Setting down the memorial, Yan Shiyu's eyes blazed with fury, his voice filled with rage: "Your Majesty, the Slavic Principality's actions are undoubtedly a provocation against us, and we must respond sternly!"

Yan Shiyu was furious, but Chen Zhennan understood what was going on.

"The impending three-way war is clearly premeditated. However, I wonder if this mysterious organization is also part of it."

As he spoke, Chen Zhennan slowly picked up the brush and wrote a reply on the memorial of Prince Ai Zijun of Zhenbei: "If the other side has no sincerity in negotiating, and launches a counterattack, do not pursue too deeply. Seek another opportunity for negotiation."

In the memorial submitted by Bohai King Lin Cheng, his reply was even more resolute: "No matter what the Japanese navy's intentions are, annihilate them completely, leaving no one alive."

After quickly finishing writing, Chen Zhennan had the two memorials sent back via the same route as before.

Standing up, Chen Zhennan took a deep breath. Although the border situation was urgent, the most important thing now was to find out about this mysterious organization lurking in the shadows, otherwise everything he did would be transparent.

He turned and left the imperial study, taking Yan Shiyu to the palace prison where he personally examined Xiang Hao's body.

Chen Zhennan looked at the dot on the back of Xiang Hao's neck, then climbed up to the windowsill to look at the handprint, feeling that something was off.

"Your Majesty, look at this handprint..." Yan Shiyu's voice was low, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

Chen Zhennan didn't speak, but carefully observed the windowsill. Besides Yan Shiyu's two handprints, there were two other handprints on the windowsill.

Two handprints? How did this assassin use a poisoned needle? Did he hold the weapon in his mouth?

Chen Zhennan found it increasingly strange. He led his men out of the cell and outside, where they discovered a large tree not far from the window, higher than the window itself. Assassinating Xiang Hao from the tree would be much easier than climbing the windowsill.

After thinking it over, Chen Zhennan finally understood that Xiang Hao's fate was sealed the moment he was sent to prison; Xiang Hao had been deliberately sent to this cell.

"Shiyu, look at this big tree." Chen Zhennan pointed to the big tree next to him, his voice carrying a hint of understanding.

Yan Shiyu looked in the direction Chen Zhennan was pointing and pondered, "Your Majesty, what do you mean..."

Chen Zhennan nodded: "This assassin clearly left clues on purpose to make us think he attacked from the windowsill."

Although Chen Zhennan's analysis made some sense, Yan Shiyu, who was standing next to him, still felt that something was wrong, but he didn't say anything.

Chen Zhennan clicked his tongue and told Yan Shiyu to say whatever he wanted, so Yan Shiyu revealed his guess.

"Since there's this big tree, why did the assassin climb up the windowsill to leave his handprint? It was completely unnecessary and a waste of time."

Chen Zhennan stood by the window, his brows furrowed. Yan Shiyu's words echoed in his ears. This was indeed strange. If the attack was made from the outside, why leave traces on the windowsill?

His gaze swept across the cell, searching for any clues that might have been overlooked.

"Shiyu, you're right, this is indeed very strange." Chen Zhennan had to admit that his thinking had gone wrong.

Yan Shiyu frowned slightly and turned to look at his teammates behind him.

"Those of you keeping watch outside the prison last night, did you spot anyone appearing in this area?"

The team members shook their heads, their eyes firm, and answered confidently, "Everything was normal last night. The moon was very big, and if anyone came here, they certainly wouldn't have escaped our eyes."

Chen Zhennan became more and more confused as he listened. If the assassin didn't attack from outside, then he must have been in the prison.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhennan hurriedly led Yan Shiyu and the others back into the prison cell.

"Carry Xiang Hao's body out, find a hammer, and tap the ground to see if there are any hidden passages or anything like that."

Chen Zhennan's voice carried a hint of urgency, as if he wished he could personally carry Xiang Hao's body out.

Upon hearing this, the jailer outside the door took out the body Taylor that had been prepared, while one of the team members who had been guarding Xiang Hao the night before turned around to get a hammer, returned shortly afterward, and began to bang on the floor of the cell.

A moment later, a floor tile in the corner made a thumping sound, clearly indicating that it was hollow underneath.

The team member put down the hammer, drew a long knife from his back, and slowly pried up the floor tile, revealing a hidden passage about one meter wide underneath.

"Your Majesty, there's a secret passage!" the team member exclaimed in surprise, his face turning tense.

A glint of light flashed in Chen Zhennan's eyes. He quickly stepped forward and bent down to examine the secret passage.

The secret passage smelled musty, indicating that it hadn't been used for a long time.

Turning to Yan Shiyu, he reminded him, "Shiyu, take some men down to investigate. Be careful of ambushes."

Yan Shiyu accepted the order and led several special forces members, lighting torches and slowly entering the secret passage.

The air in the dark passage was murky, and the torchlight flickered on the walls, illuminating the path leading to the unknown.

Chen Zhennan stood at the entrance of the secret passage, his heart filled with tension and excitement. This secret passage might be the key to uncovering the whole conspiracy.

Chen Zhennan kept his eyes fixed on the secret passage, waiting for news from Yan Shiyu.

Time ticked by, but there was no movement from the secret passage. Chen Zhennan grew increasingly anxious, and he couldn't help but want to go down and check it out himself.

Just then, Yan Shiyu's voice came from the secret passage: "Your Majesty, please come down and take a look."

Upon hearing the sound, Chen Zhennan jumped into the secret passage without hesitation. Yan Shiyu was already waiting below, the torchlight flickering on his resolute face.

"Your Majesty, the secret passages here are interconnected, with almost every cell having a passage underneath, which then converges and leads to the outside of the palace, which is very far away."

Yan Shiyu led the way with a torch, explaining the situation inside the secret passage as they walked.

Chen Zhennan's gaze wandered around the tunnel. He discovered that there were indeed many branches in the tunnel, which were intricate and complex, like a maze.

A sense of unease welled up within him; the existence of these secret passages meant that the security of the palace had long been compromised.

Following Yan Shiyu's words, they passed through one crossroads after another, each choice potentially a dividing line between life and death.

Chen Zhennan was filled with doubts. Who built these secret passages? And where did they lead?

After walking for a long time, they finally reached the end.

Yan Shiyu gestured for Chen Zhennan to stop.

"Your Majesty, I haven't gone up to check the situation yet, and I don't know what's up there. You wait here while I go up and take a look."

Chen Zhennan reached out and grabbed Yan Shiyu's shoulder, then took out a pistol from his pocket and turned off the safety.

"No, Se-woo, I can do it myself."

Yan Shiyu tried to stop him, but Chen Zhennan was determined and climbed the ladder in front of him.