The Crown Prince was attacked in the Imperial Garden, and his guards actually failed to catch the assassin.
Once the news spread, the mood among Chang'an's nobles could probably only be described as leaping for joy. Many even secretly prayed that he would die of his wounds.
"Which benevolent hero performed this righteous deed?"
An assassin who had tried to kill the Crown Prince was being called a righteous hero. This Crown Prince's reputation in Chang'an City could hardly have been worse.
"Even if it costs me my life, I must protect this righteous hero!"
"If anyone can contact this righteous hero, come to me. I have connections East of the Passes. He can only survive if he escapes Guanzhong."
Someone soon thought of this. The court's registering households and aligning the people in Guanzhong had been rigorous. Especially after the redistribution of land, the number of displaced people had fallen sharply, making it relatively difficult for fugitives to disappear in Guanzhong.
East of the Passes was another world altogether. Moreover, there were many dependent domains of princes and lords there. Although they too were subject to the court's registering households and aligning the people, they enjoyed considerably more freedom. Never mind the kings and high-ranking marquises-even the powerful gentry in the commanderies and counties dared to shelter fugitives wanted by the court.
Especially when it came to a righteous hero who had tried to assassinate the Crown Prince, people of this era would shelter such a person even at the risk of losing their heads.
After Luo Qing returned to the Imperial Academy, he pondered what the attempt on the Crown Prince's life suggested. Had someone already become unable to tolerate Crown Prince He's existence?
But then he thought of the second son by the primary wife, who was