Demin dared not hide the truth and confessed, "He said he was a member of the Heaven and Earth Society."

Upon hearing this, Su Yushan felt that the name of the gang sounded familiar. Wasn't that the anti-Qing and restoration-Ming Jianghu organization? They actually had their eyes on Hongli?

"Could it be... that they targeted you because they believed you would inherit the throne?"

Hongli's gaze narrowed as he pondered, "Father has three sons. No one can be sure what the imperial edict hidden behind that plaque actually says. There's no need for them to take risks at this time. If they make a move, it will attract the attention of the court."

"Perhaps after weighing their options, they felt you were the most likely candidate?"

Everyone believed he was likely the heir to the throne chosen by the Yongzheng Emperor, and Hongli himself understood that his father had high hopes for him. However, this unexpected turn of events made Hongli feel that something was amiss.

"The Heaven and Earth Society is a folk organization, mostly composed of roughnecks. Their primary task is to conceal their identities, and they dare not approach members of the royal family unless absolutely necessary."

This trip was a last-minute decision. I only mentioned it to Lao Wu two days before departure, and never to anyone else. So how did the Heaven and Earth Society know about it and lay in ambush so quickly? This is abnormal!

Only Hongzhou knew? Su Yushan couldn't help but have a bad feeling. "Are you suspecting that Fifth Master revealed your whereabouts?"

"At the time, the fifth brother said he had something to do and didn't come with me." Hongzhou was the only brother Hongli trusted, and subconsciously, he didn't want to doubt Hongzhou.

"The fifth brother is my own brother. We have been the closest brothers since childhood. I don't believe he would plot against me behind my back."

Su Yushan didn't know Hongzhou very well, so she could only rely on her intuition to judge. "If it was really Fifth Master who leaked your whereabouts, I think he should have gone with you. That way, if he was there, he would also be implicated in the assassination and be able to clear himself of suspicion. If he deliberately didn't go, wouldn't he obviously arouse suspicion?"

With a deep sigh, Hongli did not reply. He rested his chin on his hand, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if he were deep in thought.

After a moment of silence, he got up, washed his hands, and changed his clothes, saying he was going out for a while.

Judging from the situation, she guessed he was going to find the Fifth Prince, right? But seeing his solemn expression and bad mood, Yu Shan didn't ask any more questions and decided to wait until he had dealt with it.

Now, Hongzhou went to the palace for court today, and as soon as he returned to his residence, he heard from his servants that the Fourth Prince was waiting for him in the front hall.

Upon hearing that his elder brother was here, Hongzhou quickened his pace and hurried to the front hall. As soon as he saw him, he laughed heartily and said:

"Fourth Brother, I was just about to visit you! You came straight here. How is your injury? Are you feeling better? I heard you were recuperating in the palace. I wanted to visit you at the Fifth Palace in the west, but they stopped me, saying you need to rest quietly and shouldn't be disturbed."

Hongli smiled and replied, "I have recovered and there is nothing seriously wrong."

"That's good," Hongzhou asked worriedly, "Have you found out anything? Who exactly orchestrated the assassination? Find that scoundrel, and I'll definitely shoot him into a pincushion with arrows to avenge you, Fourth Brother!"

During this time, Hongli kept his eyes on the fifth prince, but seeing his indignation, Hongli remained calm and said slowly, "The confession says it's the Heaven and Earth Society, but I don't think it's that simple. Someone must have colluded with the Heaven and Earth Society to plan that assassination. Otherwise, how could the Heaven and Earth Society know my whereabouts so well?"

After listening silently, Hongzhou also felt something was amiss. "Who knew in advance that you were going to the southern suburbs?"

“Demin, Li Yu, Yushan, and you.”

Hongzhou argued back, "Demin is your guard, Liyu is your attendant, they are both loyal to you, your sister-in-law likes you so much, she would never harm you, and it's even less likely that I would!"

After speaking, he did not hear a response from his elder brother. Hongzhou felt that the atmosphere was somewhat subtle, so he frowned and asked, "Fourth brother, you don't suspect me, do you?"

"If I suspected you, I could have simply told Father Emperor directly. Why would I discuss it with you?" Hongli's purpose in coming here was to find out the truth.

"After you returned that day, did you tell anyone about this?"

Hongzhou thought about it carefully and nodded. "I asked my wife if she wanted to go on a trip to the southern suburbs, but she said she wasn't feeling well and didn't want to move around."

"Were there any servants with you when you told her about this?"

"Yes, there are two maids, one from my courtyard and one she brought. They are both trusted confidantes and shouldn't talk nonsense, since they live in the back courtyard and don't even have the chance to leave the mansion."

Hongzhou told everything in detail without hiding anything, which made Hongli even more surprised. How exactly did the news get leaked?

Although his elder brother did not question him, Hongzhou decided to investigate the matter thoroughly in order to prove his innocence. He ordered his wife and servants to be brought in for a face-to-face confrontation.

The Fifth Prince's wife was a lady from a prominent family, beautiful and dignified. When facing the Fourth Prince, she was neither humble nor arrogant, and answered truthfully, saying that she had never told any outsiders about his trip to the southern suburbs, and that only her two maids had heard about it.

The maids all knelt down and swore that they had not told anyone else.

In this way, the clue was tied in a knot and cut off.

Considering that she was the wife of the Fifth Prince, Hongli did not make things difficult for her and asked her to return to the backyard first. Then Hongli said to Hongzhou, "Let's drop this matter. I will not mention to others that you know my whereabouts. I will pretend that you are unaware of it."

Hongzhou said there was no need to hide it, "I have acted uprightly and have a clear conscience, so it doesn't matter who investigates!"

“I believe you, but Father Emperor is suspicious. If he finds out about this, he will surely summon you for questioning.”

Hongzhou said fearlessly, "Ask away! I didn't do it anyway, let him interrogate me as he pleases."

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