Could it be that the person Shen Qianmo has always wanted to help is Shangguan Jin? That's why she deliberately returned to the Prime Minister's residence to provoke him, so that he wouldn't waver again. But why would Shen Qianmo help Shangguan Jin? And what is the connection between Shangguan Jin and Shen Qianmo?
"Prime Minister Shen! What are you still thinking?! If you don't save me now, you will surely be killed by Shangguan Jin in the future!" Yao Shan was completely overwhelmed by the guards' attacks, and he roared hoarsely.
"General, you're too kind!" Shen Lingyun snapped out of his daze, squinted at Yao Shan, and wondered if Yao Shan thought everyone was as reckless and impulsive as him.
How could Shangguan Jin's unusual behavior escape his notice? He had already begun to be wary of Shangguan Jin when he lost contact with Shen Qianxin.
The reason he dared to come to Shangguan Jin's residence alone today was that he had made thorough preparations. He had already secretly replaced most of the guards at Shangguan Jin's residence with his own men. Now, half of the guards besieging Yaoshan were his men. Shangguan Jin's guards were at the forefront, while his own guards were naturally on the outer perimeter. In this way, Shangguan Jin's strength was even less than his, so what did he have to worry about?
Upon hearing Shen Lingyun's words, Yao Shan's eyes flashed with despair. He then revealed a ferocious expression and charged desperately towards Shen Lingyun and Shangguan Jin, roaring, "If I can't live, I won't let you live well either!"
Yao Shan had completely lost his mind. He ignored the guards behind him and had been stabbed countless times. He just rushed towards Shen Lingyun and Shangguan Jin with all his might.
However, there were too many guards, and Shangguan Jin was highly skilled in martial arts. Yao Shan was on the verge of collapse when he finally managed to rush to Shangguan Jin's side.
Shangguan Jin glanced at Yao Shan with cold eyes, drew the software from her waist, and struck Yao Shan directly in the face. Yao Shan, who was charging forward, was unable to dodge and was pierced through the chest by Shangguan Jin's software.
"You may all step back for now!" Shangguan Jin coldly ordered, walking up to Yao Shan. He indifferently pulled out the sword, took out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped the bloodstains off it, as if afraid that Yao Shan's blood would soil his precious sword. A profound smile was on his face.
Shen Qianmo glanced at Shen Lingyun's face, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. It seemed that Shangguan Jin was going to die at the hands of this old fox. However, she didn't care about Shangguan Jin's life or death. She was just sitting here watching a show.
If Shangguan Jin is unable to take Shen Lingyun's life, then she will take it herself!
“Now that Yao Shan is dead, Qi Yue’s empire truly belongs to us.” Shen Lingyun said with a forced smile. Although he controlled half of the guards in Shangguan Jin’s residence, he had no intention of usurping the throne. He also knew that killing Shangguan Jin was not enough to sit on the high throne.
Shangguan Jin smiled coldly at Shen Lingyun and said, "This empire is mine! Not ours!"
Upon hearing Shangguan Jin's words, Shen Lingyun's expression changed slightly, a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, and the smile on his lips turned cruel.
Shangguan Jin didn't care about Shen Lingyun's change in expression. In his opinion, Shen Lingyun was already trapped and had no chance of leaving the mansion alive.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Qianxin. Father-in-law must miss her, right?" Shangguan Jin smiled enigmatically. "Xiao Tao, go and bring Madam out."
Shen Lingyun's expression, which was about to erupt, slowly subsided. Since Shangguan Jin was not in a hurry to make a move, he would not rush things either. He wanted to see what Shangguan Jin was planning.
The two stood there silently.
Shen Lingyun's blue robe clung tightly to his body, outlining his robust physique, and his eyes always held a glint of shrewdness and caution.
However, Shangguan Jin's eyes held a hint of smugness and carelessness. His golden robe fluttered in the wind, making him look spirited and confident, unaware that this might be a case of pride leading to defeat.
Shen Qianxin was quickly helped out by Xiao Tao. She still had the same bright and beautiful eyes, but her eye sockets were now deeply sunken, and her skin appeared even paler and bloodless.
When Shen Qianxin's previously dull eyes saw Shen Lingyun, they lit up again. With a touch of sorrow, she called out to Shen Lingyun, "Father."
Shen Lingyun glanced at Shen Qianxin and, seeing her haggard appearance, his eyes showed not a trace of heartache, but rather a hint of disdain and anger.
Looking at Shen Qianxin like this, he couldn't help but feel angry. It seemed that Shangguan Jin really didn't have any good intentions. Shen Qianxin must have been under house arrest these days.
What a useless thing! I was hoping she could control Shangguan Jin, but I didn't expect her to turn out like this. She's more trouble than she's worth. If I hadn't been so vigilant, I probably wouldn't have made it back from Shangguan Jin's residence today.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Prime Minister Shen. Qianxin must have a lot to say, right?" Shangguan Jin looked at Shen Qianxin's pale face and revealed a cold smile, his eyes filled with a hint of detachment and indifference.
Shen Qianxin looked up at Shangguan Jin, the man who had once been so gentle to her, now looking at her with distant and indifferent eyes.
Thinking of this, a cold smile crept onto Shen Qianxin's lips. "Shangguan Jin, do you really think you can defeat Father?!"
"Oh?" Shangguan Jin didn't care about Shen Qianxin's words. He just raised his eyebrows with amusement and said with a hint of smug sarcasm, "Does Qianxin think that Prime Minister Shen can leave my residence alive today?"
Upon hearing Shangguan Jin's words, Shen Qianxin's expression did not change drastically; instead, her laughter became even more mocking.
Shangguan Jin, Shangguan Jin, your greed is insatiable! The throne was clearly within your grasp, yet you wanted to kick me and my father aside. Did you not consider that my father, a mere civil official, controlled half of Qiyue? How could he be a simple person?
Do you think trapping me will be enough?! Although I haven't been able to contact the outside world these days, my inability to contact my father will surely arouse his suspicion. Many of these guards are people I've met before. I believe my father has already infiltrated your household with his influence. It's laughable that you don't know anything and even utter such arrogant words.
"I don't understand what the Eighth Prince is saying." A ruthless glint flashed in Shen Lingyun's eyes, his smile was icy, and his gaze towards Shangguan Jin showed no fear, but rather an aggressive and vicious one.
Shangguan Jin was taken aback by Shen Lingyun's gaze. How could this old fox remain so calm? Did he have some hidden trick up his sleeve?! Impossible! With so many guards, even Yao Shan had been killed. Could he really not kill a defenseless Shen Lingyun?!
"My words are very clear! I—want—you—to—die—!" Shangguan Jin repeated sinisterly, his eyes burning with excitement and ruthlessness.
"The Eighth Prince is confirmed?!" Shen Lingyun looked at Shangguan Jin calmly, his expression extremely composed. He smiled and said, "Then let's see who will die."
Shen Qianmo witnessed all of this from the tree. She raised an eyebrow slightly, a ruthless smile appearing on her lips. Her beautiful face held a hint of murderous intent as she spoke softly, as if to herself, "None of you will leave here alive!"
Upon hearing Shen Lingyun's words, Shangguan Jin suddenly raised her eyes, her gaze filled with a mixture of ruthlessness and surprise, as she coldly swept her eyes over the guards surrounding her and Shen Lingyun.
The astonishment in his eyes deepened, gradually revealing a hint of disbelief. His hands clenched tightly as he looked at Shen Lingyun with a gloomy expression, his tone as cold as the December weather, "Prime Minister Shen, you have quite the methods, actually sabotaging the guards in my residence?!"
Seeing that Shangguan Jin was still so calm, Shen Lingyun narrowed his dangerous eyes and looked Shangguan Jin up and down.
Although Shangguan Jin held military power, he did not have the troops at his disposal and could not possibly save the mansion from danger. Moreover, most of the guards were his men. So how could Shangguan Jin remain so calm?
"The Eighth Prince certainly has some guts," Shen Lingyun said with a forced smile, his whole demeanor giving off a sarcastic vibe as he coldly stared at Shangguan Jin.
Shen Qianmo idly swayed back and forth on the tree branch, a barely perceptible hint of sarcasm flashing in her eyes. She lazily curled a smile. This Shangguan Jin does have some courage and strategy. At this moment, he can still remain calm and composed. He must have thought of the power of the Demon Palace.
Indeed, Shen Qianmo had planted a lot of demonic palace forces around Shangguan Jin's residence. Shangguan Jin must have been aware of this, which is why he was wary of her. But now, the demonic palace forces are Shangguan Jin's lifeline.
However, whether or not to save him depends on her. If she's happy, she'll save him; if she's not, she'll let him die. To her, all those people under the tree are going to die sooner or later; it's just a matter of who dies first and who dies last.
However, the people under the tree didn't seem to realize this and were still having a great time fighting.
“Now the guards in this manor are all Father’s men. What do you have to rely on?” Shen Qianxin raised an eyebrow and glanced coldly at Shangguan Jin. That glance no longer held any tenderness from a woman, but only icy hatred.
Shangguan Jin paid no heed to the hatred in Shen Qianxin's eyes. He merely pursed his cold lips, looking at Shen Lingyun and Shen Qianxin with a half-smile, and said, "Prime Minister Shen's methods are indeed extraordinary, but am I, Shangguan Jin, so easily slaughtered? So what if I control the guards in the manor? Does Prime Minister Shen know how many experts from the Demon Palace are outside the manor?!"
"So you really have some shady dealings with Shen Qianmo!" Upon hearing the words "Demon Palace," Shen Lingyun's expression changed drastically, and he angrily pointed at Shangguan Jin and roared.