Chapter 254: A New Chapter

A New Chapter

Compelled by the questioning of the crowd and the intense intimidation of his own mother, Long Jingyun finally revealed the truth of the matter.

And when mentioning this affair, the root of everything had to be traced back to the Underworld King Order!

Back then, Nie Jinxuan was ordered to investigate the serial murders in the capital, which led her to discover that the case had many ties to the case of Minister of Personnel Jin Qi three years prior. After some investigation, Nie Jinxuan and the others discovered that the Jin Qi case from three years ago might actually have been a miscarriage of justice!

Therefore, Nie Jinxuan subsequently conducted a reinvestigation of the case from three years ago. However, just at that moment, news spread through the Jianghu that a mysterious person had offered a heavy bounty for Nie Jinxuan's life. For a time, the entire Jianghu was shaken, yet under Yin Fengzhan's meticulous protection, Nie Jinxuan remained completely unharmed! This result caused the bounty for assassinating Nie Jinxuan to rise continuously, eventually even leading to the use of the Underworld King Order!

The Underworld King Order is a top-tier kill order in the Jianghu. It is, in fact, the token of the Shadow Group, a killer organization directly managed by the Hall of the Jade Palace, the most mysterious entity within the Underworld Night Palace. Of course, ordinary kill orders within the Shadow Group are not Underworld King Orders, so the only one who can be called the "Underworld King" is Leng Tianfang, the Master of the Hall of the Jade Palace!

Therefore, the Underworld King Order means a kill order where the buyer has specified that the Hall Master of the Jade Palace, Leng Tianfang, must personally carry out the hit!

Over twenty years ago, Leng Tianfang was already a top-tier assassin who made the entire Jianghu tremble at the mere mention of his name; he was cold-natured and ruthless in his strikes. Thus, logically speaking, with Leng Tianfang taking action, Nie Jinxuan's life would naturally be forfeit! The result was as expected: on the day Nie Jinxuan was taking the account books into the palace, although Yin Fengzhan and the others slaughtered the wave of Jianghu people who arrived first, Leng Tianfang struck afterward and immediately dealt a heavy blow to them all!

The situation at the time was extremely critical; even Yin Fengzhan was no match for Leng Tianfang. But just as Leng Tianfang was about to succeed, he suddenly stopped, left behind a baffling remark, and walked away directly.

Nie Jinxuan thus escaped a calamity. After Leng Tianfang left, he did not immediately depart Dongling. Instead, he privately went to the Prince Rui's residence to find Long Jingyun. After all, Long Jingyun was also a member of the Underworld Night Palace, and Leng Tianfang had come out this time entrusted by his mother, Sheng Ziyan, to bring Long Jingyun back. However, after understanding the situation in Dongling, Leng Tianfang did not forcibly take Long Jingyun away. And just when Leng Tianfang and Long Jingyun met, Long Jingyun curiously snuck a peek at the Underworld King Order in Leng Tianfang's hand!

The Underworld King Order has a front and a back. The front is engraved with the character "Underworld," while the back is engraved with the buyer's name. Therefore, after seeing the Underworld King Order, Long Jingyun learned the identity of the mysterious person who truly wanted Nie Jinxuan's life.

But knowing was one thing; this matter was an absolute secret that could not be spoken of. Although the relationship between Long Jingyun and Nie Jinxuan and the others was extraordinary, this was the rule of the Underworld Night Palace, so even Long Jingyun dared not rashly blurt out such a thing.

After all, this concerned the reputation of the entire Underworld Night Palace and the Shadow Group!

Long Jingyun understood this in his heart. But although he swore to die before speaking, a subsequent accident caused Long Jingyun, in a muddled state, to reveal the secret anyway... because Long Jingyun was drunk!

And the person who was with Long Jingyun at the time was Prince Rui, Yin Fengxiang!

……

After dawdling for a long time, Long Jingyun finally revealed the truth of the matter. Once he finished speaking, the room fell into an instant, deathly silence, and everyone's gaze remained fixed on Long Jingyun, not blinking for even a second!

At this moment, feeling a bit unnerved by everyone's stare, Long Jingyun couldn't help but swallow his saliva again, then forced himself to shout:

"W-what are you all looking at? I really didn't mean to say it at the time! I was just too drunk, that's why my tongue slipped..."

He had started with some momentum, but the more he spoke, the more Long Jingyun's spirit deflated, and his voice grew quieter and quieter... But just then, before he could finish his sentence, Jin Jingwen was the first to widen her eyes.

"What do you mean you were drunk? Can you just spout nonsense because you're drunk? If you hadn't told that Prince Rui, so many things wouldn't have happened afterward! Sister Jinxuan wouldn't have been captured, and I..."

Jin Jingwen shouted in anger, wishing she could pounce over and bite Long Jingyun twice! Hearing this, Long Jingyun immediately retorted, unable to accept the blame:

"Th-this can't be blamed on me either! Who knew he..."

"Shut up! It was you! You even..."

Jin Jingwen was truly furious. One must know that for this past period, although Jin Jingwen had no way to help, she had been constantly worrying about Nie Jinxuan's affairs. Later, upon hearing that Nie Jinxuan had gone missing, she had developed two large blisters on her mouth overnight! It was only after Nie Jinxuan returned safely and everything became calm that Jin Jingwen's anger finally subsided.

Therefore, thinking of the suffering she had endured recently, Jin Jingwen could not calm her emotions. At this moment, Nie Jinxuan, who had been silent on the side, sighed to herself and reached out to hold Jin Jingwen's small hand.

"Alright, Jingwen, don't blame Divine Doctor Long anymore. After all, Divine Doctor Long didn't mean it... Besides, even if Divine Doctor Long hadn't leaked the secret back then, as long as the other party had the intention, they would still have taken action! It just would have been a different method. So, it's enough that we know about this now; there is no need to speak of it again!"

Nie Jinxuan saw things clearly. After all, she understood Yin Fengxiang; Yin Fengxiang had already set his mind to it, so even without Long Jingyun, given his shrewdness and methods, he would still have taken action! So, in the end, this matter rested with Yin Fengxiang, and Long Jingyun just happened to give Yin Fengxiang an excellent opportunity at that time!

At this moment, hearing Nie Jinxuan say this, although Jin Jingwen's internal fire had not yet been fully vented, she didn't say anything more, only glaring indignantly at Long Jingyun twice. Long Jingyun, hearing Nie Jinxuan speak up for him, immediately had his eyes light up and nodded in agreement incessantly!

When it came down to it, Long Jingyun still possessed a childlike heart. But just then, Ye Yushu on the side flicked open his folding fan and said unhurriedly:

"Hmm, the Princess Consort is right; that is indeed how it is! However, Brother Jingyun privately revealing the buyer of the Underworld King Order—that's not very good, is it? If Uncle Leng and the others were to find out... Oh, that's right, I received a message via carrier pigeon from my Imperial Brother two days ago, saying that Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt have already set off for Dongling. When the time comes..."

Clearly, Ye Yushu was the truly black-bellied one. The Sovereign of Tiancheng, Ye Wuyan, currently had only one brother, and that was Prince Xuan, Ye Wuxuan. So the Imperial Uncle and Imperial Aunt he spoke of naturally referred to Prince Xuan, Ye Wuxuan, and Princess Xuan, Xia Weiyang!

Therefore, upon hearing this, Long Jingyun, who had just felt relieved because of Nie Jinxuan's words, immediately jumped up in fright and began hopping around the room in a panic, completely losing his composure. Because Princess Xuan was his mother's idol, and wherever Princess Xuan went, his mother would certainly follow! Once his mother found out that he was the one who leaked the secret and spoke of the Underworld King Order, he would definitely be skinned alive if he didn't die!

Long Jingyun was truly terrified. After panicking for a long time, Long Jingyun ultimately chose the last of the thirty-six stratagems—running away is the best policy!

So, after shouting for a while, Long Jingyun fled like a whirlwind! Watching his wretched appearance, the few people in the room burst into uncontrollable laughter.

After the commotion lasted an afternoon, once Long Jingyun left, Jin Jingwen talked with Nie Jinxuan for a long time before finally leaving with the Third Prince of Tiancheng, Ye Yushu.

The room finally quieted down. But not long after things settled, noisy sounds came from outside, and then they saw the Fifth Imperial Uncle, Yin Yanhong, barge in on his own.

As soon as he entered, the Fifth Imperial Uncle saw that both Yin Fengzhan and Nie Jinxuan were there, so he didn't care and immediately pursued the matter of Yin Fengzhan inheriting the throne!

The Fifth Imperial Uncle was truly anxious. One must know that the Dongling throne had been left vacant, the political situation was unstable, and the entire court and the imperial clan hoped that Yin Fengzhan would ascend the throne immediately. However, everyone feared Yin Fengzhan's presence and dared not speak up, so in their helplessness, they could only urge the Fifth Imperial Uncle, Yin Yanhong!

Therefore, it was easy to imagine that for this period, the Fifth Imperial Uncle hadn't had a moment of peace for twelve hours a day. One moment this minister would come, the next that imperial clansman would visit, and their purpose was only one: "Fifth Imperial Uncle, you old man, think of a way! Quickly let His Highness Prince Chen ascend the throne, otherwise, the fate of our Dongling is finished!"

So, in the end, the Fifth Imperial Uncle was also pushed to the brink. But facing the Fifth Imperial Uncle, Yin Fengzhan remained as cold and indifferent as ever. Upon hearing this, however, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but be stunned.

One must know that ever since she was rescued by Yin Fengzhan, Nie Jinxuan had been in a coma. Afterward, when she finally recovered, she went to the Duke of Qi's residence, then to the Celestial Prison, so with all the back-and-forth tossing, Nie Jinxuan had truly forgotten about this matter. So now that the Fifth Imperial Uncle had come to her door, Nie Jinxuan finally remembered the matter of inheriting the throne.

So after the Fifth Imperial Uncle finished speaking, Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but look at Yin Fengzhan. Just then, Yin Fengzhan happened to be looking at her as well, but then Yin Fengzhan turned his head to look at the Fifth Imperial Uncle, Yin Yanhong.

"Imperial Uncle, allow me to consider it further."

With this simple sentence, Yin Fengzhan wanted to send the Fifth Imperial Uncle away. But at this moment, the Fifth Imperial Uncle was determined to get an answer from Yin Fengzhan, so after a moment, Yin Fengzhan only said he would give him an answer tomorrow!

The Fifth Imperial Uncle was quite dissatisfied with this result. But he also knew Yin Fengzhan's temperament, so although dissatisfied, there was nothing he could do. After urging Yin Fengzhan for a good while longer, the Fifth Imperial Uncle, Yin Yanhong, finally turned and left.

The pestering Fifth Imperial Uncle had finally left. Once he was out, Yin Fengzhan turned his head to look at Nie Jinxuan. But just then, before Yin Fengzhan could speak, Nie Jinxuan, as if knowing his thoughts, smiled slightly.

"Fengzhan, I know your thoughts, but you don't need to consider me for this matter. After all, you are an imperial prince, and the vast lands of Dongling and the rise and fall of the imperial clan are your unavoidable responsibilities. Moreover, among the current imperial clan, there is no one more capable of this great task than you, so don't have any concerns!"

Nie Jinxuan understood Yin Fengzhan. Because in Yin Fengzhan's eyes, he could exhaust his heart and strength for Dongling, he could die on the battlefield for Dongling, but he had no great interest in that high and lofty throne.

Furthermore, once he ascended the throne as emperor, many things would be beyond his control. But if that were the case, Yin Fengzhan would not be able to rest easy regarding Nie Jinxuan... And this was the fundamental reason why Yin Fengzhan did not immediately answer the Fifth Imperial Uncle and the others, and stated directly that he needed to consider it!

After all, in Yin Fengzhan's heart, Nie Jinxuan was far more important than a throne. But out of responsibility, he had no choice but to... And it was because Nie Jinxuan saw Yin Fengzhan's thoughts that she directly stated her own ideas.

So, upon hearing this, Yin Fengzhan couldn't help but frown. At this moment, Nie Jinxuan comforted him again.

"Alright, Fengzhan, don't hesitate! This is your responsibility. Besides, even if you ascend the throne, so what? Even if you have three palaces and six courtyards, and three thousand beauties in the harem in the future, I will still be safe and sound."

Yin Fengzhan was not a man obsessed with beauty, but Nie Jinxuan couldn't help but tease him a little. But just as her words fell, Yin Fengzhan grabbed her hand and said with a serious face:

"I will not let that kind of thing happen!"

"Hehe, there you go~!"

"……"

"Alright, since that's the case, does that mean you've agreed?! Then quickly have someone notify the Fifth Imperial Uncle; don't keep them waiting any longer. Didn't you see just now that the Fifth Imperial Uncle was so anxious he looked like he was about to bite someone?"

With a pursed-lip smile, Nie Jinxuan didn't wait for Yin Fengzhan to speak and had Zhongli notify the Fifth Imperial Uncle. At this moment, hearing that his master had finally agreed, Zhongli was also overjoyed in his heart and immediately ran off like a flash to report the news!

As for what happened afterward, Nie Jinxuan did not know. But it was said later that when the Fifth Imperial Uncle learned of Yin Fengzhan's reply, he was so happy he nearly jumped up. He didn't even care about anyone else, just took off running out of the Chen Wangfu, and immediately sent people to notify the entire court and the imperial clan! Hearing the news, everyone was happy in their own way, and then they began to prepare for the new emperor's ascension!

Of course, that is a story for another time. However, not long after the Fifth Imperial Uncle ran out of the Chen Wangfu, news came from the Celestial Prison that Prince Rui, Yin Fengxiang, had committed suicide in the prison!

Upon learning this news, neither Nie Jinxuan nor Yin Fengzhan showed any surprise; Nie Jinxuan had even anticipated that it would end this way. It was only later, when only she and Yin Fengzhan were left in the room, that she couldn't help but say:

"One thought to become a Buddha, one thought to become a demon... Perhaps, this is his best ending..."

……

In the autumn of the 28th year of Shuncheng of Dongling, Prince Rui, Yin Fengxiang, murdered the monarch, usurped the throne, and gathered a crowd to rebel. He was thrown into the Celestial Prison and committed suicide in the prison shortly thereafter. Because he was a condemned man and had committed heinous crimes, he was not buried in the Imperial Mausoleum after his death, all imperial honors were revoked, and he was buried as a commoner!

More than half a month after Prince Rui's death, in the early winter of the 28th year of Shuncheng of Dongling, Prince Chen, Yin Fengzhan, ascended the throne, changed the reign title to Xingning, and history entered a new chapter from that moment on! ===== CHAPTER 255 =====