"Minister Luo, come, come here quickly. It's about to begin. Today's program is quite spectacular," the King beckoned to Luo Yunqing.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Luo Yunqing replied.

Indeed it would be spectacular, you'll know soon enough.

The banquet proceeded as usual, with cheerful voices, laughter, singing and dancing. Looking at this scene, no one would believe that a great upheaval was about to occur here. How terrifying were the undercurrents beneath this surface.

Not long after, a play was performed in the center, a famous segment: the Empty City Stratagem!

Two characters appeared in the Empty City Stratagem: Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi...

"How was it, Minister Luo? How was this play?" the King asked with a smile.

"Not bad, very good," Luo Yunqing replied. Just considering the performance alone, both actors were remarkable.

...

...

"Then which character in this play does Minister Luo prefer?" the King asked again.

"Naturally Zhuge Liang. Facing thousands of troops alone, that kind of strategy, that kind of presence, he's the greatest in history," Luo Yunqing said.

"I also like Zhuge Liang. He devoted himself wholeheartedly until death. That Sima Yi opposite him wasn't good at all, plotting rebellion and usurping the throne, he was a traitorous minister," the King said.

"..." Luo Yunqing frowned, not knowing what the King meant by saying this, especially at this time.

"Minister, do you have any thoughts?" the King asked again.

"I do have thoughts. Actually, I also want to be that Sima Yi," Luo Yunqing said calmly. Since things had come to this point, he might as well speak directly. Everything was prepared anyway, they could proceed at any time.

At this moment, Luo Yunqing had expected the King to show extreme surprise. Even if not to that degree, at least some surprise. But in fact, the King remained very calm throughout, without any surprise, as if he didn't understand Luo Yunqing's words.

But as a king, would he not understand such frank words?

Obviously, this was impossible. The reason the King wasn't surprised was that he already knew about this matter. But if he already knew, why did everything still seem so calm?

"You already knew?" Luo Yunqing asked.

"I've long known this day would come. I just didn't expect it to come so quickly. Your Luo family would either devour us or abandon us. Although I don't like either option, I still hoped for the latter. I didn't expect things to go against my wishes," the King said, shaking his head.

At this moment, besides the two of them, others seemed unaware of what was happening. They continued with their own activities, those watching the play continued watching, those drinking continued drinking.

Because neither of them had sent signals to the outside. This was just a conversation between two people, perhaps out of consideration for their years of ruler-minister relationship.

"Rest assured, your royal family will be fine. I'm just taking your royal position. You'll still be a great family of Flowing Stone Kingdom, and your property will still be yours," Luo Yunqing said. This was what he had planned long ago, perhaps also because he didn't care about the royal family's private wealth.

"In that case, should I thank you?" the King looked at Luo Yunqing with a smile, making it impossible to tell whether he was angry or happy, giving an unfathomable feeling.

Luo Yunqing felt this emotion was very bad. He felt there might be some changes involved, changes he didn't want to see. It was because of the King's attitude that he felt the King should have some backup plans, backup plans he couldn't think of.

"What do you mean?" Luo Yunqing asked.

"I mean, I'll continue being my royal family, while your Luo family continues being our subjects, but you must be loyal. Otherwise, the foundation your Luo family built might go up in flames again," the King said with a smile.

"If you say this, it means you have some backing?" Luo Yunqing frowned, while making hand signals to initiate the upheaval. Regardless of whether the opponent truly had backing or was just bluffing, they had to strike first.

The Luo family began to act, drawing their blades against each other, immediately making the scene chaotic...

"What's happening? What's happening?"

"What is the Luo family trying to do?"

"Could it be... an upheaval..."

Immediately, some unknowing people began speaking up, but most people remained silent, watching developments without immediately taking sides.

Of course, those who originally supported the Luo family or the royal family had already taken sides, but soon things seemed to go wrong, everyone felt a wave of weakness.

"Guards..." the King had also prepared some people, who appeared around the plaza's perimeter, pressing inward toward the people inside.

This way, the Luo family had to split half their forces for defense. At this moment, everyone didn't think there was any problem, the people here were enough to deal with everyone here, including those guards.

"Do you think these people can serve any purpose?" Luo Yunqing asked with a somewhat sarcastic smile.

"I advise you not to move. This time is a good opportunity for you, but for me, it's also a good opportunity to catch you all in one net," the King still maintained his smile. He seemed to have complete confidence. What could this be?

Luo Yunqing wanted to say something but suddenly found that the internal power in his body seemed unable to gather. Not only him, others seemed to have discovered this too.

Luo Yunqing's expression changed. Had they been poisoned with some strange toxin? Too bad Xiaoyao wasn't here, otherwise, this kind of poison would be simple for him. Hadn't he solved the Bone-Softening Powder before?

That's right, if Xiaoyao had been with them, things would have been very different...

"Have you noticed? You've all been poisoned with a strange toxin. I don't know what it's called either, but I know your strength has been suppressed," the King said with a smile.

He truly didn't know what it was called, he wasn't being mysterious. He had only obtained this thing today, but its effects were good, sufficient to deal with Saint Level people.

The situation now seemed to have taken a sharp turn, the Luo family seemed to be the controlled party, in absolute disadvantage. But was this really the case?

"Even if our strength is suppressed, what can you do!" Luo Yunqing said calmly. If this was a war, then this was just a very localized small battle that couldn't determine the key to this war.

That's right, this was just one small aspect. There were many other things determining today's situation, and Luo Yunqing had long made arrangements.

Outside here, his people would appear and surround everyone here once again. This layer upon layer of encirclement felt very strange.

"I know you've already controlled everyone in the royal palace, and troops will come soon, so you don't need to be afraid yet," the King said, seeming very familiar with this environment and showing no surprise.

Luo Yunqing frowned and asked: "Do you have a way to resist?"

"No way, but you're in my hands, this point alone is enough," the King replied calmly.

"What do you plan to do?" Luo Yunqing asked.

"Very simple. I'll capture you, then use you as hostages to control the people outside, then make you submit to me. Actually, given the current situation, you should understand," the King said. This was a simple method, but also very effective.

Capture the leader first, the Luo family's core was all here, so why worry about not being able to handle those people outside?

However, sometimes things that seemed foolproof would often have deviations, because no one thought about what it would be like if things went beyond normal reasoning.

What if Luo Yunqing didn't play by the rules?

"I seem to have underestimated you. I didn't expect you could be so patient. But you seem to have calculated too optimistically. Even if we all die, this matter will continue. Do you think our Luo family would collapse without us?" Luo Yunqing said coldly.

"What do you mean?" the King asked somewhat unexpectedly. He had originally planned to slowly control the Luo family, nothing could go wrong in the process. But if any changes occurred, their royal family would be in danger.

From Luo Yunqing's words, he seemed to hear something he didn't want to hear.

"I already gave death orders beforehand. This time, if you resist, you must all die. Even if we're in your hands, they won't have any concerns. Haha, those who accomplish great things have long prepared for sacrifice, including themselves!!" Luo Yunqing said coldly.

"If you all die, can the Luo family continue?" the King hadn't expected Luo Yunqing to be so ruthless, willing to sacrifice himself to achieve his goal.

People who reached such positions generally cherished their lives greatly. Moreover, their children were also here, how could they use themselves as sacrifices?

Most importantly, they were the Luo family's core. If they all died now, could the Luo family still maintain itself?

"I said you underestimate our Luo family too much. The Luo family won't stop functioning without anyone. If we die, a new batch will take over," Luo Yunqing said calmly. "Moreover, we might not necessarily die!!"

"Kill!"

Sounds of killing came from outside, weapon clashing, people screaming, suddenly appearing in the previously quiet royal palace. Soon, teams of soldiers rushed in, surrounding everyone.

"Poisoning is just a petty trick. What you face are these iron-blooded soldiers. Originally I didn't want casualties, but it seems casualties are still inevitable," Luo Yunqing said coldly.

(End of Chapter)