The news of the Crown Prince's grand hunting trip spread through the palace, reaching Prince Lie and General Chen like a fresh scent in the wind. In the shadowed study of the Chen estate, the air crackled with a renewed, grim energy.
"He walks into our trap like a blind stag," Prince Lie sneered, a cruel triumph in his eyes. "A grand hunt, he calls it. A celebration of his newfound popularity. It will be his funeral."
General Chen, ever the pragmatist, nodded, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "The royal hunting grounds are vast, Prince. Full of wild boar and treacherous terrain. An accident, easily arranged. A stray arrow, a misstep near a ravine… no one will suspect a thing."
"And the King's brother, Prince Rui, will be there," Prince Lie added, his voice a low, cunning hum. "He will be the first to 'discover' the body. The grief, the shock… It will be a perfect performance. And then, with the Crown Prince conveniently out of the way, the throne will be open for a more... amenable successor."
Their plan was meticulous, cold, and utterly ruthless. General Chen would ensure his most loyal archers were positioned along the Crown Prince's planned route, disguised as royal guards. Prince Lie would lead the hunting party, subtly guiding Prince Lin towards the pre-arranged ambush point. The "wild boar" would be their signal, the moment when Prince Lin would meet his untimely end.
What they didn't know was that every detail of their discussion, every whispered word, was being silently absorbed. The grand hunting trip was not a stroke of luck for them; it was a cunning bait, meticulously laid by Prince Lin and Li Mei. A grand surprise awaited them, one that would turn the hunters into the hunted.