Tang Dynasty: To win Yang Guifei, they asked Emperor Xuanzong to die.

Gao Chen didn't quite agree with Li Mao's words.

He showed a hint of disapproval, but at this moment, he no longer dared to be as confident as before.

She weakly retorted, "Your Highness, what you've said is all just speculation, without any evidence. Perhaps some of those followers are hot-headed and have the audacity to publicly insult His Majesty. And the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince is tantamount to undermining the foundation of the state; perhaps that's what they're thinking..."

“Eunuch Gao, you’re just fooling yourself.” Li Mao sneered, interrupting Gao Chen. “The mastermind behind the Crown Prince’s presence in Xianyang wouldn’t be so foolish. He’s just good at hiding evidence, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any. No wonder the Emperor is dissatisfied with you. You’re too shallow.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Chen was speechless and could only lower his head, remaining silent.

At this moment, Guo Ziyi interjected, "I think Your Highness's words make a lot of sense. After eliminating all possibilities, what remains, no matter how impossible, is the truth. If such a person truly exists, he must be extremely knowledgeable about court affairs, His Majesty's thoughts, and our travel routes; otherwise, he couldn't have orchestrated such a complex scheme. I'm afraid..."

I'm afraid that when this person's true identity is revealed, it will shock everyone.

This is a major reason why the investigation of this case has been difficult.

—A person capable of doing these things must be of noble status, perhaps even a member of the imperial family. Simply put, only someone like Li Mao has the ability to accomplish these feats.

Li Mao is a prince. Could it be that the person behind the assassination attempt on the crown prince is also a prince?

No wonder His Majesty is suspicious of Prince Shou; there's a reason for it.

As Guo Ziyi pondered this, he felt a cold sweat break out all over his body.

At this moment, a member of the Imperial Guard rushed in, panting, and said, "Your Highness, General Guo, there's...there's good news! We've caught the person suspected of assassinating the Crown Prince. He was hiding in a long-abandoned house in the north of the city. The owner of that house happened to want to sell it and had a real estate agent appraise it, which is how they found him. He's been brought back for questioning now."

Guo Ziyi immediately asked, "What have you found out?"

Seeing Guo Ziyi's excited gaze, the Imperial Guards felt a little embarrassed.

He stammered, "No, no, we didn't get anything out of him. This guy is very tight-lipped and arrogant. He said if we had the guts, we'd have His Highness Prince Shou interrogate him personally, and maybe then he'd be interested in saying something. Otherwise, there's no need for him to waste his breath on us."

"Oh?" Li Mao sneered, "This person has been hiding in the abandoned house for many days, but he is well-informed. He knows that I am in charge of this case, and he specifically asked me to interrogate him."

This person's behavior sounds rather strange; it's definitely worth checking out.

Li Mao and Guo Ziyi exchanged a glance and immediately made a decision.

"Go, interrogate this man immediately!"

The group hurried to the woodshed where the thieves were being held.

A thin, small man was seen kneeling on the ground, bound hand and foot, his face filled with determination. Several Imperial Guards surrounded him, questioning him repeatedly, but they were unable to obtain any useful clues.

This person was not the one who made outrageous remarks and insulted Li Longji in the tavern.

It appears to be an organized operation, with each person having different responsibilities.

"Your subordinate greets Your Highness Prince Shou!" With Li Mao's arrival, the Imperial Guards seemed to have found their leader.

Upon hearing that Li Mao had arrived, the thin man suddenly looked up, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He looked at Li Mao and gave him an enigmatic smile, as if he wanted to exchange a knowing glance with Li Mao.

Seeing the man's increasingly strange behavior, Li Mao's heart skipped a beat. He took a few steps forward and said in a deep voice, "Who are you? Speak! Why did you attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince? Who ordered you to do this?"

The man stared at Li Mao, let out a strange laugh, but didn't say anything.

Guo Ziyi was furious. He stepped forward and shouted, "Fine, you don't have to talk. I'll find a way to make you talk!"

Li Mao waved to stop Guo Ziyi, stared into the assassin's eyes, and said slowly, "You are a reckless man, and I'm afraid you've never even seen Princess Taiping. Why did you say those things when you tried to assassinate the Crown Prince? Who taught you those words? If you say them now, you might still be allowed to die a whole death."

"Hehe!" The man's lips curled slightly, seemingly with a hint of helplessness. He said, "Your Highness Prince Shou, some things are clearer to those who ask than to those who speak. I only hope that Your Highness Prince Shou can always stay true to yourself and not disappoint those who follow you."

These words stunned everyone present.

"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Guo Ziyi couldn't help but rebuke.

Although this person's words were incoherent, he was clearly using these lies to drag Prince Shou into the mess, as if... as if they were playing a riddle that only he and Prince Shou knew.

The assassin slowly opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them.

"I have said everything I needed to say, and those who should understand have understood. I will follow you to the death—"

Li Mao's pupils contracted, and he immediately understood his intention.

"Stop him!" he yelled, but it was too late.

The assassin bit into something, and foam appeared in his mouth before he collapsed to the ground. The Imperial Guards pried the medicine residue from his mouth and said, "He committed suicide by poison."

"Damn it!" Guo Ziyi kicked the assassin in anger, but the man was already unresponsive.

Guo Ziyi slowly turned his gaze to Li Mao, his face filled with worry.

—The assassin rambled on before he died, his words nonsensical yet pointed. His insistence on seeing Li Mao, which he had just managed to clear Li Mao of suspicion, has now shifted the blame back onto him.

The Imperial Guards exchanged glances, not daring to speak.

The assassin's cryptic remarks just now seemed to be an attempt to confirm something with His Highness Prince Shou.

How did they come to know each other, and what are they trying to confirm?

It's absolutely terrifying to think about!

Li Mao took a deep breath, his face ashen.

He knew that everything that happened here today would be told to Li Longji word for word, perhaps even embellished. Given Li Longji's temperament, he would likely face further doubt and torment.

Although Li Longji's body is becoming increasingly hollow and weak under his "help," he is not yet at the end of his life. Moreover, due to his physical condition, Li Longji has become more irritable and crazy, and it is impossible to know what he might do in a fit of rage.

If I had known this would happen, I would have killed him right there in the bandit stronghold!

Although Li Mao harbored such resentment in his heart, he also understood that killing Li Longji was impossible now. His status was special, and if he was not careful, he would be accused of patricide and regicide.

As expected, half an hour later, Li Longji summoned Li Mao to an audience.