Chapter 247 The Villain Lady Arrives 75
As the two were plotting, a slight commotion broke the silence in the room. It turned out that it was the third and second princes, as well as the king and queen, and the members of their families. Although they were imprisoned, they had not completely lost their hearing. They vaguely heard the conversation between Chi Meng and the Duke, and they immediately felt mixed emotions.
"How dare these traitors be so arrogant!" The second prince was the first to lose control, his eyes widened with anger, and he cursed loudly. His voice echoed in the empty palace, sounding particularly harsh.
The king and queen looked desperate. They clung to each other, their eyes full of grief and helplessness. The queen sobbed softly, her voice trembling: "Your Majesty, what should we do? Are we really going to watch our children being exiled?"
The king suppressed his grief, his eyes were sharp, he knew that anger and despair at the moment would be useless, only calmness could give him a glimmer of hope. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, and said to the queen: "Don't be afraid, we are not at the end of our rope yet. As long as we have breath, there is always hope."
The third prince remained firm and calm, his eyes piercing through the cages, as if he had seen the road ahead. He secretly vowed in his heart that no matter how difficult the road ahead was, he would protect Alice and fight for a glimmer of hope for his family and country.
"Father, mother, rest assured, I will not sit and wait for death." The third prince's voice was low and powerful. He turned to look at the second prince, his eyes full of encouragement, "Second brother, we can't give up. As long as we are alive, there is hope."
Chi Meng sneered in her heart and bit her lower lip lightly. Her eyes wandered between the third prince's resolute figure and her father's calm face. In the end, that touch of tenderness was replaced by determination.
She spoke slowly, with an unmistakable chill in her voice: "Father, perhaps our previous plan was too merciful. In this vortex of power struggle, kindness is often the most luxurious luxury. We cannot leave our opponents any chance to turn things around."
The Duke's eyes lit up when he heard this, as if he saw the ruthlessness and determination in his daughter, which was similar to his own. He nodded slightly, signaling Chi Meng to continue.
"Exile? That just gives them some breathing space and a chance to make a comeback. Killing them directly, although cruel, is the most direct and effective way. As for the follow-up, we can find a few loyal confidants, have them drink my special transformation potion, disguise themselves as them, and stay in the prison as bait. In this way, we can not only monitor whether there are other forces ready to make a move, but also take the opportunity to wipe out those potential threats in one fell swoop."
Chi Meng's speech speed became faster and faster, and every word revealed her inner determination and calculation.
The Duke listened with great interest and nodded his approval from time to time.
In this era of frequent power changes, only absolute strength and ruthlessness can ensure the long-term prosperity of the family. He patted Chi Meng on the shoulder, his eyes full of satisfaction: "An An, you have really grown up and know how to consider the long-term interests of the family. Let's do as you say, but we still need a more thorough plan."
Chi Meng smiled slightly, and in that smile there was both the joy of her father's recognition and the anticipation of the upcoming challenge. She turned to the attendant beside her and said, "Go, call the generals you trust the most. We need to discuss the next action."
The attendant took the order and left. Soon, several generals wearing armor and with stern faces came in one after another and saluted the Duke and Chi Meng.
Under the shadow of Chi Meng and the Duke's conspiracy, every corner of the dungeon seemed to be filled with an atmosphere of oppression and despair. The princes and ministers who were originally silent and huddled in the corners seemed to be awakened by an invisible force at this moment. They looked at each other, with fear and the desire to survive flashing in their eyes.
The third prince and the second prince exchanged complicated looks, showing shock at Chi Meng's ruthless methods and worry about the fate of their family. The faces of the king and queen were filled with disbelief and despair. They had never thought that this usually gentle and lovely girl could be so resolute.
"Father, we can't just sit there and wait for death!" The second prince lowered his voice and said to the king, with a hint of urgency and unwillingness in his voice.
The king pursed his lips tightly, his eyes deep, as if he was weighing every possible option. He nodded slowly, motioning for the second prince to continue.
"We must take action to at least gain a glimmer of hope for our survival," the Second Prince added, his tone revealing unquestionable determination.
At this moment, an elderly minister stood up tremblingly. His voice was weak, but it carried a certain majesty that could not be ignored: "Your Excellency the Duke, although we are old, we are still loyal in our hearts. If you can show some mercy and let us live, we are willing to swear allegiance to you until death and never betray you."
As soon as these words came out, it was like a bolt of lightning, and the other princes and nobles also echoed them. They all expressed their willingness to submit to the Duke, just to save their lives.
The Duke heard this and sneered. He did not respond immediately, but turned to look at Chi Meng, as if waiting for her opinion. Chi Meng smiled slightly, looking forward to the good show that was about to begin.
"Father, I have a plan that may solve the current predicament."
Chi Meng's voice was clear and pleasant, but it carried a chill that could not be ignored.
"I have recently developed a new type of potion, called 'Loyalty'. This potion is colorless and tasteless, and is harmless to the human body, but it can plant the seeds of loyalty in the hearts of those who take it. Once they have the idea of betrayal in their hearts, or do something that harms our interests, the potion will take effect immediately, making them suffer unbearable pain until they die."
When the Duke heard this, a flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, which was soon replaced by praise. He knew that his daughter was gifted, but he never thought that she could develop such a magical potion. He nodded approvingly and looked at the princes and ministers who were kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Are you willing to try this 'loyalty'? If you can prove your loyalty, I might consider letting you continue to live." The Duke's voice was low and powerful, and every word was like a hammer, hitting the hearts of those people.
The nobles and ministers looked at each other, with fear and hesitation in their eyes. They knew the potion was powerful, but they knew even more clearly that if they did not take it, death would be waiting for them. In the end, they all nodded, indicating that they were willing to give it a try.
Chi Meng smiled slightly, took out a delicate jade bottle from his sleeve, and waved it gently. The potion in the jade bottle turned into invisible streams and floated into the mouths of those people. They opened their mouths involuntarily and swallowed the potion into their stomachs. Then they felt a warm current rising from their dantian and quickly spreading throughout their bodies.
"Remember, from now on, your fate is closely tied to the Duke's Mansion. As long as you are loyal, you will naturally enjoy wealth and prosperity; but if you have any disloyalty, you will bear the consequences at your own risk." Chi Meng's voice sounded coldly, like ice piercing the bones.
The nobles and ministers knelt on the ground one after another, shouting: "We are willing to serve the Duke wholeheartedly and never betray him!"