The male supporting character was actually myself.

Although I don't remember the details of the dream, I vaguely remember my father looking at me with a sorrowful face and waving me away, telling me to go as far away as possible! Now, upon hearing this terrible news, I am worried... My father is upright and holds great power. If there is really internal strife and factional struggles, the more upright, neutral, and inflexible he is, the more dangerous he will be!

Moreover, if the court were to truly descend into chaos, not only would no one inform us, but they would also do everything in their power to block the news so that I could remain hidden in the enemy capital and not return to participate in the turmoil.

My father would never allow me to be isolated and helpless in the enemy capital. If he insists on my return to the capital and disrupts their plans, I fear I will meet with unforeseen consequences!

"Young master, please don't panic. We must not lose our composure." Ah San thought for a moment and replied, "I will personally lead a thousand miles back to gather information. Before I return, please act with caution!"

"You're worried about..."

"If what you fear is true, young master, then even our informants and intelligence network are unreliable. What I saw with my own eyes is the most authentic. Please remain calm, young master, and take care of your health and be cautious in your words and actions while Ah San is away. Do not let anyone notice anything amiss!"

The people around us probably all have their own plans, and once a conflict of interest arises and their resolve wavers, they become unreliable.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyu nodded, knowing that worrying about this matter was useless, and it was better to calm down and do the thing at hand.

The inner courtyard of the Southern Qi imperial palace.

"Is Shen Qing's statement true?!" Upon hearing the secret report, the emperor stood up excitedly, staring intently at him as if he were dreaming.

Jiang Chen bowed and replied, "Your subject dares not deceive Your Majesty. The assassination operation went very smoothly. During the spring sacrifice, Emperor An was beheaded on the spot, and even the Crown Prince was seriously injured. Now, Yong'an is in complete chaos."

The crown prince is unable to ascend the throne, and the struggle for the throne among the nine princes has already begun. We only need to wait and see.

"Good! Good! Good!" The emperor clapped his hands and exclaimed three times, his smile wide and unconcealed. "Minister Shen handled this matter exceptionally well; he deserves a generous reward! And what about the brave warrior who successfully infiltrated the enemy palace and carried out the assassination? How is she doing? Under those circumstances, it would have been difficult for her to act on the spot..."

He already had a bad feeling. It was already difficult to kill him in public, and he had also seriously injured the crown prince. He was afraid that the prince had been strangled on the spot by several grandmasters.

Jiang Chen said vaguely, "Actually, that's not the case. The assassination attempt at the Spring Festival was just a pre-arranged trap. Our assassin hasn't been exposed yet. She personally relayed all the details, and I've already told her to continue lying in wait for the next opportunity."

Emperor: ?(°?°)?

God bless my Southern Qi!

Such a talented person could help my Southern Qi achieve great things!

"We must protect this warrior. When she returns to the capital in triumph, I will personally host a banquet to welcome her back and reward her for her contributions."

"Yes, Your Majesty. With Yong'an in turmoil at the moment, she cannot make any unusual moves, or she will be discovered by the Imperial City Guard. Once things have settled down, I will summon her back to the capital. Your Majesty, shall we discuss the specifics of opening a trading company?"

…………

It was noon when Jiang Chen returned from the palace.

"Your Highness, two groups of people left Lan Garden one after the other." The subordinate in charge of monitoring Lan Garden hurriedly reported when he returned. "After the young lady left, two people traveled together from the south of the city."

Not long after, another person rode a fast horse out from the east of the city.

Our men have caught up. A message from the carrier pigeon indicates the first group will likely travel by water to Yong'an; the other will choose to ride north, presumably taking a shortcut through the more dangerous Jiaqi Pass, a route frequented by bandits.

Chapter Nineteen: The Assassin Cat's Report

Jiang Chen nodded to indicate that he understood, and after thinking for a moment, instructed: "Send a message to our people to follow them from a distance without being discovered. If necessary, we can help them out. Make sure that both groups of people return safely to Yong'an Kingdom and then successfully reach Lanyuan."

"If we enter the territory of Yong'an Kingdom..."

"Our people should act according to the situation, prioritizing their own safety, and withdraw if things turn bad."

"Yes!"

The subordinate accepted the order and went to carry it out. Jiang Chen stroked his chin with his fingers, pondering the possible situations that might arise in Yong'an.

He was also eager to know what important events had occurred!

This way, a more comprehensive plan can be devised to win over the male lead and bring him to their side. Not only will it fulfill the scriptwriters' wishes by making them a real couple, but it also allows for some more interesting maneuvers, like... hehehe...

"Host! I'm back! Did you miss my soft and cute little kitten while I was away?" Sure enough, the fluffy little dumpling lived up to his expectations and finally bounced back at dusk, opening its paws and jumping into his arms for a big hug.

"Meow~ Host's embrace is still the warmest and most reassuring for me!"

Jiang Chen hurriedly carried it back to the study, and only after making sure no one was around did he ask, "How is the situation over there? Quickly tell me in detail what happened these past two days!"

"Mmm, I've had so much gossip these past few days, but it all started when I, the little kitten, killed the emperor. Oh, and something super weird happened—there really was an assassin at the sacrificial ceremony! After I made my move, he joined in too, almost killing the crown prince..."

During the spring festival ceremony, Jiang Chen's soul weapon killed Emperor An; by sheer coincidence, the prop thrown by the little white cat stabbed the Crown Prince, leaving him severely injured and nearly unable to survive.

Fortunately, the imperial physicians were highly skilled and managed to pull the crown prince back from the brink of death.

The other princes naturally seized the opportunity to cause trouble, with the second prince wielding the most power. His patrol battalion even clashed with the Imperial Guards who supported the crown prince.

Shangguan Yuntao, the head of the Imperial City Guard, was in charge of many affairs in the capital. Upon hearing the news, he led his elite troops to maintain stability. However, things went wrong, and it was unclear which side started the fight. A three-way battle ensued, and Shangguan Yuntao was killed by a hail of arrows from the Crown Prince's men.

A high-ranking official died in the line of duty, prompting many high-ranking officials of the Imperial City Guard to demand that the murderer be found and justice be served for their superior.

However, Huang Xiuqi, the head of the Imperial City Guard, was determined to ensure the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne so that he could fulfill his promise to marry his daughter as Empress and bring glory to his family. Faced with calls to condemn the Crown Prince, he forcibly suppressed the matter in the name of protecting the new emperor, and ordered that the burial be held immediately without any funeral procession. He also ordered a complete blockade of news in the capital to ensure that no one except the parties involved could discuss or spread the matter.

At the same time, he personally issued a secret order, commanding Shangguan Xuanyu to lie in wait.

To ensure there were no mishaps, Huang Xiuqi even replaced the secret agents within the department who were specifically responsible for liaising with Shangguan Xuanyu, and dispatched all of them to be his trusted confidants to communicate with him.

Subsequently, with the help of the Imperial City Guard, Huang Xiuqi took advantage of the chaos to help the Crown Prince clear the path to the throne.

From the day Emperor Yong'an was beheaded, the entire capital city entered a period of great turmoil for about two days and two nights. Various groups of people used the pretext of investigating the case to "purge the emperor's inner circle" and "protect the country and consolidate its foundation," resulting in constant conflicts of all sizes.

After Shangguan Yuntao's death, Huang Xiuqi strongly sided with the Crown Prince to protect the Eastern Palace, causing the conflict between the parties to escalate rapidly.

Ultimately, five of the eight princes, excluding the crown prince, went missing, and nearly a hundred people in the harem, including concubines, palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, committed suicide by hanging themselves.

Before the little white cat returned to report the news, the Crown Prince was seriously injured and semi-conscious in the Eastern Palace, protected by Huang Xiuqi and his guards. He was waiting for his health to improve so that he could ascend the throne immediately.

With the protection of his uncle, a Grandmaster, the Second Prince temporarily led the civil and military officials to take charge of the government.

Under the pretext of thoroughly investigating their father's assassination attempt, the sixth and ninth princes joined forces to win over the imperial advisor and martial arts figures for assistance, seeking to protect themselves first and then seize the opportunity to become emperor.

"What a mess!" Jiang Chen frowned as he listened to the little white cat's detailed description of everything. "Where is the military power? Who has it now?"

"Emperor An has three major military powers. The Eagle Guards have long been secretly loyal to the Second Prince; General Xia Shanhu of the Tiger Guards is the Ninth Prince's maternal uncle and naturally stands on their side; the Southern Border Army, which borders the Southern Qi territory, remains neutral. I think that General Nanmu has his own plans for independence!"

Jiang Chen couldn't help but sigh, "Having too many sons in this era isn't necessarily a good thing. Once the father dies, the sons all start fighting over him. But having too few sons isn't good either. Look at Shangguan Yuntao, he only has one son, and after he was sent to infiltrate an enemy country, there wasn't even a head of the household."

In those times, the elderly, women, and children were left with no choice but to be bullied.

I initially thought things would definitely get chaotic, but I didn't expect the undercurrents to be so obvious. I never imagined that Shangguan Yuntao's death, the various factions' killing of five princes, and the involvement of the concubines and palaces in the harem would make Yong'an's peace elusive this time.

"Yes, host, you didn't see how ruthless those princes are!"

The little white cat gestured exaggeratedly, "Especially the swordsmen under the Second Prince, they kill without blinking an eye! I now know what a bloodbath is, it's terrifying just thinking about it~ Oh right, and there's also that Chief Huang, his methods are so ruthless. I was so nervous at the time that I don't know which mansion's entire family, including the cooks, were all hanged from the roof beams!"

The entire courtyard, corridors, and under the eaves were filled with dangling, swaying feet...

"Waaaaah~ Host, I get so scared just thinking about that scene! Compared to that, the sight of blood spurting out after someone's neck was cut off doesn't seem so frightening anymore."

Jiang Chen stroked the fluffy ball and pondered to himself that it was impossible for Yong'an to start a war. Their internal strife had exhausted too much resources, and this should be a crucial period for the development of Southern Qi's potential. The principle that falling behind will lead to being beaten applies everywhere.

But if things get this chaotic, what will happen to Shangguan Xuanyu?

The gates of Lan Garden have been closed for the past few days, and few people have come or gone. All those who have come to visit have been told that Young Master Yu has caught a cold and is not fit to receive guests.

Nearly half a month later, various rumors brought by the caravan began to circulate in the capital of Southern Qi.

"Have you heard? The dog emperor of Yong'an died during the spring sacrifice! He was punished by heaven! He was struck by lightning!"

"Where did you get this information? He wasn't struck by lightning; a god descended to earth and killed him! His head rolled off like a watermelon, and blood spurted high. It's said that the blood can't be washed away, serving as a warning to future generations: don't be as despicable as An Gou."

"Alas, An Gou killed the Crown Prince and his two brothers, causing the old emperor to die of anger, before ascending the throne. This is retribution!"

"All that talk about gods and ghosts is nonsense. The truth is, an assassin attacked, killing not only the dog emperor but also seriously injuring the crown prince. It's a pity that the boy survived, otherwise Yong'an would be in even more chaos!"

"It must be the work of gods and demons! Otherwise, how could they have killed so many grandmasters present?"

"Assassination! I went to Yong'an, the capital, to buy goods, and I saw it with my own eyes that day. There was a sacrificial ceremony on Mount Fu when suddenly someone shouted 'Assassin!' The voice was so loud that many people heard it. Then the dog emperor suddenly went headless, and blood spurted high into the air! From afar, I saw a group of people in a mess, carrying someone dressed in yellow down. Later, I vaguely heard that the crown prince was seriously injured..."

…………

The discussion was rampant everywhere, from the streets and alleys to the teahouses and taverns.

Shangguan Xuanyu held a secret report he had read countless times in his hand. It contained only one line: "The Southern Qi is stirring up trouble and spreading rumors. Do not believe them. Stay hidden and await orders to establish a lasting foundation for Yong'an."

Chapter Twenty: Truth and Falsehood

The two capitals are far apart, and since receiving this secret report a few days ago, there has been no further news, causing Shangguan Xuanyu great anxiety.

Recently, there have been more and more rumors circulating, but they are mostly exaggerated and fantastical, revolving around the spring sacrifice to the emperor and the assassination of the crown prince. No one has mentioned any other news, which may be because more inside information has been blocked.

Given the competence of the Imperial City Guard, they would never allow such rumors to spread.

However, the situation described by many people was completely consistent with the information sent by Miss Shen at the first moment. Shangguan Xuanyu couldn't tell whether it was true or whether the Regent had come up with some new trick to confuse the public.

If everything is fake, and it was all orchestrated by the Regent, what was his purpose and what effect did he want to achieve?

"Young Master! Young Master!" Just as Shangguan Xuanyu was lost in thought, the courtyard gate was kicked open, and the travel-worn and thin Ah San staggered in. He rushed over to him, and the man fell to the ground, clutching his hand and choking out, "Master... he's dead!"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyu swayed and almost fainted. He bit his tongue to keep himself upright and asked urgently, "You, you tell me what happened!"

"I rushed back to the capital and found that even the city guards were all new faces, which made me realize that something was wrong. I hurriedly ran back to my residence, but the gate was closed and covered in dust. I dared not reveal my identity and found a tea stall where I overheard other people whispering. I learned that His Majesty the Emperor had been assassinated during the spring sacrifice and the Crown Prince was seriously injured and his fate was unknown."

Subsequently, a conflict broke out between the Second Prince's patrol battalion and the Crown Prince's Imperial Guards. The Master led the elite troops of the Imperial City Guards to stop them. Somehow, a fierce battle ensued, and the Master was killed by a hail of arrows from the Crown Prince's Imperial Guards!

Chief Huang Xiuqi protected the Crown Prince and even punished several officials who wanted to seek justice for the master. He then ordered his wife to bury the master immediately and not to hold a funeral.

The lady was grief-stricken and indignant, and wanted an explanation. As a result... that very night, all of the more than one hundred people in the entire mansion were hanged!

I secretly climbed in and looked inside; the entire main room under the eaves was...

A suicide note was left in the main hall, saying that the lady, in extreme grief and despair, took the entire household and hanged herself to follow her husband in death.

But I checked, and the vegetables in the kitchen hadn't been cooked yet, the hall had only been half-cleaned, and there were unfinished mourning clothes in the lady's room... They didn't hang themselves, they were murdered!

I dared not disturb her, but secretly took the lady's body out of the mansion and found a place in the suburbs to bury it temporarily.

I had hoped to find the master's body by searching for more information, but unexpectedly, only half a day later, our huge mansion was burned to ashes! When I arrived, I saw that the Imperial Guards were guarding the area and not allowing anyone to approach.

I knew I couldn't find the master and give him a proper burial on my own, so I had to hurry back home.

"Young master... now only you and I, master and servant, remain in the entire manor!"

Shangguan Xuanyu listened to what Ah San said with all her might, but then she swayed and collapsed to the ground, unable to support herself.

When he woke up again, Ah San had already washed up, eaten, and was staying by his side.

"Ah San, is everything you told me true? Am I dreaming?"

"Young Master..." He sobbed again, crying softly, "We are in enemy territory, and everyone else except me is a member of the Imperial City Guard. We can't trust anyone now! Young Master, you must pull yourself together. The great revenge for Master, Madam, and more than a hundred people in the entire household has not yet been avenged. You cannot afford to make any more mistakes!"

Shangguan Xuanyu's face was pale, his lips were bloodless, and he was in a daze, so it was unclear whether he had heard what he said. He leaned against the bed and muttered to himself, "Yes...it's true...Father, Mother!"