freenovelworld Chapter 387 Identifying the Mastermind
Chapter 387 Identifying the Mastermind
By the time Shen Pei chased after him, the man in black had already disappeared.
He looked around; the night was thick. By this time, the Imperial Guards had arrived.
He feared that the other side was using a diversionary tactic, and that the safety of Emperor Changlong was of paramount importance.
So he ordered the Imperial Guards, "Search the palace immediately! Don't miss a single place!"
"Yes, Your Highness." The Imperial Guards left, and Shen Pei returned to the palace.
Emperor Changlong looked at the assassin on the ground, his face turning ashen.
"Father, I failed to catch the man in black. I have already ordered the Imperial Guards to search the palace," Shen Pei said.
"Your Highness, this person was able to track us to the Imperial Study, kill us to cover it up, and then quickly escape. He must be very familiar with the location of the palace. He is very likely hiding in the palace. We must search carefully. Anyone who dares to obstruct us should be killed without exception!" Emperor Changlong's eyes were full of coldness.
"Yes, Father."
Just as Shen Pei was about to leave, Emperor Changlong asked again, "Who did you just say was the mastermind behind the assassin's recruitment?"
“It is Consort Yue,” Shen Pei replied.
"Let's go to the Moon Palace." Emperor Changlong did not hesitate for a moment.
Moon Palace.
When Emperor Changlong and Shen Pei arrived at the Moon Palace, the Imperial Guards were at the entrance, and they clashed with Xiao Hui.
"How dare you! Consort Yue is already resting. Let's see who dares to force their way in!" Xiao Hui said, hands on her hips, looking smug.
"The palace has been attacked by assassins. We are ordered by His Highness the Crown Prince to search the palace. No one is allowed to stop us!" The commander of the Imperial Guards said solemnly.
Xiao Hui sneered, "The palace has been attacked by assassins. Does Commander Lin mean that my Consort Yue is the assassin? Or that our Moon Palace is hiding assassins?"
Consort Yue was the most favored concubine in the palace from the moment she entered. Not to mention the commander of the Imperial Guards, even Eunuch Wang spoke to her with great respect. Naturally, Commander Lin did not dare to force his way in.
When the two sides were deadlocked, Emperor Changlong spoke up, "I never knew that a mere palace maid from the Moon Palace would dare to be so presumptuous?!"
Xiao Hui looked up when she heard the voice and saw that it was Emperor Changlong. Her face changed drastically, and she hurriedly knelt down. "This servant greets Your Majesty. Please forgive me."
Emperor Changlong didn't even glance at her, and immediately ordered, "Search!"
"Yes, Your Majesty." Commander Lin clasped his hands in a fist salute, waved his hand behind him, and ordered the Imperial Guards, "Follow me, don't miss a single corner!"
The Imperial Guards entered the Moon Palace, and they dispersed in all directions, searching quickly and thoroughly.
When they found Consort Yue's bedchamber, the door opened from the inside. Consort Yue's hair was disheveled, and she was wearing a long robe casually over her head. She looked sleepy and had just woken up.
Her gaze fell upon the Imperial Guards, and her icy voice followed, "Who dares to make such a racket and disturb my peaceful slumber!"
The Imperial Guards, having received Changlong's orders, charged in without regard for anything else.
Consort Yue was pushed aside. She straightened up and walked out, just in time to see Emperor Changlong.
"Your Majesty, I greet you." Consort Yue walked up to Emperor Changlong and bowed, then asked, "Your Majesty, what happened? I was dreaming when I was woken up by noises outside."
"My beloved consort, the three people who tried to assassinate us have been killed to silence them." Emperor Changlong stared at Consort Yue, trying to find any clues on her face.
Consort Yue was first startled, then her face filled with anger, and finally she was filled with worry. "Your Majesty, that person actually managed to sneak into the palace to kill someone. He might be right next to us right now. This is too dangerous!"
She looked at the Imperial Guards and said, "Search carefully! Any part of the palace could be his hiding place!"
"My beloved consort, do not worry. I will definitely find him tonight!" Emperor Changlong's voice was devoid of any warmth.
"With Your Majesty here, I feel safe," Consort Yue said with a faint smile.
In less than half an incense stick's time, the Imperial Guards had finished searching the Moon Palace.
"Your Majesty, no abnormalities have been found in the Moon Palace," Commander Lin reported.
Emperor Changlong frowned.
Consort Yue's worry deepened. "Your Majesty, this person is not in the Moon Palace, but must be hiding somewhere else in the palace. I think the search must be sped up to prevent the thief from escaping!"
Emperor Changlong's brows furrowed even more deeply.
He naturally believed Shen Pei's words, but the assassin was dead, there were no witnesses, and the Imperial Guards had not found anything in the Moon Palace. At this time, he could not do anything to Consort Yue, but would only alert her.
"My beloved consort is so clever, why don't you guess where the thief might be hiding?" Emperor Changlong approached Consort Yue step by step, continuing to probe her.
Consort Yue lowered her head slightly and took a few steps back. "Your Majesty, I believe that the thief will not hide in crowded places at this time, as it would be easy to be exposed. Therefore, the Cold Palace is the best choice."
"Commander Lin, search the Cold Palace." Emperor Changlong had already given up.
"Yes……"
Before Commander Lin could finish speaking, a palace attendant came to report, "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess requests an audience."
"Yaoyao? Where is she?" Emperor Changlong was somewhat surprised. According to Shen Pei, Song Siyao should be at the Crown Prince's residence at this time.
"In the Imperial Study," the eunuch replied.
"To the Imperial Study." Emperor Changlong led his entourage back to the Imperial Study.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully see you off," said Consort Yue.
Emperor Changlong stared at Consort Yue for a few moments, then decided, "My beloved consort, the thief has not been caught, it is not safe here, you shall come with me."
Consort Yue answered without hesitation, "Yes, Your Majesty."
Emperor Changlong instructed Commander Lin, "Take your men and continue the search."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Royal study room.
Song Siyao stood at the door, with two men in black kneeling beside her.
Upon seeing Emperor Changlong approach, Song Siyao bowed and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
She glanced at Shen Pei, signaling him to relax.
"What is this, Yao Yao?" Emperor Changlong asked.
"Father, the Crown Prince rushed over immediately after receiving news that you had encountered an assassin. I was preparing to return to the Crown Prince's residence when the assassin arrived. I did not expect that the assassin would arrive so soon after the Crown Prince left."
Song Siyao pointed at the two men in black, "These are the two survivors. Your Majesty has already interrogated them, and they have confessed."
"Who ordered them?" Emperor Changlong asked, his face grim.
Shen Pei was filled with worry and guilt. He had no idea that Song Siyao would encounter such danger after he left.
Song Siyao looked at Consort Yue, "It's her, Consort Yue!"
Consort Yue chuckled twice. "Crown Princess, you're being too petty. We only had a minor disagreement at the palace banquet on New Year's Eve, and you're going to frame me like this? I can't bear that kind of accusation."
She turned her gaze to Emperor Changlong and continued, "Your Majesty, you know me best. I would never even step on an ant, so how could I possibly do something as vicious as ordering someone to assassinate the Crown Princess? Your Majesty, you must do justice for me and clear my name!"
The conflict between her and Song Siyao was witnessed by many people at the palace banquet.
With Song Siyao's power, finding two people to impersonate assassins and frame her would be an easy task.
Therefore, the two survivors in Song Siyao's hands were no match for her.