Zhang Qian did not answer, but instead asked, "Your Highness said you encountered assassins in the hunting grounds? Where did the assassination take place? How many people were on the other side, and were there any casualties on Your Highness's side?"

Chen Wang said impatiently, "There were about ten of them near Luoyan Mountain on the west side of the hunting grounds, but they were not as brave as my guards. They retreated hastily after failing to hit me once. However, one of them was extremely ruthless. Wu Yong was injured by him while protecting me."

Zhang Qian's expression was somewhat subtle: "That assassin used a sword?"

Prince Chen looked puzzled: "Yes, is there anything wrong with using a sword?"

Zhang Qian shook his head, led him into the hall, asked him to wait a moment, and then went into the inner hall to tell Emperor Cheng'an everything.

He lowered his head, trying to figure out the emperor's thoughts.

If the Emperor hadn't become suspicious of Prince Chen, he wouldn't have left Zhou Qing unused and instead entrusted him with the power to mobilize troops from the imperial palace.

Yesterday, Prince Chen's provocative words, insisting on betting with the Crown Prince on a deer hunt, were already somewhat unusual. Considering today's assassination attempt, Zhang Qian felt increasingly suspicious.

Both sides were assassinated, but the Crown Prince's side suffered heavy casualties and was in critical condition.

On Prince Chen's side, only the commander of the guards was injured.

Coincidentally, this commander was skilled in swordsmanship and had been wounded by a sword.

He had asked the young master who was accompanying him, and the young master said that when the prince was fighting with the enemy, he injured the right arm of the leader of the assassins.

Even the location of the injury matches.

Emperor Cheng'an had only slight suspicions at first, but after hearing Zhang Qian's report, his suspicions deepened.

But he was suspicious, and as he prepared to order the confinement of Prince Chen, he couldn't help but wonder: "What if someone deliberately plotted to frame Prince Chen?"

So many coincidences could be a deliberate scheme by Prince Chen, who harbored resentment towards the Crown Prince and committed murder, in order to clear himself of suspicion.

But it's also possible that there are other people stirring things up behind the scenes.

Emperor Cheng'an's expression shifted uncertainly, unable to make up his mind.

After deliberating for a long time, he said, "Let's summon Prince Chen first."

.

Prince Chen was having a really bad day and was seething with anger. Upon seeing Emperor Cheng'an, he first complained to the emperor about Zhang Qian.

Emperor Cheng'an's expression was inscrutable as he slowly said, "This matter is not Zhang Qian's fault. The Crown Prince was assassinated, and I ordered him to seal off the palace and is currently investigating suspicious individuals."

It turned out that the crown prince had indeed been assassinated.

When he met his uncle, his uncle told him his guess, so he wasn't too surprised.

However, in front of Emperor Cheng'an, he still had to feign surprise and show concern: "My elder brother was assassinated? What a coincidence! Could it be that the assassins who tried to assassinate me and my elder brother were the same group of people?"

"How are your injuries, brother? Are they serious?"

Emperor Cheng'an stared at him and said in a deep voice, "The assassin was ruthless. Your elder brother was injured in a vital area of ​​his heart and is still unconscious."

Upon hearing this, King Chen could hardly contain his smile.

It seems even fate is on his side.

He managed to suppress the joy on his lips and feigned concern, asking, "How could you be so badly injured? Are all the people around you useless? Why didn't they protect you?"

Emperor Cheng'an did not miss the fleeting joy on his face.

He prided himself on his ability to see through his second son, but now he felt he couldn't quite understand him anymore.

Is he involved in this matter?

"The assassin who injured your elder brother was extremely skilled with a sword. I heard from the people who accompanied him that your elder brother fought the assassin for a long time, but only managed to injure the assassin's arm."

Queen Chen belatedly realized what was happening, and she suddenly looked up: "Does Father suspect that I sent someone to assassinate my elder brother?"

The surprise and disbelief on his face seemed genuine. Emperor Cheng'an sighed and said, "There are too many coincidences. You and the Crown Prince are like the palm and the back of my hand. I don't want to doubt you. Have Wu Yong come over and explain the details clearly to clear up any suspicion."

"It wasn't me!" The previous smugness was replaced by frustration and anger, and Prince Chen's handsome face turned red with rage: "How could I be so stupid as to send someone to assassinate the Crown Prince!"

Emperor Cheng'an reassured him, "Since it wasn't you, you should have Wu Yong explain clearly so that we can find the assassin as soon as possible. These past few days have been full of trouble, so you'd better stay in the palace and not wander around anymore."

Prince Chen gritted his teeth. Although his father said he did not doubt him, he would summon the commander of the guards who had protected him from injury for questioning, and then keep him in the palace, effectively confining him.

Recalling how his father had been favoring the Crown Prince and suppressing him all these days, Prince Chen couldn't help but sneer, "With so many coincidences, perhaps my elder brother orchestrated this to frame me?"

Emperor Cheng'an's expression darkened, and he rebuked, "Your elder brother's life is currently hanging in the balance. He's not foolish enough to risk his own life to frame you!"

Prince Chen looked unconvinced. Was he really so stupid as to send someone to assassinate the Crown Prince?

But Emperor Cheng'an looked very displeased, so he dared not argue back and could only take his leave indignantly.

Back in the palace, he couldn't help but vent his anger.

Wu Yong was more composed than him: "This was definitely not Your Highness's doing. I am not afraid of being questioned. I am just going to make the trip."

Prince Chen, however, was filled with resentment and paced restlessly in his study: "You don't understand. Father has already begun to openly side with the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is rightfully the rightful heir. If Father shows favoritism, what chance do I have?"

We need to think of something.

Wu Yong advised, "Your Highness, please calm down. It is really not advisable to cause any more trouble right now."

Prince Chen took a sip of cold tea, temporarily suppressing his anger, and said with aggrieved frustration, "Then what do you suggest we do? Am I just supposed to swallow this insult and wait for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne and shout 'Long live the Emperor!'?"

Wu Yong dared not speak further, but another strategist, seeing this, offered a suggestion: "I do have a plan..."

He whispered in Prince Chen's ear.

The King of Chen's expression was unpredictable, clearly showing his hesitation.

Wu Yong did not hear what the two were saying, and said with disapproval, "Your Highness, please reconsider. Now is not a good time."

Prince Chen paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.

Just then, a feathered arrow came flying with the wind, almost grazing Chen Wang's face and embedding itself in the corridor beside him. The arrowhead pierced more than two inches into the corridor pillar, and the arrow stopped while the fletching was still trembling, demonstrating the great force it had.

Wu Yong reacted quickly and chased after him, but found nothing.

King Chen, however, gripped the arrow he had pulled out and gritted his teeth: "This is a demonstration!"

He had just been talking about finding a way to bring the prince down from his horse when the other side immediately shot an arrow.

This is clearly a warning to him!

King Chen snapped the arrow in two, his eyes burning with rage. Without further hesitation, he ordered the strategist who had offered the advice, "Do as you say."

He gave a cold laugh: "Now that things have come to this, the Crown Prince and I are bound to fight to the death. Since he is ruthless, he shouldn't blame me for being unjust."

Wu Yong still felt there were many doubts, but King Chen had had enough of this frustration and would not listen to any more advice, so he impatiently sent him away.

Not far away, Xue Shen, who had been watching Chen Wang's furious outburst from the shadows, slipped past the patrolling imperial guards and sneaked into the Wenhe Hall.