CHAPTER 845: CHAPTER 693: EMPEROR STAR LIFE CHART

Ji Li swiftly looked at Duan Mingyue: "So it’s a trap within Weiyang Building! So it seems, you’re in cahoots with the Loulan people! What benefits did they offer you to plot against us like this?"

He referred to us, not the Governor Mansion.

Chen Long was somewhat surprised as he glanced at him, feeling for the first time that this chatterbox was not entirely unbearable.

Duan Wenliang stepped forward, stood in front of his elder brother, and exclaimed with wide eyes: "Don’t slander us! Who teamed up with the Loulan people? We don’t even know them, okay?"

Ji Li snorted: "Don’t know them? Then explain why your Weiyang Building became the site of a wizard’s array?"

Duan Wenliang looked wronged: "How would I know? We just bought it!"

Ji Li flared up: "Exactly! Out of so many taverns, you just happened to buy the one set up with an array by the Loulan people! You still claim you have no ulterior motives!"

Duan Wenliang flared up even more: "Wasn’t it to see the excitement? Speaking of which, Weiyang Building was chosen by Emperor Liang himself! We only bought it after he made the decision!"

Ji Li pointed his folding fan at his nose: "You let something slip! He decided first, then you bought it and let the Loulan people set up the array!"

Duan Wenliang brushed aside his fan: "You’re making baseless accusations!"

Ji Li: "You have a guilty conscience!"

Duan Wenliang: "You, you, you—"

"Wenliang, come back."

Duan Mingyue spoke.

He rarely had such a solemn expression, and his usual smile had vanished.

"This was my oversight."

Duan Wenliang said: "Fourth Brother! Clearly, it was the cunning of the Loulan people. Why are you taking responsibility on yourself?"

Duan Mingyue replied seriously: "Upon hearing that Emperor Liang chose Weiyang Building as the duel location, I immediately bought it. I thought I was quick enough, but didn’t expect the Loulan people to outpace me and set up an array here first. I hold an undeniable responsibility and won’t stand idly by."

Chen Long looked at Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan: "Do you believe him?"

Meng Qianqian nodded: "I trust Fourth Lord, and I also trust Xun Yi."

These words seemed superfluous, as Fourth Lord of the workshop was indeed Xun Yi of the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

In fact, there was a distinction.

As a businessman, the Governor Mansion could offer bigger incentives, and Fourth Lord had no reason to risk it all.

And as the adopted son of the Prime Minister’s Mansion who suffered greatly, Xun Yi could never collude with the Loulan people, who once conspired with Prime Minister Xun.

So, she never doubted Duan Mingyue’s stance from the beginning.

She merely gained a deeper understanding of Ayimulan.

This woman’s methods were indeed more complex and ruthless than imagined.

"Ayimulan’s backers might not be limited to Loulan."

Duan Mingyue reminded, "I suspect several other major feudal lords are secretly involved."

"That may not be the case."

Lu Yuan said.

"Oh? Younger brother has a different view?"

Duan Mingyue asked with interest.

Lu Yuan said calmly: "The other nine major lords and Loulan aren’t united. Even if they act, it’s just to watch the fun. They won’t really lead and deplete their strength. Ayimulan’s main forces are still from Wusun and Loulan."

"Wusun."

Meng Qianqian murmured, "Yes, she’s the daughter of the Wusun King, and Loulan still has confidants of the Loulan King. Wusun is entirely her backing."

Lu Yuan agreed: "At least for now."

Duan Wenliang was puzzled: "What do you mean by for now?"

"Wusun also has internal strife and factions. Currently, they have a common enemy. What’s uncertain is the fate of the Wusun throne after taking Loulan."

Lu Yuan patiently explained, not for Duan Wenliang, but to ease Meng Qianqian’s worries.

He didn’t like the idea of her being uneasy, especially not when she was expecting.

Hmm... she probably wouldn’t.

Lu Yuan imagined the little one trembling in someone’s belly and decided it was better not to scare them.

He collected his thoughts and calmly said: "Two questions: method to break the array and the deadline."

Duan Mingyue pondered: "I don’t know the method to break the array, but as for the deadline, I can roughly estimate three to five days."

Ji Li frowned: "Only three to five days left?"

Duan Mingyue looked at Meng Qianqian: "It’s thanks to the Yin Hu Guard shooting the Loulan Witch, otherwise the Emperor of Liang might not survive tonight."

Ji Li regretted: "What sort of sinister array is this? As a Commander Guard, I’ve never heard of it!"

Duan Wenliang had a flash of insight and said: "Ah! I know! Killing the Loulan Witch will break the array!"

Having argued fiercely earlier, Ji Li couldn’t help but nod: "Indeed, that makes sense."

As the saying goes, sorcery and venom are inseparable. When someone is bewitched, besides lifting the curse, killing the Gu Master is also a viable method.

Duan Mingyue reminded: "The Loulan Witch isn’t easy to kill, have you forgotten about Tan’er?"

Duan Wenliang hesitated.

Seeing Meng Qianqian silent and pensive, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but ask: "What are you thinking?"

Meng Qianqian pondered for a moment, then said: "I seem to recall something from a military book, as it’s an array, there must be a focal point. If we find and break the focal point, perhaps Grandfather also has a glimmer of hope."

Duan Mingyue said: "Setting up such a large array isn’t easy; it’s impossible to set it up again anytime soon. Besides, with you all on high alert, he’s even less likely to succeed. So, the Yin Hu Guard’s method is viable and currently the only feasible way."

Killing the Loulan Witch is fantasy.

Breaking the array’s focal point, there’s a thirty to forty percent chance.

Meng Qianqian frowned: "The issue is, where is the focal point?"

As she finished speaking, everyone turned to look at Ji Li.

He was skilled in the art of the Bagua, perhaps he could calculate the location of the focal point.

"Strange."

Ji Li said perplexed.

"What’s strange?"

Chen Long asked.

Ji Li frowned: "Think about it, Loulan is a vassal state of Great Zhou, not Liang Country. If she were to kill, she’d target the Emperor of Great Zhou, not Emperor Liang."

Duan Wenliang analyzed: "Maybe it’s because she wants to deal with you all, and Emperor Liang is your supporter..."

Duan Mingyue shook his head: "No, it’s related to that prophecy. The King of the Western Regions needs Emperor’s blood for the ritual, and the young Emperor’s blood...isn’t fiery enough."

In a flash, a bold conjecture crossed his mind.

But quickly, he shook his head again.

Lu Yuan said indifferently: "If you want to say something, just say it. No need to be wishy-washy, who are you putting on a show for?"

"For you."

Duan Mingyue smiled wryly, "I just suddenly thought of the Miao King. If I were Ayimulan, I’d choose Miao King over Emperor Liang."

Lu Yuan frowned: "The old man?"

Duan Mingyue glanced at Ji Li: "The Miao King also has the Emperor Star Fate Grid. He often roamed outside, and with Miaojiang having an insider, he might actually be Ayimulan’s intended target. However, he suddenly parted ways with you, while Emperor Liang arrived at the Capital City."

Duan Wenliang’s eyes widened: "Emperor Liang took the hit meant for Miao King?"

Duan Mingyue said: "The cause and effect of the world is all destiny."

Ji Li’s expression changed; he took out the compass from his waist: "The compass moved, I found the focal point of the array!"