Nine out of ten gamblers lose; I've run into a jerk!

Chapter 237 Instant Change

"You scoundrel, prepare to die!"

The altar was designed to amplify the sound, and a loud shout was like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Jiang Se, who was in the center of the altar, immediately thought: There is an assassin!

Subconsciously, Song Yuan threw down the manuscript he was reading and raised his hand in a defensive blocking motion. Wei Chao did the same. Song Yuan was a beat slower, and after realizing what was happening, he moved closer to Jiang Se and Wei Chao and looked around warily.

Where is the assassin?

He immediately turned his gaze toward the source of the fighting—

"You think you can kill me with just a small knife?"

Shen Qing grabbed the back of the short blade that was attacking a vital spot with one hand and mocked.

As soon as he finished speaking, the officials holding the ritual implements all drew weapons from the trays, incense tables, and other ritual objects and attacked Shen Qing in unison.

Faced with this sudden turn of events, the officials below the long steps were terrified, their eyes wide open, and they began to shout in panic.

"There are assassins!"

"Come on! Escort!"

Because of the solemnity of the ceremony, the Lu family army, which replaced the imperial guards, could only stand guard at the foot of the long steps, even further away than the officials. Upon seeing this, they immediately rushed towards the long steps. Just then, a mechanism door suddenly appeared at the corner of the long steps under the altar, and a group of soldiers rushed out and blocked the long steps.

The platform on the long steps was very spacious. Upon seeing this, the former high-ranking officials of Anguo, who were waiting at the edge for the next step of the ceremony, all changed their expressions and instantly began brainstorming:

Who is it?!

There has been a traitor among us!!!

For a moment, he looked around at his colleagues with scrutiny and wariness.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye; only a dozen seconds had passed since the incident, and a fierce one-on-many battle was taking place on the altar.

Jiang Se and the other two stood there on guard, but their vigilance was in vain. Watching the fierce battle taking place three zhang away, they felt inexplicably embarrassed by being ignored.

This sudden battle did not last long, ending in less than a quarter of an hour. As Shen Qing kicked the last assassin to the ground, he looked with amusement at the former officials of Anguo at the edge of the altar.

"Don't you gentlemen need to give me an explanation?"

"This has nothing to do with me..."

Before Yao Yang and other officials who had defected early on could even cry foul and defend themselves, a figure stepped out from the ranks.

Looking at the upright Kuang Ji, Shen Qing could already read the answer from his face.

"Lord Kuang, you've only sent a few assassins. Do you still consider me a threat?"

Seeing that Kuang Jie did not refute, Yang Xuan's last hope was shattered. He opened his mouth but ultimately only let out a sigh. Having worked together for many years, he admired Kuang Jie's integrity. That's why he deliberately sent him away when he launched the coup, thinking that once the outcome was decided, he would have no choice but to comply. But he never expected that Kuang Jie would continue to uphold his reckless courage of knowing it was impossible.

Yao Guang's gaze towards Kuang Ji became somewhat strange. Had he forgotten how Marshal Ji died? Wasn't it insane to make a meaningless sacrifice by throwing an egg against a rock?

"General Shen is indeed worthy of his reputation. To deal with a capable person like you, I certainly have more than just these methods."

"Oh, Master Kuang has another plan?"

Kuang Jie smiled without saying a word. Shen Qing was already impatient to continue playing riddles with him. Just as he was about to make a move, his body suddenly became somewhat out of control. He barely managed to stand up by leaning on the knife, and he held his head with one hand, trying his best to stay awake.

Looking at the incense burner emitting wisps of smoke, he seemed to understand something: "This incense is poisonous. Those assassins were trying to lure me into making a move, thus accelerating the flow of my blood and speeding up the onset of the poison. The ceremony arrangements and seating arrangements were all arranged by the Ministry of Rites. It seems that Shen You was also involved."

"General Shen is truly intelligent." Shen You, abandoning his previous obsequious manner, stepped forward from the ranks.

Kuang Jie glanced at the two sides of soldiers locked in a stalemate below the long steps, clapped his hands, and the floor tiles in the center of the altar suddenly turned open, from which a squad of armored soldiers sprang out one after another.

"This number of people may not be enough for a coup, but as long as General Shen dies here, everything will be a new situation."

Yao Yang and the others' expressions changed drastically. Oh no, this wave is coming for them!