Volume One, Chapter 20: The Decree of the Grand Empress Dowager!

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Zhao Wu grew even more anxious. "I was too hasty and overlooked this detail. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"Very well," Lin Che said, shaking his head, his gaze chilling to the bone.

In truth, even if they had spared a captive, they would never reveal who had ordered the attack.

These men were clearly well-trained.

They were likely suicide assassins.

But this only complicated matters.

It meant that Yang Huaiman and his faction not only held power openly but also secretly maintained a band of warriors.

"Your Majesty, these men must be suicide assassins," Zhao Wu said, crouching to examine them. "Each has poison fangs concealed in their mouths."

This confirmed Lin Che’s suspicion.

Suicide assassins, as the name implies, stop at nothing to achieve their goal; if they fail, they die.

So even if Zhao Wu had spared one earlier, the assassin would have bitten down on the poison fang to kill themselves.

"It must be Prince Liang..." Zhao Wu said angrily.

Lin Che disagreed. Prince Liang had no knowledge of Lin Che’s identity prior to this; these assassins were clearly lying in ambush here long before.

"Your Majesty, let us return to the palace," Cao Shiqi, fearing further incidents, suggested. Once Lin Che gave the order, they prepared to depart.

Lin Che wiped his brow and turned to board the carriage, but before he could get in, he saw the coachmen lying dead on the ground.

They were also highly trained guards but had no lethal weapons since they were only responsible for driving.

Cao Shiqi looked saddened. "Your Majesty, rest assured. When we return, I will notify the Ministry of Personnel to grant appropriate rewards to their families."

Lin Che, knowing the system of rewards and punishments in the Great Zhou Dynasty, added, "Also, among them, one member of each family shall be appointed as a court official."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Cao Shiqi acknowledged, understanding these men died protecting the emperor and should not be neglected.

After issuing instructions, Lin Che returned to the carriage, which Zhao Wu’s guards then drove back to the palace.

Zhao Wu went to investigate the assassins’ identities. Though the chances of success were slim, he had to try.

News of the emperor’s assassination attempt spread swiftly.

Everyone was shocked that someone dared attack the emperor within Chang’an city—this was a crime that would doom nine generations of the offender’s family!

However, some ministers showed no sign of joy.

Since the attack occurred near the Xiao family’s street, news reached them quickly.

They were thrilled.

Excellent, it seemed someone within the court had made a move!

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This made them feel Lin Che was even less significant; though he was the emperor, he lived as if no better than an ordinary commoner.

Still, they regretted that Lin Che had not been killed.

Had he died, Prince Liang could ascend the throne, and they would rise with him.

Originally, their resentment toward Lin Che was not so deep, but now, since he blocked their path, only his death would bring them prosperity.

Lin Che soon returned to the palace, where many ministers came to offer their sympathies.

Cao Shiqi reported in, but Lin Che said, "I am fine. Let them all return."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Lin Che sighed. It seemed he should avoid leaving the palace in the future, or at least bring more guards when he did.

After Cao Shiqi left, he returned shortly after. "Your Majesty, Miss Murong has arrived. Should I send her away as well?"

Hearing that Murong Qinghe had come, Lin Che felt a warmth in his heart.

Murong Qinghe was the daughter of the Minister of the Secretariat, a loyalist faction leader. Since childhood, her father had arranged a betrothal between her and Lin Che to consolidate imperial power.

But later, Lin Che had fallen for Xiao Aoyu and abandoned her, to which she never complained.

"Your Majesty, shall I tell her to leave?" Cao Shiqi assumed Lin Che wanted privacy and prepared to leave.

"No need. Let her in," Lin Che told the guards.

When Murong Qinghe entered, she expressed concern for Lin Che, and soon they began casual conversation, ranging from poetry and prose to philosophy.

Lin Che found she was extremely knowledgeable, well-versed in many areas.

As they talked, a guard suddenly entered to report to Lin Che.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent someone!"

Upon hearing this, the cheerful expressions on Lin Che and Murong Qinghe’s faces darkened.

They both knew the Empress Dowager was Lin Wangzhi’s grandmother. Her sending someone now was certainly not a gesture of goodwill.

Murong Qinghe looked at Lin Che with worry.

After all, Lin Che’s power was unstable, and he could not refuse an envoy from the Empress Dowager.

Lin Che ceased chatting with her, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Miss Murong, it seems our pleasant conversation must end here," he said.

Murong Qinghe bowed her head slightly. "Your Majesty, should you wish, I am always ready to accompany you."

Lin Che nodded, then looked at the waiting guard. "Let them in."

After the guard left, a pale-faced eunuch with a gaunt, sharp-featured visage entered.

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The eunuch looked around but did not kneel before Lin Che.

This made Lin Che frown.

He was the sovereign of the realm, above all others—who wouldn’t kneel before him?

Yet this lowly eunuch did not even show the slightest deference upon seeing him.

"Your Majesty," the eunuch said, nodding slightly with a look of disdain.

Before Lin Che could respond, Murong Qinghe stood angrily and scolded, "How dare you! As an official, why do you not kneel before the emperor? Do you wish to be punished?"

But the eunuch only laughed lightly.

"Miss Murong, you are mistaken. I represent the Empress Dowager. Does the Empress Dowager need to kneel before the emperor?"

His words left Murong Qinghe speechless.

Of course, the Empress Dowager did not have to kneel before the emperor, but this was clearly an excuse.

Lin Che’s eyes flashed with killing intent. "What business does the Empress Dowager send you for?"

The eunuch swaggered, chest out. "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager decrees that banditry in Shandong has worsened, leaving the people destitute. Prince Liang is both civil and martial capable, undefeated in battle. She commands you to appoint Prince Liang as Grand General to lead troops and pacify the bandits in Shandong."

Lin Che had already guessed it. The Empress Dowager’s visit was to support Prince Liang.

Sending Prince Liang to quell the rebellion would give him greater military power, ultimately sidelining Lin Che.

A brilliant scheme.

Lin Che sneered inwardly but kept a calm exterior. "I understand. You may leave."

The eunuch swaggered out without another word. This was not a request but an order, needing no approval.

After the eunuch left, Murong Qinghe was furious.

The Empress Dowager showed blatant favoritism. She knew Prince Liang appeared righteous but was actually extravagant and lecherous.

Lin Che was mediocre on the surface but had studied rituals, the Four Books and Five Classics, as well as military strategy since childhood.

So who was truly fit to be emperor was clear.

Yet the Empress Dowager sided with Prince Liang, and there was nothing they could do.

Lin Che had made up his mind and looked at Murong Qinghe with a smile. "Miss Murong, what do you think?"