Qu Qingxi understood. So that's how it is. She did understand the second point to some extent, but she also thought the first point was very likely.
Some people's personalities dictate that they are the kind of people who are obsessed with saving face and suffer for it, and Zhou Wenli certainly seems to be that kind of person.
"Who are those men in black?"
“Those men in black are the men of the Third Prince of Zhou. The Third Prince is the Fifth Prince’s mortal enemy and the two most fierce contenders for the throne. He specially arranged for people to enter the palace in order to find the right opportunity to kill Zhou Wenli here. However, I sent people to stop this, and just now I specially sent people to lure them here.”
"How could the Emperor and Zhou Wenli know that they were the Third Prince's men? Since they were sent to assassinate him, they must be clean and wouldn't be carrying any clues." How could their identities be confirmed?
"Most powerful and influential people in the Zhou Kingdom keep assassins in their residences, but they also keep some highly skilled guards. The assassins don't have any markings, but the guards have patterns on their bodies to ensure that there are no spies."
These men in black were originally the Third Prince's bodyguards, and they didn't have any markings on their bodies. But I specially ordered someone to drug them and make them with the same markings.
In this way, they would be exposed, and Zhou Wenli would know their true identities. This would provide a scapegoat. Although the group of men in black didn't actually attack, their goal was to kill Zhou Wenli, a fact Zhou Wenli was well aware of.
"Tsk tsk, the Prince of Nanqing truly lives up to his reputation; he is far-sighted and has a very deep mind." Qu Qingxi exclaimed in amazement after hearing this.
Indeed, the person who understands you best is not your friend, but your enemy.
"I'll take it as a compliment." He Liufeng was answering Qu Qingxi's question seriously, but upon hearing Qu Qingxi's words, he couldn't help but turn his head and chuckle.
"Does Your Majesty know what this pattern represents?"
"Yes, there is a mysterious organization around the Emperor called the Golden Guard. They are like the Emperor's eyes and ears, collecting all kinds of information for him. He knows the guard patterns of the major families in Zhou Kingdom."
Sure enough, becoming emperor is no simple feat. Qu Qingxi had previously thought that the emperor only relied on his subordinates to gather information, but it turns out he also had an intelligence organization. Moreover, judging from He Liufeng's expression, this Imperial Guard is also quite formidable.
She had never underestimated the Emperor, but she never expected him to be so powerful.
Qu Qingxi wanted to ask how the matter would be handled in the end, but suddenly the coachman shouted "Whoa!" and the carriage stopped quickly.
"Who are you, and what are you doing standing here?" the coachman shouted.
Qingdai also stared warily at the person in front of her, her hand silently reaching for the soft sword at her waist. It was already late at night, and the streets were deserted. Suddenly, a ragged person blocked the carriage, which would make anyone feel a little strange and eerie.
Moreover, their carriage bore the insignia of the Prince of Nanqing, a fact known to almost everyone in the capital. Even if this person didn't know it, seeing such a luxurious carriage would make it clear to ordinary people that the person inside was no ordinary individual, and no one would dare to approach.
This person clearly has ulterior motives.
"Please have mercy, I haven't eaten in a long time." The man's slightly hoarse voice came, but it was impossible to see what he looked like.
Qingdai remained vigilant, gripping her sword in one hand and untying her money pouch from her waist with the other, accurately tossing a silver ingot in front of the man.
"This silver is enough for you to eat and drink well for several days. Hurry up and leave, don't block the way here," Qingdai shouted.
Unexpectedly, the man did not look at the person on the ground, but stared straight at the carriage, motionless, neither intending to take the silver nor to leave.
Seeing the man's behavior, Qingdai felt even more uneasy. She drew her sword and turned her head slightly. "Your Highness, Your Highness, I'll go and take a look."
Just as Qingdai was about to jump off the carriage, Qu Qingxi called out to her, "Qingdai, there's no need, I'll go."
A gentle voice came from inside. Qu Qingxi and He Liufeng exchanged a glance. He Liufeng looked puzzled. Qu Qingxi pointed outside and then pointed to the sachet at He Liufeng's waist.
He Liufeng immediately understood that the person must be related to Gu worms, or rather, that person was very likely the one who was skilled in using Gu worms by Zhou Wenli's side.
Qu Qingxi was about to go out when He Liufeng stopped her, saying, "Let's go out and take a look together."
Although he knew that Qu Qingxi was a doctor and had a way to control the Gu worms, he was still a little worried about Qu Qingxi facing it alone.
Seeing the worry on He Liufeng's face, Qu Qingxi nodded gently, "Alright."
Qu Qingxi guessed that the person outside was carrying Gu worms because the person had a strange smell, a smell that only those who raise Gu worms would have.
Qu Qingxi is a doctor, so her sense of smell is relatively more sensitive. If others smell it, they will only think that the person has body odor, and they will not be able to escape suspicion.
Qu Qingxi went outside and saw that the man was standing in front of the carriage, blocking their way. Qu Qingxi jumped off the carriage and looked at the man.
The man's clothes looked somewhat tattered, but not so much that he was practically naked; he just looked like a beggar.
"Who are you?" Qu Qingxi asked, her hands inside her cloak, seemingly just curious and innocent.
"So you are Princess Consort of Nanqing, Qu Qingxi?" A strange light flashed in the man's eyes when he saw Qu Qingxi jump off the carriage.
"Yes, that's me." Qu Qingxi nodded.
The man seemed slightly taken aback, not expecting the other party to admit his identity so readily.
"I have long admired your name." The man even bowed to Qu Qingxi with a rather polite gesture, but it looked somewhat awkward, as if he had no idea how to bow properly.
He Liufeng squinted, standing beside Qu Qingxi, and looked at that person.
However, that person didn't look at He Liufeng once the whole time, but only kept his eyes on Qu Qingxi.
"I've heard so much about you? I'm just a humble woman, how could I have such a reputation?" Qu Qingxi smiled slightly. Although she knew he was just being polite, she was still quite happy inside. After all, who doesn't like being praised?
"Hmph, those poison-avoiding bracelets, you're the one who sewed them? I didn't expect that there would be people in Lingchao who understand Gu."
Poison-avoiding bracelets? She had given poison-avoiding bracelets to He Liufeng's people and poison-avoiding sachets to the people of Qinglan Pavilion. So, this person was planning to take action against He Liufeng's people, and that's how she discovered this.
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