On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Chapter 1120 Why Kill Me

Blood stains the nine heavens...

The Nine Heavens naturally refer to the imperial palace and the imperial throne.

This poem implies that only royal blood can provide the true antidote.

However, he now knows that the so-called "phoenix blood" corresponds to "dragon blood" and does not refer to Murong Yan's blood, but to the blood of the Li family of the previous dynasty.

So how should this line of poetry be interpreted?

Is it...

A flash of lightning suddenly struck Lin Zhen's mind!

He realized a detail he had overlooked!

Before he died, Kong Zhiqian said that the recipe for the antidote was hidden in his ancestral home in his hometown.

However, all Lin Zhen and his group received was a sheepskin scroll with "Phoenix Blood" as the main ingredient.

The real, detailed antidote isn't here at all!

This is just a transit point!

A trap designed to reveal the secret of "Phoenix Blood" and, moreover, to ensnare him!

The phrase "blood stains the nine heavens" is not a line of poetry at all!

This is the password to activate the mechanism!

A mechanism that requires the blood of the previous dynasty's royal family to activate!

The real antidote lies hidden behind this mechanism!

Or rather... it's a clue leading to the location of the real antidote!

Once Lin Zhen understood all this, his back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

What a fine Kong Zhiqian!

This madman, he actually foresaw this!

He used a fake antidote prescription to lure him into sending Li Xian over.

Then, he forced himself to use Li Xian's blood to activate the next mechanism in front of everyone!

He wanted to solidify his guilt of "slaughtering the bloodline of the previous dynasty"!

He wanted to make himself unable to defend himself in front of the world!

"Your Highness, what...what have you thought of?" Ghost Shadow asked, noticing Lin Zhen's ever-changing expression.

Lin Zhen did not answer him.

He simply stood up slowly, walked to the ancestral tablet, reached out his hand, and gently stroked the line of small, blood-red characters.

Suddenly, a cold, bloodthirsty smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Kong Zhiqian, do you really think you've already won?"

He muttered to himself, his voice carrying a chilling hint of madness.

"You've planned everything meticulously, but you overlooked one crucial point."

"Do you think I, Lin Zhen, would care about some bullshit reputation?"

"As long as I can save my Yan'er, as long as I can save the people of this world, let alone a former crown prince, even if gods and Buddhas stand in my way, I will kill them all!"

He turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over all the "Night Owls" behind him.

"Send the order!"

"Everyone, stay put and rest! Wait!"

"Wait for our 'medicinal ingredient' to come to us on its own!"

......

The situation in Jiangnan was miraculously stabilized thanks to Murong Yan's series of swift and benevolent measures.

The panic caused by the canal blockade gradually subsided thanks to the government's reassurance of providing free food and water.

The discontent with the court that had been stirred up was transformed into the most sincere support and love for this young monarch by the huge impact of the empress personally bowing to apologize, severely punishing traitors, and reducing taxes.

Ordinary people may not understand national righteousness, but they can distinguish who is genuinely good to them and who wants to use them as cannon fodder and push them into the abyss of war.

Inside Suzhou, the local thugs and gangsters who had been hiding in the shadows, preparing to cause trouble, were all terrified when they saw the bloody heads of the unscrupulous merchants. They fell silent and dared not make any further moves.

The entire Jiangnan region seemed to have been forcibly pulled back from the brink of chaos by an invisible hand.

Inside the inn, Murong Yan was still wearing the Phoenix Descent dress, its five trailing tattered and scattered on the floor.

She sat by the window, quietly watching the people on the street below who had spontaneously organized themselves to help the government maintain order and distribute supplies.

A relieved smile appeared on her face.

“Your Majesty, you see, the people’s hearts are with us.” Du Ruhui stood behind her, his aged face full of emotion.

"Yes," Murong Yan nodded. "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. I only truly understand this principle today."

She thought of Lin Zhen.

I remembered the things he had once said to me.

"Yan'er, being an emperor isn't just about sitting on a high phoenix throne and issuing orders. You have to go down to the ground, go among your people, listen to their voices, and feel their joys and sorrows."

At that time, she didn't quite understand.

Now she understands.

"Prime Minister Du," she turned her head and asked softly, "Is there still no news from my husband?"

A hint of worry flashed across Du Ruhui's face, but he still bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, not yet. After Lord Ghost Shadow and his men escorted Li Xian into the deep mountains, they lost contact with us. It seems that the complex terrain in the mountains hindered the transmission of messages."

Murong Yan's heart sank again.

It's been three days.

For three whole days, there was no word from them.

She had no idea what he had encountered inside.

All she knew was that every minute and every second of waiting was torture.

She even felt a pang of regret, regretting not having gone with him. At least then, she could have stayed by his side, sharing life and death with him.

But, she can't.

She was the emperor.

She had to stay here, for him and for the entire Great Qian Dynasty, to protect this most important rear area.

“Your Majesty, you need not worry too much.” Du Ruhui saw her concern and quickly comforted her, “The Prince is blessed with good fortune, and is both wise and brave. There is nothing in the world that can stump him. I’m sure news will come back soon.”

Murong Yan forced a smile but didn't say anything.

How could she not know Lin Zhen's abilities?

Concern can lead to confusion.

As long as she didn't hear from him for a day, her heart couldn't find peace.

……

Meanwhile, the ancestral home and ancestral hall of the Kong family.

The atmosphere was depressing to the extreme.

Lin Zhen and the remaining dozens of "Night Owls" have been trapped here for three whole days.

Their food and water supplies had long since run out.

Everyone was hungry, thirsty, and utterly exhausted.

Many people's wounds have become inflamed and suppurated, emitting an unpleasant odor, because they have not received timely treatment.

But no one complained.

They simply leaned against the cold wall in silence, wiping their weapons, resisting the onslaught of hunger and death with the most unwavering will.

Lin Zhen stood in the center of the ancestral hall, motionless, like a petrified statue.

His gaze never left the ancestral tablet of the Confucius family.

He is waiting.

Waiting for Li Xian's arrival.

It is also engaging in a silent battle with Kong Zhiqian, who is already dead but seems to be everywhere.

He knew that Kong Zhiqian must have left a backup plan.

This ancestral hall is far more than just a place to activate mechanisms.

There must be an even deeper and more deadly trap hidden here.

"Your Highness, water..."

The ghost struggled to its feet and handed the last drop of water from its water pouch to Lin Zhen.

His lips were cracked and dry, and his face was pale from blood loss.

Lin Zhen turned around, glanced at him, and shook her head.

"You guys drink. I'm fine."

"Your Highness!" Ghost Shadow's eyes instantly reddened. "You haven't had a drop of water for three days! If this continues, your health..."

"I said I'm fine!" Lin Zhen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

He took the water pouch from the ghostly figure, walked to a "Night Owl" who was already in a semi-conscious state due to dehydration, pried open his mouth, and poured the last mouthful of life-saving water into him.

After doing all this, he walked back to the center of the ancestral hall.

"Ghostly figure."

"My subordinate is here!"

“If… I mean if,” Lin Zhen’s voice was very calm, “I haven’t found a way out within an hour. You then take the rest of the people and break out through the secret passage we came in through.”

"Your Highness! What nonsense are you spouting!" Upon hearing this, Ghost Shadow knelt down with a thud, his voice choked with sobs. "Even if I die, I will die with you! We, the 'Night Owls,' do not have any cowards who abandon our commander and flee alone!"

"Yes! Your Highness! We'll die with you!"

The remaining dozens of "Night Owls" also struggled to their feet, each with a resolute look in their eyes.

"This is an order!" Lin Zhen's tone suddenly turned stern. "You must get out alive! Get out alive and tell His Majesty, tell Commander Zheng, about Kong Zhiqian's conspiracy! Tell them the secret of the antidote!"

"Your Majesty..."

"Excuting an order!"

"...Yes!" Ghost Shadow kowtowed heavily, tears welling in his eyes.

Just then, a faint sound of a mechanism turning came from outside the ancestral hall.

Everyone's spirits lifted instantly!

coming!