The regent is determined to get the daughter of a minor official.

Otomo-sama said cautiously.

Chu Musheng snorted coldly.

"A loving mother often spoils her child. Pass on this prince's order: the emperor can only pay his respects to the empress dowager on the first and fifteenth day of each month. The two are not allowed to meet at other times."

"Yes, Your Highness. Also, the Grand Empress Dowager sent someone to ask how she should arrange your wedding."

Eunuch Otomo continued to report.

Chu Musheng pondered for a moment.

"Just tell the Grand Empress Dowager that everything will be done according to the rules. This prince's wedding will be held at Prince Sheng's Mansion, and the Grand Empress Dowager will be invited to the mansion to receive the ceremony."

"I understand. Also, regarding the Emperor..."

Otomo-sama's voice became even lower.

"How is the emperor?" Chu Musheng asked.

"The Emperor has been diligent in his studies and martial arts practice lately, but he occasionally asks the eunuchs around him about your marriage."

Otomo-sama said.

Chu Musheng stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.

"Don't you practice martial arts every day? Why is the Emperor feeling unwell today?"

"Maybe I caught a bit of a cold yesterday."

Grandpa Otomo bent his waist even lower.

Chu Musheng rubbed his eyebrows.

If I had known that my nephew was so weak, I should have considered the other princes. But it is useless to think about these things now.

"Otomo, please get off!"

Chu Musheng waved to Eunuch Otomo.

"Yes, Your Highness. I will withdraw first."

After paying his respects, Lord Otomo slowly left the imperial study.

Chu Musheng sat back in his chair, tapping the table lightly with his fingers.

Sheng Wu walked in at this time and bowed.

"Your Majesty."

"Have those four people revealed the person behind this?"

Chu Musheng frowned, his eyes cold.

"Your Highness, we've used all kinds of torture, but those people just won't speak. They're very stubborn."

Sheng Wu looked angry.

Chu Musheng snorted coldly.

"If you don't accept my toast, then I'll punish you! Continue the interrogation. I don't believe I can't pry their mouths open."

"Yes, Your Highness! It's just that these people seem to have received special training, and their tolerance for pain is beyond ordinary people."

Sheng Wu looked embarrassed.

Chu Musheng stood up and paced back and forth, when suddenly an idea flashed in his mind.

“Being able to surround and kill my secret guards is not an easy task even with the advantage in numbers.

This king suspects that those prisoners may also be from the palace's secret guard camp. Sheng Wu, go find Eunuch Pan, the chief of the secret guard camp, and have him interrogate those prisoners."

"My subordinate understands and will do it now."

Sheng Wu received the order and was about to leave.

"and many more!"

Chu Musheng called him.

"This matter must not be made public, especially not to the princesses and royal relatives who have not yet returned to their fiefdoms."

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will be very careful."

Sheng Wu finished speaking and left in a hurry.

Chu Musheng looked out the window, thinking secretly in his mind.

It is not ruled out that other ministers in the court secretly trained secret guards and death squads.

But how could the ones they trained be compared with the secret guards in the imperial palace?

This time they did not wait for Miss Xu outside the Xu family's house to go out, but broke into the Xu family's backyard at night to assassinate her.

This kind of arrogance is not what ordinary people do.

Although the ministers in the court have some power, mobilizing such well-trained personnel is too risky and easy to leave room for suspicion.

The main target of the other party is Miss Xu. How could Miss Xu affect the interests of these court officials?

Almost every member of the royal family has several secret guards trained by the royal family.

But what reason do they have to kill Miss Xu?

Could it be that he is afraid that he will have someone else after marrying Miss Xu?

Thinking of this, Chu Musheng's eyes became even colder.

Once it involves internal struggles within the royal family, the situation will become even more complicated and difficult.

Those princesses and clan members seemed to get along well with each other on weekdays, but in the face of power, how much could family affection be worth?

If someone from the royal family is really manipulating all this behind the scenes, then their target is probably not just Miss Xu.

It is very likely that it is directed at himself or even the entire court.

The more Chu Musheng thought about it, the more he thought about it. He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of tea. He had some ideas in his mind.

No matter who it is, if they dare to stir up trouble under his nose and assassinate Miss Xu, he will never tolerate it.

At this time, Sheng Wu had already arrived at the secret guard camp deep in the palace.

"Eunuch Pan, the Regent has ordered you to go to Prince Sheng's mansion to assist in the interrogation of several prisoners."

After Sheng Wu showed the token, he bowed and said respectfully.

Eunuch Pan had a head full of white hair. He narrowed his eyes slightly and threw the long whip in his hand to the person behind him.

"Now that my family knows, I'll go with you."

……

In the princess's mansion, Princess Jianning, dressed in gorgeous brocade clothes, was anxiously waiting for news.

"Why haven't the secret guards we sent last night returned yet? Could it be that the plan has been exposed?"

She paced back and forth in the room, looking nervous.

Suddenly I felt a little regretful. Was I possessed by a demon? Why would I send people to kill Xu Ke?

She is just a lowly little witch, not even qualified to carry my shoes.

Could it be that I have been bewitched by Shen Qingfeng?

Princess Jianning found countless excuses to shirk responsibility.

She completely forgot how many unknown evil things she had done over the years by relying on her noble status.

Precisely because her actions have never been exposed, her arrogance continues to grow, and she acts based on her mood without ever considering the consequences.

"Princess, don't worry too much. Perhaps he was delayed on the way."

Cui'er, the personal maid beside her, comforted her softly.

Princess Jianning stopped and glared at Cui'er.

"What do you know, a lowly servant? If the Regent gets to know about this, I'll be in trouble."

As he was speaking, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door.

"Princess, it's not good!"

A confidant ran in in a panic.

Princess Jianning's heart sank suddenly.

"Tell me quickly, what happened?"

"None of the secret guards we sent out have returned. They might have been captured by the Regent's men."

The confidant said tremblingly.

Princess Jianning's face turned pale in an instant, her body swayed and she almost fell down.

"What should I do? What should I do?"

Cui'er quickly supported her.

"Princess, calm down first. Perhaps the Regent hasn't figured out it was you who sent the people."

"Impossible! Who is the Regent? If he's determined to find out, even if those secret guards are dead, it's only a matter of time before he finds out the truth."

Princess Jianning's voice trembled and her eyes were full of fear.

Only then did she realize that she had provoked someone she shouldn't have, even though the Regent was her biological brother.

But his younger brother has always been cold-blooded and ruthless. He is not close to anyone except the Empress Dowager and the deceased emperor.

"No, I want to enter the palace, and only my mother can protect me."

……

Prince Sheng's Palace.

Along the way, Sheng Wu told Eunuch Pan everything that had happened.

Eunuch Pan kept stroking the dust, smiling and looking down without saying a word.

Until Sheng Wu mentioned An Liu's death.

"Jie Jie Jie!"

Eunuch Pan suddenly let out a strange laugh, which scared Sheng Wu so much that he shrank to the other side of the carriage.

"Where is he being held? Take us there to see who are these idiots who dared to harm the secret guards we trained with so much effort."

After getting off the carriage, Eunuch Pan urged Sheng Wu repeatedly.

Sheng Wu looked at Eunuch Pan's raised index finger and felt frightened.