“The Crown Prince not knowing the Daqiu people’s origins doesn’t mean the people of the Eastern Palace don’t know. To be honest, the Crown Prince acted absurdly, conducted himself improperly, and didn’t have the slightest appearance of a future sovereign. But from what I hear of court discussions, they only say his qualifications are mediocre. His character is rarely mentioned, and even His Majesty has never criticized this aspect. He even had him oversee the state, training his governing abilities. Moreover, it should be so—the Crown Prince has capable ministers and retainers who offer him counsel and strategies.” Mo Zi only felt suspicious points everywhere, unable to sort through the chaos.
“What are you trying to say?” The bloody smell was heavy. Xiao Wei admired that her thinking remained sharp, unperturbed by circumstances.
“Since there are people advising him, why was he so brainless as to make such a big fuss over me? First feigning a chance encounter, then luring me to the traveling lodge—the more I think about it, the more I feel someone deliberately instigated him to commit such a foolish error. Furthermore, if those Daqiu people wanted to frame the Crown Prince’s death on me, they could have acted at the traveling lodge. Though everyone there belonged to the Crown Prince, they were still Great Zhou people—no need to wait until the city gate.” Having said it was chaotic and unclear, she truly didn’t know how to express it. “What I mean is, those Daqiu people may have truly wanted to enter the city, and this battle wasn’t their original intention—they were forced to fight. As for that survivor’s testimony, it can be considered a last desperate gamble. Therefore, the person who instigated the Crown Prince is extremely likely waiting in the Eastern Palace for news.”
“What would these cavalrymen infiltrate the city to do? This afternoon at noon, His Majesty was assassinated while touring the markets outside the palace. About twenty-some people. According to the Chief of the Internal Guards, they struck viciously—clearly well-trained killers. Almost all were killed on the spot. Only three escaped. If these cavalrymen wanted to enter the city to assassinate His Majesty, why is the timing so far off?” Xiao Wei was also completely without leads. “If it was to make contact, that doesn’t make sense either. After such a major incident occurred, the city gates would naturally be lowered. They followed the Crown Prince to outside the city gate, so perhaps they actually didn’t know about the assassination.”
Mo Zi let out a sound. “That is to say, His Majesty’s assassination is unrelated to this batch of Daqiu people. Right, a coincidence. Either there are two groups of people coming from Daqiu, or the people who assassinated His Majesty are unrelated to the Daqiu people.”
“The killers may not be from Daqiu.” Amid the chaos, they actually managed to sort out one thread. Xiao Wei immediately mounted his horse. “I must quickly notify the Duhu Guards. The search scope must be expanded to any suspicious persons, including Han people, and also our Great Zhou people.”
“Xiao Wei, I have one more matter.” Mo Zi called out to stop him.
Xiao Wei waved his hand, and a soldier brought another horse. “Mount up and speak as we ride.”
Geng Wo arrived with the remaining Jinlin Guards—twenty-two men reduced by half.
“General Geng, you and the others remain behind to escort General Xu Yang and the fallen guards back to the capital.” Mo Zi felt apologetic in her heart.
Geng Wo’s eyes were red. Looking at Xu Yang lying on the ground, he said, “If Big Brother Xu were still here, he would still follow Lord Mo Zi. After you return to safety, this humble general will come back to take Big Brother Xu home.”
“What family does General Xu Yang have?” Mo Zi asked.
“One wife, two children, and an elderly father at home.” Geng Wo didn’t understand why Mo Zi asked.
So Xu Yang was not only a close minister to the Son of Heaven, but also the pillar of a household. Mo Zi said she understood, secretly making calculations. No longer preventing Geng Wo and the others from following, she spurred her horse into the capital.
After Xiao Wei redeployed the strategy for capturing the assassins, Mo Zi requested a Jinlin Guard to return to the Yuan residence with orders. Afterward, she followed Xiao Wei closely, rushing urgently toward the palace. Halfway there, they met up with people brought by Zan Jin and Ding Gou. Zan Jin and Ding Gou were startled by Mo Zi’s disheveled appearance, calling out in unison, “Brother Mo.”
“I’m fine.” She knew the two were worried. “You change clothes first. I’ll tell you the details of today’s events when we return. For now, just follow my lead.”
When they reached the palace gate, Xiao Wei stood at the front to call for entry.
“Young General, was there an intense battle?” The soldiers guarding the gate saw many people covered in blood, and also saw Eastern Palace guards—quite strange.
“Yes.” Xiao Wei didn’t say much. “I need to urgently report to His Majesty. I don’t have time to let you check everyone.”
The Emperor had been assassinated—word had spread throughout the city. The palace gate guards naturally knew even better. Moreover, Xiao Wei’s face was the most trusted pass. The soldiers responded repeatedly, opening the gate to let the forty-some people through. But what the soldiers didn’t know was that after entering the palace, only Geng Wo went to the palace garden where the Emperor was located. Xiao Wei turned toward the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace.
Once inside the palace, dressed as guards and with fierce appearances, no one came to question or block them. They proceeded smoothly all the way to the Eastern Palace. At this point, the situation led by Xiao Wei had changed. Standing at the front were Zan Jin and Ding Gou. Mo Zi was flanked left and right by two Jinlin Guards disguised as Eastern Palace guards, pretending to be unconscious. Xiao Wei had also changed his attire, mixed in among the guard squad behind.
An elderly eunuch led some young eunuchs over. “Where is His Highness? Hey? Your faces are unfamiliar.”
“We are guards from His Highness’s traveling lodge.” In this kind of situation, Ding Gou from a prestigious family handled it with ease. “On His Highness’s orders, we’re delivering someone inside.” Having said this, he gestured for Zan Jin to step aside.
The old eunuch saw Mo Zi’s face and was shocked. “Didn’t they say the matter would be handled at the traveling lodge? How was she brought into the palace? Where is His Highness?” He asked again where the Crown Prince was.
Ding Gou remained composed. “His Highness’s thoughts can never be predicted by others. He said to bring the person into the palace, and we merely follow orders. As soon as His Highness entered the city, he heard news of His Majesty’s assassination. Right now he’s with our other brothers, wanting to personally capture the assassins to gain favor before His Majesty. Eunuch, quickly arrange a place for this person.”
The eunuch’s old face full of wrinkles, hearing the phrase about the Crown Prince wanting to “gain favor,” coldly revealed contempt. He casually pointed to a door. “Just put her in that room. How did she become unconscious?”
“Used a sedative drug. She’ll sleep until tomorrow morning.” Ding Gou noted the old eunuch’s expression. “Placing her in such a room with people coming and going—is that appropriate? What if someone notices—”
The eunuch’s voice suddenly became shrill. “Then why bring her in? Put her in there first. After I go ask Miss Mingmei, we’ll see.”
Mo Zi woke up as soon as she entered the chamber room, lying properly on the bed. “Who is Miss Mingmei?”
Outside the door were all Jinlin Guards. Xiao Wei felt comfortable speaking. “She’s the Crown Prince’s favored concubine. Because the Crown Prince hasn’t yet had his grand wedding, her status hasn’t been established. However, I didn’t know her position in the Eastern Palace was so high that even Eunuch Zhong, who manages the Eastern Palace’s internal affairs, must consult her. Eunuch Zhong is the person from just now.”
“So she’s worth observing?” Mo Zi narrowed her eyes.
Xiao Wei nodded. “However, we must act quickly. The other side may not be without eyes and ears among the Duhu Guards.”
Someone coughed twice outside. Xiao Wei flew up to the beams. Zan Jin and Ding Gou stood motionless like pillars. Mo Zi continued pretending to be unconscious.
A woman in palace attire entered. Her name was Mingmei, and she looked bright and charming too. Though her clothing wasn’t ostentatious, between her brows was an aggressive arrogance.
Seeing Mo Zi lying on the bed, a vicious look flashed across her face. She said to Zan Jin and Ding Gou, “What are you two big men doing staying in the room? Could you dare harbor delusions about His Highness’s woman? Get out! Also, have the people outside the door stand far away.”
Ding Gou cupped his hands, and together with Zan Jin turned and walked out, then loudly called for the brothers to stand back.
Eunuch Zhong looked carefully through the window crack, then turned back to say, “They really stood far back. Outside the door I have little attendants guarding. No one can hear our voices.”
Mingmei moved forward, using her sharp nails to scratch across Mo Zi’s face, snorting coldly. “I originally thought she was a mannish woman. To arouse the Crown Prince’s lust, I spoke with flowery exaggeration until I got goosebumps myself. But I never expected she’d be such a beauty. No wonder it wasn’t enough to toy with her at the traveling lodge—he had to bring her into the palace. This pig brain, hopelessly stupid. He doesn’t think that a dignified court official, even if His Majesty temporarily suspended her movements—if she suddenly vanished without a trace, it would definitely cause a huge uproar.”
Mo Zi’s face was scratched painfully. In her heart she thought darkly, this woman dares call the Crown Prince a pig—her background must be significant, not an ordinary favored concubine.
“Oh my dear ancestor, be gentler with your scratching. If you break the skin, how will I explain to His Highness? Besides, what if you wake her up?” Eunuch Zhong put on a smiling face while making excuses.
“You’re stupid enough yourself. At this point, do you think this woman can be kept alive?” Mingmei snorted, her face cold. “Originally the plan was to let the Crown Prince ruin her body and defile her person, then we’d spread word of it and let her live or die on her own. But now she’s entered the palace. What if the stupid Crown Prince is captivated by her, and with His Majesty close at hand, enfeoffs her as Crown Princess—wouldn’t that be letting her off easy? My master said, if we can’t ruin her reputation this time, we must take her life.”
“But… but you just said yourself, she’s a court official.” Eunuch Zhong trembled.
“Everyone in this Eastern Palace is our people. Who would know if we killed her?” Mingmei walked to the wall, nimbly grasping a decorative sword, slowly drawing the blade from its sheath.
“Just a woman. Besides, how long can he live? Aren’t you the one who knows best?” Mingmei smiled seductively, carrying the sword to the bedside. Grasping the handle with both hands, she raised it high to thrust down—
The person under her eyelids rolled into the bed.
Mingmei was shocked. Wanting to add another thrust, she felt a light breeze behind her ear. Unable to help turning to look, she saw Eunuch Zhong already lying motionless on the ground, while a large hand struck her hand back. The sword fell into the dark shadow’s hand. When she clearly saw the other party’s face, she was frightened, her eyes widening.
Behind her came a shushing sound.
Mingmei turned back in alarm. Between her eyebrows directly faced an icy sword tip. At the other end of the sword, that Song Mo Zi stood smiling on the bed—where was any appearance of unconsciousness? She retreated backward but heard Xiao Wei say—
“Don’t move, or this sword will pierce your heart.”
Mingmei naturally didn’t dare move again.
“Just answer me one question, and I can spare your life.” Without waiting for Mingmei to agree, Mo Zi continued, “Who told you to ruin me?”
Between Mingmei’s breaths, she felt two swords.
“Aren’t you afraid she’ll take poison?” Xiao Wei asked.
“She’s the Crown Prince’s favored concubine. They must be intimate often. The poison couldn’t possibly be hidden in her teeth, otherwise one careless moment and wouldn’t both of them die?” Mo Zi was certain.
Xiao Wei was speechless. He didn’t know her imagination was so rich.
“Speak quickly!” Mo Zi wrinkled her nose. “Or I’ll guess, and you just nod or shake your head—that won’t count as betraying your master.”
“I will never betray my master.” It didn’t matter that she carried no poison. Because no matter what, she would never speak.
“Consort Xiang.” Mo Zi stared at Mingmei, satisfied to see her expression change. “Really not the slightest bit surprising. That’s enough.”
Mo Zi’s sword withdrew.
Xiao Wei’s sword entered.
Mingmei, dead.