A terrifying sword intent erupted without warning.
Linghu Yan felt a chill run down his spine; a deadly sense of crisis completely overwhelmed him.
He subconsciously channeled his spiritual energy to resist.
But he found himself as insignificant as an ant in the face of this sword intent.
His entire body's energy was completely locked, making it difficult for him to even move a finger.
He didn't even see the sword light.
I felt as if the air around me had transformed into a surging river.
He himself was but an insignificant speck of dust in this long river of sword energy.
The next instant, a sword intent condensed to its extreme appeared out of thin air and shot into Linghu Yan's brow.
"puff--!"
As the sword intent exploded in his mind, a mouthful of blood gushed out.
The astonishment, confusion, and fear on his face froze instantly.
His pupils dilated sharply, reflecting the bewildered face of the Prince of Zhenbei on the opposite soft couch, as well as the Princess's subconscious action of protecting her lower abdomen.
"impossible..."
A strange hoarse sound came from Linghu Yan's throat, and blood slowly seeped from a small hole between his eyebrows. "Your...Prince...save..."
He couldn't figure out who had made the move.
princess?
No, her sword intent is definitely not like that!
A prince? Even less likely!
Inside this warm pavilion, besides them, who else could have unleashed such... such an incredible attack?
A terrible thought flashed through his mind.
Is it a fetus?
The unborn crown prince?
No, that's absolutely impossible!
Boundless fear and doubt instantly engulfed his consciousness.
He remembered his mission.
He was His Majesty's most prized hidden pawn, destined to deliver a fatal blow to the Prince of Zhenbei in the future.
But now...
How could I have died so inexplicably at the hands of an unborn fetus?
Filled with extreme resentment, the light in Linghu Yan's eyes dimmed completely, and his body fell straight backward, crashing onto the floor with a "bang," lifeless.
Inside the warm pavilion, there was a deathly silence.
Jiang Zai suddenly stood up, his tiger-like eyes wide open, staring at Linghu Yan's corpse on the ground with shock and uncertainty, then suddenly looked at Su Wantang: "Madam, this... what is this?"
Su Wantang was also stunned, and she subconsciously touched her lower abdomen.
The terrifying sword intent that flashed by just now was clearly of the same origin as the sword intent she had just comprehended.
Moreover, the source was inside her womb.
It's Lin'er!
Her son comprehended the supreme sword intent while still in the womb.
Su Wantang was initially pleasantly surprised, but then a look of confusion appeared on her face.
Lin'er has always been well-behaved and sensible, so why did he kill Linghu Yan?
Just then, a letter slipped out from the sleeve of Linghu Yan's corpse.
Su Wantang inhaled the letter from afar.
The moment he opened it, his face changed drastically, and a chill ran down his spine.
She handed the letter to Jiang Zai, her voice trembling slightly: "It's Lin'er... he killed Linghu Yan..."
Jiang Zai froze on the spot upon seeing the letter.
After a long while, he slowly lowered his head and looked at his beloved concubine's bulging belly.
His son...
Before he was even born, he had already slain a traitor and protected the entire Zhenbei Army.
"Hahaha...Good! Good! Good!"
Jiang Zai laughed loudly, his laughter shaking the warm pavilion. His laughter was filled with schadenfreude. "Well done! Lin'er, well done!"
He looked at Linghu Yan's corpse: "That Linghu Yan, that old dog Zhao Zhen!"
"They actually buried a nail right next to me! If it weren't for Lin'er..."
After laughing heartily, Jiang felt a wave of fear wash over him.
If it weren't for Lin'er's intervention, he doesn't know how long he would have been deceived by this traitor, and it might have truly led to a great disaster in the future.
"Guards!" Jiang Zai shouted in a deep voice.
The guards outside rushed in immediately, and were all shocked when they saw Linghu Yan's corpse on the ground.
"Chief Clerk Linghu Yan was actually a spy from Yujing who attempted to assassinate the Princess and the Crown Prince. He has been executed on the spot by me!"
Jiang Zai's voice was icy cold, carrying an air of supreme authority.
"Drag him away and leave his body exposed for three days as a warning to others. Search his residence and interrogate all those involved!"
"Yes, sir!" The guards, though terrified, dared not ask any further questions and quickly dragged Linghu Yan's body away.
The warm pavilion returned to calm, but an unusual atmosphere permeated the air.
Jiang Zai strode to Su Wantang's side, grasped her hand tightly, stared intently at her abdomen, and said in a hoarse voice, "Madam, you have truly given me a fine son. With such a son, Heaven blesses my Zhenbei Prince's Mansion and I, Jiang Zai."
Su Wantang felt the little life growing inside her, and a sense of pride unconsciously appeared on her face.
Jiang Lin was staring blankly at the task panel in front of him.
[Congratulations, host! You have successfully killed the traitor Linghu Yan and completed the mission!]
[Mission Evaluation: Incredible!]
[Reward: Nine Revolutions Profound Technique (Already possess this technique, automatically converted into 3000 points); Points +1800]
Jiang Lin never expected that the reward could be converted into points.
So, if I don't have enough points in the future, can I use system rewards to exchange for them?
As he was thinking, another mission notification popped up in front of him:
[Task Name: First Holding of the Tiger Tally, Building Your Own Army]
[Mission Objective: Successfully build an army loyal to you (the stronger the army's combat power, the higher its loyalty, and the higher the evaluation)]
[Completion Rewards: Random Talent, Points (Generosity depends on mission evaluation)]
Upon seeing the mission details, Jiang Lin's lips twitched involuntarily.
It's ridiculous that it would ask me to build an army when I'm still a fetus.
Before Jiang Lin could even complain, he fell into a deep sleep due to overexertion and completely lost consciousness.
...
...
Five days later, outside Luoyan City, at the Xishan Camp's command platform.
Jiang Zai inspected the newly renovated Feathered Guards, his face showing great satisfaction.
"I need not say more about the Princess Consort's character!"
"Over the years, she has always taken the lead in protecting the peace of the North, sharing weal and woe with you, and crawling out of piles of corpses countless times."
"But because she returned to Yujing City to rest and prepare for childbirth, she was cruelly murdered by Zhao Zhen."
Xu Yuanshou and the others had bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth.
The scene of the princess's peril remains a permanent shame in their hearts.
If only they had noticed sooner...
"I know," Jiang Zai's voice lowered, "that among you, some blame themselves, some feel guilty, believing that they were a step too late, which led to the princess's death…"
"But I tell you."
"The fault does not lie with you, but with Zhao Zhen who treats our northern soldiers like dirt and our Zhenbei Prince's bloodline like enemies."
"He has forgotten who, over the years, has built up the peace of Yujing with blood and bones!"
"One day, I will use my iron hooves to let Zhao Zhen hear the anger of my Zhenbei Army, and make him pay a bloody price for his meanness and ingratitude."
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
In an instant, the sounds of battle shook the heavens, and the "Lin" character flag fluttered in the wind.
Jiang Zai slowly raised his hand, and the boiling battle cries were instantly silenced as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
"Xu Yuanshou".
"Here!" Xu Yuanshou knelt on one knee, his armor clanging.
"You are the commander of the Feathered Guard, and all 30,000 men are under your command. From now on, you shall all respect the Crown Prince. If it concerns the safety of the Crown Prince, you may disobey even my royal decree."
"Your subordinate obeys!"
A moment later, inside the main tent of the Xishan Camp.
Jiang Zai solemnly said to Xu Yuanshou and the other generals, "General Xu, I entrust Lin'er's safety entirely to you."
"Furthermore, starting today, the Princess Consort will secretly nurture the fetus in the Western Hills. This matter concerns the foundation of the Prince's Mansion, and absolutely no word of it must be leaked."
Xu Yuanshou and the others replied respectfully, "Yes, sir!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Lin, who was in Su Wantang's womb, was deeply moved.
wrong...
Since the Feathered Guards consider themselves superior, wouldn't that mean they are their own personal army?
[Congratulations, host! You have successfully built your own army and completed the mission!]
[Mission Evaluation: Incredible!]
[Reward: Clear Mind Through Music (Enhances mental strength, allows one to comprehend the rhythms of heaven and earth, and attain enlightenment through sound); Points +1800]
[Congratulations, host! Your current points are sufficient to upgrade the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. Would you like to spend 3200 points to cultivate to the third level?]
A clear and lucid mind?
This is a top-tier talent that countless musicians dream of.
A casual flick of the wrist can contain the essence of heaven and earth.
Unfortunately, I'm still a fetus, so this talent isn't of much use for now.
He regained his composure and said to the system, "System, immediately begin cultivating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique."