752: Trap

Trap

Jihuang returned from Xuhou, the Port City, after gathering the information about Qiu Shuren whether he was supporting Lian Zoumu or not.1

He entered the resthouse and found it was full. He went to the second floor, where Sheng Li had told him to come. He walked ahead in the corridor and saw a few merchants coming from the front. He lowered his head when hit by someone.

He apologized when the man pointed a dagger at his back. "Don't move, else this poisonous dagger will be inside you," the man whispered in his ear.

Jihuang tilted his head when the man threatened him. "I told you not to move," the man reminded him. "Now, follow me," he said and led Jihuang to the other side, opposite the place where Sheng Li had taken the shelter.

Jihuang knew that once he would be outside the resthouse, this unknown man would kill him. So, he planned to escape before that, but how?

"Stop!" Both Jihuang and the unknown man halted at their place. "Raise your hands," they heard the command.

Jihuang recognized the voice and took a sigh of relief. It was Sheng Li, who helped him. Jihuang immediately turned and snatched the dagger from the unknown man's hand. He pointed it at his neck.

"Who sent you?" Sheng Li asked him and came forward to face him.

The man immediately brought his hand near his lips. He sucked the poison from the ring that he had worn. Before Jihuang could prevent this mishap, the man died.

Jihuang checked his pulse to be sure, but he was already dead.

Sheng Li was not surprised to see this and stepped back as the man's body fell to the floor.

"Leave it," Sheng Li said and stepped forward when Jihuang asked him if people would not get suspicious.

"The resthouse has my men. Why do you think I am staying here? Everyone in the resthouse is my person," Sheng Li pronounced before walking ahead. Jihuang hummed and followed the Emperor.

They entered the room where the First Prince, the General, and the Commanders were waiting for them. Jihuang greeted them while Sheng Li settled on the chair.

"Your Majesty, Headman Qiu Shuren isn't involved in this matter directly or indirectly," Jihuang informed Sheng Li.

"Hmm." Sheng Li took a deep breath and tapped his fingers on the armchair. "Xiao Zhan, go out and walk straight to the left. You'll find a body. Bring it here," Sheng Li stated.

"What happened, Brother Sheng?" Jian Guozhi asked while knitting his brows.

"Someone sent a man to kill my trustworthy person," Sheng Li replied, looking at Jihuang.

"It means that the person behind it knows that we have taken shelter in the resthouse," Jian Guozhi deduced.

"Indeed," Sheng Li agreed with him.

"Commander Yao, did you find anything suspicious around Mingze's residence?" Sheng Li queried him.

"Your Majesty, nothing suspicious was found out," Commander Yao replied.

Xiao Zhan came inside the room. The two soldiers had brought the body in. Jihuang got on his knees and started to search for the body. However, nothing useful was found in him.

Dejected, Jihuang rose to his feet and looked in Sheng Li's direction.

"If he's Mingze's person, then he knows that we have been taking the shelter here," Jian Guozhi said worriedly.

"Brother Jian, I wanted him to know about our location," Sheng Li stated. They all got bewildered to hear him.

"Would that not be risky, Your Majesty?" Xiao Zhan asked him.

Sheng Li snickered. "I am letting the enemy makes the move so that he will set up in his own trap," he affirmed and stood up, locking his hands behind his back.

"Mingze forgot that he did wrong by playing with me." His jaw muscles clenched in anger.

~~~~~

Nianzu discussed the matter of the Emperor's safety with Rong Zemin and Wang Hao. He informed them about Mingze's evil plan to harm the Emperor.

"I will go to inform about it to Brother Sheng," Rong Zemin decided.

"Your Highness, the Emperor has given strict orders that the remaining princes must not leave the Palace. I will send the message to the Emperor with the hands of a trustworthy person," Wang Hao opened.

"I agree with General Wang's words. However, the person should not get caught. General Wang has to make sure that Brother Sheng gets the message on time. It is about the life of the Emperor," Rong Zemin reasoned.

"I understand, Your Highness. The network of the messengers is capable to tackle every situation. Moreover, I think that the Emperor would have found out about Mingze's true face by now. We should not forget that His Majesty has a strong network of spies in every province," Wang Hao asserted.

Rong Zemin and Nianzu trusted Wang Hao's words. They decided to send a message to Sheng Li, mentioning everything that Wu Qinyang had informed them.

"Let keep this matter hidden from the Empress. She must not know else she will be panicked," Rong Zemin opined.

"Of course, Brother Zemin. Sister Lili must not find out about it," Nianzu agreed on it. Rong Zemin told his loyal servant to bring the brush and ink along with a paper.

The servant did so, and Rong Zemin wrote the message for Sheng Li. He let it dry, and once the ink dried, he handed it to General Wang, who read the message once more before folding the paper.

"Your Highness, I will send this message right now so that it will be delivered by late at night." Wang Hao bowed and took his leave.

"Brother Nianzu, I have something important to discuss with you," Rong Zemin stated.

"Please speak, Brother Zemin." Nianzu was ready to hear.

Rong Zemin was unable to understand how to say it. Nianzu found out that the Third Prince was hesitating to speak, which was odd.

"What happened, Brother Zemin?" Nianzu inquired again, waiting for his response.

"Please do not take it the other way, but I found something unusual about the Empress Dowager, Brother Nianzu," Rong Zemin pronounced.

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