Outside the palace.
A group of people limped away, their mutual suspicion heightened following the early morning court session, each heading to their respective carriages.
Every revelation at the court meeting was a clear indication that someone had stabbed them in the back, and Xue Ping was not the only one; everyone was suspect.
The cooperation among the noble families was driven by interests, with trust nearly nonexistent, serving merely their own benefits.
The initial agreement with Xue Ping was merely because they saw Zhao Zhong impeach the Xu family father and daughter, the situation seeming highly favorable. Moreover, they had been suppressed harshly over the years and had grown dissatisfied, so they followed Xue Ping's lead in a counterattack.
Once Xu Hu was defeated, the power dynamics in the court would be reshuffled, allowing them to seize the opportunity to restore and enhance their influence at court.
