Please call me Your Majesty!

Chapter 228: The treacherous abuse of power
Chu Shizhao handed the empty bowl to Hengyi and said calmly: "This king believes in his mother and his soldiers."

After he finished speaking, he closed his eyes and waited quietly for the drug to take effect.

During this period, everyone present held their breath and looked at Chu Shizhao nervously.

"Your Highness, how do you feel?"

Hengyi asked cautiously.

Chu Shizhao slowly opened his eyes: "I feel much better."

"Is Lord Wang very disappointed?"

Wang Lin's expression became even uglier. He suppressed his anger and said, "Since Your Highness is fine, I will take my leave now."

He turned around and wanted to leave, but was stopped by Chu Shizhao.

"Sir Wang, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I still have something to ask you."

Wang Lin's heart sank, he knew that Chu Shizhao had begun to doubt him.

He turned around and said calmly, "Your Highness, do you have any other instructions?"

Chu Shizhao stared at Wang Lin and said word by word: "Sir Wang, you came all the way to the border, saying that you were on the emperor's order to inspect, but in fact, you have another purpose, right?"

"Your Highness, what do you mean by this? I don't understand."

Chu Shizhao sneered: "Don't understand? Then I will make you understand clearly."

He looked at Hengyi and ordered, "Bring them up."

A moment later, several soldiers were brought in.

They were the ones who were caught by Hengyi before and who were communicating with the capital.

"Lord Wang, do you know these people?"

Chu Shizhao pointed at the soldiers and asked.

Wang Lin's face turned pale instantly. He didn't expect that Chu Shizhao already had these evidences.

He tried to remain calm and said, "I don't know them."

Chu Shizhao sneered: "Don't know him? Then I will let you get to know him well."

He turned to the soldiers and asked, "Who sent you?"

The soldiers did not dare to hide anything and gave out Wang Lin's name one after another.

"Wang Lin, do you have anything else to say?"

Chu Shizhao asked sternly.

Wang Lin's face had turned pale and he had nothing to say.

Chu Shizhao stood up and walked in front of Wang Lin.

"Wang Lin, as an official appointed by the imperial court, you actually colluded with foreign enemies and framed loyal officials. Your crime is unforgivable!"

He paused, his tone even colder: "Come here, take Wang Lin down!"

The soldiers rushed forward and tied Wang Lin up.

Wang Lin struggled and shouted, "Chu Shizhao, you are framing me! You will not have a good death!"

Chu Shizhao looked at him coldly without saying anything.

Wang Lin was taken away, and peace returned to the room.

For some reason, Chu Shizhao's wound, which had almost healed, began to ache again.

Perhaps he noticed something unusual about Chu Shizhao.

At this moment, Hengyi immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, it's getting late. You should rest."

……

While Chu Shizhao was recuperating at the border, the situation in the court was turbulent.

Secret reports came in every day, and the ministers in the court were divided into several factions, fighting each other endlessly.

The news that Wang Lin was taken back to the capital quickly spread.

Concubine Xiao was sitting in the magnificent palace, and she was immediately thrown into disarray when she received the news.

She didn't expect that her carefully planned plan would fail so completely.

Not only did Wang Lin fail to kill Chu Shizhao, but he was captured alive.

She immediately summoned her trusted eunuchs and hurriedly sent out several groups of people to find out the news.

However, every piece of news she received made her even more frightened.

Not only was Chu Shizhao safe and sound, but he also took the opportunity to eliminate the traitors at the border and reorganize the army.

The emperor was furious and promoted him to a higher position and gave him a large army.

This made Concubine Xiao realize that her plan not only failed to overthrow Chu Shizhao, but made his position more stable.

"Damn it! How come Chu Shizhao is so tough!"

Concubine Xiao was so angry that she was shaking all over.

"My lady, what should we do now?"

Qingzhu, her most trusted personal maid, asked cautiously.

Concubine Xiao stopped and turned to look at Qingzhu.

"We can't wait any longer, we must get rid of Chu Shizhao as soon as possible!"

"Go contact the Shadow Pavilion and ask them to send their most powerful assassins to the border. Chu Shizhao must be killed at all costs!"

"I just don't believe that if he can escape once, he can escape a second time!"

You know, Shadow Pavilion is the most famous killer organization in the world.

They act stealthily and never fail.

Concubine Xiao had cooperated with them several times in her early years and was very clear about their strength.

She knew that as long as she paid enough, Shadow Pavilion would be able to complete the task.

Qingzhu took the order and retreated.

Concubine Xiao knew that if this operation failed again, she would be doomed.

As time passed, the sword wound on Chu Shizhao's chest gradually healed and his complexion became increasingly rosy.

The imperial physician couldn't help but marvel when he changed his dressings every day, saying that this prince truly had an extraordinary physique.

He began to reorganize the troops at the border and patrolled the training grounds every day.

"Your Highness, your injury has not yet fully healed. Do not overwork yourself."

Hengyi advised from the side.

"It doesn't matter."

Chu Shizhao smiled faintly, "The border is an important place and cannot be lost."

He assigned more patrols, added secret sentries, re-defended the city walls, and ordered craftsmen to reinforce the city gates.

All this is to prevent the Tatars from making a comeback.

However, Chu Shizhao was more worried about internal troubles than external enemies.

He knew very well that Concubine Xiao was cruel and ruthless and would never let him go easily.

This woman will do anything to achieve her goal.

Therefore, he must be fully prepared to prevent any unexpected events.

late at night.

Chu Shizhao was reviewing official documents under the lamp when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps and the sound of weapons clashing outside.

"What on earth is happening outside?"

He asked with a frown, the brush in his hand pausing in mid-air.

Just then, Hengyi pushed the door open in panic.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"

"According to the information sent by our spies in the capital, someone has hired a killer from the Shadow Pavilion at a high price..."

After listening to Hengyi's report, Chu Shizhao raised his eyebrows.

"Did the news say how many people came?"

"According to the report from the secret sentry, at least twenty experts, all of whom are very skilled, have already broken through the outer defense line!"

"Well come."

"It seems that someone in the capital can't wait to wipe me out!"

Chu Shizhao slowly stood up and gave the order in a deep voice.

"Pass on my military order. All troops are on alert. Do not let a single assassin escape!"

He knew these people in the underworld too well. They relied on their superior skills and did not take the laws of the court seriously.

Now, they even dare to attack members of the royal family.

He wanted to see how powerful these so-called top killers were.

Is it really as powerful as the rumors say?

He stretched out his hand and pressed the soft steel sword hidden at his waist, and slowly pulled it out.

"Since you have fallen into my trap, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

However, before he could finish his words, several dark shadows came out of the window and rushed towards him.

I have to say, these guys from the Shadow Pavilion are truly top masters.

They were agile and extremely fast, and quickly surrounded Chu Shizhao.

Fortunately, with Hengyi's previous reminder, Chu Shizhao was prepared at this moment.

He just flashed and easily avoided the opponent's fatal blow.

Before the other party could react, the fine steel software on his waist was instantly unsheathed. In an instant, Chu Shizhao thrust out the long sword in his hand, each move directly aimed at the assassin's throat.

The assassin reacted quickly and dodged sideways.

At the same time, he slashed at Chu Shizhao with his backhand.

Chu Shizhao didn't dare to take it head-on and dodged again.

The blade passed along his clothes, leaving a long cut.

Although Chu Shizhao is a martial arts master, the other side has a large number of people and they are all well-trained killers.

After a long battle, no matter how good he was at fighting, he was ultimately no match for the opponent's continuous attacks.

To know.

The old injury on his shoulder had not yet healed.

There had just been a fierce fight.

The wound that had just healed suddenly split open again due to the excessive movement.

"Your Highness!"

Hengyi's anxious shouts were heard outside the door, and then a team of soldiers broke in and joined the battle.

With the arrival of reinforcements, Chu Shizhao’s pressure was suddenly reduced.

He seized the opportunity and stabbed a killer through the chest with his sword.

Warm blood gushed out and splashed all over his face.

"kill!"

He roared and rushed into the enemy camp again.

Although the assassins of Shadow Pavilion are highly skilled in martial arts.

But under the siege of Chu Shizhao and his soldiers, they gradually fell into a disadvantage.

It only takes a moment.

The assassins from the Shadow Pavilion who came this time began to fall in a pool of blood one after another.

Seeing this, the remaining killers became frightened and began to retreat.

However, it was too late.

Chu Shizhao's soldiers had surrounded them.

The battle soon came to an end, and the remaining assassins fell one after another under the siege of Chu Shizhao and the soldiers.

In the end, only three assassins were captured alive, and the rest were killed on the spot.

"Imprison these people separately and keep them under strict surveillance!"

Chu Shizhao gave the order in a cold voice, then turned to Hengyi, "Pass the order down, I will personally interrogate him tonight."

Hengyi bowed in agreement and immediately arranged for people to escort the prisoners to different cells.

late at night.

In the cold dungeon, Chu Shizhao sat in the interrogation room with an assassin kneeling in front of him.

Although this man was seriously injured, he still looked unconvinced.

"Tell me, who ordered you to assassinate this king?"

Chu Shizhao spoke lightly.

"Bah! You can kill me or chop me up as you please, but don't even think about getting even a single word out of me!"

The assassin spat.

Chu Shizhao chuckled, "What I have the most is time. I want to see how long you can hold out."

He waved his hand, signaling the jailer to take the assassin away, and called another person.

However, after interrogating the three assassins in succession, no one spoke.

These assassins from the Shadow Pavilion are indeed difficult characters.

"Take one of them next door."

Chu Shizhao narrowed his eyes and gave the order.

Soon, bursts of shrill screams were heard from the next room.

In fact, they were just hitting the board over there, but through special techniques, the sound was made to sound particularly creepy.

The two assassins in the interrogation room changed their expressions when they heard the voice.

Chu Shizhao observed their reactions and sneered.

"Your companion has confessed."

He said slowly, "I already know clearly that Concubine Xiao sent you here."

As soon as these words were spoken, the two assassins turned pale.

"impossible!"

One of them cried out, "How could he..."

"How is it impossible?"

Chu Shizhao smiled coldly, "You, the Shadow Pavilion, accepted a large sum of money from Concubine Xiao, and promised her that you would seek greater power for you in the court after the matter was accomplished. Your companions have already explained all of this."

The two assassins looked at each other, their eyes full of surprise and confusion.

The screams from next door became more and more shrill, and their psychological defenses finally collapsed.

"It was... Concubine Xiao who came to us."

An assassin spoke in a trembling voice, "She said that Your Highness, you are a threat to her son's position and must be eliminated."

"She did give us a large amount of gold and silver, and also provided us with your whereabouts, Your Highness..."

The other man also began to confess.

Chu Shizhao listened quietly.

Concubine Xiao, you are so cruel.

But now is not the time to deal with her. When he returns to Beijing, he will make her pay the price.

"Heng Yi."

He called his confidants and said, "Detain these people temporarily and deal with them after returning to Beijing."

"Yes!"

……

At the same time, in Changle Palace deep inside the imperial palace.

"boom!"

An exquisite blue and white porcelain teacup was smashed to pieces.

"Waste! It's all waste!"

Concubine Xiao's face turned pale.

He growled through gnashing teeth, "You can't even kill one person. You've ruined the reputation of the Shadow Pavilion!"

The palace maids and eunuchs in the hall were so frightened that they knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

Concubine Xiao paced back and forth in the hall.

Suddenly he stopped and smiled coldly: "Chu Shizhao, do you think you can bring me down by catching a few assassins?"

She shouted, "Someone come!"

"The servant is here."

An old lady stepped forward.

"Go and call Eunuch Liu."

Soon, an old eunuch hurried over.

This eunuch Liu is Concubine Xiao's confidant, and is specifically responsible for spreading news in the palace.

"Liu Quan, I have something for you."

Concubine Xiao said softly, "Starting tomorrow, you have to let everyone know that Chu Shizhao did not hesitate to frame me in order to fight for the throne, and even paid an assassin to forge testimony."

"Don't worry, Madam. I will do it right away."

Liu Quan took the order and left.

Concubine Xiao called over another confidant and said, "Go and ask the Minister of Personnel, Lord Li, to come see me and tell him that... there is something important to discuss."

late at night.

A figure sneaked into Concubine Xiao's bedroom quietly and secretly.

"Your humble servant, Li Yuanfang, pays respect to Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

"Master Li, no courtesy."

Concubine Xiao personally stepped forward to help the other person up, "To be honest, I asked you to come here in the middle of the night because I have something I want to ask you for help with."

"My lady, look at what you said. If you have any problem, just tell me. You are too polite to ask for help or not."

"In that case, I won't speak in secret in front of you."

"I know very well that Lord Li has always been dissatisfied with that little bastard Chu Shizhao."

"so……"

Concubine Xiao hesitated for a moment, then went straight to the point.

"If Lord Li is willing to speak for me in the court, these things can be regarded as a small token of my appreciation. What do you think?"

As she spoke, Concubine Xiao waved her hand to the palace maid, and a brocade box filled with jewels and jades was handed over.

(End of this chapter)