At that thought, a chill ran down Li Guanglong’s spine. If the mastermind behind all this was truly Margaret , then the situation was far more serious than he imagined. Because Margaret had always been a staunch monarchist, known for staying out of court politics. For her to suddenly make a move --- and cause such a commotion --- something was clearly off. What was she after? Or… could it be that she had already chosen a side? Did she know the Emperor didn’t have long to live, and was now laying the groundwork for her own future? The more Li Guanglong thought about it, the more alarmed and uneasy he became. Margaret controlled one of the most powerful intelligence networks in the empire. She could easily cut off all his sources of information, leaving him completely blind and deaf. If that happened, he’d be at a disadvantage before the crown prince battle even officially began. “You’ve always focused your gaze on the princes, treating them as enemies --- competing and...