Li Zhi couldn't wait to take a bite, and sure enough, he found that the vegetarian noodles were very salty. He could basically conclude that Sister Wu wanted him to use salt as a breakthrough to create some trouble for Li Jue.
But how do we create this trouble?
The biggest issue between the nobles and the imperial family in Chang'an right now is "salt".
The large-scale production of high-quality, low-priced salt by Li Jue not only disrupted the salt market of the Tang Dynasty, but also greatly damaged the interests of the imperial family and nobles.
Li Zhi's interests were also greatly damaged, but there were only three salt wells in his fiefdom, and two of them had been mined for many years and could no longer produce any brine.
In contrast, my aunt's family in Jiujiang is in a much worse situation. It is said that more than a dozen salt wells are idle, and they dare not mine the brine at all.
Because the harvested produce doesn't fetch a good price, and labor costs are extremely high, it's fair to say that every harvest results in a loss.
As Li Zhi frowned in thought, his chopsticks suddenly struck a hard object. Startled, Li Zhi quickly rummaged through the bowl and found a wooden ball sealed with wax.
Li Zhi eagerly opened the wooden box and, sure enough, found a short letter inside.
"Fool, the salt issue can be used as a pretext, but not from the perspective of the powerful and wealthy. We should start from the perspective of the unemployed salt workers and merchants who have been squeezed out of the market. Also, regardless of whether Li Jue's assassination attempt succeeded or not, you should go and visit him immediately!"
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi suddenly realized that he had forgotten about this matter!
However, praying to Buddha isn't so bad either; it can be said to be a way of praying for my nephew's well-being!
After Li Zhi finished his vegetarian noodles in a few bites, he immediately ordered someone to prepare a carriage and went to the Prince of Qin's residence.
Looking at the dilapidated buildings in the Prince of Qin's residence, Li Zhi couldn't help but wonder, "The Eastern Palace has been vacated for several months now, why hasn't that grandson moved there?"
In fact, Li Jue not only disliked the Crown Prince's Palace, but even felt that the Crown Prince's Palace was too unlucky.
After all, this wretched Eastern Palace has already deposed three crown princes!
When Li Zhi arrived at the main hall where Li Jue was staying, Li Shimin, Princess Jinyang, Princess Gaoyang, Prince Wei Li Tai, and others had already arrived.
When Li Shimin saw that Li Zhi arrived late, he was immediately somewhat angry.
"Your nephew was attacked, and you, as his uncle, only just arrived?"
"Your Majesty, I went to Zhaoguo Temple to pray for my nephew as soon as possible, which is why I was delayed..."
"really?"
Li Zhi turned around and looked at the eunuch who was following him.
"Father, you may question my attendants; they can all testify for me!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shimin immediately looked at Xiao Duozi, who was standing to the side. Xiao Duozi immediately stepped forward and reported.
"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jin did indeed go to Zhaoguo Temple to offer incense, and he did so in several of the main halls!"
"Oh oh oh..."
Li Shimin's expression softened a bit after hearing this.
"Since that's the case, I won't blame you. Come and see your nephew!"
"promise!"
Li Zhi arrived at Li Jue's bedside and, seeing Li Jue's pale face, felt a secret joy in his heart.
Although the assassination attempt failed, judging from the way this grandson looks, he seems to have been seriously injured!
"Nephew, are you hurt anywhere?"
Li Jue waved his hand dismissively upon hearing this.
"It's nothing... I was just pricked by an arrow..."
Li Shimin complained quite a bit upon hearing this.
"You say you're alright? If you hadn't been wearing soft armor, I would be separated from you forever!"
Li Jue smiled bitterly upon hearing this, thinking to himself that it wasn't just soft armor; even his carriage was lined with iron plates, yet he still couldn't defend against this assassin.
However, this assassin was highly skilled. Even with such tight protection, he was still injured. One can only imagine how formidable the assassin must have been against other princesses and princes.
“Grandpa, I’d like to provide more guards for Aunt Jinyang, Aunt Gaoyang, and… Fourth Uncle…”
Li Shimin's expression turned solemn upon hearing this.
"You mean the assassins aren't just targeting you, but could also be targeting your fourth uncle and the others?"
Li Jue smiled bitterly upon hearing this.
"It's hard to say!"
"However, judging from the assassin's posture this time, it seems that it's not entirely aimed at me; they may simply want to dampen the spirits of the Tang Dynasty!"
"I see..."
Just as Li Shimin was hesitating, Yuchi Fan rushed in.
"Your Majesty, all the assassins have been captured!"
"oh?"
"Can we interrogate them to find out who's behind this?"
"Your Majesty, they are all dead..."
"What?"
Seeing that Li Shimin was about to get angry, Yuchi Fan quickly explained.
"Your Majesty, this time it's really not my fault. I chased them to a house, and just as I was about to wipe them all out, they set the house on fire, leaving no one alive..."
"hiss……"
Li Shimin gasped upon hearing this.
"These are suicide squad members!"
How many people are on the other side?
"Your Majesty, seventeen bodies have been recovered from the scene!"
"Seventeen elite warriors, that's a huge investment; ordinary people don't have that kind of capability!"
The cost of keeping assassins in ancient times was very high, not only because of money, but also because of many restrictions such as background, land, wealth, and children.
For example, if a master were to keep a bodyguard, he would have to find a wife for the bodyguard, raise children, and promise that after the bodyguard completed his mission, his children would be given a good background, so that they could go from being lowly slaves to low-ranking nobles and achieve a certain degree of class mobility.
In addition, they also have to support the other party's elderly parents.
Therefore, training a qualified assassin requires enormous financial, material, time, and emotional investment.
Li Shimin was well aware of the cost of raising assassins, and when he heard that the other side had sent seventeen men, he knew that this was no ordinary matter.
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