The Li family suffered more than half its casualties. Such a commotion alarmed the neighbors and the government, and the news spread throughout the capital at an extremely fast pace.

When the eunuch who was ordered by the emperor to summon Li Heng arrived, a large crowd had gathered outside the gates of the Li residence.

Li Heng held Xiao Shi and wept bitterly. Many people were moved by his cries and their eyes also reddened.

Someone rubbed their eyes and said, "The assassin is too audacious. Right under the emperor's nose, he just blatantly entered the mansion and killed someone."

The Prime Minister has done many good deeds for the people over the years, but now, nearing sixty, he has only Madam Xiao by his side, and now she has been murdered. How tragic it must have been for him to be all alone all these years.”

Some people said, "That's right. What kind of hatred could drive someone to such a desperate act? We've never heard of an assassin entering the Prime Minister's residence in all these years."

No one could understand it.

Someone then said, "Wasn't the Crown Prince also seriously injured a while ago? I heard he's still bedridden."

"First the Crown Prince, then the Prime Minister, what are they trying to do? Could it be that someone is trying to weaken our Great Yuan Dynasty from within?"

The minister who kicked Ye Yunheng at the palace banquet said, "That must be it. Just now at the palace banquet, Princess Zhaoning said that Ye Yunheng is Prime Minister Li's adopted son."

Ye Yunheng denied it, and Princess Zhaoning didn't produce any strong evidence. It's likely that she was misled into thinking that Prime Minister Li and Ye Yunheng were in cahoots.

If Your Majesty believes this, Prime Minister Li will surely meet a bad end, wouldn't that be doing just what the other side wanted?

Li Xiang's other cronies echoed, "We've never heard of any relationship between Ye Yunheng and Li Xiang. How come we've suddenly linked these two together?"

Since His Majesty ascended the throne, Chancellor Li has devoted himself wholeheartedly to the cause of Dae-yeon. Perhaps there have been some shortcomings in his work, but he could never have been the one to murder General Ye or instigate the war between Xi-yue and Dae-yeon.

...

They openly and covertly praised Li Heng's past achievements while downplaying the scandal that Li Xiang had recently been embroiled in.

That's how most ordinary people are.

When their own interests are not involved, and they face the loss of their family and death, they are more likely to forgive the mistakes of others and sympathize with their current situation.

In Li Heng's mansion, some had left, some had died, and he himself was injured, his gray hair disheveled, holding Xiao Shi's body, looking utterly heartbroken. How pitiful he was.

People inevitably forgot his high position and power, and began to sympathize with him.

Under the guidance of Li Heng's cronies, they began to recall his past kindnesses, and even the smallest acts of goodwill towards the people were easily exaggerated into indelible favors in this emotional state.

Upon seeing this, the summoned eunuch realized that it was impossible to bring the people back to the palace at this time, so he had no choice but to return to the palace to report back.

In the palace, most people had already left, with only those in high positions or those favored by His Majesty remaining.

Upon hearing this, the emperor pondered and said, "Issue my decree, requesting that Imperial Physician Feng personally go to the Prime Minister's residence to treat Prime Minister Li until he recovers."

He then ordered people to investigate the assassin's origins, determined to avenge Prime Minister Li.

Everyone was secretly surprised.

His Majesty already suspects Prime Minister Li, yet instead of summoning him for questioning, he is showing him favor.

Could it be that Li Xiang was truly wronged, or that they were afraid of Li Xiang's power?

However, no one dares to guess what the emperor is thinking.

Ye Zhen understood some of it.

The assassination attempt at the Li residence was most likely orchestrated by Li Heng himself, both to garner public sympathy and to bring up his past achievements, making it difficult for the emperor to easily punish him.

Secondly, he could take the opportunity to kill those in the household who knew his secrets, and Xiao Shi, his bedmate, would naturally know more than others.

"He's ruthless enough."

Not only did they lose so many lives, but they also hurt themselves.

Ye Zhen inexplicably thought of the Cloud King, who was also ruthless to himself.

Xing Ze said, "All the assassins are dead. Some were killed by the guards of the Prime Minister's residence, and some were killed by the soldiers who rushed to the scene."

That's where the problem lies.

Assassins who can evade patrols and enter the Prime Minister's residence to kill must be highly skilled; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to slaughter half of the Prime Minister's residence despite the guards' obstruction.

Such a powerful person was easily killed by patrolling soldiers and government officials.

When did the patrolmen and constables in the capital become so powerful?

"Princess, most of those people went to their deaths on their own."

Ye Zhen nodded.

Xing Ze understood it, but ordinary people couldn't. Li Heng's performance was for the common people to see.

"Keep an eye on it."

Li Heng slaughtered half the people in his household and abandoned so many assassins who had disguised themselves as killers; he was truly at his wit's end.

If he had other children, he would certainly contact them at this time.

Xing Ze nodded. “There are all sorts of messy rumors circulating outside. Some say it was done by other countries, some say it was due to infighting in the court, some say it was done by the royal family, and some are even subtly implicating you.”

Even Li Heng's past scandals are being portrayed again as a frame-up; this old scoundrel is truly shameless.

He was shocked by Li Heng's shamelessness.

"His Majesty still had to have someone treat him."

Ye Zhen pursed his lips. "Your Majesty has no choice but to comply. I'm afraid things will get even worse tomorrow."

Li Heng was the head of the civil officials, and over the years he had presided over countless imperial examinations, with countless scholars and students becoming his students.

Even though his reputation was previously tarnished, there are always people who, for the sake of their future, go against their conscience and hope that he will remain forever in power.

In the years before that, he did accomplish some real things, and coupled with his ability to create momentum, he turned three parts of his achievements into ten.

If it weren't for Xie Jinyao's defection, Ye Zhen would have had a hard time discovering Li Heng's true colors.

What she could think of, the emperor could naturally think of as well. Even if Li Heng was brought into the palace tonight, as long as Li Heng insisted on not admitting it, at most he would just have to cooperate with the investigation.

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