Imperial Palace, Chengde Hall.
The majestic Imperial Guards stood guard, one every five steps, solemn and dignified.
Inside the hall, the Dragon Throne stood empty.
Below the ninety-nine steps, General He Jin, Sīkōng Yuan Feng, Grand Tutor Yuan Kui, and other Civil and Military Officials gathered.
Above the ninety-nine steps, in front of the Dragon Throne, Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the other Ten Attendants stood.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall was tense and solemn.
General He Jin's face was ashen, extremely unsightly.
Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, and the others also had uncertain expressions.
They were lost in thought.
Just moments ago, the assassins who attempted to kill Emperor Liu Hong and Empress He Lian had been identified.
Just as the hall fell silent, a sharp voice rang out.
“The Emperor has arrived!”
The Civil and Military Officials trembled slightly, all looking up, only to see Liu Hong, whose face was not looking well, sitting on a yellow stretcher, carried by eight Little Eunuchs, to the Dragon Throne.
The white bandages on Liu Hong's arms and legs were exceptionally jarring.
Looking at Liu Hong's tragic state, the Officials' eyelids twitched rapidly.
After a glance at Liu Hong, the Civil and Military Officials quickly turned their attention to a handsome, tall, and robust young man who followed alongside him.
The handsome and valiant young man wore a bright silver armor, holding a heavy, pitch-black halberd that gleamed with a cold light, looking majestic and extraordinary.
Looking at the extraordinary Zhang Shihao, the Civil and Military Officials' eyes were filled with surprise.
This was Liu Hong's first court session after the assassination attempt, and it was also Zhang Shihao's first meeting with the Civil and Military Officials.
However, looking at Zhang Shihao, the Civil and Military Officials found it unbelievable.
Could this extraordinary young man be an Eunuch?
Despite their disbelief, recalling the news that Liu Hong, Zhang Rang, and Zhao Zhong had personally verified Zhang Shihao's body, the Civil and Military Officials had no choice but to believe that Zhang Shihao was indeed an Eunuch.
“Zhang Shihao!”
The Civil and Military Officials were all amazed by Zhang Shihao's first appearance. Sīkōng Yuan Feng and Grand Tutor Yuan Kui looked at Zhang Shihao, their eyes flashing with deep gloom and killing intent.
Just a few days ago, Zhang Shihao had sent Yuan Shao, the eldest son of the Yuan family, to the Minister of Justice.
Although Yuan Shao was released as soon as he was sent in, without any harm.
However, this was an immense humiliation for the Yuan family.
It could not be easily resolved.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
...
Despite being momentarily stunned by Zhang Shihao, the next moment, the Civil and Military Officials' gazes collectively turned to Liu Hong, and they all shouted in unison.
As the Officials knelt in unison, their voices surged in waves, echoing through the vast Chengde Hall. Zhang Shihao, standing with his halberd above the ninety-nine steps, beside the Dragon Throne, was witnessing such a scene for the first time.
Looking down from above at the high-ranking Officials, who were beneath one person and above ten thousand, kneeling below, Zhang Shihao's eyelids couldn't help but twitch rapidly, and his heart was filled with inexplicable shock.
Is this the supreme royal power?
“Rise, all of you. I hear there's news about the assassins?”
A cold voice, filled with chilling killing intent, reverberated through Chengde Hall.
The Civil and Military Officials' bodies trembled.
The next moment, the Officials rose, and Zhang Rang immediately stepped forward and said to Liu Hong:
“Your Majesty, I have indeed uncovered some information, but it is of great importance, and I dare not proceed further.”
Hearing this, Liu Hong, seated on the Dragon Throne, frowned, took a deep breath, and said:
“Speak!”
The Civil and Military Officials all frowned and looked at Zhang Rang.
General He Jin's face grew even more unsightly.
“Understood!”
Zhang Rang did not delay and quickly said:
“I felt it was very strange from the beginning. The Golden Rooster Guards, Commandant of the Guards, Superintendent of the Palace, and other Officials responsible for security had investigated for so many days without finding any information. However, the assassins were so familiar with the palace, so I suspected that people from within our ranks might be involved.”
“Therefore, after Your Majesty demoted the Commandant of the Guards, Superintendent of the Palace, and others, I started investigating from the Imperial Guards, and indeed found something.”
“On the day of the assassination, General of the Gentlemen of the Household Wang Yue was not on duty in the palace; it was the Colonel of the Imperial Guards. Wang Yue also owned a sword academy in Luoyang. Wang Yue himself possessed extraordinary swordsmanship; he once single-handedly entered Mount Helan as if entering an uninhabited land, and forcefully took the head of the wicked Qiang leader, demonstrating his martial prowess. Not only that, Wang Yue's disciples also possessed remarkable martial arts. Wang Yue must have sensed something and simply disappeared, and his sword academy was also empty.”
Zhang Rang's slow narration echoed through Chengde Hall.
“What? The assassin was him?”
Hearing that the assassin was Wang Yue, the Civil and Military Officials were all startled.
They had, of course, heard of Wang Yue's name, as the battle at Mount Helan in the past had made his name as a Sword God famous throughout the Han Dynasty.
Furthermore, Wang Yue was also a General of the Gentlemen of the Household, capable of infiltrating the Imperial Harem, causing the Imperial Harem guards to collapse in disarray, and even after failing, he could easily retreat unscathed. It seemed everything was logically explained.
“Wang Yue? Good, truly good. My chief guard personally assassinated me. What a disgrace, an utter disgrace. Guards! Issue a warrant for Wang Yue's arrest throughout the realm! Order the Minister of Justice to seize Wang Yue's entire clan, and execute them!”
From his position above, Liu Hong, upon learning that his own General of the Gentlemen of the Household had attempted to assassinate him, was instantly filled with immense shock and fury, his roaring voice echoing throughout.
“No, Your Majesty, you must not! You must not execute Wang Yue's entire clan!”
As soon as Liu Hong's voice fell, Zhang Rang immediately stepped forward to stop him.
The Officials were stunned, and even Liu Hong was taken aback. The next moment, his face turned dark and ugly.
“Zhang Rang, how dare you! If you don't give me a reason today, I'll cut off your head first.”
Liu Hong roared at Zhang Rang.
The Civil and Military Officials all looked at Zhang Rang in confusion.
Zhang Shihao, holding his halberd, also narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Zhang Rang.
Zhang Rang's body trembled slightly, not daring to delay, and quickly said:
“Your Majesty, Wang Yue's identity is not ordinary. Does Your Majesty know how Wang Yue became this General of the Gentlemen of the Household?”
“Hmm?”
Seeing the impatience in Liu Hong's eyes, Zhang Rang quickly explained:
“Your Majesty, Wang Yue's position as General of the Gentlemen of the Household was strongly recommended by Wang Bao, the former Chief of the Five Bureaus responsible for guarding the palace gates.”
“Wang Bao? Consort Wang's father? Consort Wang?” Upon hearing Zhang Rang say that Wang Yue was strongly recommended by Wang Bao, Liu Hong was no longer angry, but instead, he was completely stunned.
“Indeed, Your Majesty, Wang Yue and Wang Bao have a close relationship. General He Jin should know about this, right?”
Zhang Rang's gaze turned to General He Jin, whose face was ashen and unsightly below.
Under Liu Hong's gaze, He Jin took a deep breath, cupped his hands to Liu Hong, and said:
“Your Majesty, I do know some things. Wang Yue and Wang Bao both belong to the Wang family, but they are from different branches. Theoretically, Wang Yue should be considered Wang Bao's cousin. When Wang Bao gained power, Wang Yue came to seek refuge. Wang Bao, seeing Wang Yue's martial prowess, took him under his command, and that is how he became the General of the Gentlemen of the Household.”
General He Jin's voice echoed through the hall, and the hall immediately fell silent.
Zhang Rang stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said:
“In my opinion, it is likely that Wang Yue's assassination attempt in the palace was not aimed at Your Majesty, but rather at the Empress and the First Prince.”
“I clearly remember that on that day, the First Prince had just returned to the palace, and his whereabouts had just been exposed to the public. Before that, no one knew where the First Prince was. And Your Majesty, that evening, was suddenly invited by the Empress to a barbecue.”
“Therefore, I am certain that Wang Yue's assassination was directed at the Empress and the First Prince, and Your Majesty was accidentally injured.”
Zhang Rang's voice echoed.
The Civil and Military Officials' faces all changed dramatically.
Even Liu Hong, at the head, swayed, and was steadied by Zhang Shihao, who reached out a hand.
“Wang Yue, Wang Bao, Consort Wang, assassinating the Empress, assassinating the First Prince…”
Liu Hong only felt his head splitting.
At this moment, all the Officials understood the reason for Wang Yue's assassination attempt.
Consort Wang was a woman of extraordinary beauty, full of talent, a peerless beauty with both talent and looks, deeply loved by Liu Hong.
However, all of this changed with the birth of Consort Wang's son, Liu Xie.
Consort Wang, deeply loved by Liu Hong, gave birth to the Little Prince, whom Liu Hong naturally cherished and adored.
Liu Hong had even subtly indicated to Consort Wang on multiple occasions that he intended to make the Little Prince Liu Xie the Crown Prince.
The struggle for the Crown Prince seemed about to begin.
However, Consort Wang soon died.
It seemed to be inextricably linked to Empress He!
Wang Bao was Consort Wang's father.
With Consort Wang dead, Wang Bao lost his reliance.
General He Jin's power, however, grew even stronger, and Wang Bao had no choice but to retire to his hometown.
Now, Wang Bao's cousin, Wang Yue, upon learning of the First Prince's return to the palace and his whereabouts, sought to assassinate the First Prince Liu Bian, and even the Empress He Lian. If he succeeded, it would be a permanent solution.
Among the princes, only the Little Prince Liu Xie would remain. In the future, after Liu Hong's death, Liu Xie would undoubtedly inherit the throne as a matter of course.
Viewed this way, Wang Bao's temporary retreat, leaving Wang Yue to carry out the assassination, was undoubtedly a strategy of retreating to advance.
It seems Liu Hong was truly accidentally injured?
Silence!
The hall was silent.
On the Dragon Throne, Liu Hong felt an extreme headache.
Zhang Shihao stood beside Liu Hong, his face emotionless, but his heart was surging with turbulent waves.
Wang Bao, the maternal grandfather of the Little Prince Liu Xie, now plotting to assassinate the First Prince Liu Bian and the current Empress, this…
In the future, even if Liu Hong still liked Liu Xie, could he still make Liu Xie the Crown Prince?
Does that mean that, due to this scheme by Wang Bao and Wang Yue, Liu Xie's future claim to the throne was directly forfeited??
Historically, Liu Bian, who had been fostered outside the palace, returned to the Imperial Palace?
Liu Xie's claim to the throne was nullified?
History has changed?
“Have Wang Bao and Wang Yue been apprehended?”
After a long while, Liu Hong's slightly hoarse voice rang out.
Zhang Rang's body trembled, and he stepped forward, cupping his hands, and said:
“Wang Bao's family members have all been imprisoned, but… but Wang Yue escaped…”
“Bang! Damn it, damn it! They have harmed Xie'er, they all deserve to die! Send Wang Bao and the others to the Minister of Justice, and handle them as appropriate!”
Upon hearing that Wang Yue had escaped, Liu Hong was utterly enraged, slamming the memorials on the table to the ground. The Civil and Military Officials all bowed their heads.
General He Jin, however, finally showed a hint of a smile on his face.
Although his sister and nephew had been targeted by Wang Yue's assassination, thankfully, Liu Xie had directly lost his eligibility to inherit the great throne.
Then, wouldn't his nephew Liu Bian's succession to the Crown Prince be secure?
He Jin's smile flashed and disappeared, and he stepped forward again, his expression solemn as he said to Liu Hong:
“Your Majesty, now that Wang Yue has absconded, if the Wang family is executed, I fear he may harbor thoughts of revenge and once again assault the Imperial City and the Imperial Palace. Therefore, I request Your Majesty to dispatch more guards to the Imperial Palace to prevent Your Majesty, the Empress, and the First Prince from being attacked again!”
“Additionally, the positions of Commandant of the Guards, Superintendent of the Palace, General of the Gentlemen of the Household, Colonel of the Imperial Guards, and other Officials guarding the Imperial Palace are vacant. Your Majesty should arrange new appointments!”
As He Jin's serious and solemn words fell, the enraged Liu Hong was immediately alarmed.
The Civil and Military Officials were also speechless.
This He Jin was not at all concerned with protecting Liu Hong's safety; he was clearly worried that Wang Yue might become desperate and attempt to assassinate the Empress and the First Prince again.
However, Liu Hong clearly empathized with the situation.
Those who conspired to assassinate, like Wang Bao, must be killed.
But if they were killed, Wang Yue would definitely attempt another assassination.
Looking at his still severely injured leg and arm, Liu Hong's mind conjured the image of the highly skilled Wang Yue, and he was instantly filled with fear, asking the Civil and Military Officials below:
“What should be done? This Wang Yue is familiar with the palace's layout, and he also has a group of disciples. Do any of you have a suitable candidate?”
Upon hearing this, there was another period of silence, and none of the Civil and Military Officials dared to step forward.
In normal times, the positions of Commandant of the Guards, Superintendent of the Palace, General of the Gentlemen of the Household, Colonel of the Imperial Guards, and other Officials guarding the Imperial Palace would be highly sought after. However, everyone knew that Wang Yue was highly likely to seek revenge and attempt another assassination. If he was stopped, it would be a great achievement.
But if he couldn't be stopped, it would be a capital offense.
Undoubtedly, the positions of Commandant of the Guards, Superintendent of the Palace, General of the Gentlemen of the Household, and Colonel of the Imperial Guards instantly became hot potatoes.
“Useless, useless, all of you are useless!”
Seeing that no one dared to step forward, Liu Hong was so angry his liver hurt.
“Your Majesty, Xiao Haozi does have a candidate who can serve as Colonel of the Imperial Guards. Even if Wang Yue comes again, he will surely return defeated and can guard the Imperial Palace for Your Majesty!”
Just as Liu Hong was fuming, a calm, faint voice rang out.
This caused Liu Hong and the Civil and Military Officials to all look towards the source of the voice.
They saw that the speaker was none other than Zhang Shihao, dressed in bright silver armor, holding a heavy, pitch-black halberd that gleamed with a cold light, looking majestic and extraordinary.
Seeing that it was Zhang Shihao speaking, Sīkōng Yuan Feng and Grand Tutor Yuan Kui's faces instantly darkened.
Liu Hong's face on the Dragon Throne, however, showed joy, and he quickly said:
“Who is this person? What abilities does he possess?”
Zhang Shihao did not hesitate, and solemnly said:
“This person is loyal, filial, prioritizes righteousness, and lives freely. I saved his life, and he is a trustworthy individual.”
“Crucially, his martial arts are superb. The Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun Golden Blade in his hand is fierce and powerful, to the extent that even a hundred Imperial Guards might not be able to get close to him. With an Eight Treasures Kylin Bow in hand, he can hit a willow leaf at a hundred paces. With a bow in hand, if his full combat power is unleashed, whoever he encounters will die. Even if Wang Yue himself were to come, he would likely face a grim fate!”
Zhang Shihao's solemn and calm voice echoed, instantly startling the Civil and Military Officials in the hall and Liu Hong on the Dragon Throne.
Even a hundred Imperial Guards couldn't get close?
Possesses the skill of hitting a willow leaf at a hundred paces?
“This… who is this person?”
Liu Hong's spirit was greatly stirred, and he asked with pleasant surprise.
Zhang Shihao cupped a hand and said, word by word:
“Huang Zhong, courtesy name Hansheng!”