auspicious time has come

The Crown Princess looked at her in a daze when she heard the words: "What do you mean by Mrs. Ji's words..."

Heng Yu: "Those burnt corpses in the alley are hard to distinguish. Are they really His Royal Highness and His Royal Highness's attendants?"

"But..." The princess's figure was tense, and she just felt that it didn't make sense: "If it wasn't for His Highness, why did the person who did it do it like this? What is the purpose of making such a play?"

Heng Yu said: "Probably I want the officials to believe that the one who died was His Royal Highness, who disturbed the court and people's hearts—"

The Crown Princess looked at the girl in front of her: "I couldn't understand what Mrs. Heng meant..."

"What the Crown Princess is facing now is an opponent who is different from ordinary people. Sometimes it is not appropriate to speculate on the actions of this person." Heng Yu said: "You can think this way, if the other party really wants to take the life of His Royal Highness , why go to such lengths to set fire to the corpse to destroy the face? If it is intended to deter, simply take the head, wouldn't it be more shocking to the hearts of the people?"

The girl's words were straightforward: "So, the person who was burned that day is most likely just a substitute. His Royal Highness, the crown prince, may still be alive."

She was also frightened by the situation that day and lost her mind, and Xiao Mu's subtle reaction later reminded her.

"Is it true..." The princess couldn't believe it easily, she was about to sit up subconsciously: "I'm going to check the authenticity of the corpse... I've been married to His Highness for many years, I can tell if it's him or not!"

"Impossible." Heng Yu stopped the person: "Before Madam Xiao's incident, it can be seen that there must be that person's internal response in the East Palace. If you suddenly go for an autopsy at this time, you will definitely startle the snake."

"The matter of Mrs. Xiao..." The Crown Princess looked at her unexpectedly: "Madam Heng said that the person who killed Mrs. Xiao's life is the same person who planned to assassinate His Highness this time?"

Heng Yu nodded lightly: "At present, the purpose of these two things is the same."

The princess felt chills behind her back: "That's right, after all, it's all for muddying the court water..."

But right now, what she is most concerned about is: "Since His Highness is most likely still alive, should we call all the officials immediately to find His Highness as soon as possible?"

"The moment may not be a good time." Heng Yu made his opinion clear: "Even if the other party has not hurt His Highness the Crown Prince's life for a while, if the court hunts for people wantonly, the murderer may not be willing to kill in order to erase the evidence of the crime... ..."

He added: "Besides, among the hundred officials... not all of them are trustworthy."

The Crown Princess' eyes gradually calmed down when she heard the words: "Yes, it's not appropriate to make a big fuss about this matter... Otherwise, I'm afraid it will backfire. I will send someone to secretly send a letter to my father later... Let them secretly investigate His Highness's whereabouts!"

Hengyu nodded.

Even if it is only due to interests, honor and disgrace, the position of the Jin family will not change.

"One more thing..." The Crown Princess took Heng Yu's hand and said, "If there is a real change in the future, we must rely on Xiao Jieshi and Lu Longjun..."

She looked at Hengyu, and said very solemnly: "When something happened to His Highness, thanks to the timely arrival of the envoy Xiao, he was able to capture him alive. Mrs. Lao Heng conveyed my thanks to the envoy Xiao on my behalf... If His Highness can return safely, Everyone in the Eastern Palace must remember Xiao Jieshi's great righteousness in protecting each other—"

Saying this at this time, she was apprehensive.

When the situation is chaotic, there are too many choices for a person with a heavy hand, why would the other party choose to protect the East Palace?

And the girl in front of her smiled slightly at her, and said: "The Crown Princess does not need to promise anything."

Heng Yu's tone was calm and firm: "I believe that no matter what the situation is, he will definitely do his best."

Even if it's not for the old friendship with His Royal Highness——

He will also do his best to stabilize the overall situation of the world.

As he said before, what he pledged his allegiance to, and what the Shi family used to pledge their allegiance to, was never the dragon chair or a certain person on the dragon chair—it was the peace and stability of the country and the people.

He doesn't need anyone's promise, he only needs and will only follow his heart.

……

In the torture room of Dali Temple, which was dark all day long, there were almost powerless moans of pain echoing.

The two assassins who were tortured for three days and three nights were tied to the rack, their bodies were covered in blood, and their faces were difficult to distinguish.

"Tell me, who exactly was ordered to assassinate His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

But the long nails that were chiseled into the body and pierced the shoulder bones flashed coldly in front of their eyes, and one of them finally made a low voice: "I said... I said it, give me a good time..."

The executioner squeezed his jaw tightly, forcing him to raise his head: "Say it!"

The Minister of Dali Temple immediately walked over when he heard the sound.

The young man in a black robe who was sitting next to him also looked up.

"It's...it's the King of Xiang...the King of Xiang ordered us..." the assassin said unevenly.

Dali Siqing's expression changed drastically—the King of Xiang? !

"His Royal Highness King Xiang has been planning this for a long time, and has been keeping a close eye on the Prince's movements. That day, on the way back to the palace, the Prince set up an ambush in more than one place..." The assassin's voice was weak and laborious: "We are just following orders. , that's all I know... Please give me a good time..."

Dali Siqing's eyes shook, and he subconsciously turned his head to look at the young man.

Xiao Mu stood up slowly: "I lasted for three days, and it was really only for these two sentences. It seems that Wang Ming never lied."

The assassin raised his eyelids slightly when he heard the sound, and looked at the young man, only to see that figure turned and walked out.

The Minister of Dali Temple hesitated for a moment, and told the jailer: "Follow the rules first... let them put a mark on the testimony! Later, I will enter the palace to present this matter!"

"Yes!"

Dali Siqing turned around and left the torture room, catching up with the black figure.

"Xiao Jie envoy, please stay -"

Xiao Mu stopped and looked at the person who stepped forward and raised his hand to salute.

"Among the three survivors, the other assassin named Wang Ming was interrogated by Jieshi Xiao himself alone... I wonder if Jieshi Xiao has interrogated other clues?" Dali Temple Minister asked.

"He said that the people behind them had confessed to them, and if they were captured alive, they would blame King Xiang for the crime."

Dali Siqing's expression changed slightly: "Then... who is the real master?"

"He doesn't know either." Xiao Mu said, "They are just ordinary dead soldiers, and they don't even have a chance to know who the real master is."

Dali Temple Minister frowned and thought for a moment, then said: "But... it may not be that Wang Ming expected that his companion would confess to the King of Xiang, so he deliberately said such things in advance, falsely claiming that there is another mastermind behind him, confusing the public, and using it as a substitute for Xiang. Wang excuses..."

He can achieve the position of Minister of Dali Temple, and he has tried countless major cases, so it is inevitable that he will think a little more when he encounters problems.

"It is indeed possible." Xiao Mu said, "But Wang Ming's situation is special... what he said is [-]% credible."

"But that assassin has already identified the King of Xiang..." Dali Siqing looked embarrassed: "This is such an important matter, the lower officials can't hide it."

He is a student of Jiang Zhengfu, and there are people who can ask for advice when there are problems, but now the teacher is seriously ill and can't manage the affairs, and the situation in the court affects the whole body...

"The current situation is like this, Zhu Tingwei only needs to report the truth, and there is no need to think about other things." Xiao Mu looked at the night ahead: "And the confession of the person who identified King Xiang and Wang Ming should be presented to the court at the same time."

Dali Siqing nodded thoughtfully, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Jieshi Xiao, for reminding me."

At such a juncture, it is no longer appropriate for him to mix in any personal thoughts, the more scruples he has, the easier it is to make mistakes.

……

The next day, there was an uproar in the court.

"It was actually the King of Xiang's doing?!"

"Those assassins said different things..."

"It must be known that there are no groundless rumors... and the emperor Daxing died, and the prince was assassinated... May I ask who is the most likely to ascend the throne naturally? There is no need to repeat the suspected motives of King Xiang!"

Amidst the debate, a weak female voice came into the hall——