Chapter 27: Exhausting Every Means

Both assassins who were captured had already taken their own lives, making it impossible to extract any useful information from them. As for the leader who managed to escape, he was now a wanted man, with an order for his capture issued throughout the land.

Since the emperor’s narrow escape from assassination in the Hall of Heavenly Authority, the palace’s security had been tightened once more, with extra guards posted at every gate.

General Chang’an, who had distinguished himself by protecting the emperor, was not only duly rewarded with titles and gifts but was also commanded by imperial decree to recuperate within the palace, so that the imperial physicians could attend to his injuries at any moment.

That morning, after the court session, the emperor and the crown prince came together to visit the wounded General Lie Chang’an.

“You are injured; there’s no need for formalities,” the emperor said as soon as he entered the room. Seeing Lie Chang’an attempting to rise and salute, he hurriedly made a gesture to restrain him.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lie Chang’an replied, no longer insisting on standing, but simply sitting up straight.

His wounds were not grave; he had suffered far worse on the battlefield, even teetering on the brink of death before. Such injuries were nothing to him. Yet, unable to resist the emperor’s boundless grace, he could only rest within the palace as commanded.

“My loyal subject, what are your thoughts on the recent attempt on my life in the Hall of Heavenly Authority?” the emperor asked.

This youth, on whom the emperor had already conferred the high rank of Second-grade General at only eighteen, had never been underestimated. Though young in years, he was mature beyond his age, calm in adversity, and repeatedly entrusted with critical responsibilities. The emperor’s continued favor and promotion of him stemmed from the hope that his painstaking cultivation would one day see Lie Chang’an stand as the crown prince’s staunchest support upon his ascension.

“According to Your Majesty’s earlier account, when you entered the Hall of Heavenly Authority, the assassin’s first reaction was not to strike, but to flee. Clearly, his objective was not to take your life. Furthermore, Your Majesty later found the desk in disarray, as if it had been rifled through. I believe the assassin was searching for something. Likely, he had not yet found it when Your Majesty’s sudden entrance startled him into flight. The two captured assassins immediately bit their tongues and died without hesitation, which suggests that whatever they sought involved a deadly secret of utmost importance.”

The emperor nodded thoughtfully. “Indeed, the crown prince and I have considered as much. Yet I truly have no idea what the assassin sought.”

This was what perplexed the emperor the most—what could be so important as to drive assassins to such lengths, risking everything for a nighttime infiltration of the palace?

The crown prince, who had been standing quietly to one side, pondered for a moment before asking, “General Chang’an, did you get a clear look at the leader’s face during your encounter?”

“It was pitch dark that night, and he was dressed in black with a mask. I could not see him clearly, but from the strands of white hair that showed, he seemed to be a man of robust build, yet already advanced in years.”

The crown prince nodded, then suddenly frowned and turned to his father. “Might they be remnants of the former dynasty?”

In recent years, there had been frequent reports of former loyalists stirring unrest across the realm, but none of the officials dispatched had ever captured the true masterminds, leaving the rumors shrouded in uncertainty.

But if someone were to risk a midnight infiltration of the Hall of Heavenly Authority, searching for something—perhaps only the former dynasty’s remnants would have such a motive. Could it be that the previous emperor left behind some crucial object, attracting these desperate souls?

The emperor had also considered this possibility. His brows knit tightly, his expression grave. “There has indeed been much talk of remnants of the former dynasty causing trouble in various places, but no solid evidence has surfaced. Whether this affair is connected to them requires careful investigation and deliberation.”

With that, the emperor chose not to dwell further on the topic. He urged General Chang’an to rest and recover, then departed with the crown prince.

Lie Chang’an touched the sword wound on his left chest, lost in thought.

The wound appeared as though the assassin leader had intended to deliver a fatal blow. But for some reason, as the sword pierced his chest, one of his men suddenly cried out, “General Chang’an!”—and in that instant, the assassin’s hand faltered. He did not press the attack, but instead stared at Lie Chang’an for a moment, then withdrew his sword and fled in haste.

Why?

Why, when he could have killed him with a single thrust, did he suddenly let him go?