novelraw Chapter 1774: 233: Plotting to Seize Power and Usurp the Throne
Chapter 1774: 233: Plotting to Seize Power and Usurp the Throne
Chapter 1774: Chapter 233: Plotting to Seize Power and Usurp the Throne
“How do we find out?” Princess Fire Lotus inquired.
“Fool, I have the Earth Escape Technique, I can slip under his room and eavesdrop.” Lin Yifan responded.
Princess Fire Lotus almost forgot Lin Yifan had this ability, but another problem arose: the Ma Mansion is so large, which room is General Ma’s bedroom?
“Do you know where his room is?”
“We’ll have to find out immediately.” Lin Yifan replied.
Princess Fire Lotus thought this was also a way, so she and Lin Yifan left the guest room together and wandered around the Ma Mansion.
Of course, Great General Ma was wary of them, so he had already sent people to secretly monitor their every move.
As they wandered, Lin Yifan and Princess Fire Lotus encountered no obstacles, but when they reached the west courtyard of the Ma Mansion, they were stopped from entering.
There were soldiers guarding the arched gate to the west courtyard on either side, as if it contained treasures or a forbidden area of the Ma Mansion.
“No unauthorized personnel allowed inside.” The guard said sternly.
Even though their visitor status was acknowledged, the guards were not intimidated, as General Ma had given them authority to prohibit anyone from entering the west courtyard.
“Why not? Isn’t this a garden? Why can’t we tour it?” Lin Yifan questioned.
“Stop talking so much, are you leaving? If not, we’ll make you leave.” The guard said menacingly, with no hint of humor.
This strange situation deepened Lin Yifan and Princess Fire Lotus’s suspicions.
They guessed that this courtyard must be Great General Ma’s residence in the Kingdom of Leizhen.
However, there were several rooms in the courtyard, and which one belonged to the General was a mystery to be solved.
Their visit to the west courtyard was reported to General Ma.
General Ma felt these two were restless and suspicious, so he increased surveillance. If they were up to anything, he would not be merciful.
Furthermore, since the west courtyard was off-limits, he decided to discuss confidential matters in a different room.
In the evening, several important figures of the Kingdom of Leizhen hurried to the General Ma’s mansion.
They entered through the back, wore hats and cloaks, avoiding many eyes and ears.
Lin Yifan, who was taking a stroll in the courtyard after dinner, noticed some movement in the Ma Mansion.
He saw a few mysterious figures, led by a servant, sneak into the east courtyard.
In his guess, the east courtyard was not General Ma’s residence, so he wondered what those shadowy figures were doing there. Could they be discussing everyday affairs? But why do it so strangely?
He felt something was amiss, so after discussing with Princess Fire Lotus, he decided to act alone.
The two returned to their room as if nothing had happened, then locked the door from the inside.
Princess Fire Lotus stayed quietly in the room, waiting for Lin Yifan to complete his task.
And Lin Yifan set up an Array, used the Earth Escape Technique, and slipped underground, heading for the east courtyard.
Checking each room in the east courtyard, he found no movement, unaware of where those mysterious figures in black cloaks had gone.
The east courtyard might be a Blinding Method, and the real meeting place could be the west courtyard, so Lin Yifan quickly slipped underground to the west courtyard to listen carefully.
After listening to each room in turn, he still found nothing, which was strange.
“Could it be that this General Ma already knows I’m sneaking around here?”
During the day, he and Princess Fire Lotus were stopped by the guards outside the west courtyard, so General Ma might have known they suspected there was an issue here, hence moving the meeting place.
There’s no doubt, the entire Ma Mansion had General Ma’s spies, and their every move was under his control.
For every measure there is a countermeasure; it indicated that General Ma had a guilty conscience.
General Ma had not handed over the incomplete black Jade Pendant immediately; he was likely planning to keep it for himself. And behind keeping it, there might be an even larger conspiracy he needed to investigate thoroughly.
Since the east and west courtyards had no meetings, he felt there was a need to check the entire Ma Mansion.
Then he headed north, listening carefully.
During this careful listening, he heard some movement.
Great General Ma was in a room in the north courtyard, discussing something that seemed like a major conspiracy.
Since the Earth Escape Technique required emerging from underground, he needed to find a room to eavesdrop secretly.
So he slipped into the adjacent room, pressed his ear against the wall, and listened intently.
“Brother Ma, with the incomplete Thunderclap Jade in hand, what are you planning?”
“Seize power and usurp the throne.” General Ma replied without disguise.
“You mean…”
“Isn’t the Crown Prince very resentful? We can use him to overthrow this dog emperor and topple the entire dynasty.” General Ma replied.
“Wouldn’t that be a bit risky?”
The mysterious figures attending the meeting showed worry, a bit fearful. After all, if the plan failed, they would face annihilation of their entire clan.
“As long as the Crown Prince steals the other half of the Thunderclap Jade, there will be no danger.” General Ma replied.
“That’s right, with the Spiritual Pearl in hand, who can stand against them at the Thunder Sea?”
…
Lin Yifan was shocked, not expecting these people to plan to overthrow the Kingdom of Leizhen; their daring was astounding.
Unsure if he was just frightened, he accidentally bumped into the table beside him, causing a slight disturbance in the room.
Though the noise was negligible, for the ever-cautious General Ma, it was undeniable.
So General Ma frowned, asking, “Who!”
Clearly, this was not directed towards the cloaked mysterious figures, but towards the person in the adjacent room.
Lin Yifan realized he was in trouble and immediately set up an Array, using the Earth Escape Technique to leave.
Just as he left, General Ma broke through the wall and entered.
Finding the adjacent room empty, General Ma realized something was wrong and immediately headed for the guest room.
“Whoosh!”
Lin Yifan returned to the guest room first.
Of course, he returned to Princess Fire Lotus’s guest room, because he had promised her that if something went wrong, he would take her away; he could not break his promise.
Seeing Lin Yifan in a hurry, Princess Fire Lotus wanted to inquire, but before she could speak, Lin Yifan pulled her into the Array and escaped underground.
“Whoosh!”
Just as they left, General Ma arrived.
General Ma found the room empty, unable to catch the two small thieves who came to deliver the Thunderclap Jade.
The following mysterious figures, curious, asked, “Brother Ma, what are you doing? Weren’t you catching thieves? Why did you come to the guest room?”
“You may not know this, but the piece of Thunderclap Jade I have was sent by Princess Fire Lotus of the Heavenly Fire Kingdom. Princess Fire Lotus and her attendant never trusted me and have been secretly monitoring me. I suspect the one eavesdropping next door was them.” General Ma answered.
“No way, wasn’t it said that the north courtyard had been sealed entirely, not even a mosquito could fly in? How could someone sneaking be possible?” the mysterious figures inquired.