In Qi Song, raising assassins was a capital offense, and ordering them to break into a prince’s mansion was also punishable by death. Once discovered, even Di Jin, the left envoy of the secret service, would face the same consequences.
Ning Wanwan’s eyes narrowed as she coldly smiled, “Since they like to be sneaky, we’ll be bold and open.”
Yuan Bi looked puzzled as Ning Wanwan said, “After dawn, throw the assassins’ bodies outside the main gate for everyone in Biandu to see.”
Yuan Bi replied, “Wouldn’t this alert our enemies?”
Ning Wanwan smiled, “That’s exactly what I want. Although we can’t confirm the identities of these assassins, I’m sure they are Di Jin’s. By displaying the bodies, Di Jin will be the most nervous. ‘A guilty conscience makes one suspicious.’ He will rush to take them away before the whole city knows.”
Yuan Bi then understood Ning Wanwan’s intention. Di Jin sent assassins to find Di Huan’s whereabouts and to coerce the Prince into handing him over. However, he underestimated the Prince Yi’s Mansion’s strength, not expecting the assassins to be eliminated so quickly.
If they discreetly disposed of the bodies, Di Jin would realize the mansion was full of experts and would likely send more and stronger assassins. He probably never imagined Ning Wanwan would display his assassins at the Prince of Yi’s residence so openly, which would undoubtedly cause a sensation.
It wouldn’t take long for the Emperor to become alarmed, and once involved, he would trace the source and discover Di Jin’s connection. By then, the matter would be difficult to resolve.
Di Jin would certainly be guilty for stealing the assassins’ bodies and would presumably not dare to send assassins to intrude into the Prince of Yi’s residence again.
At the beginning of the hour of the Rabbit, the Prince of Yi’s residence opened its gates, discarding bodies piled up like a small mountain. They sent several “servants” to guard the bodies until the beginning of the hour of the Dragon. By then, many passersby had gathered in front of the residence to observe and point, and these “servants” eventually entered and closed the gates.
As expected, when the hour of the Snake began, a group of masked individuals squeezed into the crowd and hurriedly dragged away the bodies.
“Your Highness, the ‘wild dogs’ bodies have all been taken away,” Yuan Bi first glanced at the unconscious Si Zhan on the bed, then reported softly to Ning Wanwan.
“I see,” Ning Wanwan nodded.
As Yuan Bi was about to retreat, Ning Wanwan called him back. “Di Jin probably won’t act rashly recently. There’s something I need you to arrange.”
“Please instruct me, Your Highness.”
“Send some skilled people to ambush the necessary route from Qian Nan back to Biandu, and ensure to intercept the mysterious person Di Jin’s subordinates are bringing back.”
If the mysterious person Mi Yue mentioned is indeed a traitor, Si Zhan’s plan to raise troops in Qian Nan might have been exposed. She can only seize the witness first and discuss further after Si Zhan wakes up.
Yuan Bi cupped his fists, “Yes.”
As the seventh day approached, an unexpected guest arrived uninvited.
On a fine day, Ning Wanwan aimed to have Yuan Bi call two people to move Si Zhan to the courtyard for some sunshine. Unexpectedly, Zhou Shu rushed over in a panic, “Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived with Pure Consort and the imperial physician, traveling incognito.”
“Imperial physician!?” Ning Wanwan was shocked.
Now, hearing “imperial physician” made her anxious, thinking the Empress Dowager had sent someone to probe Si Zhan’s condition. She asked, “Uncle Zhou, where’s the medicine for meridian chaos that I asked you to prepare?”
“What is Your Highness planning?”
“The Emperor brought an imperial physician who will definitely take Si Zhan’s pulse. No matter whose physician it is, he will record the pulse case. The best strategy is for me to take the meridian chaos medicine, lie in bed, and pretend to be Si Zhan for the physician to examine.”
Zhou Shu quickly stopped her, saying, “Absolutely not. Your Highness has a delicate constitution, which is entirely different from the Young Master’s pulse. Taking this medicine in your current weak state would be fatal.”
Ning Wanwan frowned, pondering.
Zhou Shu added, “If the Emperor comes and doesn’t see you, he will definitely ask about your whereabouts, and the plan will be exposed.”
“I’ll do it!” Yuan Bi suddenly said. “I’m strong and male. I can fool the imperial physician.”
Zhou Shu considered this and nodded, “That might work.”
The imperial physician then stated solemnly, “Your Majesty, the Yiking Prince’s chances of survival are slim. It depends on his own fate.”
Si Shuo looked stunned, his expression a mix of relief and regret. He said, “Withdraw,” before turning to comfort Ning Wanwan. “Yunxiang, don’t worry. I believe the fifteenth brother has divine protection and will survive.”
Ning Wanwan lowered her eyes, grief barely suppressed on her face. “Thank you, Imperial Brother. Yunxiang believes the Prince will recover.”
Si Shuo thought Ning Wanwan was genuinely distressed and nodded, saying nothing further.
After a while, he turned and looked through the curtain at Si Zhan. “I heard that a few days ago, assassins broke into the Yiking Prince’s residence?”
Ning Wanwan touched her ‘tears’ and nodded, “Indeed, this happened.”
Si Shuo frowned. “Have the assassins’ identities been discovered?”
Ning Wanwan shook her head, worried. “Not yet.”
Si Shuo contemplated. “To prevent future assassination attempts, I plan to grant three hundred garrison troops to the fifteenth brother.”
Ning Wanwan’s heart skipped a beat; she was unsure of Si Shuo’s true intentions—genuine concern or intentional surveillance?
She furrowed her brow. “That may be true, but what if the Emperor and Empress Dowager become suspicious? Then we would not be able to leave even if we wanted to.”
Si Zhan looked at her with gentleness, soothing her inner anxiety. “Although Qian Nan is my fief, the financial affairs are controlled by the imperial court. They believe I cannot afford to raise so many soldiers. Moreover, Di Jin cannot prove that the garrison and its soldiers are related to me, as all information transmitted to Qian Nan comes through the Lumen Pavilion’s intelligence network.”
Even if they trace it layer by layer, they will not be able to trace it back to me. “You can be at ease,” he said, putting down his teacup. “Besides, if Di Jin truly holds evidence against me, he would first come to talk to me.”
Ning Wanwan seemed to understand, “Because of Di Huan?”
Si Zhan laughed and nodded, “Exactly. Di Huan is Di Jin’s only son, the treasure of the Di family. As long as Di Jin does not see Di Huan’s corpse, he will believe Di Huan might still be alive and think he is in my hands.”
He turned to Yuan Bi, “Go spread the news of my awakening. If Di Jin really has evidence against me, he will come knocking soon.”
“Yes,” Yuan Bi replied and stood to leave.
Si Zhan stopped him, “Wait, there’s one more thing I need you to do.”
Yuan Bi sat back down.
Si Zhan tapped his right index finger on the armrest before saying, “Send a message to Pure Consort and coordinate with her to bring out the woman from the Cold Palace who knows Si Xuo’s background.”
Ning Wanwan guessed, “Could that person be the Emperor’s biological mother?”
Si Zhan shook his head, “Ling Ziru is jealous, suspicious, and ruthless. If she could root out a threat, she would leave no one alive.”
So Ling Ziru would absolutely not have left Si Xuo’s birth mother alive.”
“She kept that person alive and confined in the Cold Palace. Pure Consort’s information likely came from there. This suggests the person is a former trusted maidservant close to Ling Ziru.”
