Chapter Fifteen: Investigating the Other Assassins

Inside the grand hall, everyone waited anxiously to interrogate the assassin.

The moment Yang Jiguang saw Li Chengqian, the heavy weight on his heart finally lifted.

He understood that such a significant matter must have the prince present. Otherwise, if any mistakes occurred, he wouldn’t be able to bear the consequences.

“Commander Yang, how is he?” Lu Liangping asked, looking at the assassin who was now drinking water by the bedside, concern evident in his voice.

“He just woke up. His Highness is here as well, but the interrogation hasn’t started yet,” Yang Jiguang replied with a faint smile, casting a glance toward the ‘Crown Prince’ Zhao Hu nearby.

“Hmm, Commander Yang, your foresight is commendable,” Lu Liangping exchanged pleasantries before leading Li Chengqian to the assassin’s side.

The assassin had improved considerably and could now sit up on the bed with the help of the guards.

“Everyone else, leave. There is no need for so many people here. Only two guards shall remain, along with myself, Commander Yang, and Deputy Commander Lu,” the ‘Crown Prince’ Zhao Hu said after glancing at Li Chengqian. Upon receiving a confirming nod, he slowly opened his mouth and spoke with a calm, steady voice.

Li Chengqian felt a deep sense of reassurance. This Zhao Hu was indeed doing well—playing his part convincingly as the prince, showing great potential. With proper guidance, he could truly be of great use in the future.

At this moment, only Li Chengqian, Lu Liangping, Zhao Hu, Yang Jiguang, and another guard remained inside the hall.

On the bed lay the heavily injured assassin who had just regained consciousness.

“You, brother, speak. Commander Yang said you wanted to see me?” Zhao Hu approached the bedside, keeping a respectful distance before slowly speaking.

“You are the Crown Prince?” The assassin’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at the richly dressed prince, his gaze suddenly shining with a peculiar light.

“Yes, I am the Crown Prince of the Great Tang Empire,” Zhao Hu said confidently, puffing out his chest slightly.

He knew well that even if it was just an act, it had to be flawless; otherwise, the mission would fail. His performance had to be convincing.

“Crown Prince, if I tell the truth, will I live?” The assassin’s eyes flickered with hope as he stared imploringly at Zhao Hu.

Zhao Hu instantly understood—this man wanted to live.

That made things easier. As long as he wanted to survive, there was a chance.

“Of course. I speak with utmost authority. If you tell the truth and cooperate, I guarantee your life will be spared,” Zhao Hu smiled gently, nodding.

“Very well. Since that is the case, I will tell everything, hoping Your Highness keeps your word,” the assassin agreed, slowly lifting his head.

“How dare you doubt His Highness?” Yang Jiguang immediately scolded loudly.

“Commander Yang, stand down. Let him speak; I am giving him the chance,” Zhao Hu raised his voice, reprimanding Yang Jiguang.

Since Zhao Hu was playing the Crown Prince, he must embody the role completely—even to the point of seeming the real prince.

That was Zhao Hu’s wish at this moment—he wanted to see the play through thoroughly.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Yang Jiguang quickly complied, stepping aside.

Not far off, Li Chengqian secretly gave Zhao Hu a thumbs-up.

This was the real Li Chengqian—his acting was impressive, authentic, and thorough.

“Speak freely. My word is law. Rest assured, with my backing, your life and even your family’s lives will be spared. You may even gain wealth and honor,” Zhao Hu said as he took a seat near the bed.

“Thank you, Crown Prince,” the assassin was genuinely moved and agreed, slowly sitting up.

Li Chengqian hurried forward to support the assassin.

Yang Jiguang and Zhao Hu were startled.

They had intended to protect Li Chengqian, but had not expected him to move forward and sit beside the assassin.

Such boldness was astonishing—cold sweat broke out in their palms.

“This way, you’ll be more comfortable,” Li Chengqian said, picking up a blanket and letting the assassin lean against it.

Afterward, Li Chengqian slowly retreated, smiling faintly at the assassin.

At that moment, Zhao Hu and Yang Jiguang’s hearts nearly leapt into their throats. Seeing Li Chengqian step back, they finally relaxed.

They realized their prince was truly a man who dared to take on great matters—a man of immense courage.

In such a situation, it wasn’t just the prince who could act; even they would feel uneasy.

After all, this was no ordinary man on the bed—it was an assassin.

Though injured and subdued, his killing intent remained unmistakable.

The assassin sat up, his face still pale but much improved, now capable of normal communication.

“Crown Prince, I was sent by Prince Wei to assassinate you,” the assassin admitted.

A guard beside Li Chengqian quickly grabbed paper and brush, recording everything meticulously.

Such important matters required documentation as evidence for the future.

“Oh...” Zhao Hu nodded and continued, “I’ve already considered this. Go on.”

“Yes, Crown Prince,” the assassin responded, lifting his head. “There were six of us. One is dead, another was injured entering the eastern palace and did not participate. Outside, there are three remaining.”

“You are all martial arts experts, skilled in acrobatics and free-running, yes? Does each of you possess such abilities?” Zhao Hu’s interest piqued, pressing for more.

“This is our required skill. Each of us is highly trained,” the assassin said proudly.

This was his signature skill and the reason he survived in the underworld. Without it, they had no place.

“Among you, are you the strongest?” Zhao Hu noticed the assassin’s pride and probed further.

“No,” the assassin blushed. “Of the five who entered, I rank third. The dead one was fifth.”

“When did you come into contact with Prince Wei Li Tai? What orders did he give you?” Zhao Hu pressed.

“The prince said the Crown Prince was useless... no, this is not my opinion, but Prince Wei’s,” the assassin blurted out, suddenly horrified at his slip.

“Continue. I do not blame you,” Zhao Hu nodded and smiled faintly. “If I were so petty, the crown prince title would have been taken by now.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. I will continue,” the assassin hurriedly bowed and resumed. “Prince Wei said that killing or capturing the Crown Prince would be a great achievement. Since you have many guards, making it difficult, we chose to target the Crown Princess first.”

“I am aware,” Zhao Hu said, “I happened to discover you in the Crown Princess’s chamber, and then the events unfolded, correct?”

This was all prearranged by Li Chengqian; otherwise, Zhao Hu wouldn’t know such details.

“You are remarkably insightful, Your Highness. That is indeed the case,” the assassin’s pupils contracted, disbelief etched in his eyes.

But the truth lay plainly before everyone.

“How did the first assassin die? Did you kill him?” Zhao Hu asked directly.

“No, I lack such skill. If I did, you would never have caught me,” the assassin said, his eyes flashing with respect. “He was our number one—his skill transcended comprehension. He was elusive, even I rarely saw him.”

Everyone observed the assassin carefully. When he spoke of number one, his eyes held fear as well as reverence.

Clearly, the top-ranked was extremely formidable.

“Where are the others now? I have ordered the eastern palace sealed. They must still be within the Crown Prince’s eastern palace, yes?” Zhao Hu’s expression turned solemn, confident as he looked at the assassin.

“The palace gates cannot stop him! The three outside are ranked first, second, and fourth,” the assassin said.

“Who was the one who tried to shoot you just now?” Yang Jiguang suddenly interjected.

“That was number four. His skill slightly surpasses mine. If I weren’t injured, he couldn’t have touched me,” the assassin said, raising an eyebrow, regaining confidence.

This mattered most to him. As number three, he was no leader over number four.

There was no way he would tolerate number four being arrogant in front of him, so being shot was frustrating.

“Of course. I could see your strength as well, but bad luck caught you in our troops’ encirclement, resulting in injury and capture,” Yang Jiguang hastily agreed.

“Hmm, I have learned some of the situation. Now, I have a more important question,” Zhao Hu suddenly spoke.

During Yang Jiguang’s casual talk with the assassin, Li Chengqian and Zhao Hu exchanged gestures and signals.

“Your Highness, please speak,” the assassin turned to Zhao Hu, nodding eagerly.

“Tell me about your hiding place in the Crown Prince’s eastern palace. This is your best chance to redeem yourself,” Zhao Hu said bluntly.

This was the crucial demand—they had to extract this information.

If they couldn’t get this, the threat would persist.

This was Zhao Hu’s key objective; he had to obtain everything.

“Crown Prince, this...” The assassin hesitated.

He was no fool. Others were easier to disclose, but this was their secret lifeline. Revealing it could have dire consequences.

Giving it away was like surrendering all their secrets to Li Chengqian without reservation.

More importantly, it was their means of survival and power, not to be lightly exposed.

“Still hesitant?” Zhao Hu suddenly snorted coldly. “Those men want you dead. If not for my orders to protect you, you’d be dead already.”

Boom—

The assassin felt as if struck by thunder. The prince’s words were true.

If not for the prince and his men’s protection, he would have perished long ago.

He owed his survival entirely to the prince’s orders.

Finally, the assassin steeled himself and said, “Crown Prince, these skills are the foundation of our assassin lives. Originally, I should not say them, but moved by your sincerity, I will lay it all out.”

“That’s the spirit. That’s what I want to hear. Rest assured, I reward those loyal to me. You won’t be forgotten,” Zhao Hu smiled, nodding approvingly.

“Very well, Crown Prince, I will tell all. You need not search everywhere. Just patrol the laundry and kitchen areas in the eastern palace—you will find clues there. But beware, they are skillful; Your Highness must be cautious.”

The assassin summoned his courage and revealed everything.

“Well done! I’ve been waiting for this. From today on, you will stay safely in the Crown Prince’s mansion to recover. I will arrange good care for you, and your health will soon improve,” Zhao Hu said, waving his hand. “By the way, what is your name?”

“As assassins, we never have names. I rank third among them; they call me Number Three. You may call me Number Three as well,” the assassin said with a bitter smile, self-mocking.

“Good, Number Three. Rest well here. I will ensure you are well cared for,” Zhao Hu said, turning to leave.

“Number Three bids farewell to Your Highness,” the assassin bowed earnestly.

Yang Jiguang, Li Chengqian, and others also turned to leave, leaving only two guards behind to ‘attend’ Number Three.

Though called attendance, it was mostly surveillance.

He was the most important witness and could not be allowed to escape. Without his testimony, how could Li Tai’s guilt be proven?

Li Chengqian and the others soon retired to a nearby small room.

“Your Highness, forgive the intrusion...” Zhao Hu immediately knelt upon entering.

Only four were present: Zhao Hu, Li Chengqian, Yang Jiguang, and Lu Liangping.

“Rise, good fellow. You performed well—better than if I had interrogated myself. You have great promise. Once we capture Li Tai, you will have accomplished a great feat,” Li Chengqian said with a smile, patting Zhao Hu’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I’m honored,” Zhao Hu blushed, slightly embarrassed.

“Stand up. I mean it—your work was excellent this time,” Li Chengqian said, helping Zhao Hu up. “Everyone, please sit.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” they all bowed and sat.

“Friends, the information we’ve obtained today is vital. Do you think Number Three’s information could be false?” Li Chengqian suddenly asked.

“False? Impossible!” Yang Jiguang was shocked into silence.

“It’s very possible. But I believe it’s half true, half false. His mention of the laundry and kitchen is likely accurate, but his claim that they are extremely cunning and undetectable suggests they may only be nearby, not inside those rooms,” Li Chengqian said sharply.

“Your Highness, you think Number Three is holding back? I should have him dragged back and executed!” Yang Jiguang’s temper flared as he prepared to leave.

“Stop!” Li Chengqian called out.

“You are commander of the guards; show some composure. I am beginning to unravel the situation. Where are you going? Whether Number Three’s information is true or false no longer matters—I have a plan now,” Li Chengqian said firmly.

“Your Highness, you mean...” Yang Jiguang was astonished.

“My meaning is simple. My sole objective now is to capture all the assassins in the Crown Prince’s mansion, and to do so swiftly. Once you leave, deploy your men near the laundry. Do not act inside it; it’s crowded and will only help them escape.”

Li Chengqian turned to Yang Jiguang.

“Yes, Your Highness. And the eastern palace kitchen?” Yang Jiguang asked.

“That can wait. First secure the laundry. Once confirmed safe, move to the kitchen. Coordination is key. Tell them the Crown Prince will be working in a nearby room for an extended period. Set ambushes accordingly. After that, Zhao Hu will take over. You know what to do.”

Li Chengqian then looked at Zhao Hu. “However, Zhao Hu, this mission is extremely dangerous. You could die at any moment.”

“Your Highness, since following you, I have always been prepared to die. It is an honor to risk my life for you,” Zhao Hu said proudly, smiling carelessly.

“Well done. Once we capture the other three, I will reward you richly! With so many guards in the mansion, catching them should not be difficult,” Li Chengqian encouraged.

“Yes, Your Highness. I understand fully,” Zhao Hu replied eagerly.

“Yang Jiguang, lead some men ahead. Arrange a near-complete encirclement. Our goal is to trap the enemy in a pre-laid ambush,” Li Chengqian instructed, gesturing with his hands.

At this moment, Li Chengqian knew the grand plan had begun. Soon, great change would come.

The Crown Prince’s mansion would soon return to peace. Those with ill intent would be completely eliminated.

To accomplish anything, the mansion’s security must be ensured first.

Everything had to be carefully planned. To overthrow Li Tai, two things were necessary: First, rapidly expand one’s own strength by making contributions greater than Li Tai’s “Territorial Records” to the Tang Empire.

This was also what Emperor Taizong valued most, explaining why he granted such power to Li Chengqian.

Second, quietly develop one’s strength while uncovering Li Tai’s faults. When the time is right, confront Li Tai, ordering him to commit suicide or resign.

If he refuses, it would be easy to present evidence to Emperor Taizong for him to deal with decisively.

Thinking this, Li Chengqian’s eyes flashed with a cold glint. He knew he could no longer give Qingque any chance. When the moment came, the strike must be precise and fatal.

Either do not strike, or strike with assured success—that was Li Chengqian’s principle.

“Your Highness, I will deploy immediately and do my utmost to capture all assassins,” Yang Jiguang said confidently, bowing.

“You may go,” Li Chengqian waved his hand and sat upright.

Yang Jiguang hurriedly agreed and left.

He knew the burden on his shoulders was heavy, but he was full of confidence.

The contest with these assassins had only just begun, and everything remained uncertain.

Yang Jiguang led dozens of guards to the laundry room. After a brief search, they found no clues.

This was exactly as Li Chengqian expected—it required careful observation and patience.

Now the task was to deploy properly, station guards to monitor the suspected assassins, and report any suspicious activity immediately.

Just as Yang Jiguang finished his deployment and was about to leave, a commotion erupted inside the laundry room.

His heart skipped a beat. “Trouble!” he shouted, rushing over with his men to investigate...