Chapter Eighteen: The Final Verdict

"Father, this is exactly what I wished to discuss. How should we proceed?"

Zhou Hao looked toward the Third Prince, a cold sneer playing upon his lips. Before he could speak further, a look of terror flickered across the Third Prince’s face. He stumbled backward, stammering, "What are you trying to do? I’ll have you know this is the Imperial Court! Even if you intend to take action, you should at least consider the consequences!"

Zhou Hao laughed and spread his hands. "Consequences? When did I say I was going to take action against you? Your reaction is rather intense just from a mere glance." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "Could it be... that you are involved in this assassination attempt? Or perhaps you are the mastermind behind it all?"

Panic flickered in the Third Prince’s eyes. He averted his gaze, unable to meet Zhou Hao’s stare. "How could that be? We are brothers of the same blood; how could we possibly harm each other? Upon hearing the news, my heart has been filled with nothing but worry and dread..."

Before the Third Prince could finish, Zhou Hao cut him off. "That’s enough. There is no need for such elaborate explanations. The more you defend yourself, the more you reveal your own guilt."

Zhou Hao cast a final, dismissive glance at him and fell silent. The Third Prince, usually so arrogant and domineering, now looked like a plucked quail. This stark contrast was not lost on the gathered dukes and ministers, who began to sense that something was deeply amiss. Yet, lacking concrete evidence, they remained cautious, offering no support to Zhou Hao.

"Father, you see for yourself—everyone is on edge. Even if this were false, shouldn't we at least investigate the matter thoroughly?"

*False?*

The Emperor of Zhou let out a cold snort, a plan immediately forming in his mind. "You rebellious son! Why must you stage such a farce to disrupt the court? Who would hold such a grudge against you as to dispatch assassins within the Imperial City? Do you dare claim that you haven't been pulling the strings behind this yourself?"

Encouraged by the Emperor’s rebuke, the Third Prince’s demeanor softened, and he straightened his posture. "Exactly! Who in the Imperial City would harbor assassins? Who has a grudge against you? To stage such a performance is truly shameful." The Third Prince seized the opportunity to kick Zhou Hao while he was down.

The ministers, fearing to speak, turned their expectant gazes toward Zhou Hao, waiting for his move. Zhou Hao, however, remained unmoved, his expression unchanged as he stared directly at the Emperor.

"Father, have you ever investigated these assassins? Have you sent anyone to inspect the state of my residence?"

"You have seen nothing, yet you accuse me of staging this myself. Is this not sheer obstinacy? Or is it that you simply do not value the life of this prince?"

The Emperor of Zhou snorted and turned to the Third Prince. "Look at how terrified you’ve made your third brother."

By avoiding the question, he intended to cement the narrative: there were no assassins in the Imperial City. It was all a charade directed by Zhou Hao. If he maintained this, his reign would remain stable, peaceful, and prosperous. Assassins? A mere joke! What evidence could Zhou Hao possibly produce to prove otherwise?

"Your Majesty, I have a letter of self-reproach. I ask that you examine it." The Grand General produced a memorial and handed it to the eunuch, who then presented it to the Emperor.

A letter of self-reproach? What fault had the Grand General committed that he was unaware of?

"Audacious! You and the First Prince are colluding together; do you truly think I am blind to your schemes?" The Emperor’s eyes blazed with fury as he slammed the document down. This was a blatant slap in the face. The Emperor had spoken, and the Grand General dared to defy his verdict!

The Grand General bowed, his expression calm and composed. "Colluding? I do not understand why Your Majesty is angry. I only know that assassins struck last night, wreaking havoc in the Imperial City."

"I acknowledge my failure to maintain order, allowing assassins to come and go as they please within the city, and have thus written this letter of self-reproach for your review."

A letter of self-reproach? It was nothing of the sort—it was a stinging blow to the Emperor’s authority!

"What assassins? I have seen no assassins. Just because the First Prince says there are assassins, does that make it so? If I claimed to have annihilated a million barbarian troops, would that be considered true as well?" The Emperor continued to deny the events, attempting to shift the fire back onto Zhou Hao.

But the Grand General was prepared. "Your Majesty, I believe I have the right to speak on this matter. Yesterday, the First Prince borrowed several men from my household, claiming he needed them for security. I agreed. Last night, those men returned in haste, reporting that the First Prince had been attacked. Naturally, I dared not neglect the matter and sent men to investigate. The assassination attempt on the First Prince is, without a doubt, real."

Hearing this, the once-buoyant Third Prince slumped like a defeated rooster, his head bowed, not daring to look at Zhou Hao. He had thought his father would suppress the matter, but he hadn't expected Zhou Hao to go this far! It seemed the decision to betroth the Grand General’s daughter had been a grave mistake.

The Emperor of Zhou was at a loss for words. He glared at the Grand General, who acted as if he didn't see the Emperor’s gaze at all. Would the Emperor truly dare to strip him of his command? Who else would manage the military? Who else would defend against the barbarians? This confidence was exactly why the Grand General stood by Zhou Hao’s side—a bond solidified by Bi Ruxue. Once the rumors of her being a "widow-maker" spread, no one could stop the fallout.

"Father, I believe this matter must be thoroughly investigated!" Zhou Hao stepped forward, his expression grave.

Before he could continue, the Third Prince barked, "Impossible! This matter ends here!"

*Ends here?*

Zhou Hao scoffed inwardly. He had thought the Third Prince was a fool, but now it seemed even a pig would be smarter. Refusing to allow an investigation into assassins in the Imperial Court? What was his motive? Did he have something to hide? Realizing this, Zhou Hao felt a tinge of pity for the Third Prince. Only in an Imperial household could such an idiot survive this long; otherwise, he would have perished in some nameless corner long ago.

The Grand General seized the moment to attack. He stepped forward and roared at the Third Prince, "Third Prince, what do you mean by that? My son-in-law was targeted by assassins, and we are not to investigate? Just because you are a prince, does that mean the First Prince is not? Or do you have something to hide?"

The Grand General’s shout resonated like a great bell, striking fear into the Third Prince’s heart. Guilt-ridden and shaken by the roar, the Third Prince could not utter a word.

One of the ministers who had argued with Zhou Hao earlier sneered, "Grand General, you protect the First Prince so fiercely—could it be that you, too, have something to hide?"

"Get lost! This has nothing to do with you!" The Grand General swung his arm, knocking the minister to the floor. The man had been braying annoyingly, and now he had finally crossed the line.