Yuan Cheng lightly put away his smile. “Those two are waiting outside the gate?”

“Precisely.” Hesitating whether to say more, preferring to be cautious, the head steward spoke up. “My lord, though they’re polite, I sense their intentions aren’t good. I had people go investigate—the Metropolitan Guard has actually stationed men at every gate.”

Mo Zi also felt something was wrong. “Wei Jia and Li Ren are responsible for tracking down the three assassins who escaped after today’s attack on His Majesty. At this hour, bringing troops to our gate is indeed strange. Could the assassins actually be hiding in this residence?”

This remark reminded Yuan Cheng. He immediately asked the head steward, “Was there any unusual activity in the residence today?”

The head steward shook his head. “You and Miss Mo Zi were both away from home. The day was quiet.”

No one noticed that when the head steward answered this way, a young servant behind him shrank back, his face showing a guilty expression.

Yuan Cheng then said to Mo Zi, “You go back to your work. I’ll go see. Since the entire city is under martial law, perhaps it’s just a routine inspection.”

“At a time like this, if I could still accomplish any work, I’d be superhuman. Wait, I’ll go with you.” Mo Zi ran inside, and after a moment ran back out. “Let’s go.”

Arriving at the residence gate, they saw a line of torches extending very far. The sound of horse hooves showed some impatience, clipping and clopping with increasing frequency. As far as the eye could see, there were about a hundred people. If you counted those half-hidden beyond the firelight, there were probably over three hundred. Mo Zi’s heart jumped—she had an ominous feeling.

“Chancellor Li, General Wei, I wonder what important matter brings you to visit so late at night?” Yuan Cheng’s expression was calm, courteous and polite.

“Minister Yuan.” Li Ren saw Mo Zi and nodded slightly in greeting. “This official and Young General Wei have received orders to capture the assassins. I imagine you’ve heard about this.”

Yuan Cheng nodded. “Indeed. That the assassins dared to brazenly assault His Majesty is worrying and infuriating. I hope you both can capture them soon. How is the progress?”

While they were talking, Mo Zi exchanged glances with Wei Jia.

Wei Jia furrowed his brows and gently shook his head at her.

Mo Zi then knew the situation was truly bad—but the problem was, bad in what way?

“Of the three who escaped, we’ve already captured one. According to his confession, he came from Minister Yuan’s residence.” Li Ren’s face was inscrutable, his gaze fixed tightly on Yuan Cheng.

The Yuan residence servants were greatly alarmed and looked at each other.

“What?!” Mo Zi blurted out. “Utter nonsense!”

Yuan Cheng stepped forward, his right arm blocking her behind him. “Chancellor Li, the assassin said he came from my residence?”

Li Ren had always been on good terms with Yuan Cheng, so his tone remained civil throughout. “Precisely. However, this official also knows one person’s statement isn’t sufficient proof. Nevertheless, since he said this, I had no choice but to make this trip to Minister Yuan’s place. If Minister Yuan doesn’t mind, may this official bring people to conduct a search? Consider it routine procedure.”

Yuan Cheng’s eyes were dark as night, but he smiled slightly. “If I minded, wouldn’t that suggest a guilty conscience? Chancellor Li, please search as you see fit. I will certainly cooperate fully.”

Li Ren dismounted. “With Minister Yuan being so forthright, this official is even more reassured.”

He said to Wei Jia, “General, please have the soldiers be careful during the search. Don’t break valuable items, and don’t take advantage of the chaos to pocket small items. This isn’t an ordinary household, but the residence of a third-rank court official. Be mindful not to be excessive.”

Wei Jia said yes, selected six groups of soldiers, and as he passed Mo Zi, showed a helpless expression before entering the residence.

“Chancellor Li, this residence is not small. You might as well wait in the main hall—I can also offer tea…” Yuan Cheng invited him inside.

“Very well.” Li Ren ordered the gate guards not to let anyone in or out, then followed Yuan Cheng to the guest reception hall.

Though chaos reigned outside, Li Ren and Yuan Cheng seemed unrelated to it, still discussing the Crown Prince’s death.

Li Ren sighed. “With the Crown Prince dead and the Second Prince not yet grown, Great Zhou has no heir. People are at a loss, hearts filled with anxiety.”

Though the Crown Prince’s death was very sudden and shocked the entire court, as officials, their grief was quite limited. This was partly because the Crown Prince was mediocre and lacking in virtue, not highly regarded, and also because the one who died was ultimately just the Crown Prince—as long as the Emperor still lived, they could be somewhat at ease.

Yuan Cheng then said, “Fortunately His Majesty is healthy and in his prime years. There is hope for more offspring, and there’s still time to cultivate the Second Prince.”

Li Ren stroked his black beard. “That’s true, but this official is also worried about another matter. The Crown Prince was killed by Daqiu people. I wonder if His Majesty will go to war over this.”

“From Your Excellency’s tone, it seems you don’t want His Majesty to do so.” Yuan Cheng glanced at Mo Zi, then looked at Li Ren.

“The Daqiu people are truly detestable. When their envoy came last time, their attitude was arrogant and their words disrespectful. I already knew nothing good would come from negotiations. Now they’ve actually harmed our Great Zhou’s noble Crown Prince. Not breaking relations would be unjustifiable, and taking action is necessary. However, Daqiu’s national fortune is flourishing, their cavalry fierce and skilled in battle. Even their weakness in naval warfare has now become a strength. Whether Great Zhou has absolute certainty of victory is hard to say. In my view, denouncing them must be done cautiously.” Li Ren’s view represented the conservative faction.

Yuan Cheng lowered his eyes without speaking.

“What does Minister Yuan think?” But Li Ren still pressed.

“Your Excellency, it’s not that I won’t speak, but at this moment I truly have no position to do so. Outside they’re searching for the assassin’s accomplices.” Small talk was one thing, but political views were off the table.

“This official knows Minister Yuan’s character. You absolutely couldn’t assassinate His Majesty. Likely that assassin, seeing His Majesty unharmed, wants to drag innocent people down. Minister Yuan has recently gained His Majesty’s trust, undoubtedly making you an excellent target. Even if they do find something, with so many people in your residence, there are bound to be some who engage in petty theft and trickery. It wouldn’t necessarily be related to you, Minister.” Li Ren spoke very reasonably.

Mo Zi thought to herself: in the TV shows, when they search for evidence, regardless of whether the target is royalty or nobility, it inevitably causes chaos—chickens flying, dogs jumping, people thrown into turmoil, the searched family terrified, expressions of doomsday fear on their faces. How was it that what she encountered was gentle as wind and rain—the searchers and the searched drinking tea and chatting, not even hearing any clamor from outside?

It had been quiet for quite a while, and they were almost ready to conclude it was just the assassin’s malicious prank, when Wei Jia strode in. His brows were locked even tighter. Behind him was a person bound hand and foot, pushed in by two soldiers.

After Mo Zi saw that person clearly, she heard her own heart sink heavily. She’d been careless! She’d actually forgotten such a person existed, thinking out of sight meant peace of mind.

Who do you think that person was? None other than Yuan Cheng’s nominal aunt, but actual mother—Jiao Niang!

Mo Zi immediately looked at Yuan Cheng, only to discover his expression remained warm and calm, as if he had already anticipated Jiao Niang’s sudden appearance.

Li Ren stood up and asked Wei Jia, “Who is this person?”

Wei Jia’s expression was troubled, but he had to speak. “We discovered this woman in the northern courtyard. She’s wearing assassin’s black clothing, and the wound on her shoulder matches the sword injury described by the Qianniu Guards. I exchanged a few moves with her—she was no match and surrendered. And moreover… moreover…”

“Moreover what?” Li Ren asked urgently.

At this moment, a strange smile appeared on Yuan Cheng’s face.

Jiao Niang had been glaring viciously at him all along. Seeing him smile, she instinctively took it as mockery. Unable to contain her shame and anger, her expression grew dark and sinister as she said coldly, “Moreover, I’ve already confessed who masterminded the assassination of the Emperor.”

Mo Zi lowered her eyes, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

“It’s none other than Minister Yuan sitting beside you.” Jiao Niang pulled out a cruel smile. “He and I are both members of the Yuan family, which was exterminated by the Late Emperor. He is the legitimate youngest son of the main Yuan family line, and I am a cousin-aunt from a branch line. All these years, he served as prime minister in Nande, constantly opposing Great Zhou. I remained near the capital, living under a false name, training assassins.

After he lost power and fled back to the capital, he deceived the Emperor and became an official again, but has actually been secretly seeking opportunities for revenge. Yesterday, when he learned the Emperor would leave the palace incognito, he told me the time had come and commanded me to ambush assassins on the road to take the dog Emperor’s life. Unexpectedly, because the Emperor was accompanied by a consort, he brought heavy Qianniu Guard protection, causing the operation to fail.”

Li Ren couldn’t help moving toward Wei Jia, putting some distance between himself and Yuan Cheng before asking, “Minister Yuan, do you have anything to say?”

Yuan Cheng remained seated without moving. “Chancellor Li, you just said one person’s statement isn’t sufficient proof, and even if something is found, it might have nothing to do with me. I admit she is my distant aunt, but I knew nothing about assassinating His Majesty. His Majesty knows my identity and ordered me to thoroughly investigate the Yuan family’s treason case from years ago. Now this case is nearly resolved, and Your Excellency has also agreed the Yuan family’s extermination was a miscarriage of justice. If that’s the case, why would I still have someone assassinate His Majesty?”

Li Ren thought this made sense, but, “She’s your aunt—why would she falsely accuse you?”

“This aunt of mine claimed the relationship based on items my parents left behind. After so many years, it’s hard to verify authenticity. I thought being alone was pitiful, and if someone was willing to be a Yuan family member, why should I suspect ulterior motives? So I accepted her as a distant aunt. She never told me she was training assassins. I only thought she was maintaining tombs for the Yuan family. We had almost no contact normally. When I accompanied His Majesty on the sacrificial journey, she stayed at the residence. Some days ago, I saw her bullying people in the residence, putting on airs as an elder. In a moment of anger, I sent her away. Everyone in the residence, from top to bottom, knows this—Your Excellency need only ask. Moreover, I also noticed her physical condition was abnormal. Sometimes when she lost her temper, she didn’t even recognize me, like she’d gone mad. Who knew she would go assassinate His Majesty and frame me? I ask Your Excellency to investigate clearly.” Only after Yuan Cheng finished speaking did he stand. “I’m willing to accompany Your Excellency into the palace to face His Majesty and let him decide.”

Li Ren looked at the composed and calm Yuan Cheng, then at the disheveled Jiao Niang with bloodshot eyes. Though undecided, his heart leaned toward the former. “Since Minister Yuan is willing to accompany me to see His Majesty, that’s best.”

Jiao Niang showed some madness. “Why not bind him? He’s the mastermind—he wants to kill the dog Emperor!”

Wei Jia glared at her. “Whether Minister Yuan is the mastermind—is it for you to decide?”

Speaking of Jiao Niang being mad, she suddenly grew calm. “I have items his parents carried as proof to verify my kinship with him. I collected the bodies and built tombs for over a hundred members of the Yuan family. If I had no relationship, why go to such lengths? I raised assassins and trained killers, attempted to assassinate the Emperor—these are all capital offenses. If I’m not a Yuan family member, am I some chivalrous hero? Since I’m a Yuan family member and he’s a Yuan family member, just based on this point alone, he can’t possibly be completely innocent! Meeting the Emperor—I’m not afraid.”

Jiao Niang’s bloodshot eyes of mutual destruction made Mo Zi’s entire body turn cold.