"Huff, huff... Damn it!"
North of the city, Jinfeng Mountain, Mountain God Temple.
Angry-eyed Vajra was panting heavily, his frenzied running finally came to a halt.
"The mere Zhao Family of Ganzhou, only so much! Haha..."
His chest, shoulders, and back were covered with black handprints, as if poisoned, making his skin appear somewhat dark.
At this moment, a figure slowly walked out from inside the Mountain God Temple.
The figure was thin, dressed in black, and masked, obviously another assassin.
"You're late."
"Bastard... The intelligence you provided was false!"
"Saying we had a quarter-hour, who would've thought the Imperial Guard would arrive so quickly..."
Angry-eyed Vajra strode over, swinging a slap towards the black-clad figure, but it was easily caught by them.
"Hmm?"
"If not for confusion... I would never agree to let you participate in this plan."
The black-clad figure sneered, "Since that's the case, you shall die!"
"What?"
Angry-eyed Vajra's heart was shocked, immediately retreating.
But the black-clad figure's speed was faster, almost instantly closing in on him.
A flash in their hand, a Yanling Saber appeared, and with a red glow, slashed towards Angry-eyed Vajra's neck.
"Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber! You are..."
"Puff!"
Before he finished speaking, his head flew skyward.
"Trash!"
The black-clad figure coldly said, their gaze suddenly turning southward.
From that direction, fireworks flickered, clearly the pursuing soldiers.
"They've come so quickly... Seems the Dog Emperor was prepared all along."
"But it's fine... You won't find anything!"
With a shake of their figure, they immediately withdrew from the scene.
Half a joss stick later, numerous soldiers surrounded the area, quickly discovering Angry-eyed Vajra's corpse.
"Report, sir! We've found a body, it is the Angry-eyed Vajra Weik Yijin who just participated in the assassination of Your Majesty!"
"Anything else discovered?"
Imperial City Department Commander Ma Jinwu frowned, his expression also very grim.
Beneath the Emperor's feet, an assassination attempt on Your Majesty had occurred.
He, the commander of the Imperial City Department, must bear the greatest responsibility!
"Upon investigation, we found this person's wounds have severe blood slaughter, the time of death no more than a joss stick ago."
"Hence, we speculate the killer used the 'Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber', and must be at a pinnacle realm!"
"Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber? Border Army!"
Ma Jinwu's expression suddenly changed, he quickly turned back: "Check the surroundings carefully, I will enter the palace to report to the Emperor!"
Late night.
The entire Imperial City was seething beneath the surface due to the assassination attempt on Your Majesty.
Units of the Imperial Guard roamed the streets and alleys, arresting any suspicious figures.
In just a few hours, both the dungeon and Celestial Prison were overcrowded, with frequent sounds of fighting and screams.
At this time, it's better to make mistakes in killing than to let them escape.
Under the curfew, anyone daring to appear on the streets without a token was treated as an accomplice of the assassins!
Meanwhile, in a certain courtyard in the Imperial City, a black-clad figure was kneeling before an elder, carefully reporting something.
"The mission failed... That Little Emperor didn't die?"
The elder spoke in a deep voice: "Seems that Little Emperor was prepared as well, hiding people from the Sacrificial Institute among the Imperial Guard."
"And that old dog Wang Zhongyi, didn't expect him to break through...!"
"Sir." The black-clad figure said respectfully: "What should we do next?"
"You stay in my mansion for now, once this matter settles, I'll send you back to Binzhou!"
The elder, with quiet authority, said: "No matter how bold the Imperial Guard, they dare not search my mansion!"
The flickering light illuminated the elder's figure.
This person was... the current Prime Minister, Yang Xuansu!
"Yes, sir."
"Wait, I have one more task for you."
Yang Xuansu tapped the table with one hand, his eyes full of mockery.
"Seems the Little Emperor has his plans too, now that King Tang is dead, even if I don't act, the Little Emperor will target me sooner or later."
"Since assassination didn't work, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Canlang, once this matter calms down, spread the word about this, make sure the entire world knows!"
"Sir, what matter?"
"Come closer."
A few breaths later, Canlang's eyes widened, exclaiming, "How could it be! The current Emperor actually..."
"Hehehe..."
Yang Xuansu coldly laughed, "If not for this, why would Tang Xiaozu abandon the Emperor and join King Tang."
"This was told to me by Tang Xiaozu himself when I visited him in the Celestial Prison!"
"If this news leaks out, how can the Little Emperor continue to sit on his throne?"
He said triumphantly: "Then you only need to leverage this opportunity, continue to lead the army south, and we can force the Emperor to abdicate."
"The late Emperor only had two grown Princes, King Tang and the current Emperor; the rest, Prince Ning and Prince Qing, are mere children and cannot escape my control."
"By then, the entire Great Yu World will be at hand!"
Canlang said respectfully: "Congratulations, sir, may your wishes come true, we will fully support you!"
"Alright, you may leave."
"Yes, sir!"
...
Deep within the Imperial Palace, Jiaotai Hall.
Wang Zhongyi stood bowed before Emperor Zhengyong, speaking quietly.
Under the flickering flames, Emperor Zhengyong's face was uncertain, pondering something.
"No survivors?"
"Your Majesty, those who resisted were all killed. Some were death warriors who hid poison in their mouths and died by biting their gums after capture..."
Wang Zhongyi said helplessly: "Please forgive your servant, Your Majesty, for my incompetence."
"Never mind, old companion," Emperor Zhengyong shook his head and said: "Have you discovered anything else, the identity of the assassins?"
"Your Majesty, preliminary investigations reveal three groups of assassins."
Wang Zhongyi said: "One group is martial arts people, led by Angry-eyed Vajra Weik Yijin."
"This person is one of the Protectors from the martial arts organization Mayfly Tower, with a skillful Horizontal Refining Golden Bell Shield already advanced to a First-grade Realm."
"Unfortunately, he died under the 'Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber'!"
"Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber? Binzhou Border Army! Damn!"
Emperor Zhengyong gritted his teeth: "What is Yang Xuansu doing, the Border Army mutiny still unresolved!"
"And the Wu Country's invasion, he actually suggested negotiations!"
Wang Zhongyi said: "Your Majesty, the second group is the Binzhou Border Army."
"Your servant did not expect them to bring strong crossbows to the Imperial City; if not for... Shadow's presence, Your Majesty you would have been in dire danger!"
"Strong crossbows?"
Emperor Zhengyong's eyes changed: "Imperial Guard?!"
"Indeed... there are their people within the Imperial Guard."
"And the third group?"
"Your Majesty, the identity of the third group is unknown," Wang Zhongyi said: "But to cultivate so many death warriors, it's either the Noble Clans or Royal Relatives."
"Or perhaps..."
"Yang Xuansu!"
Emperor Zhengyong gritted his teeth: "I should have thought it was him, I didn't expect he couldn't hold back either!"
"Your Majesty, you must not act rashly," Wang Zhongyi quickly advised: "Now with the Border Army mutiny, Wu Country's invasion, civil unrest in Qingzhou and Binzhou, if the court falls into chaos again..."
Emperor Zhengyong took a deep breath and said: "I know, as long as Nanyue County is stable, I can mobilize the Dragon-soaring Army to move north."
"Damn it!"
After familiar contemplation, Wang Zhongyi added: "Your Majesty, there is a matter your servant is unsure whether to mention."
"What matter?"
"Also related to Shadow... He's been favoring Bi He for over a month, the news can't be concealed much longer..."
"The Harem... don't know how many people's shadows are trying to conceal it, if they want to, they can't hide it."
"Today's assassination... where is Bi He?"
"Following Your Majesty's orders, she also went along."
Emperor Zhengyong said: "Bi He has rendered meritorious service in saving me, bestowed the title of Noble Lady, as Lady Bi!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"