Seeing his mother's hesitation, Shao Fu Bo said sternly:
"Mother, you mustn't think too long, or it will be too late! That dog uses cruel methods. If we miss this chance, there won't be another!
Ruan Shi: Do you think we can succeed?
Shao Wu Bo: This time, we cannot make a mistake. Before, he had paths of retreat, but now Dachang Mountain has other priorities. If Dachang Mountain takes action, even Father won't be able to protect him.
Although the brothers guaranteed success, their mother still doubted and didn't want to take the risk:
"You want to lead him to his death, but you've planned paths of retreat for yourselves?"
Shao Fu Bo spoke gravely:
"Mother, don't worry. There is a path of retreat. We've already agreed. In this matter, only I will act and bear all responsibility. If anything happens, the second brother and you are not involved!"
Shao Wu Bo nodded silently.
Ruan Shi looked at both of them, then said:
"Can't we force someone else to act? Why expose ourselves?"
In truth, having lived these past few years beside Shao Ping Bo, she was genuinely very afraid of him. No matter what, Shao Ping Bo's methods were ruthless.
Shao Wu Bo said seriously:
"This is a battle to the death. We cannot leave him any path of retreat.
Ruan Shi: You will kill him. Don't you think this is too cruel? How will Father look at you afterward? Will he forgive you?
Shao Fu Bo: This is our battle—a battle between sons. Did Father say anything when Shao Ping Bo pressured us and stripped us of our posts? If things reach an extreme, Father would prefer to see us dead than Shao Ping Bo dead. When Father is gone, will there be a place for us in Beizhou? Moreover, I will bear all responsibility for this myself. Let Father blame me alone. What of it? Then my brother will need to speak up for me. What's a little grievance to endure!
Shao Wu Bo: Mother, don't worry. As long as we succeed in overthrowing him, everything else will be settled. At most, we will accept punishment. If we miss this opportunity, he will later drive us to our deaths! Mother, you cannot miss this sole opportunity. There's no place for womanly mercy here!
"Alright! Do as you see fit!" Ruan Shi shook her head.
"Good!" Shao Wu Bo nodded. Then, cupping his hands, he said:
"I ask Mother to immediately go to Father and watch over him, so that we have an opportunity.
In this situation, Ruan Shi could no longer deny her sons in anything, so she followed their request.
The brothers stood under the eaves, and Shao Wu Bo, looking up at the boundless sky, said:
"Defeat or victory—it will all be decided this morning. Third brother, you must be extremely careful!"
Shao Fu Bo smiled:
"Brother, after this is done, I want to sleep with his woman!"
"With whom?" Shao Wu Bo was surprised. He knew his elder brother didn't have a woman. He only slept with some maids and that was it. But could they even be considered women?
Shao Fu Bo chuckled and said:
"Tang Yi! This girl has it all. She has looks, a figure, and character. After this is done, I want to take the girl he likes. Otherwise, how else can I release all the hatred that has accumulated over these years?"
"This... the Supreme Purity Sect has turned to us. In principle, this is easy. Only, Tang Yi has a husband, Niu You Dao. Eldest brother is already in conflict with Niu You Dao, and he hasn't managed to eliminate Niu You Dao yet. This means Niu You Dao is not simple. We shouldn't just create enemies for ourselves...." He paused in thought and saw the crestfallen expression on Shao Fu Bo's face. Shao Wu Bo immediately changed his tune and, patting his shoulder, said:
"Alright! I will find a way for her to be with you. Even if Father throws you in prison, I will find a way for her to come and warm you at night!"
"Hehe. Good! Await good news from me!" Shao Fu Bo clapped his hands and quickly left.
In Linbo Palace, Shao Ping Bo was currently writing something on official documents. At that moment, the household manager Shao San Sheng rushed in. He hurriedly entered the library and said:
"Eldest Young Master, bad news!"
Shao Ping Bo raised his head and continued to slowly write characters on the documents:
"Don't rush. Speak slowly. The sky hasn't fallen, has it?"
Shao San Sheng did not slow down at all. On the contrary, seeing Shao Ping Bo's leisurely expression, he spoke even faster and more agitatedly:
"Eldest Young Master, it truly is bad news! Ruan Shi and your brothers... they already know that Eldest Young Master intends to eliminate Niu You Dao with the help of the Ice and Snow Palace. The Second Master, the Third Master, and Ruan Shi already intend to notify Zhong Yang Xu about this, and it's too late to stop them!"
Zhong Yang Xu... he is an elder of Dachang Mountain. He is responsible for the liaison between Dachang Mountain and Beizhou, and he is also Shao Deng Yun's tutor.
Shao Ping Bo's expression changed. His grip loosened, and the brush fell onto the white paper, staining it with ink.
Only now did he realize that something truly serious had happened.
Shao Ping Bo instantly paled. He slowly stood up, walked around the table, and approached Shao San Sheng. Staring at him angrily, he asked:
"How did they find out?"
He had already purged Ruan Shi's environment. Not to mention cultivators, even Ruan Shi's servants were under Shao Ping Bo's control. How could they possibly have learned about such a secret matter? Even Dachang Mountain suspected nothing.
It could be said that every step taken by Ruan Shi and her sons was under Shao Ping Bo's control. He knew what they said and how they cursed him.
He hadn't dealt with them solely because of Father. He feared Father would get angry with him over it. Furthermore, he didn't want such a reputation for himself. It wasn't advantageous for him. Only after all power passed into his hands did he intend to truly deal with them.
As long as everything was under his control, there was no need to argue with them.
Shao San Sheng shook his head. He himself didn't know exactly how they found out. He only said mournfully:
"Eldest Young Master, let's leave! Otherwise, your own people will stab you in the back. Ruan Shi and the others have already begun to act. What will Dachang Mountain do? Huang Li had already guaranteed to the Ice and Snow Palace that if anything happened, he would not let you off the hook! We must seize the moment and hide. Eldest Young Master, let's go. Otherwise, we won't be able to escape later!"
As soon as Shao San Sheng mentioned the matter with Huang Li, Shao Ping Bo immediately thought of Niu You Dao. After all, it was he who had summoned Huang Li to the Ice and Snow Palace.
After this, he pieced it all together and understood. If he couldn't grasp this, he wouldn't be Shao Ping Bo. Shao Ping Bo's lips trembled:
"Ruan Shi... they are all under my control. If they were planning something, I would have known about it first. As soon as the Ice and Snow Palace made a move, Ruan Shi and the others began to act. They didn't even leave me time to react. What a coincidence! But behind this coincidence stands someone who wishes to harm me!"
Shao San Sheng was surprised: "Who?"
"NIU YOU DAO! He planned all of this..." At that moment, Shao Ping Bo clutched his heart, and his face suddenly flushed red.
Noticing this, Shao San Sheng cried out:
"Master!"
"Pah!" Shao Ping Bo sucked in his cheeks and suddenly spat out blood. His eyes rolled back, and he leaned backward, falling.
Fortunately, Shao San Sheng reacted in time and caught him, otherwise he would have fallen onto the table. Shao San Sheng settled Shao Ping Bo into a chair. He placed his hands on his chest and helped him regain his breath:
"Master, what's wrong?"
After Shao Ping Bo spat out the blood, his expression changed once more. He turned pale, as if all the blood had been drained from him.
Shao Ping Bo smiled and, leaning on the chair, burst into laughter:
"To deal with me, he created such a huge commotion, staged such a grand spectacle for all under heaven. He dug such a massive pit for me to fall into. Truly patient! Niu You Dao, you are ruthless. This time, I concede to you!"
Shao San Sheng: Whether it's Niu You Dao or not. Master, we need to flee. Fleeing is the best stratagem. If we don't leave now, it will be too late!
He took a breath, then pushed Shao San Sheng away:
"Leave? Go where? I've invested so much effort into Beizhou's current situation, and now you want me to leave? If I leave today, I truly admit my guilt. Then Dachang Mountain will indeed send people after me to kill me. They won't let me off the hook! Who would let live someone who offended the Ice and Snow Palace? I won't leave, nor can I... I haven't lost yet!
Shao San Sheng said agitatedly:
"Master, you mustn't give in to your emotions. For its own safety, Dachang Mountain will not show concern for your fate. The ruler won't be able to protect you either! For now, you must hide. The news has already spread. When the Ice and Snow Palace investigates Xiao Tian Cheng, perhaps it will turn out differently."
"This is a trap. It means Niu You Dao hasn't given the Red Yang Fruit to Xiao Tian Cheng yet." Shao Ping Bo, leaning on the armrests of the chair, stood up. He steadied his body and said fiercely:
"Order the people of the ruler's palace to seize both villains and eliminate them!"
Shao San Sheng was startled. He understood who Shao Ping Bo wanted to kill. To kill his own brothers? He immediately reminded him:
"Master, consider this. Killing one's own brothers... that's a bad reputation among the people. It bodes ill!"
Shao Ping Bo slowly took a step forward and, leaning on the table, said with a cold smile:
"If they don't die, Beizhou will fall into their hands. In their hands, Beizhou will fall. The Shao family will fall. They cannot govern. Regardless of whether it's the Han Kingdom or the Yan Kingdom—both kingdoms won't let the Shao family off the hook. And Dachang Mountain itself will find ways to replace the Shao family. Hurry, we must be swift. These are my last chances for success. There must be no delay. Hurry!
Upon hearing this, Shao San Sheng quickly turned around and began to carry out the order.
However, just as he reached the door, Shao Ping Bo added in a cold tone:
"Since it has come to this, we might as well make everything a bit cleaner. To prevent any further problems, eliminate one more person. The one of low birth. Eliminate all of them, quickly!" Shao Ping Bo shouted.
Not only his half-brothers, but also his stepmother! Shao San Sheng, upon hearing this, felt a tremor in his heart. However, there was nothing to be done; he went to carry out the order.
As if all his strength had been spent, Shao Ping Bo staggered back and collapsed into the chair once more.
"Cough, cough." He covered his mouth with his hand, and when he lowered it, he saw stains of blood.
"Niu You Dao, you are ruthless!"