Xie Lin’s guards and Zhou Gu’s guards divided themselves, leaving a portion to protect Xie Lin, and the rest swiftly tracked in the direction from which the arrows had come.
Xie Lin stayed in the same place on his horse and ordered, "Bring those two arrows to me for inspection."
Someone went to fetch the arrows.
One of Zhou Gu’s guards immediately stopped the man, "Be careful, the arrows are poisoned."
The man was about to touch the arrows, but upon hearing the warning, he quickly withdrew his hand. He looked closely and indeed saw that the arrowheads were pitch black, as if smeared with something—probably poison. He muttered, "That was close," tore off half of his sleeve, wrapped it around the arrow, and picked it up. But he dared not hand it to Xie Lin, instead he held it up for Xie Lin to see.
Xie Lin’s face darkened, "Take it back to the residence for the doctor to examine."
The two arrows were identical, coming from the same place, with something smeared on both tips. After receiving Xie Lin’s order, the guards carefully stored the arrows.
Xie Lin asked one of the guards, "Did Zhou Gu send you to protect me?"
The guard nodded, "Our Fourth Young Master learned his lesson and knew that you had few guards with you when you went to the Duke Residence. Fearing you might face danger on your way back, he specifically instructed us to catch up and protect you, ensuring your safe return to the Rui’an King Residence."
Xie Lin wiped a sheen of cold sweat from his forehead, "Thanks to him, I still have my life today."
The dispatched guards quickly returned, dragging back two dead bodies, and reported to Xie Lin that these two people were committed assassins who, after releasing the arrows, had no intention to escape but instead swallowed poison and committed suicide.
Xie Lin was incensed. They really regarded him highly, sparing two committed assassins just for him. Had Zhou Gu not sent guards today, he might have really lost his life.
He ordered angrily, "Take these two bodies back to the residence with me and have someone report the matter to Jingzhao Residence."
Someone acknowledged his order.
Xie Lin did not linger on the street. With evidence in hand and people to protect him, he returned to the Rui’an King Residence.
The gatekeeper of the Rui’an King Residence turned pale, "Young Master, what is..."
Xie Lin waved it off and asked, "Is my father back yet?"
"The King just returned from the palace," the gatekeeper replied.
Xie Lin immediately rushed into the residence to find the Rui’an King.
Zhou Gu’s guards, seeing that Xie Lin had safely entered the Rui’an King Residence, returned to the Duke Residence at ease.
The Rui’an King, having not slept all night, had just returned from the palace and planned to rest for a while. He had barely closed his eyes when Xie Lin burst in.
The Rui’an King was about to scold him for being impolite when he saw Xie Lin’s red eyes. "Father, I almost couldn’t see you again!"
The Rui’an King sat up abruptly, looked Xie Lin up and down for a moment, and asked with a stern face, "What happened? What do you mean you couldn’t see me?"
Xie Lin immediately relayed what had happened to the Rui’an King with red eyes.
After hearing the whole story, the Rui’an King’s face instantly darkened, "Why did you encounter an assassination?"
Xie Lin pressed his lips together and narrated in a low voice about his visit to the Duke Residence to see Zhou Gu, the subsequent interrogation of Wang Su, and the unveiling of the matter regarding the Crown Prince’s wife.
After the Rui’an King finished listening, he felt a chill in his heart. Even though he had multiple sons, he only had one legitimate heir whom he had carefully raised since childhood. He could not afford any mistakes. He was indebted to Zhou Gu for being wise enough to send men to protect Xie Lin just in time.
The grateful Rui’an King stood up and patted Xie Lin’s shoulder, "You’re a grown man. When I was your age, I also encountered assassination attempts. But I didn’t go red-eyed like you."
Xie Lin curled the corner of his mouth and his eyes were red, "Father, were you ever ambushed with arrows in broad daylight while walking down the streets of the Capital City?," he stressed, "Two poisoned arrows! I was dumbfounded."
The Rui’an King thought to himself that he had never experienced such a situation. When did the Capital City become so dangerous? His hand, which was patting Xie Lin’s shoulder, paused for a moment. Then he patted Xie Lin’s shoulder reassuringly, "Don’t worry, your father will see justice done."
Xie Lin nodded.
The Rui’an King said, "Show me the declaration that you forced out of Monk Wang Su."
Xie Lin handed it to him and said at the same time, "Father, this declaration cannot be presented to His Majesty. The confession to be presented to His Majesty must hide the person in the palace. I have stated that I have intimidated Monk Wang Su with this declaration to prevent him from seeking death. I need to provide a witness."
The Rui’an King nodded, "I understand."
Xie Lin was someone the Rui’an King had personally tutored. He knew better than anyone else how troublesome it would be once the person in the palace was implicated.
After he finished reading the declaration, he glared at Xie Lin, "Why didn’t you speak up about such a big issue in the beginning?"
Xie Lin pouted, "What’s the point of telling you, father? Would you have informed His Majesty? Firstly, you don’t interfere in the issue of prince succession, and secondly, you always try to remain low-key to avoid any trouble. Even if you knew about it, it would only be another matter weighing on your mind, serving no real purpose. I have a big heart. I can pretend as if I hadn’t seen it."
The Rui’an King was speechless for a moment before he finally managed to say, "Your heart is indeed big."
Should he praise him?
He returned the declaration to Xie Lin instead of keeping it himself, "You have grown up and it’s good that you have your own opinions. Keep this with you!"
Xie Lin nodded and kept the declaration from Monk Wang Su.
The Rui’an King said, "Whenever you go out to investigate a case, take some covert guards with you."
Xie Lin nodded vigorously.
The Rui’an King looked at him, not pleased, "When you were told to learn martial arts, you found it hard. Do you understand its advantage now?"
Xie Lin mumbled, "I regretted it a while ago. If I had learned martial arts well, I wouldn’t have lost the fight with Zhou Gu."
The Rui’an King snorted, thinking to himself that it was good that Xie Lin had lost. If he had won, wouldn’t he have rushed home to marry Qin Luan, the daughter of a criminal official? Would he agree to that? Of course not. If that were the case, if Zhou Gu hadn’t broken his leg, Rui’an King himself would have done it!
Rui’an King waved his hand at Xie Lin, "This case involves too many powerful people. Let me rest a while and think about how to investigate it. You should also calm down. After searching the two dead assassins, send them to Jingzhao Prefecture. When I investigate the case, they need to cooperate."
Xie Lin also knew in his heart that, now that it implicated the wife of the Crown Prince and he had returned to his residence, it was not a matter that could be resolved without haste. As long as he and his father didn’t act, perhaps the wife of the Crown Prince would think Wang Su hadn’t betrayed her. The more urgent the time, the less they should panic. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
He bowed and left the Rui’an King’s room, returning to his own courtyard.
Zhou Gu’s guards returned to the Duke Residence and reported to Zhou Gu about Xie Lin’s attempted assassination with the arrows on the street, and that they had safely escorted Xie Lin back to the Rui’an King Residence.
Zhou Gu straightened up, speculating that the person whose name Xie Lin had pried from Wang Su must have significant influence, or else they would not have the power to use committed assassins for an assassination attempt in broad daylight.
He asked the guards, "Did the poisoned arrows that were used look similar to the one used for Princess Qingping’s assassination attempt?"
The guards shook their heads, "We didn’t see the arrow used for Princess Qingping’s assassination."
Zhou Gu ordered, "Investigate it. Jingzhao Residence has a sketch."
The guard acknowledged and immediately left.
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