Chapter Sixteen: Making a Big Fuss

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Bi Yutang pondered quietly. Many had the means to plant spies here, but few had such a motive. The Third Prince? Impossible. The Third Prince was arrogant and brash; he would never resort to such ruthless covert tactics that risked exposing himself openly. It seemed more like the work of the Empress.

The Empress was vicious and vindictive, always seeking revenge. The Third Prince was her favorite, her own flesh and blood. Yet her brother-in-law not only beat him but also publicly humiliated him in court, tearing away all his dignity. The Empress must have long harbored a desire to kill him outright. However, this method was rather crude.

“Brother-in-law, do you really have such a grudge against the Empress?” Bi Yutang asked.

“Assassins haven’t appeared in over ten years. For her to risk such a thing just to kill you?” Bi Yutang pressed.

Zhou Hao merely smiled but gave no answer. It was laughable. If anyone held hatred against him, it was the entire Great Zhou royal family—not just the Empress, but also the Emperor and the Third Prince. Each bore tremendous enmity toward him.

There was no use talking about it.

“Do you recognize this mark?” Bi Yutang shook his head. He had no knowledge of such symbols, but the mere presence of such a distinct mark at the Crown Prince’s residence already spoke volumes.

“Brother-in-law, look here. The mark is faint but can be revealed with a simple wipe.”

Zhou Hao reached out cautiously and felt the uneven surface. It was subtle, like an ordinary decoration.

“Luckily you arrived in time. That eunuch was right—if you’d been attacked at night, you wouldn’t have had time to react.”

Bi Yutang immediately called over the servants he had brought and began setting up defenses around the Crown Prince’s mansion. This was the Imperial City, yet the Empress dared to employ such despicable means to take the life of a prince! They were far too brazen.

Bi Yutang’s face darkened as he paced around Zhou Hao’s quarters. He bore little affection for Zhou Hao, but if anything happened to him after the arranged marriage, how would the world view his sister? Rumors of a curse would spread like wildfire across the Imperial City, unstoppable even by the Grand General.

It would ruin her for life.

“Kill me? The Empress doesn’t have that kind of courage,” Zhou Hao said with a grim smile.

If he hadn’t transmigrated here and had been beaten to death by the Third Prince within the mansion, he could easily be acquitted with various excuses.

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For example, sudden illness or excessive indulgence—these were all fabricated reasons.

So what if he died? Not long after, everyone would forget the matter entirely, at most murmuring about it briefly over meals.

But if assassins were involved, and he was killed? If they could infiltrate the Crown Prince’s residence, what about the palace itself? What about the Emperor’s safety?

As long as the Empress was not foolish, she would only cripple him, not kill him. But even that was an enormous risk.

“Brother-in-law, are your servants here trustworthy?” Zhou Hao shook his head.

“Don’t just trust them. Even during the defense, don’t let them see. Lock them in the servants’ quarters tonight.”

Even though these men were brought by Luo Xu, Zhou Hao couldn’t be sure they were completely reliable. When one’s life was at stake, caution was paramount. Those who weren’t cautious were long dead and unable to speak.

Time passed quickly. Zhou Hao and Bi Yutang sat facing each other in a room shrouded in darkness, as if the entire mansion had fallen into slumber.

Suddenly, Bi Yutang turned, eyes widening in surprise.

“These guys are skilled. The traps they set didn’t even trigger?”

Before he could finish, a figure burst through the window, a cold gleam flashing from his blade as he swung down toward Zhou Hao’s lower body.

“Don’t kill—capture him alive!”

With a sharp call, several servants leapt into the room. Armed and clad in padded armor, they charged forward fiercely.

The assassins were unfazed. Their target was clear—Zhou Hao alone. If they could take him down, even if they all died, it would be a huge victory.

But Bi Yutang was no fool.

Assassins deployed within the Imperial City were mostly death-seekers. As long as Zhou Hao was protected, these fanatical killers were merely moths drawn to flame.

What surprised Bi Yutang was how recklessly these assassins acted. Despite facing several servants, they moved decisively: each seized one servant, leaving only one assassin to leap at Zhou Hao.

His speed was fierce, like a rabid dog.

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“Brother-in-law, watch out!” Bi Yutang shouted, swinging his club in a powerful arc.

His speed was blinding, like a streak of light. The assassin knelt, nearly unconscious.

Yet even then, the assassin stretched out a hand toward Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao kicked him away nonchalantly.

“Tell the servants to keep some alive. Otherwise, we won’t have any witnesses.”

Since the Empress was shameless, Zhou Hao would not let her off easily. An assassination attempt only heightened his advantage the more it was exposed.

“Don’t worry. I know my limits,” Bi Yutang sneered, continuing his assault.

With the assassins subdued, he helped the servants restrain them.

Before Bi Yutang could act further, the assassins, seeing no way out, bit down on poison teeth and died instantly.

Zhou Hao was quick, grabbing one assassin down by Bi Yutang and punching him in the face, knocking out the poison tooth. He tossed it aside with indifferent expression.

“Take him away. Guard him closely. At tomorrow’s court session, I will have a serious word with my father.”

With Zhou Hao’s command, the servants dragged the limp assassin out like a dead dog.

“Brother-in-law, how do you plan to handle this?” Bi Yutang leaned against the wall, scrutinizing Zhou Hao. His actions were decisive and ruthless—truly worthy of being his brother-in-law.

Zhou Hao pondered briefly, then smirked coldly.

“If she wants to use this chance to cripple me, then I will use this chance to show the Empress who truly rules the Imperial City—it’s the Emperor, not her.”

“Go back tonight and find the Grand General. Tell him everything that happened here. Have him write a letter of apology.”

Bi Yutang was stunned, not understanding Zhou Hao’s intent. A letter of apology? The Grand General wasn’t involved in this matter at all—why would he write such a letter?

Seeing Bi Yutang’s confusion, Zhou Hao smiled faintly.

“Go. Once you tell the Grand General, he will understand.”

Bi Yutang, still full of doubts, left the Crown Prince’s mansion, leaving most of the servants behind.

If this assassination was merely a diversion for an even more reckless attack to come, then he really might have doomed his sister.