Though grumbling, Yang Hong was a little excited.
Fighting the nausea, he began searching the bodies of these assassins.
However, none who dared to assassinate in the imperial palace were fools. All the killers, besides their black attire and weapons, carried only a few packets of sleeping powder; they had nothing else.
Not even a single copper coin.
"Heh, they're really cautious. But do they really think I wouldn't guess it was the Crown Prince's doing?"
"Hmm, no, Yang Yong isn't that stupid. He must have a backup plan."
With this thought, Yang Hong became uneasy. He immediately went to rouse Zhou Neng and briefly explained the assassination attempt.
Stopping the furious Zhou Neng who was ready to avenge Yang Hong, he hastily made his own arrangements.
"Uncle Neng, this is the formula for [Zui Meng San], from the *Ben Cao of the Medicinal Farmer*. Memorize it and then burn it."
Yang Hong handed the formula for the sleeping powder he'd found to Zhou Neng, and then retrieved the remaining bit of [Zui Meng San] from the damaged bed.
"The usage of Zui Meng San is simple: scatter it and release it into the air.
For ordinary people, Zui Meng San has no effect. Only when inhaled and activated by internal energy can it produce results."
Since he wanted to keep his secret and make tonight's events seem plausible, he had to reveal this sleeping powder.
"His Highness truly thinks of everything."
Looking at the two items in his hand, Zhou Neng was shocked and filled with admiration. He hadn't thought as far ahead as Yang Hong.
"Alright, listen. The imperial guards will arrive soon.
I'm going to Xiao Cao's room. Remember to come and knock me out later."
"This old servant understands."
Not long after Yang Hong was dazed by the sleeping powder, a squad of a hundred innate guards, led by Crown Prince Yang Yong, rushed to [Wang Wen Ge].
"Search! Search thoroughly! Find the assassins!"
Yang Yong's deep, powerful voice rang out. Without knocking, guards pushed open the doors.
"Who~ Who dares to trespass into the Sixth Prince's chambers?"
Zhou Neng's sharp voice sounded, and his aura as a peak Grandmaster pressed towards the entrance.
"Insolence! The Crown Prince is investigating assassins, and you, you spineless wretch, dare to obstruct him?"
An even more ferocious innate aura pressed back, followed by ten more innate auras. Zhou Neng grunted, sustaining a minor injury.
Zhou Neng wasn't foolish. Having made his stance clear, he needed to proceed with the rest of the plan.
"This old servant, Zhou Neng, greets the Crown Prince. Please send troops to protect the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince has just been assassinated."
"We've discovered assassins from Wu Zhou have infiltrated the palace to assassinate our Great Sui royalty. Including myself, my second brother, third brother, fourth brother, and fifth brother have all been targeted. I am currently pursuing the assassins."
Yang Yong spoke as he entered [Wang Wen Ge] under the protection of over a hundred guards.
He surveyed the surroundings. Seeing Yang Hong absent, he frowned slightly and looked at Zhou Neng.
"Hey, where is Yang Hong? He isn't dead, is he?"
"Replying to the Crown Prince, the Sixth Prince is not dead, but he was knocked unconscious by the assassins' sleeping powder. It's unknown if he's in danger."
"Hmph~ It's good he's not dead. Knocked out is knocked out."
Yang Yong's tone revealed his undisguised disappointment. Hearing that Yang Hong was still alive made him somewhat frantic.
The grand spectacle tonight was meant to kill Yang Hong. Originally, there were several stratagems awaiting Yang Hong. Now that Yang Hong was alive, he wasn't too concerned.
He didn't look at Zhou Neng, nor did he want to see Yang Hong. He directly ordered the captain of the guards beside him.
"Search! Don't let any suspicious spot go unchecked."
"Yes~ Guards, search! You must find the assassins."
The captain of the guards, Yuwen Lang, was somewhat annoyed but could only obediently execute the order.
A full hundred innate guards stormed into [Wang Wen Ge] and began to ransack everywhere.
They left no room unsearched, including the rooms where Yang Hong and Xiao Cao were resting, which they barged into without politeness.
Zhou Neng was about to stop them when Yang Yong accused him of harboring assassins, nearly having him executed.
In the end, Zhou Neng could only carry out the unconscious Yang Hong and Xiao Cao and guard them closely.
Yang Yong had indeed considered killing them on the spot, but Yuwen Lang was an agent of Emperor Yang Jian, and he dared not commit murder under Yuwen Lang's nose.
"Crown Prince, we have found the bodies of thirty assassins."
Yuwen Lang soon discovered the thirty corpses, but this result only made Yang Yong more enraged.
"What good are the bodies? Continue searching! You must find a survivor."
"Yes~"
Yuwen Lang inwardly cursed Yang Yong as an idiot but couldn't stop the search.
Under Yang Yong's insistence, he even dug up Yang Hong's vegetable garden three feet deep before being allowed to stop. Only then did he question Zhou Neng about the details of how he killed thirty assassins.
"Lord Yuwen, this is what happened.
It's winter, and the weather is cold. His Highness the Sixth Prince usually rests in the palace maid's room; after all, two people sleeping together is warmer than one.
I, on the other hand, rested in the adjacent room, the Prince's chamber, also to protect him.
At night, someone came... then I... and finally, it turned out like this."
Zhou Neng recounted the events in detail, even producing the [Zui Meng San].
Picking up the [Zui Meng San], Yuwen Lang looked at Zhou Neng with a playful expression.
"Zhou Neng, isn't it? I recall you're illiterate. How could you possibly concoct sleeping powder?"
"Replying to Lord Yuwen, His Highness the Sixth Prince saw this sleeping powder formula in the *Ben Cao of the Medicinal Farmer* and then instructed this old servant to attempt to concoct it."
"Oh~ Is that so?"
Yuwen Lang glanced at the Crown Prince, whose face was somewhat ashen, with the corner of his eye, and remained noncommittal.
He suddenly understood why the Crown Prince had confiscated all of Yang Hong's books.
The Sixth Prince Yang Hong's eidetic memory was truly extraordinary.
"Go search other places. You must find those assassins."
Yang Hong said with a grim face and was the first to leave [Wang Wen Ge].
"Take the bodies and let's go."
Yuwen Lang ordered his subordinates to drag the thirty corpses and also departed.
Throughout this entire ordeal, no one inquired about Yang Hong's safety.
Yang Hong was left in the care of the old eunuch Zhou Neng to continue sleeping. Zhou Neng dared not sleep; he guarded the room where Xiao Cao was.
He was also worried that someone might launch a surprise attack.
...
Next to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace was the residence of the Second Prince Yang Guang, named [Xing Shen Dian].
At this moment, Yang Guang looked at the brightly lit imperial palace, a sinister smile appearing on his lips.
"Yang Yong, that fool. He still doesn't know Guo Sheng is my man. And he's quite daring.
To assassinate princes in the imperial palace, even a prince of the cold palace, is enough for Father Emperor to kill you.
This is the imperial palace, Father Emperor's territory!"
Yang Guang's ears twitched suddenly, and he put away his sinister smile, reverting to his usual gentle and refined demeanor.
Not long after, a shadowy figure silently slipped into his room.
"Your Highness, I have not failed my mission. The palace maid is dead. The overt evidence left points to you and the Third Prince, but the hidden clues all relate to the Crown Prince."
The shadowy figure reported in a low voice. Yang Guang listened with a constant smile.
"Excellent. Thank you, Eunuch Guo. Here is a bottle of Yang Yuan Dan. It's not a particularly good item, but please accept it as a gift."
Guo Sheng's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed in thanks, "Your Highness's great kindness."
Taking the [Yang Yuan Dan], Guo Sheng's footsteps became lighter. [Yang Yuan Dan] was a rare pill for increasing cultivation even among ordinary innate Grandmasters.
To eunuchs, it was like an immortal elixir, precisely because [Yang Yuan Dan] was the best medicine for treating urinary incontinence in eunuchs.
Watching Guo Sheng leave, Yang Guang's expression turned grim again.
"Who around Yang Yong is allied with the Third Prince?
Tonight, I only had Zhang Rang and Zhao Zhong lured away. I didn't act against the Third Prince. Although the Third Prince is also crying wolf, who tipped him off?"
While Yang Guang was in a state of suspicion, the Third Prince was also meeting with his secret agents.
Even the usually steady Fourth and Fifth Princes had become active.