Natuo was furious with shame!

He wished he could immediately capture that assassin and have him torn apart by five horses, crushed to pieces.

To vent the hatred in his heart!

Seeing him enraged, the guards quickly knelt on the ground and lowered their heads: “This subordinate is incompetent. Please forgive me, Your Highness! I will continue to send people to search.”

“If you can’t find the person, this prince will hold you all accountable.”

“Yes!”

The guard acknowledged the order and prepared to leave.

But Natuo suddenly called out to stop him, “Wait!”

“What other orders does Your Highness have?”

Natuo frowned, calculated in his mind for a moment, had concerns, and commanded: “Listen, the matter of this prince being injured tonight must absolutely not be leaked. If even half a sentence is revealed, you know the consequences.”

“This subordinate understands.”

“Also, search until daybreak. If you still can’t find anyone, stop searching to avoid word reaching Father King’s ears. Then people will say this prince is incompetent.”

“Yes!”

He, a dignified prince, was injured like this by an assassin.

If word got out, where would his dignity be!

So this matter couldn’t let the Second Prince know.

Even more, he couldn’t let his Father King know.

Otherwise, his position as heir apparent would definitely be affected.

The guard understood the hidden implications and left after receiving orders.

The anger in Natuo’s heart had not dissipated. He wondered who that assassin was?

Why did he break into his room in the middle of the night, not to kill him, but only to injure him?

And what did those few sentences the assassin said mean?

His mind was filled with confusion, and he couldn’t help but speculate—could it be… someone sent by the Second Prince? Deliberately giving him a show of power, humiliating him?

Thinking of this, he clenched his fists and fiercely pounded on the desk beside him.

A “thud” sound!

The wound on his palm split open again.

It bled again.

The doctor immediately rebandaged it for him.

Natuo glanced at the doctor and said in a warning, threatening tone, “If you dare to speak of this prince being injured, this prince will have your head.”

The doctor’s hands trembled violently as he wrapped the bandage, keeping his head lowered and saying, “Even if this humble one had ten lives, I wouldn’t dare.”

“Good that you know.”

……

The next day, news of the assassin breaking into the Third Prince’s residence quickly reached the Second Prince’s residence.

In the courtyard.

The Second Prince was practicing with his sword!

This person was named Nayan, quite handsome in appearance, and could be considered refined and elegant.

Though full of noble bearing, he was proud but not pampered, and his body carried the toughness and composure of one who practiced martial arts.

Someone beside him reported, “Your Highness, this subordinate has learned that last night an assassin broke into the Third Prince’s residence.”

Nayan didn’t respond and continued concentrating on his sword practice.

He didn’t stop until exhausted!

He sheathed his sword and handed it to a servant, then entered the pavilion to drink water.

After resting briefly, he looked at his subordinate and asked, “Is this matter true?”

“Absolutely true.”

“Was the assassin caught?”

“Not yet. However, the Third Prince was furious and ordered the guards of his residence to search all night, only withdrawing at daybreak!”

“Oh? So interesting!” Nayan laughed once and asked again, “Was the Third Prince injured?”

“It seems not!” The shadow guard wasn’t certain either. “This subordinate went to investigate, but none of the people at the Third Prince’s residence mentioned the Third Prince being injured.”

But—

Nayan didn’t believe it at all!

He turned the cup in his hand a few times and said with a smirk: “If Natuo wasn’t injured, he wouldn’t have made such a big fuss.”

“But no one at the Third Prince’s residence said anything.”

“He must have silenced everyone. After all, if this matter got out, it would greatly affect him. Not only did an assassin enter the enormous Third Prince’s residence, but the master was also injured—wouldn’t that become a laughingstock?”

The shadow guard had a sudden inspiration and asked: “Then how about… this subordinate spreads this matter?”

Nayan raised his hand and said: “No need. This prince wants him to admit it himself.”

His eyes revealed a sinister, evil intent.

“What does Your Highness plan to do?”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” He stood up and walked a few steps, standing under the pavilion eaves, his gaze looking toward the cloudless sky in the distance, and said, “Since childhood, he has relied on Father King’s favor, acting superior to everyone, thinking he will definitely secure the throne in the future! But everyone knows he is completely useless trash. If it weren’t for Marquis Pingyang and Minister Gong supporting him from behind, he probably wouldn’t have lived to today! This prince has campaigned north and south for many years, establishing countless military achievements through real ability. The throne is mine!”

His tone was filled with a desire to control power.

The shadow guard bowed: “Your Highness is resourceful and wise, definitely the one who will ascend to the throne!”

He gave a cold laugh, then narrowed his eyes and said: “But now, Father King has concerns. The more prominent this prince’s position in the court, the more guarded Father King becomes toward me. So, whom Father King will establish as heir apparent is still unknown.”

“It must be Your Highness without doubt.”

This shadow guard was quite skilled at flattery.

Nayan exhaled deeply, his gaze continuously fixed on the distance.

Lost in thought.

The shadow guard reported again: “Oh, by the way, Your Highness, I heard that yesterday a murder case occurred at the city gate.”

“A murder case? What murder case?”

“A merchant was transporting gambling stones into the city, but unexpectedly, a skull was chiseled out from inside one of the stones.”

“Oh?” Nayan was curious and turned to ask, “Has it been investigated clearly what happened?”

“Not yet. However, this case has been handed over to the City Security Department, and the person handling it is the heir of Marquis Pingyang.”

Hm?

Upon hearing this, Nayan immediately furrowed his brow, quite puzzled, “The heir of Marquis Pingyang, Li Cheng?”

“Exactly!”

“Isn’t he a famous wastrel young master in Gaoding? How did an idle good-for-nothing end up at the City Security Department?”

The shadow guard said: “It’s said that Marquis Pingyang asked Minister Gong to arrange for him to go there.”

How is Minister Gong involved again?

Nayan had always been meticulous in his thinking.

He immediately felt something was wrong!

Li Cheng was a famous little tyrant in Gaoding, not at all material for being an official. Minister Gong arranged for him to take the position—wasn’t he afraid he would cause more trouble and create problems for them?

The more Nayan thought about it, the more he felt this matter wasn’t simple. He analyzed: “Marquis Pingyang’s eldest son Li Qiao has been by Father King’s side for years, deeply trusted by Father King, and controls the security of the entire palace—such an important position, unmatched by anyone! Why would they now also arrange for Li Cheng to guard the city gate? There must be some great mystery in this.”

“What does Your Highness mean?”

Nayan shook his head.

Hard to judge!

After thinking for a while, he instructed: “In any case, now is the critical period for Father King to establish an heir. We cannot overlook any possible matters. You must send people to closely watch the Third Prince’s people, as well as Marquis Pingyang’s and Minister Gong’s people. Don’t overlook that Li Cheng either. Once they make any move, immediately report to this prince. This prince wants to see exactly what medicine they’re selling in their gourd?”

“Yes!”

Nayan stepped out of the pavilion and took back the sword he had given to the servant.

He drew it!

The silver gleam on the blade flashed across his sharp gaze.

He said: “This is getting more and more interesting!”