Chen Jinzhao was deeply shaken.
He understood Lei Yongde's words: it was all Xu Hanchen's scheme.
"So, Elder Xu is not ill, but rather putting up a front to achieve his true objective?" Chen Jinzhao couldn't help but be stirred.
Lei Yongde nodded, "That's not entirely clear. Perhaps you'll have to ask him yourself."
Chen Jinzhao also nodded; it seemed that was the only way.
"Without further ado, let's first secure all members of the Li family and cut off their ties with the outside world, lest Li Buyan's former subordinates raise an army to cause trouble," Chen Jinzhao decided instantly, and Lei Yongde readily agreed.
The two returned to the council hall together.
When Li Tiannan saw Lei Yongde, his expression changed drastically, and his speech became slurred, "Lei Yongde, how could it be you?"
"Where is Lin Zhige? Have him come and see me!"
Similar to Li Tiannan.
Li Buyan's chest burned with fiery rage, his hawk-like eyes fixed on Lei Yongde.
Lei Yongde immediately felt immense pressure, yet he spoke neither servile nor overbearing, "Forgive my offense, sirs. I am merely acting under the orders of General Xu. The Emperor has been usurped by you, and you have committed all sorts of atrocities. We are left with no choice but to raise an army against these rebels and purge the court!"
Xu Hanchen was not sick!
Upon hearing this, Li Buyan's eyes went vacant, and he collapsed onto his chair.
"Old Ghost Xu is too cunning! How can there be such a despicable and shameless person in this world?" Li Buyan was filled with grief and indignation, nearly smashing the armrest of his chair.
Li Tiannan, thinking of something, frowned and asked, "What about the Qin family?"
Li Buyan looked towards Lei Yongde. Lei Yongde said calmly, "Rest assured, the Qin family will join you in prison. They are also rebels who sought to usurp the throne!"
"You will all face justice according to the law!"
Li Buyan lost his mind.
He roared at Chen Jinzhao and Lei Yongde.
After a torrent of shouts, Li Buyan began to weep, "Wuwuwu, the Li family has not yet prospered for a hundred years, and now it is about to fall? What face will I have to meet our ancestors in the afterlife? I, Li Buyan, am the greatest sinner of the Li family!"
The once mighty aristocratic clan was now on the verge of collapse.
Their downfall was now a certainty.
Li Tiannan was filled with deep regret.
If he hadn't heeded Chen Jinzhao's slanderous words and wielded the butcher's knife against his own brother, how could the Li family have been pushed to the brink of destruction?
It was all his fault!
No!
It was Chen Jinzhao's fault!
Without Chen Jinzhao's words, none of this would have happened.
Li Tiannan glared at Chen Jinzhao with hatred, gnashing his teeth and saying, "Chen Jinzhao, I will not forgive you even in death! Heaven sees all! You have offended too many people. I will wait for your day in hell!"
Chen Jinzhao said calmly, "Is that so? Then you may wait slowly."
The matter was settled. Chen Jinzhao didn't care if Li Tiannan ranted for a while.
Lei Yongde had people apprehend Li Buyan and Li Tiannan, and then escort them to the headquarters in the western suburbs of the capital. Xu Hanchen had already seized control of the headquarters and commanded three million troops! Even the Qin family could not shake Xu Hanchen's power.
All members of the Li family were imprisoned, awaiting future judgment.
Meanwhile.
Qin Fengwu was discussing important matters with Qin Jianguo, closely monitoring the news from the Li family's front lines.
At this moment.
A middle-aged man hurried into the Qin family's council hall.
This middle-aged man was none other than Qin Fengwu's father, Qin Yufu.
Qin Yufu's early career had encountered setbacks, and coupled with his lack of great ambition, he had withdrawn from the whirlpool of power early on and had been serving as the head steward at home.
At this moment.
Qin Yufu's face was panicked, and his body was trembling.
Qin Jianguo, seeing the son he had once placed great hopes on in such a state, couldn't help but feel even more disappointed.
After a sigh, Qin Jianguo still asked in a low voice, "Yufu, what has happened? You seem so flustered. Is this a major issue?"
"Father, something big has happened!" Qin Yufu said.
Qin Jianguo and Qin Fengwu quickly exchanged glances, conveying their worries through eye contact.
Qin Fengwu turned to ask, "Dad, what exactly is it?"
"Please tell us slowly."
Qin Yufu's gasping breaths made the two anxious.
Before Qin Yufu could speak, another figure rushed into the council hall in a hurry, disregarding the Qin family's internal rules.
The newcomer was Xue Junmin, Qin Fengwu's most loyal advisor.
He was also Qin Fengwu's strategist.
If Qin Fengwu were to become the Emperor, Xue Junmin would become the National Advisor.
But now—
Xue Junmin's face was pale, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
Qin Fengwu knew his advisor best. If it weren't for a world-shattering event, Xue Junmin would never have broken Qin family etiquette to barge into the council hall so rashly. He immediately stood up and stared intently at Xue Junmin, asking, "Teacher Xue, what exactly has happened?"
Qin Jianguo also stood up.
Xue Junmin swallowed, then said, "Mr. Qin, something big has happened! The Li family has been wiped out, the Xishan headquarters has been taken over by Xu Hanchen, and a million troops are poised to enter the city!"
"What?!"
Qin Jianguo was the first to exclaim.
He never imagined that Xu Hanchen would suddenly emerge at this time, catching everyone off guard.
Qin Yufu quickly added, "There was an internal strife in the Li family. Li Tiance was killed by Li Tiannan. Xu Hanchen mobilized five thousand elite soldiers to surround the Li family and took everyone away! Furthermore, our Qin family is also surrounded!"
"Bastard! What does Old Ghost Xu want to do? Become Emperor?" Qin Jianguo was furious.
"This empire was built by my father's generation. It's not for a peasant like him to be Emperor. Get me the phone, I'll contact the elites from all regions to come to the capital and protect the Emperor!"
"If Old Ghost Xu wants to fight, we'll fight him to the bitter end!"
Accompanied by Qin Yufu, Qin Jianguo hurried to the study, which served as the Qin family's war room, the place where the Qin faction deliberated on military matters.
Only Qin Fengwu and Xue Junmin remained in the council hall.
Qin Fengwu managed to steady himself, but he still felt shaky. Xue Junmin immediately stepped forward to support him.
"Teacher Xue, how do you think I should break this stalemate?" Qin Fengwu asked.
"Or rather, does the Qin family have the ability to break this stalemate?"
He trusted Xue Junmin's judgment.
Xue Junmin hesitated for a moment, then shook his head with difficulty. "Alas, Xu Hanchen is well-prepared this time, and we likely have moles within. Therefore, Xu Hanchen's plan is proceeding like a landslide! I even heard that the Li family of Lingnan has also responded to Xu Hanchen's call. The Qin family's resistance will ultimately be in vain."
"This..." Qin Fengwu was instantly filled with despair.
After a quick review in his mind, Qin Fengwu sighed, "Teacher Xue, could you give me a cigarette?"
Xue Junmin immediately handed him a cigarette and lit it for Qin Fengwu.
Qin Fengwu exhaled a puff of smoke and said with a bitter smile, "We lost. Both Li Tiance and I lost. What's laughable is that we thought only he and I were fighting in this game. I never expected that old fox Xu Hanchen was lurking nearby. I calculated everything, but I overlooked him!"
"Everything I pursued has ultimately turned out to be an illusion in the mirror!"