Princess, something terrible has happened! The prince consort has attempted suicide again!

"Do you think I'm easy to fool?"

The leader of the assassins thought Zhang Xiaomeng was just making a last-ditch effort and didn't take him seriously at all. He raised his hand to give the order to attack.

One of his men, however, was terrified, his face ashen, clutching his sleeve tightly, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Boss, behind... behind..."

Upon hearing this, the leader suddenly turned his head and stood frozen on the spot.

Dozens of Imperial Guards, dressed in flying fish robes and carrying embroidered spring knives at their waists, had already silently surrounded them.

Although Feng Yi was a member of the Black Phoenix Guard, he stood in front of the crowd with his sword in hand. His black outfit made him look tall and straight, and he exuded a chilling aura.

With a flick of her wrist, the tip of her sword pointed directly at the group of masked assassins, and she coldly shouted, "Surrender! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"

Several crisp sounds rang out.

All the Imperial Guards simultaneously drew their swords, the gleam of their blades reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun, their murderous aura filling the air.

These desperate men, who were only after money, lost all will to fight upon seeing the imperial army's elite forces deployed in full force. They immediately threw down their weapons, knelt on the ground, and begged for mercy, "We surrender! Please spare our lives, Your Excellency!"

Is that all?

Zhang Xiaomeng frowned slightly, sensing that something was wrong.

He strode forward, ripped off the mask of the lead assassin, revealing a face covered in bulging flesh.

He then reached out and lifted the other person's shirt, revealing no black lotus tattoo, a hallmark of the Black Lotus Cult.

"You are not members of the Black Lotus Cult. Who sent you?" Zhang Xiaomeng asked in a deep voice.

The burly man was already terrified out of his wits, his whole body trembling uncontrollably. He dared not hide anything: "It's Manager Liu from Wanfu Gambling House. He offered five taels of silver to let us take your life."

"Five taels?"

Zhang Xiaomeng was so angry he laughed.

He was, after all, the legitimate heir of the Marquis of Yongwu's mansion, yet his life was worth only a mere five taels of silver.

The Imperial Guards standing nearby also looked puzzled.

Such a cheap assassination is less a killing and more a deliberate act of humiliation.

"Master Liu said you were expelled from the Marquis's mansion and have no one to rely on, so you're only worth this price," the burly man added timidly.

A chill gradually crept into Zhang Xiaomeng's eyes.

This head of the household, named Liu Wanfu, was Liu Ru's cousin.

It seems that Liu Ru, eager to ensure her son inherits the position of heir, has long been impatient and is eager to eliminate any potential threats.

It's laughable that after all her scheming, she could only spare five taels of silver to hire a bunch of good-for-nothings. She's really looking down on me.

"That Liu woman has such a vicious heart!"

A murderous glint flashed in Feng Yi's eyes, her delicate brows furrowed. "Her commotion will surely alert the enemy. I'm afraid the Black Lotus Sect won't fall for it so easily again. If they make a move then, you'll definitely be in even more danger."

Zhang Xiaomeng composed himself, adopting an aura of righteous indignation, and spoke with a firm and resolute tone.

"From the moment I decided to use myself as bait, I had already disregarded life and death. No amount of trouble can shake my determination to eliminate the traitors and bring peace to the court."

"Can……"

"No need for further words, my mind is made up."

Zhang Xiaomeng interrupted Feng Yi, his attitude firm and unquestionable.

Seeing this, Feng Yi had no choice but to give up.

The surrounding Imperial Guards, seeing this, all put aside their previous prejudices against this纨绔子弟 (spoiled young master).

The rumors circulating outside are truly unbelievable; the person before me is clearly a true hero who is unafraid of power and willing to sacrifice his life for righteousness.

Subsequently, Feng Yi arranged for people to escort the group of assassins back to the palace and hand them over to the Emperor for interrogation and sentencing.

The others then disappeared back into the shadows.

The setting sun cast its rays upon Zhang Xiaomeng's face, bringing a faint smile to his lips.

More dangerous situations make it easier to die.

I really have to thank Liu Ru for creating such a great opportunity for me.

He straightened his clothes and started walking towards the small town ahead.

at the same time.

The atmosphere inside the Imperial Study was oppressive and suffocating.

Emperor Zhao Qiandong of Dongling sat on the dragon throne, his face ashen, and slammed his palm on the solid wood table.

The teacups and inkstones on the table trembled violently, startling everyone into silence, who dared not even breathe.

Marquis Yongwu knelt on both knees, his back ramrod straight, large beads of cold sweat sliding down his forehead, soaking his temples and clothes.

Upon learning that his wife had hired someone to assassinate Zhang Xiaomeng, thus ruining the emperor's grand plan, he was filled with shock and fear, his anxiety reaching its peak.

"How dare Liu be so audacious as to hire thugs to assassinate someone! Do you know the enormity of the trouble she's caused?"

Zhao Qiandong's gaze was like a sharp blade as he stared intently at Marquis Yongwu, his tone icy cold, showing no trace of the usual courtly deference.

"I have failed in my duty to manage my household, leading to this terrible disaster involving my family. I deserve to die! I humbly beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

Marquis Yongwu prostrated himself on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice trembling.

Standing to the side, the Prince of Zhenbei frowned, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, this woman is ruthless and vicious. She deliberately plotted to harm her own stepson for her own personal grudge. According to the law, she should be executed."

"She deserves to die."

Zhao Qiandong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger, and slowly spoke as his gaze swept over the crowd.

"But the plan to lure and kill the Black Lotus Cult member cannot afford to fail. If we rashly deal with Liu, it will definitely trigger a chain reaction and alert the enemy. For the sake of the bigger picture, we should keep him alive for now."

His gaze returned to the Marquis of Yongwu, and he sternly instructed, "You must keep this matter to yourself, and continue with your usual words and actions. If your internal strife ruins my plans, I will not forgive you!"

"Your subject will obey Your Majesty's decree and will certainly be careful in his words and deeds." Marquis Yongwu hurriedly responded and kowtowed heavily.

He then left the Imperial Study in a state of turmoil.

Walking on the palace road, I felt my hands and feet were icy cold, and my heart was filled with mixed feelings.

Liu Ru shared a bed with him for over ten years, and in public, she always played the role of a gentle and virtuous matriarch.

Who would have thought that such a kind exterior concealed a heart of a viper?

The seemingly unintentional provocations and scheming in the past flashed through his mind, and the Marquis of Yongwu suddenly realized the truth, feeling a chill in his heart.

He returned to the Marquis of Yongwu's residence in a daze. As soon as he stepped through the gate, a gentle figure quickly came to greet him.

Liu Ru, with a perfectly timed smile on her face, walked lightly to him and said, "My lord, you're finally back. You must be exhausted from all the affairs of the court. Please sit down and rest. Let me massage your shoulders to relieve your fatigue."

Having said that, he raised his hand, intending to massage the shoulders and neck of the Marquis of Yongwu.

The Marquis of Yongwu felt disgusted and subconsciously turned away to avoid her touch.

Liu Ru paused, her outstretched hand momentarily still, a flicker of surprise and unease crossing her eyes.

She then regained her gentle demeanor and asked softly, "What's wrong, sir? Did you encounter any troubles at court?"

Marquis Yongwu walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down, scrutinizing her with a deep gaze, wishing he could immediately expose her hypocritical mask.

But the emperor's admonitions still echoed in his ears, and he could only forcefully suppress the impulse in his heart.

After a moment of silence, he feigned nonchalance and tentatively asked in a flat tone, "My lady, we have been husband and wife for many years, and we have always been honest with each other. Recently, a series of incidents have occurred in the household, and I have many doubts in my mind. Are you... hiding something from me?"

The moment she finished speaking, the smile on Liu Ru's face froze.