarded as exceptional advisors, geniuses among men.

However, at this time, Mr. Wu assisted King Wu in plotting a failed rebellion and was now in West State.

”Heh, you say he doesn’t warrant concern?”

The Ninth Prince looked at Mr. Li, seemingly surprised by his words: ”I also know my main enemy now is the Crown Prince. But Qin Tian hasn’t made his allegiance clear. I can’t possibly take in someone like him, so the options remaining are for Qin Tian to either stay neutral or side with the Crown Prince. Neither option benefits me, so why shouldn’t I target him?”

Mr. Li nodded, his demeanor already calm and composed, looking at the Ninth Prince: ”Your Highness, are you sure Qin Tian hasn’t declared his stance and remains neutral?”

”Isn’t he? Could he be aligned with the Crown Prince?”

”Besides you and the Crown Prince, there are other princes in your competition for the throne. Your Highness should know, just like King Wu, who seems unpredictable but is indeed your potential competitor.”

”Are you saying there’s someone else competing with me and the Crown Prince for the throne? Who? If not me or the Crown Prince, I truly can’t think of anyone with that kind of power.”

Mr. Li said, ”There’s a key person you might not have considered.”

”Oh, who?”

”The Ice Emperor His Majesty.”

As soon as Mr. Li spoke, the entire room was stunned, then quickly realized, including the Ninth Prince: ”Mr. Li, are you saying Qin Tian is my father’s man? Is this... possible?”

”Your Highness, do you think it’s impossible?”

Mr. Li questioned the Ninth Prince: ”With Qin Tian’s humble origins, coupled with his mediocre power in the Imperial City, Your Highness, do you think without a strong backing, Qin Tian could have risen through the ranks to high positions?”

Mr. Li’s question caused the Ninth Prince to fall into contemplation.

”Are you certain Qin Tian is one of my father’s people? I always felt my father wouldn’t favor someone like him.”

Although the Ninth Prince felt Mr. Li’s analysis was reasonable, emotionally he still couldn’t believe it.

Mr. Li continued the analysis: ”Your Highness, consider Yang Jin’s death. At that time, Yang Jin was the Deputy Governor of East Gate, and Qin Tian had no authority to kill him, yet in the end, Qin Tian killed him. When the matter reached His Majesty, it was left unresolved, and His Majesty did not hold Qin Tian accountable for the wrongdoing.”

”Furthermore, Qin Tian privately killed Xiao Yunhu and Xiao Yunkui...”

”The Xiao brothers, it was rumored that they were assassinated by a skilled combatant...”

”Your Highness, this matter is not credible.”

Mr. Li interrupted the Ninth Prince: ”How could it be such a coincidence that after the Xiao brothers died, Qin Tian immediately brought all his forces to the Imperial City? He must have been prepared.”

”Moreover, considering the Xiao brothers’ cultivation and strength, Qin Tian might not be able to defeat them. This could be evidence that Qin Tian didn’t kill them, but what I want to say is that precisely because Qin Tian couldn’t defeat them, he must have chosen other methods, such as sneaking into the Xiao brothers’ camp and killing them when they were unprepared...”

”I can boldly guarantee that the death of the Xiao brothers is definitely connected to Qin Tian. I can deduce that given His Majesty’s wisdom, he surely knew it. Yet, instead of punishing Qin Tian, he was promoted. Your Highness, does this seem reasonable?”

”That’s enough, I understand your point.”

The Ninth Prince knew Mr. Li could eloquently analyze and speculate on matters logically, so he directly interrupted Mr. Li, scanning the room: ”Gentlemen, do you have any other opinions?”

Some advisors and generals sitting below, rare to have a chance to speak and gain the Ninth Prince’s appreciation, took turns to express their views.

”Your Highness, ultimately, I believe that since Qin Tian is not one of ours, the sooner we kill him, the better!”

”I agree with General Huang’s viewpoint. Qin Tian, I’ve heard, behaved arrogantly and presumptuously during the Cultivation Immortality List competition. Now, with promotions and titles, he will surely become even more domineering. This kind of arrogant person must be dealt with early to prevent trouble.”

”I suggest we send an assassin to kill Qin Tian.”

”I still think, as Your Highness mentioned earlier, that killing Qin Tian is merely a word from Your Highness. Right now, why not summon him to Yitian Palace, and at that time, it’s up to the Ninth Prince how to deal with him?”

...

A bunch of people were offering suggestions, and after the Ninth Prince slowly listened, he rubbed his forehead: ”The reasoning is sound, but Qin Tian has offended me several times and even killed Yang Jin, a vendetta I cannot let go.”

Crack!

The Ninth Prince slapped the table, setting the tone: ”This Qin Tian, I am determined to kill!”

Upon hearing this, Duan Xiaodao’s expression changed slightly, growing worried about Qin Tian’s safety.

”As for how to kill Qin Tian... let me think about it.”

The Ninth Prince also became cautious: ”Currently, without knowing whether Qin Tian is one of my father’s people, I can’t just summon him to Yitian Palace to kill him; it would incite my father’s anger and suspicion.”

”Had it not been for King Wu’s rebellion, I might have dared to privately kill Qin Tian. But now, my father is still enraged over King Wu’s affair, and he definitely has thoughts about me and the Crown Prince. If I kill Qin Tian now, I estimate the Crown Prince would surely make a complaint to my father.”

The Ninth Prince shook his head: ”Let’s wait a bit, until my father’s anger subsides, then I’ll kill him.”

”Your Highness, Your Highness, there’s news from the palace!”

Just as the Ninth Prince finished speaking, a eunuch rushed into the hall.

”What’s the matter?” The Ninth Prince furrowed his brow, seeing the eunuch’s anxious expression, thinking it was about him.

The eunuch walked up to the Ninth Prince and whispered in his ear: ”His Majesty has decided to attack West State. He is currently selecting the commander, hesitating between General Sun Zheng and General Liang Qishan, estimating the Imperial Decree will come tomorrow morning, Your Highness, please prepare, I will take my leave.”

This eunuch was one of the Ice Emperor’s close attendants, and his words couldn’t be false.

The key is, General Sun Zheng is the Crown Prince’s man, while General Liang Qishan is one of the Ninth Prince’s. Whoever the Ice Emperor sends out is of great significance!

After hearing this, the Ninth Prince pouted and sneered: ”Heh, it seems I have to engage in stratagems with my dear brother once more!”