The distant sky is like a curtain, and the white rain is like a weave.
On both sides of the archway at the north end of the "Western Market", four assassins appeared without warning, and they fired their bows and arrows at the oncoming Li Zhi without warning.
Li Zhi seemed to be frightened by the scene in front of him, but he just held the reins of the horse tightly with both hands.
The big green horse under his crotch can be regarded as one of the good horses in Qin Qiong's house. Li Zhi was frightened, but the big green horse seemed to be aware of the danger.
The two front hooves were lifted up desperately, the two hind legs kept retreating, and the galloping horse stopped abruptly.
At this time, four sharp arrows had been shot from four directions.
Although Li Zhi heard Changsun Pingting's warning, he still did not react.
Because, he could see that these four arrows were definitely coming towards him, but the angles they shot were a little off. Even if they stayed far away, they couldn't hurt him at all.
After reaching the innate realm, Li Zhi's eyesight and concentration also increased, and such fast arrows seemed to slow down in his eyes.
Li Zhi was able to take it calmly, but unfortunately, the eldest grandson Pingting who was following him could not.
At some point, Changsun Pingting had a soft sword in her hand, and she flew up before the horse could stop.
The voice reminding Li Zhi was sent out, and her people arrived in the air, waving the soft sword forward in her hand, "Sword Qi Yangtze River"——
An extra sword energy appeared out of thin air, and struck the four arrows that were coming towards me impartially. There were several crisp sounds, and the broken arrows fell to the ground.
Seeing that they missed a hit, the four assassins stopped staying and galloped away in four directions.
"Miss Changsun, there is no need to chase them, just let them go -"
Seeing Zhang Sun Pingting trying to chase one of the assassins, Li Zhi hurriedly called out to her. The heavy rain poured down and the two of them were soaked.
"Haha, I didn't expect that the gentle and elegant Miss Changsun was actually a hidden master? What was the name of the sword you just struck? It was so heart-wrenching -"
Despite the teasing, Li Zhi was actually surprised in his heart by Changsun Pingting's skills.
A fourteen-year-old woman's fierce aura just now is no less than that of an innate master, especially the movement she just performed. Is she still a normal person?
Li Zhi felt that it was like flying. He rushed to his horse from behind. It must be at least six or seven feet tall, and he came over in a flash?
"Your Highness, let's go back to the palace as soon as possible. Today's matter may not be that simple."
Changsun Pingting still held the soft sword in her hand and kept looking around, fearing that another assassin would appear somewhere.
After all, Li Zhi had never seen much of the world. If his father Li Shimin were here and saw the sword strike made by the eldest grandson Pingting just now, he would definitely recognize her inheritance.
Changsun Pingting urged him to leave, but Li Zhi was not so anxious anymore. Instead, he jumped off his horse and picked up a broken arrow on the ground.
Sure enough, the word "East Palace" was engraved on the arrowhead of this broken arrow.
"Let's go back to the palace -"
After getting on their horses again, the two of them were no longer as eager as before.
...
"Pheasant slave, why are you back at this time? And you made yourself wet all over?"
As soon as he arrived at the "Li Zheng Hall", there was no time to let anyone know, so Li Zhi barged in directly, only to see Li Shimin and Changsun Wuguo having a meal.
"Mother, are you okay?"
Although Li Zhi had already made a prediction in his mind when he met the assassin, he could only feel relieved when he truly saw Changsun Wugou safe and sound.
"What problem can you have, Queen Mother? But you, a child like you, don't know how to feel sorry for your body even at such an old age. It's only been a few years since you've grown up."
As Changsun Wuguo spoke, he came to Li Zhi and wiped the rain on Li Zhi's head and face with his own brocade handkerchief.
"Pheasant slave, what happened?"
The eldest grandson Wugou looked at his son and felt sorry for his son, but Li Shimin on the side saw the clues.
Although Li Zhi is only twelve years old, he is a child who has learned very early. At least in Li Shimin's eyes, he has already been treated as an adult.
"Second brother, it's better not to ask questions yet. Let the pheasant slave take a bath first and change into clean clothes."
Mother and son are so connected that even in summer, Changsun Wugou could not bear to see his son standing in front of him wet like this.
The maids and chamberlains took Li Zhi down and found a bathing place in the "Lizheng Hall".
Taking advantage of this gap, the attentive Changsun Wugou sent someone to Li Zhi's residence and fetched him a change of clothes.
When Li Zhi came back in such a mess, Li Shimin and his wife were not in the mood to eat anymore, but ordered someone to get a bowl of hot ginger soup for Li Zhi and prepare it.
"Father, Queen Mother——"
When Li Zhi came back again, he felt much more energetic and drank the ginger soup handed to him by Changsun Wujia in one breath.
"Today in the Qin Mansion, my son saw a very majestic war horse. Uncle Qin said that this horse had been on the battlefield with him many times. My son was so happy that he rode out."
"Who would have known that after just half a lap of running around Chang'an City, we encountered a pouring rain and got completely soaked..."
Before Li Shimin and Changsun Wugou could ask further questions, Li Zhi explained "honestly".
"Mr. Guanyin, I grew up as a pheasant slave. It's normal for me to act up occasionally. Don't worry. You should go back to the palace to rest first."
"I haven't tested my homework for a long time, and I just have some time today. Pheasant slave, come with me to the study -"
Li Shimin did not dare to look at Changsun Wugou's unwilling eyes, and stood up and walked out first.
"Mother, my son has gone to take the exam for his father. Please take care of yourself."
Li Zhi also bowed and retreated.
Hey, as smart as the eldest grandson Wugu, how could he not see that the father and son didn't want her to worry, so they simply didn't say anything in front of her.
"Tell me, what's going on?"
While Li Zhi was taking a bath and changing clothes, Li Shimin had already secretly informed the "Li Jing Sect". He had a premonition that something was going to happen and made arrangements in advance.
"Father, please take a look at this first -"
With that said, Li Zhi handed the broken arrow he picked up to Li Shimin.
"The arrow in the East Palace? Looking at the fracture, it should have been cut off by a powerful sword energy. Where did this pheasant slave come from?"
At this point, Li Zhi no longer concealed anything and recounted what happened today, but intentionally or unintentionally concealed the details of Changsun Pingting's rescue.
Li Zhi didn't know why he did this. Although the origin and purpose of the woman have yet to be verified, based on what she did today, Li Zhi was willing to believe her for once.
"Haha, the little eunuch who pretended to pass on the imperial edict used an arrow with the word 'East Palace' in the ambush on the 'West Market'? Okay, that's great -"
After listening to Li Zhi's story, Li Shimin held the broken arrow in his hand and walked back and forth in the imperial study room twice, smiling instead of angry.
"Father, there is no need to be angry. The left and right are just using some shady tactics. Isn't my son standing in front of you properly?"
"It's just that these people are a little hateful. They dare to make an issue of the Queen Mother's 'qi disease'..."
"Pheasant slave, who do you think did this?"
Suddenly, Li Shimin stared at Li Zhi and asked.
"This... I'm afraid this is related to the rumors from the past few days. They said 'the king adds white'. Is this intended to cause the prince's brother to be dissatisfied with his son?"
"However, I believe that the prince brother will not be so easily fooled. Even if he really sends someone here, will he still bring arrows with the word 'East Palace'?"
Li Zhi didn't want to favor anyone, let alone take the opportunity to smear anyone. He had no interest in that position. If today's matter hadn't involved him, he probably wouldn't have bothered to say a word.
"Pheasant slave, how do you want to deal with this matter?"
It's nothing more than that little bullshit thing. One is a self-appointed prince. After so many years, he has won the support of the important ministers in the court.
The other one is his son whom he admires very much. His palms and backs are all flesh. Even though Li Shimin is a decisive person, he doesn't know how to deal with it.
The pheasant slave in front of him is also his son, and now he is even more of a "victim." Li Zhi was able to "lie" in front of his grandson Wugou just now, which already made Li Shimin feel a little guilty.
"Father, my son doesn't have so many thoughts. As long as his father and mother are well, and his son has no worries about eating and drinking all day long, it will be fine."
"However, things like this today are not too serious. If one day it becomes irreversible, my son is worried that he will not be able to stop it."
No matter who came from today, he didn't intend to go into too much detail because he didn't want to kill Li Zhi.
As for how Li Shimin will deal with it, Li Zhi will not interfere too much. This is no longer the Tang Dynasty he is familiar with. People's life expectancy has doubled.
Li Shimin is now an innate master after all. Unless he dies unexpectedly, he can live for at least a few more decades. Even if he has to compete for the throne, is he so anxious?
"Pheasant slave, my father understands your thoughts. Among these children, you are the only one who is the most filial and do not want to make your father and mother sad."
Seeing Li Zhi's sensible appearance, sometimes Li Shimin couldn't help but wonder, why isn't Pheasant Nu the eldest son?
"His Majesty--"
At this time, a low voice came from outside the imperial study room. Someone came to the door at some point. Li Zhi didn't even notice that someone was approaching.
Li Shimin looked very natural. He walked slowly to the door, opened the door gently, then quickly closed the door and came back with a secret envelope in his hand.
I saw Li Shimin glance at the secret book hastily, and his eyebrows stood up immediately.
"Father, what happened?"
Li Zhi asked curiously.
Li Shimin frowned slightly when he heard this, but handed the secret fold to Li Zhi.
"This... those four assassins are all dead? Even the little eunuch is missing?"
Even after two lives, Li Zhi had never killed anyone, not to mention that in his previous life, he was a doctor who saved lives and healed the wounded.
"Pheasant slave, during this period of time, you'd better stay in the palace first. After I clean up these monsters, it won't be too late for you to go to the Qin Mansion."
Although his son has innate skills, in Li Shimin's eyes, Li Zhi is still his youngest legitimate son.
…
East Palace, Prince's Mansion.
"Your Highness, something serious is going wrong——"
A chamberlain ran in in a panic.
"Bastard, didn't you see that His Highness the Crown Prince is practicing martial arts? How many heads have you grown?"
The servant who reported the news had just arrived at the door when he was stopped by He Gan Chengji, the commander of the East Palace guards.
Hegan Chengji himself is a descendant of the Xianbei people. He was promoted by Li Shimin because of his meritorious service in the war against the Turks. He later became Li Chengqian's personal guard, and now he is the commander of the East Palace Guards.
No one knows He Gan Chengji's experience before he was thirty years old, and no one has ever seen him attack with all his strength. It is rumored that Zhang Anan, the chief internal officer, once made a private appointment to fight He Gan Chengji, but on the hundredth move of the fight,
Defeat and run away.
Even so, Zhang Anan later said that when the two of them fought, He Gan Chengji had not tried his best.
On the surface, He Qian Chengji seems to be at the highest level of the innate Dzogchen realm, while Zhang Ananda is also at the pinnacle of the innate realm. Should these two be evenly matched?
"Hegan Chengji, let him come in——"
A cold voice came from inside the room, it was the prince Li Chengqian who was meditating.
This Prince's Mansion is next to the "Tai Chi Hall" and is separated from the imperial palace by a wall, but the decoration style inside is quite different.
I don’t know since when, Li Chengqian actually fell in love with Turkic customs. He ate meat in large quantities in the East Palace, drank wine from large bowls, learned to speak Turkic language, and wore Turkic clothes.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please forgive me. It's not that this little guy insists on disturbing His Highness's Qing Dynasty. It's really a big event that happened, and it involves our East Palace, so this little guy came here to report the news."
Hearing Li Chengqian's cold voice, the visitor quickly knelt down on the ground to plead guilty.
"Get up, as long as you know your loyalty to the East Palace, you can forgive no matter how big your sin is. Tell me about it."
Li Chengqian said calmly, unable to tell how he felt.
"His Royal Highness, word came from the palace just now that His Highness King Jin was attacked and killed in the 'West City' today. He was not injured at all, but it is said that the arrows used by the assassins actually had the words 'East Palace' on them..."
By the end of the sentence, the visitor's voice had dropped.
"What about the assassin? Is there any conclusion from the father? Where is King Jin now?"
Li Chengqian still asked unhurriedly. After all, he did not send anyone to do the matter. He also believed that his wise father would not be angry with him for such an obvious "framing".
"It is said that those assassins have been silenced, and there are no clues from His Majesty. His Royal Highness, Prince Jin, has returned to the 'Lizheng Palace'."
After listening, Li Chengqian slowly closed his eyes again, and Hegan Chengji waved his hand to let the visitor go down.
"Your Highness, do you want our people to go and investigate and find out who is causing trouble behind the scenes? They obviously want to put the blame on our East Palace?"
He Qian Chengji was less than forty years old, with a full beard and a high level of martial arts, but he could not hide his natural cruel temper.
"No need, who else could be there besides the fourth child? I didn't expect that he would actually attack Xiaojiu. It's really stupid. If he really hurt Xiaojiu, how could his father and mother spare him?"
Li Chengqian said unhurriedly, looking at his hands affectionately.
Li Chengqian's hands are very fair. Even those young ladies may not have his delicate hands, with green fingers and hands as soft as catkins.
"Are we just going to give up? Our strength is now enough to uproot the entire Wei Palace..."
"Hegan Chengji, there are some things you shouldn't say. I don't want to hear it a second time!"
Before Hegan Chengji could finish speaking, Li Chengqian suddenly scolded him.
"Let's send someone to deliver some supplements to King Jin tomorrow. He was frightened. As the eldest brother, I can't explain why he doesn't care."
"Remember, no matter what your opponent does, you still have to rely on your own strength in the end. If your strength is not good enough, no matter how fancy you are, it will not help."
Li Chengqian regained his calm tone.
"Understood, I will personally go to the "Lizheng Palace" tomorrow. Your Highness the Crown Prince's skills are getting more and more profound. I am afraid that in two years, even I will not be your opponent."
He Qian Chengji admired sincerely, but felt very uncomfortable in his heart.
How come after so many years of hard work, I still fail to pass on the core skills of the sect, and yet the Li Chengqian in front of me can be accepted as his direct successor by the sect leader? Is it just because he is the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty and the future emperor of the Tang Dynasty?
…
"Mr. Du, you attacked Xiaojiu, why didn't you tell me beforehand?"
It was already dark, but Du Chuke was summoned to Prince Wei's Mansion.
Li Tai also just received news from the palace. It's not that he doesn't agree with this, but that he is disgusted with his subordinates' behavior of making decisions without authorization.
Although Li Tai is smiling all day long, he is also a very controlling person.
Wei Ting used him to consolidate his position in the Wei family. He also used Wei Ting to do things that were inconvenient for the Wei Palace. At this level, the two of them got what they needed.
However, in a situation like today, he was supposed to be the one in control of the matter, but in the end he had to learn the news from the palace, which made Li Tai feel very unhappy.
"Your Highness, what are you talking about? Attack His Highness the King of Jin? Wei Chen...Wei Chen hasn't had time to meet Lord Wei yet—"
"What?--"
After listening to Du Chuke's words, Li Tai's originally small eyes widened.
Suddenly, the two masters and servants felt that everything seemed to be beyond their expectations...