493: The Third Prince's Loss

Jiang Ning felt that Zhao Mianshuang's explanation was a bit like a "destiny" theory.

If that were the case, if someone was destined for Immortal Ascension, could they achieve it even if they just spent every day eating, drinking, and having fun?

But how could one achieve Immortal Ascension by just idling away every day?

No, that's not right. Perhaps this destiny of Immortal Ascension was just his own thought; the Heavenly Dao had already predicted the Cultivator, and this Cultivator who idled every day was meant to have a mediocre life from the start.

Jiang Ning felt his mind was in a mess.

No one knows fate, yet they attribute everything in life to it.

Fate is the ultimate "scapegoat."

Whether one fights for something or not, it can all be called the arrangement of fate.

It's too mystical.

Jiang Ning suppressed the matter for the time being.

Zhao Mianshuang clearly didn't want to discuss the Heavenly Dao too much either.

Thus, Jiang Ning brought up the matter of Pill Minister.

After explaining the sequence of events to Zhao Mianshuang, she burst into laughter.

"I was wondering what my Third Imperial Brother has been busy with lately; so it was this.

Brother Jiang, you've done me a huge favor.

It doesn't matter whether Pill Minister performs Alchemy on my Third Imperial Brother's side. More importantly, he represents the Spirit Pill Hall and is the Disciple of Hall Master Elixir Patrol.

With this signal, many will speculate whether Pill Minister's defection to my Third Imperial Brother was authorized by internal personnel of the Spirit Pill Hall.

Is this a sign that the Spirit Pill Hall wants to take a side?

Many Alchemists are actually hesitating and waiting to see.

Now that Pill Minister is gone, these Alchemists no longer need to hesitate or wait.

If the Spirit Pill Hall doesn't move, then other Alchemists won't easily move either."

Zhao Mianshuang sighed as she spoke, "I knew that Pill Minister joining my Third Imperial Brother wasn't the Spirit Pill Hall's intention.

I was even thinking of finding an opportunity to help the Spirit Pill Hall clean house.

Unfortunately, my Third Imperial Brother has always been very careful in protecting Pill Minister, so I couldn't find an opportunity.

I didn't expect that this time, my Third Imperial Brother would allow Pill Minister to follow the team to the Peerless Daoist's Immortal Cave.

And he was even killed by you."

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "I didn't expect to run into him either. The Third Prince probably thought that with so many experts around and in full view of everyone, no one would have any designs on Pill Minister.

Plus, with Pill Minister's personality, that's probably why he let him go."

At that time, people from the First Prince, Third Prince, Fourth Prince, and Zhao Mianshuang were all heading to the Peerless Daoist's Immortal Cave.

Once Pill Minister's death is linked to any of these people,

the others will use this point to frantically seek benefits for themselves.

Sowing discord is the most basic tactic.

It's precisely because of this that mutual checks and balances make things safe.

As for the teams from the Noble Families?

These Noble Families might have already taken sides, but none of them dare to openly fall out with the princes and princesses.

They are nothing to fear.

Zhao Mianshuang tapped her finger lightly on the tea table, making a soft sound.

She was deep in thought.

"Brother Jiang, what do you think my Third Imperial Brother should do next?"

"First, he will definitely go all out to find Pill Minister's whereabouts, since he doesn't know that Pill Minister has already perished."

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and continued, "From what you've said, Pill Minister's role is even more significant for the Third Prince.

At this critical juncture, he certainly won't want to admit that Pill Minister has gone missing under his watch.

The simplest way would be to produce a fake Pill Minister.

Once the real Pill Minister is found, he can kill the fake one.

But if the real Pill Minister isn't found, then this fake Pill Minister will be Pill Minister.

However, in the process, the Third Prince will surely continue to win over key figures from the Spirit Pill Hall to replace Pill Minister's position.

This way, he'll have a buffer in case the truth comes out later."

"Brother Jiang thinks exactly like I do," Zhao Mianshuang said. "In that case, I'll have to add some fuel to my Third Imperial Brother's fire."

After speaking, Zhao Mianshuang waved her hand.

A Secret Guard emerged from somewhere in the room.

The Secret Guard bowed with cupped hands toward Zhao Mianshuang and Jiang Ning.

Zhao Mianshuang instructed, "Tell our people to spread rumors in the city that the Third Prince and Pill Minister had conflicting views, and that the Third Prince ultimately had Pill Minister secretly executed.

Do this quietly; don't let my Third Imperial Brother guess it's us."

Having received the order, the Secret Guard immediately vanished.

Jiang Ning chuckled. "It's not easy being a princess; you need protection at all times."

Zhao Mianshuang gave a bitter smile. "The trip to Yunhai Prefecture gave me a taste of hardship and taught me a valuable lesson.

If I hadn't met Brother Jiang, I might have perished there.

A person of virtue does not stand beneath a crumbling wall."

Jiang Ning didn't pursue the topic further but asked, "With your Third Imperial Brother's ability, he'll know who did this as soon as he guesses.

This kind of thing doesn't need to be brought into the open; evidence doesn't really matter anymore.

If he knows in his heart who it is, then that's who it is.

Is it really okay to incite public opinion like this?"

"The struggle between the princes and the princess is already out in the open." Zhao Mianshuang didn't care about that. "Besides, as long as there's a rumor, my Eldest Imperial Brother and Fourth Imperial Brother will follow suit.

By then, it will be impossible to find out who started it."

Jiang Ning thought about it; it did seem to make sense.

He felt that the struggles of the Great Qian Imperial Family could be written into a whole separate novel.

Jiang Ning said as he thought, "The discussions stirred up in the city will surely reach the ears of the Alchemists who are currently waiting and hesitating.

If the Third Prince confirms Pill Minister's disappearance, it will make these Alchemists shrink back.

But if the Third Prince finds someone to impersonate Pill Minister, we can expose his lies.

One lie often requires more lies to cover it up.

And the truth is the fastest Sharp Weapon to puncture a lie."

"Exactly."

Zhao Shuangmian said, "No matter what, my Third Imperial Brother must swallow this loss."

Jiang Ning could already imagine what the Third Prince would face in the future after swallowing this loss.

The Third Prince, who was already unpopular with Alchemists, would inevitably lose some potential ones as well.

This is a weakening of his power.

Thinking about it this way, the members of the team sent by the Third Prince this time won't have it easy.

After chatting with Zhao Shuangmian for a few more moments, Jiang Ning left.

Zhao Shuangmian had her own arrangements.

Jiang Ning also needed to pay attention to the matters of the Spirit Pill Hall.

At this critical juncture, the Third Prince might be forced to pay an even higher price to poach people from the Spirit Pill Hall.

Jiang Ning had to warn Elixir Patrol.

With a few strokes of his fingertips, a secret letter was completed.

Upon the completion of the Restriction, the secret letter vanished from sight and silently made its way toward where Elixir Patrol of the Spirit Pill Hall was located.

Although this method wasn't as efficient as a sound transmission jade talisman, it excelled in secrecy.

After settling these matters, Jiang Ning let out Shen Jinhuan, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Hui.

He pushed open the door to his home.

"A golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one's own doghouse; after being out for so long, one's own home is still the most comfortable."