Back at Prince Jing's residence, Tong Yan took out the book he had already worn out, leafed through it as usual, then began reviewing the day's events.
If Lord Mo had not been there today, Zhuo Rusui would certainly have joined forces with the guard behind the tree to kill him.
Even with his preparations and the astonishing power of the crossbow bolts aboard the pleasure boat, he feared he could not have stopped them.
Had Jing Jiu really developed the intent to kill me? Was it simply because of the matter he mentioned?
In the summer, a major incident had occurred in the capital of Chu.
A tall man had lingered outside the Imperial Palace before dawn. Finding him suspicious, the imperial guards had approached to question him. The man had taken out a wooden club and swung it in every direction, trying to escape, but had ultimately been captured. They discovered that he was carrying a blade and intended to storm the palace and murder the emperor. The Ministry of Justice officials had subjected him to brutal torture during interrogation, but the man had kept his teeth clenched throughout. Apart from saying that he wanted to kill the fatuous emperor, he refused to say another word, much less name whoever was behind him.
In the end, someone recognized him as a former officer from Blue Rain Pass who had served as a personal guard under General Pei.
General Pei was a renowned Chu general whose reputation was second only to Prince Jing's. He had spent years stationed on the Chu-Zhao border, confronting Zhao's armies, and had rendered great service to the country.
But what was even more widely known was that General Pei was a trusted follower of Grand Academician Zhang.
Countless gazes turned toward the Scholar's Residence.