Tian Shao received a secret report from his subordinates that Jiang Chen wanted to see him, and he rushed to the Jiang residence at top speed.
The pressure on him from this affair was enormous. The Jiang family's honor and ruin were, in truth, his own. If the Jiang family was brought down, the next target would likely be him, Tian Shao, and after that, quite possibly Crown Prince Ye Rong.
So, ever since this incident occurred, the weight on his shoulders had been crushing.
"Chen Shao, you were looking for me?"
When Tian Shao arrived, Jiang Chen noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the exhaustion etched across his face. He felt a twinge of sympathy—Tian Shao had clearly been working himself to the bone.
After all, this matter was genuinely difficult to investigate. A faction within the Dragon Tooth Guard colluding with outsiders—even if they had their suspicions, finding actual proof was another matter entirely.
"Old Tian, you've worked hard. Right now I need a file on Lü Wuji. For instance, who are his closest confidants? Which subordinates does he rely on most? I need a list—names, home addresses, duty schedules, the works."
A flicker of sharp interest passed through Tian Shao's eyes, and he nodded firmly. "That's no problem at all. I guarantee I can have it done flawlessly."
Tian Shao was a man of action. His efficiency was remarkable. Less than half an hour after leaving the Jiang residence, he delivered exactly the list Jiang Chen had requested.
With this list in hand, Jiang Chen felt far more confident.
"Chen Shao, the Crown Prince has been bearing enormous pressure over this matter. Many factions are pushing back against the citywide martial law. At the end of the day, the Fourth Prince was only recently named Crown Prince—his position still isn't fully secure," Tian Shao sighed.
"Tian Shao, go tell His Highness to cancel the martial law."
"What?" Tian Shao's expression turned to shock.
"Chen Shao, if you lift the martial law, the enemy's movements will become completely unchecked. It'll be terribly disadvantageous for your situation."
Jiang Chen nodded. "Brother Tian, the stricter the lockdown, the more the enemy digs in and hides. Lifting the martial law is precisely how we lure the snake out of its hole."
"Oh? Chen Shao, do you already have a plan?"
Seeing Jiang Chen's calm and composed demeanor, Tian Shao felt a stirring of hope.
A cold, razor-thin smile crept across Jiang Chen's lips. Even Tian Shao, who knew him well, felt a chill crawl up his spine.
He understood that whenever Jiang Chen wore that kind of smile, it meant an ocean of killing intent had been unleashed within.
"Brother Tian, His Highness has been troubled by the feeling that his foundation is unstable, hasn't he? This time, if he shows the resolve and courage to see it through, he can sweep away all the remaining enemies and truly secure his position as firm as a mountain."
"What do you mean exactly?" As one of Crown Prince Ye Rong's most loyal followers, Tian Shao's interest was immediately piqued.
"Just cooperate with me, and it goes like this…"
Jiang Chen gave Tian Shao his secret instructions.
Tian Shao listened intently, nodding along. When Jiang Chen finished, his expression turned grave, and he fell into deep thought. "Chen Shao, how confident are you in this, really?"
Jiang Chen replied evenly, "On my end, the confidence is one hundred percent. If something goes wrong on your side, however, I can't make any guarantees."
Tian Shao nodded. He mentally walked through every scenario several times, took a deep breath, and nodded again. "Chen Shao, I'll go report to His Highness at once and let him make the call."
"Go fast, come back fast."
Jiang Chen understood Ye Rong well. He knew the Crown Prince would never let this opportunity slip. Though Ye Rong held the title, rival forces still watched him with predatory eyes—his seat as Crown Prince was far less secure than it appeared.
An opportunity like this to consolidate his position once and for all was something Ye Rong would never pass up. True, the plan carried risks—botch it and the consequences could be catastrophic. But since ancient times, the struggle for power had always been a game played for riches at the edge of danger. Without the nerve for risk, his throne as Crown Prince would never hold steady.
So Jiang Chen felt not the slightest worry that Ye Rong would refuse to cooperate.
Sure enough, after receiving Tian Shao's secret report, Crown Prince Ye Rong immediately set out and arrived at the Jiang residence.
"Jiang Chen, I am deeply pained by what has happened. But the enemy this time has been crafty beyond measure—my people couldn't uncover even a single thread of evidence. It's… dispiriting." Upon seeing Jiang Chen, Ye Rong offered words of comfort and sympathy.
This Ye Rong was indeed a clever man. Even though he was now Crown Prince, he showed no airs around Jiang Chen—no self-important "this King" or "this Prince." It was a clear signal: Ye Rong still valued his relationship with Jiang Chen above all else. Even as Crown Prince, he remained as close as a brother.
"Your Highness, you've done your best on this matter. Everything that could be done and couldn't be done, you've done. I, Jiang Chen, have seen it all."
Jiang Chen genuinely acknowledged that Ye Rong had given it everything—issuing the citywide martial law despite pressure from all sides had taken real courage.
In the critical moment, this Ye Rong had shown genuine boldness and sense of responsibility. That was something Jiang Chen greatly admired, and it confirmed he hadn't chosen wrong.