The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

Someone was sent to help Xiaochan wash and dress up, and Wei Du took her and a team of guards to the dock.

Half an hour later, the carriage stopped not far from the pier, and Wei Du and Xiao Chan got off one after another with the help of servants.

When they arrived at the dock, Li Chengfeng and his group were already waiting for them.

Today, Li Chengfeng only brought Tiezhu and Lu Wen with him, and the guards followed behind them.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Wei Du stepped forward to pay his respects and was about to kneel down when he was stopped by Li Chengfeng.

"When you're out and about, keep things simple. My dear Wei, please don't bother."

"Yes, Your Majesty, please." Wei Du bowed and asked Li Chengfeng to go first, and then followed Li Chengfeng at a distance of one body length behind him.

Xiaochan was walking half a step behind Tiezhu. Suddenly, she twisted her ankle and almost fell. Lu Wen, who was beside her, helped her up in time.

The moment the two of them touched, Xiaochan stuffed the thing in her hand to Lu Wen.

Holding his palm tightly, Lu Wen asked with concern: "Is Miss Xiaochan okay?"

Shaking her head, Xiaochan said, "Thank you, Master Lu. I'll go ahead."

After saying that, he nodded and followed the person in front of him.

It was a busy time at the dock, with the docked ships lined up in an orderly manner and porters constantly shuttling back and forth between the ships and the dock.

They carry or lift the cargo on the ship to the designated area.

The people on the boat also walked down the gangway and came to the dock to replenish supplies or eat and drink.

Watching this lively scene, Li Chengfeng couldn't help but smile and said to Wei Du behind him, "Wei Qing has managed Jiangnan Prefecture very well. You must discuss the daily cargo volume at this dock with me."

Wei Du behind him hurriedly said, "Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty. This is all within your humble duty. I have prepared a small banquet in Linjiang Tower. Please move on, Your Majesty."

"Okay, Wei Qing, lead the way." Li Chengfeng walked while admiring the scenery of the canal.

After arriving at Linjiang Tower, Wei Du took them to the top-floor box, from where they could have a panoramic view of the entire pier.

After the group sat down, Wei Du attentively poured wine for Li Chengfeng and said, "Your Majesty, this apricot blossom wine from Linjiang Tower is a specialty of Zezhou. Please taste it."

As he spoke, he raised his glass and gestured respectfully to Li Chengfeng.

Li Chengfeng raised his lips slightly, picked up the wine glass and took a sip, praising: "It's smooth and mellow on the palate, with a long aftertaste. It's really good."

He put down his wine glass, glanced at the busy dock outside the window, and asked casually, "Wei Qing, I heard that taxes in Jiangnan Prefecture have been rising year after year. I imagine that the Zezhou Dock has contributed a lot, right?"

Putting down his wine glass, Wei Du straightened his back and said with a hint of pride, "Thanks to Your Majesty, the Zezhou docks are crowded with merchants, the cargo throughput is huge, and taxes are naturally rising."

"Your Majesty's teachings have always been in my mind, and I dare not slack off in the slightest."

"My dear minister, you have done a good job." Li Chengfeng observed Wei Du calmly, thinking to himself.

After a moment, Wei Du bowed and said to Li Chengfeng, "Your Majesty, I will go down and tell them to prepare some Jiangnan specialties. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty."

Li Chengfeng paused with his hand holding the wine glass, feeling something was wrong, but he didn't say much and nodded.

"Go."

He didn't look away until Wei Du disappeared at the stairs.

Only Li Chengfeng, Lu Wen and Tiezhu were left in the box.

Lu Wen went to the door and took a look, making sure that Wei Du had left, then came to Li Chengfeng.

"Your Majesty, Miss Xiaochan just gave me this."

As he said this, he handed the paper roll that Xiaochan had just given him to Li Chengfeng.

Li Chengfeng took the paper and unfolded it. There were some crooked lines and symbols drawn on it, like part of a map.

If you look carefully, you can see the direction of some mountains and rivers, as well as some places marked with special symbols.

"This is a map of the garrisons Wei Du and Zheng Yingtong maintain for their private troops."

There was also a note inside the drawing.

After reading it, Li Chengfeng crumpled the note in his hand into a ball with a gloomy expression.

The note clearly stated that Zheng Yingtong and Wei Du were plotting to assassinate him at Linjiang Tower today.

After calming down for a moment, Li Chengfeng said to Lu Wen, "The plan has changed. I need to return to the capital immediately!"

"Before coming here, I have already ordered Zhao Sheng to dispatch the boat. Once the boat arrives, we will leave immediately."

"Tiezhu, notify Jiye, all the secret guards must gather at Linjiang Tower!"

Lu Wen and Tie Zhu nodded in agreement.

Downstairs of Linjiang Building.

Wei Du came to a private room, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became solemn.

Several men in black suits immediately stood up with serious expressions.

"Sir, everything is ready!" The leading killer bowed slightly and reported.

He nodded slightly, a fierce light flashing in Wei Du's eyes.

The recent events are very unfavorable to them. If the emperor cannot be charmed by Xiaochan today, he will have to kill Li Chengfeng!

"Listen to my instructions later. Smashing the cup will be the signal!" Wei Du continued, his eyes like knives, scanning everyone to make sure everyone remembered it.

The killers knew in their hearts that this was a life-and-death moment. Everyone was on edge, silently waiting for Wei Du's orders.

Walking into the private room with a smile, Wei Du said to Li Chengfeng, "I have already asked the kitchen to serve the special dishes shortly."

After he finished speaking, the waiter pushed the door open and came in, holding several exquisite cold dishes in his hands.

After placing the cold dishes on the table one by one, he retreated respectfully.

Li Chengfeng glanced at the cold dishes on the table and nodded slightly.

Wei Duze served him the dishes attentively, his smile growing even brighter. "Your Majesty, please try this sweet-scented osmanthus fish, it's Linjiang Tower's signature dish."

Li Chengfeng picked up his chopsticks and put a small piece of fish into his mouth, savoring it carefully before praising it: "Mm, it tastes delicious, indeed."

Seeing this, Wei Du was secretly delighted, and then he earnestly urged him to drink: "Your Majesty, I would like to offer you a drink!" He drank the wine in the glass in one gulp.

"Okay." Li Chengfeng also drank the wine in the glass generously.

"Come, your majesty, have another drink."

"..." The two of them toasted each other while clinking glasses.

Gradually, Li Chengfeng's face began to flush, and his eyes grew blurry. He rubbed his temples, his body swaying slightly. He forced himself to drink another glass, mumbling, "Wei Qing... you have a good alcohol tolerance... I... I feel a little... dizzy..." With that, he slumped over on the table, unconscious.

Lu Wen and Tie Zhu, who were standing by, had already fallen drunk and rolled under the table.

At this time, Wei Du was also a little tipsy. Looking at the prone Li Chengfeng, he said boldly under the influence of alcohol: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I did not want to go to the point of regicide. You forced me to do this!"

"Miss Xiaochan, I will also escort you down. It would be nice to have a companion on your journey to the underworld, hum!"

After saying that, he smashed the wine glass in his hand against the wall, and it shattered into pieces in an instant.