Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 165 Assassination

As the sun rose higher, and the void no longer held a purple glow, Chu Zhiyuan, along with Chu Mingxuan and another, left the Mingwu Hall together. Chu Zhibi and Chu Zhichuan went to the Zhenwu Division, while Chu Mingxuan followed him to the Ministry of Rites to clock in.

Chu Zhiyao, currently without an official assignment, continued to practice martial arts in the Mingwu Hall. Chu Mingxuan was smug.

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He had finally found a way to transfer to the Ministry of Rites.

“Lord!” Hearing footsteps, Gao Lingfeng hurriedly rose to greet Chu Zhiyuan as he lifted the curtain and entered, clasping his fist in salute. Chu Zhiyuan returned the gesture: “Lord Gao, you've been working hard.”

“Lord, you've finally returned!” Gao Lingfeng breathed a sigh of relief.

A minor official brought tea, and Chu Zhiyuan sat in his seat, placing the teacup on the desk, and sized up Gao Lingfeng.

Before Chu Zhiyuan could ask, Gao Lingfeng said, “Lord, a major incident just occurred. Someone assassinated the Great Zhen's Heir Apparent, Cheng Tianfeng.” Chu Zhiyuan said indifferently, “So, someone finally couldn't resist making a move?”

He could detect the Alliance's actions, but it was difficult to completely prevent individual actions; impulsive actions were hard to guard against. Cheng Tianfeng had the Frost Iron Cavalry protecting him, so even a grandmaster couldn't do anything to him.

Gao Lingfeng recounted the events.

A martial arts expert assassinated Cheng Tianfeng in the street and was directly killed by the Frost Iron Cavalry, which provoked public outrage. Several martial arts experts also took action and were also killed. This had already caused a stir in Yujing City.

The people were very angry, feeling that assassinating Cheng Tianfeng was wrong, but since he wasn't injured, the Frost Iron Cavalry's direct killing was too cruel. Were they used to killing Great Zhen people?

Old and new grievances surged together, rekindling hatred towards Great Zhen. For a time, public resentment was boiling.

Many people felt that they shouldn't reconcile with Great Zhen, nor should they form an alliance. Great Jing should defeat Great Zhen first, then severely damage Great Meng. Chu Zhiyuan couldn't help but chuckle after hearing these rebellious arguments.

This was just being emotional, only caring about venting and not looking at the real situation.

If Great Jing were really that strong, it wouldn't need to ally with Great Zhen. It could destroy Great Zhen with its left hand and Great Meng with its right, then unify the world. Why would it need to wrong itself like this?

“Especially since we didn't arrest the Frost Iron Cavalry who killed people, it aroused public anger even more. They accused our court of being weak, being tough on our own people, but becoming spineless towards Great Zhen.” “…What are the origins of the assassin?” Chu Zhiyuan pondered.

He wasn't completely absorbed by the immediate matter but instead thought more and pondered whether there was a mastermind behind it. “It has been investigated clearly; these people are all ordinary martial artists.”

“Not disciples of major sects?”

“The first one was a practitioner of family-inherited martial arts, and the others are all from small sects, with no background.” “Family-inherited martial arts… what about their family members?”

“They are all gone.” “How coincidental.”

Gao Lingfeng slowly said, “This subordinate also suspects that Great Meng is behind this, to provoke our relationship with Great Zhen, but this case has become too big, attracting attention from above and below, and requires ironclad evidence.” Chu Zhiyuan said, “We can only say it's too coincidental… Seeing the Frost Iron Cavalry, knowing that it's impossible, assassination is just courting death; even ants try to survive.”

If it were before this mission of delivering the imperial decree, he would have unhesitatingly thought of Great Meng, but now he dared not be certain it was Great Meng. It might be someone else.

“Let the people from the Zhenwu Division investigate this person thoroughly, dig deep, and see if they can dig anything out.” Chu Zhiyuan said, “It's probably difficult.” He couldn't help but think of what Li Haoyuan had said, that Great Meng used secret agents with careful planning and long-term goals, making them hard to guard against.

If it were truly Great Meng's secret agent, he probably wouldn't find anything. His gaze turned towards the direction of the Sifang Pavilion.

He came out of the Ministry of Rites and paused when passing by the Tianbao Division. Zou Fang behind him also stopped.

Guo Chi and the other four also stopped.

Chu Zhiyuan sized up the gate of the Tianbao Division but ultimately didn't go in.

No matter how efficient the Tianbao Division was, it couldn't possibly settle his merits now; he would have to wait at least ten days. After ten days, what rank of merit would he receive?

Chu Zhiyuan continued to walk outwards, preparing to go to the new residence to practice his skills.

After finishing his practice in the morning, he wouldn't return to the Prince's Mansion for lunch but would go directly to the Duke's Mansion. He had already sent someone to inform the Duke's Mansion. The current range of his Insight had expanded to 300 meters.

The information of everyone and everything within a 300-meter radius was reflected in his mind, as clear as the lines on his palm.

Before merging with the Mysterious Spirit Pearl, if the information within a 300-meter radius surged into his brain at the same time, he would definitely feel dizzy and unable to bear it. Now, it was easy and effortless.

He suddenly frowned slightly, pausing his steps.

Zou Fang and the others followed suit.

Chu Zhiyuan then continued to walk, glancing at the Mingyue Tower. The Mingyue Tower was one of the top restaurants in Yujing.

Ordinary people couldn't afford to eat there; the guests were either rich or noble, dressed in fine clothes. The Mingyue Tower was very lively.

Through his extrasensory perception, in a room on the third floor of the Mingyue Tower, Cheng Tianfeng and Li Hongzhao were sitting opposite each other. The table was filled with a variety of early meals.

Besides the two of them, there were only two young maids and a eunuch in the room. The Frost Iron Cavalry were in the other two rooms on the third floor.

In these two rooms, there were half Frost Iron Cavalry and half Treading Cloud Iron Cavalry. The atmosphere in the three rooms was equally tense, with swords drawn and bows strung, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

Li Hongzhao smiled like a flower, and Cheng Tianfeng was dazzled, but he forced himself to remain calm. He deliberately wore a gloomy expression and mustered all his attention.

He knew that Li Hongzhao's methods were clever, and he must not be careless, lest he be played.

“Heir Apparent Cheng, you have angered the masses. You are used to being arrogant in Shenjing, and you bring this attitude to Yujing as well.” “Does Your Highness still want to show leniency to the assassin, spare his life, and then wait for him to be grateful?”

“But this is Yujing of Great Jing, not your Shenjing.” Cheng Tianfeng snorted.

He heard the provocation in her words.

But whether it was in Shenjing or Yujing, the word for assassins was: kill.

Now, it was good that the assassin was not wrong, and he, the one who was assassinated, had become the target of public criticism. It was simply absurd! It was only because he had a good temper; otherwise, he would have left long ago, regardless of the two countries' alliance!

“Heir Apparent Cheng feels wronged?” Li Hongzhao smiled.

Cheng Tianfeng suddenly smiled, his eyes burning, staring intently at her beautiful eyes: “Was it Your Highness who did it?” “What?” Li Hongzhao was stunned, then chuckled: “Do you think that assassin was sent by me?”

“Isn't it?” Cheng Tianfeng still stared at her eyes without blinking: “Your Highness's move is really clever; Cheng admires it!” Li Hongzhao smiled: “To be honest, I did have this intention, but he took the first step!”

Cheng Tianfeng twitched the corner of his mouth.

Li Hongzhao snorted: “Unexpectedly, besides me, besides our Great Meng, there are others who don't want you to unite!”

Cheng Tianfeng frowned.

Li Hongzhao's eyes were always calm, even when smiling, they were indifferent.

If he couldn't judge the truth, he would infer based on the facts. Li Hongzhao was just being stubborn.

He really couldn't think of anyone else in the world besides Great Meng who would want to sabotage the alliance between the two countries. Could it really be a passionate martial artist? Even if they weren't afraid of death, there was no need to assassinate in the street. It would be easier to assassinate in a restaurant, in a bookstore, or even disguised as a woman. Why rush towards the Frost Iron Cavalry in full view to assassinate himself?

This was obviously intentional, deliberately trying to incite public anger. It was a conspiracy!

If it was a conspiracy, then he had to go beyond specific means, look at the result, see who benefited, and whoever benefited was the one who did it. It was obviously Great Meng.

Li Hongzhao waved her jade hand: “If you don't believe me, then so be it. Anyway, our Great Meng has been wronged once or twice.” Cheng Tianfeng said: “Your Highness invited me here, not just for a meal, right?”

“There is also a big matter.” “What matter?” “About Chu Zhiyuan.”