Yang Zhao suddenly realized that the Emperor must know of this matter as well. Since that was the case, he could no longer hide it. He had to immediately enter the palace and report the situation to avoid suspicion.
"Grand Residence Yang, His Majesty summons you."
Soon, someone from the palace came to summon Yang Zhao.
Yang Zhao shivered and hurriedly made some simple preparations before rushing to the Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty."
"How is the investigation of the assassins? Are there any new developments?"
Li Longji calmly asked.
"Your Majesty, there were developments yesterday. This lowly subject has sent people to keep an eye on the medical centers and pharmacies in the capital and has already discovered the hiding places of the assassins. In order not to alert them, this lowly subject did not act rashly and instead had them continue to monitor the assassins."
Yang Zhao truthfully replied.
"If there were developments yesterday, why didn't you immediately report to Us?"
Li Longji was somewhat displeased.
"This lowly subject felt that there wasn't much progress and wanted to see who they were in contact with so as to ferret out more people. Thus, this lowly subject did not immediately report to Your Majesty.
"Your Majesty," Yang Zhao explained.
"Oh, is that so? Are there any new developments today?"
"Your Majesty, early this morning, six assassins left their hiding places and went to the Tenth King's Residence …"
Yang Zhao knew that Li Longji had spies in the Tenth King's Residence and naturally did not dare to hide anything.
Li Longji instantly understood. He had received a report early in the morning and understood the abnormal situation in the Tenth King's Residence, but his spies did not understand what was going on and could only report it as it was. And after Yang Zhao's explanation, Li Longji suddenly understood a little.
"How many people know of this matter?"
Li Longji sternly looked at Yang Zhao, a sharp killing intent flashing in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, be at ease. This lowly subject has already given strict orders that no one is to divulge anything. At present, besides this lowly subject and Your Majesty, there are also several bad people in charge of this case that know of this matter."
Yang Zhao fearfully replied.
"Continue to monitor it. Do not divulge it to anyone."
Li Longji said with a face full of anger.
"Yes, Your Majesty. However, the Tenth King's Residence is not an ordinary place. This lowly subject fears that there will be some misunderstanding."
"You just have to do it. As for the other matters, I will arrange them. You may leave!"
After Yang Zhao left, Li Longji paced back and forth in the hall, deep in thought. The assassin had contacted the various kings. Did this mean that the assassin's assassination was related to his princes? However, there was no conclusive evidence at the moment. Naturally, he could not casually arrest anyone, but his suspicions had already placed his sons in the ranks of unfilial sons.
He was already old, but he was still alive. As long as he was still breathing, he was unwilling to give up the power in his hands. He absolutely could not tolerate betrayal.
For a few days in a row, the assassin disguised as a farmer would go to the Residence of the Ten Kings to act sneakily. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed to be a conspiracy.
"Your Majesty, it has been four consecutive days. These assassins have been running to the Residence of the Ten Lords without any other action."
Every day, Yang Zhao would report to the palace and listen for further instructions.
"Don't act rashly. Go down!"
Li Longji was also helpless. He had been hesitating on how to deal with this matter.
In order to consolidate his authority, he had already killed three of his sons. Now, six of his sons had suddenly appeared to be colluding with the assassins. This made his heart ache.
The words of the two assassins deeply hurt him. He also began to doubt himself. He suspected that his unfairness to the dethroned Crown Prince and King Shou had attracted the jealousy and hatred of the other princes.
However, he was still the emperor's father. Even if the princes were dissatisfied with him, they should not have colluded with the assassins and sentenced him to death.
When he thought of these six unfilial sons, he alternated between grief and anger. Sometimes, he sighed. Sometimes, he slammed the table and stood up. His heart was filled with mixed feelings.
"Pass down the decree. Summon King Qing, King Yong, King Yan, King Sheng, King Xin, and King Chen immediately to the palace for an audience."
Li Longji could no longer hold back and issued the decree.
Soon, the six princes entered the palace and waited outside the Zichen Hall.
"May I know why Imperial Father has summoned us to the palace?"
While waiting outside the hall, King Qing, Li Tan, was the first to speak.
"His Majesty was attacked not long ago. It can't be related to this matter, right?"
"Don't jinx it. We are princes. How can we be related to the assassins?"
"Why aren't there any other brothers? It's just us six princes."
The princes chatted casually. They did not know why the emperor had summoned them.
"Everyone, King Qing and the others have arrived."
Gao Lishi reminded them.
"Let them in."
Li Longji gave the decree with a straight face.
King Qing and the others entered the Zichen Hall. They knelt and bowed to Li Longji. "Your son greets Imperial Father."
"All of you, rise!"
Li Longji waved his hand and carefully observed the princes' expressions.
"You all know that I was attacked when I went out a few days ago. However, how did the assassins know the exact date of my departure? What do you think?"
Li Longji asked.
"Spy. There must be a spy in the palace who leaked Imperial Father's whereabouts to the assassins. That's why the assassins were prepared."
"Imperial Father, your son thinks so too. However, if we start investigating the people who knew of Imperial Father's departure plans, we will definitely find the spy."
Li Longji smiled faintly. "You all also think that there is a spy by my side? Then it must be because I didn't do well and caused the people around me to have thoughts of rebellion. Don't you think so? "
"Imperial Father is wise and mighty. You are a wise emperor."
The six princes suddenly felt a tense atmosphere. They looked at each other and suddenly felt that they were suspected by their father.
"You are all my sons. What kind of father do you think I am? Have I done many things that have disappointed you?"
Li Longji said faintly.
"Imperial Father, your son doesn't dare."
The six princes became even more nervous. Their father's state was very similar to when he had executed the three dethroned crown princes. This made them nervous and they took the opportunity to kneel.
"You don't dare. Well said. It's just that you don't dare. Do you still hate me in your heart?"
Li Longji's voice was very soft, as if he was talking to himself.
The six princes became even more nervous. They were so scared that they didn't even dare to breathe loudly. They clearly didn't do anything, yet they were going to suffer this unexpected calamity. However, they didn't dare to rashly explain.
"I know that I have done wrong, but I am your Imperial Father. I love you all."
Li Longji's tone became much softer.
"Imperial Father, your son is loyal and devoted to you. I definitely won't be disloyal. Imperial Father, please don't listen to the words of despicable people."
Prince Qing was the first to explain.
After making a fuss for so long, no matter how stupid they were, they understood that the Emperor was suspecting them. They really felt wronged in their hearts.
"Imperial Father, your son definitely won't dare to have any thoughts of rebellion. Your son has always been loyal and devoted to Imperial Father."
"Imperial Father, please don't listen to the slanderous words of despicable people. Your son has never been dissatisfied with Imperial Father."
"Imperial Father has never treated your son unfairly. How can your son be dissatisfied?"
The princes hurriedly expressed their loyalty. Their expressions were sincere, without a trace of hypocrisy.
Li Longji looked at the princes and softly said, "What are you all doing? I only called you here to chat and talk about feelings. When did I say that you were disloyal? Get up, all of you get up!"
"Thank you, Imperial Father."
The six princes got up to express their thanks. Their expressions were still somewhat nervous.
After chatting casually for a while, Li Longji waved his hand and had the six princes return to their respective residences.
"Could it really be that they were trying to frame me?"
Li Longji felt that the performance of the six princes just now was very good. He was very satisfied. He couldn't tell that they had any intentions of rebellion. At the same time, he didn't believe that these princes would collude to deal with him.
However, he still needed to continue investigating as to what exactly was going on in their residences.
Fortunately, each of the princely residences had informants. As long as they used their power, they would be able to get to the bottom of this matter.
Soon, Li Longji issued an order for the informants in each of the princely residences to take action. They seriously investigated the daily behavior of the princes to see if they were really related to the assassins.
Not far from the Tenth House, Zha Xizan and the assassins under his command were having a meeting. They already knew that the Emperor had summoned the six princes and had begun the next step.
"What should we do next?"
Zha Xizan looked at the six assassins and said, "Are you all willing to sacrifice your lives for Zan Pu?"
"Yes, we are very willing. What should we do? Tell us!"
Zha Xizan was extremely happy. He said, "The six of you will assassinate these six princes at night. I have already prepared a letter. You just need to keep the letter in your arms."
"Okay, we are willing to die for Zan Pu."
Zha Xizan said with satisfaction, "Alright, go and prepare! We will start the operation tonight. The rest of you, prepare to evacuate tonight. "
"Yes."
At night, Zha Xizan and all of his subordinates were ready to set off at any time.
"The six of you, leave all your weapons behind and go empty-handed."
Zha Xizan ordered.
"Why? How can we assassinate without weapons? "
The six assassins expressed that they did not understand.
"Assassinate? Do you think it is a real assassination? I asked you to bring the letter to those princes. But you are wearing night clothes. If you are discovered by the guards, they will definitely treat you as assassins and try to arrest you. Once you resist, you will be killed on the spot. In this way, the letter in your arms can be used to frame these princes and finally bring disaster to the Tang dynasty. "
Zha Xizan said coldly.
"Yes, we understand."
"Well, you all start the operation immediately. The rest of you follow me into the secret passage. This place has been exposed. We will evacuate here and settle down in another stronghold."
Zha Xizan said.
The assassins quickly took action and died in the Princes' Mansions as expected.
Near the main hall of Prince Qing's Mansion, the guard was dumbfounded when he saw the assassins being killed. He immediately reported to Prince Qing, Li Tan.
Li Tan was called to the palace by the Emperor for a heart-to-heart talk. He was so nervous that he could not sleep at night. Therefore, he heard everything that happened in the mansion clearly.
"What happened?"
Li Tan was very upset. He put on a coat and went out.
"Alang, an assassin broke in just now. He has been killed by the guards. His body is next to the main hall."
The manservant of Prince Qing's Mansion reported.
"Let's go and have a look."
Li Tan was very nervous. He put on a coat and walked to the front yard.
"It's this assassin, the one lying on the ground."
The manservant pointed to the man in black on the ground and said.
"Assassins? Who could have sent them? Who wants to kill me? "
Li Tan was very confused. He was called to have a heart-to-heart talk by his father during the day, and then he encountered an assassin at night. This made him very confused. However, he did not think it was his father who sent the assassin because it was completely unnecessary. If the Emperor wanted to kill his son, he did not need to go through so much trouble. A cup of imperial wine was enough.
If the Emperor asked his minister to die, the minister had to die. If the Father asked his son to die, the son had to die. Li Longji was both the Emperor and the father. Therefore, it was too easy for him to kill his son.
"Alang, why didn't the assassin bring a weapon? He looks familiar."
The manservant glanced at the assassin and his heart thumped.
"If the assassin didn't bring a weapon, how could he assassinate?"
"Alang, the assassin did not bring a weapon. After he was discovered, he fought with his bare hands and was killed by us."
The guard said truthfully.
Li Tan looked at the manservant and asked, "You said that the assassin looked familiar. Have you seen him before?"
The manservant looked carefully for a long time and nodded. "Alang, isn't this the farmer who delivered vegetables to the residence these days? How could he be an assassin?"
"What farmer delivering vegetables? What's going on?"
Li Tan was furious. He suddenly felt that he had been set up. Yes, this was the feeling.
"Alang, a few days ago, this person delivered a lot of vegetables. The price was reasonable and the vegetables were very fresh. He delivered them for several days in a row. He was also very friendly. How could he be an assassin? "
The manservant could not accept it for a while.
"How could there be such a good farmer for no reason? After he entered the residence, what did he do? Tell me everything in full detail. Do not leave out a single detail. "
Li Tan's hair stood on end. He felt that there was a conspiracy shrouding him.
The manservant naturally did not dare to hide anything. He described everything that the assassin had done in full detail. He did not leave out a single detail.
"He actually stayed for less than an hour each time. You lowly servant, how could you let a stranger stay in the residence for so long? Bastard."
Li Tan finally understood why his Imperial Father had summoned him during the day and said so many strange things. It turned out that it had something to do with the assassin who had stayed behind. As long as he connected the dots, he could imagine that the assassin who had been killed was definitely the group of assassins who had tried to assassinate the Emperor a few days ago.
And this group of assassins had come to his residence for no reason. It was obvious that they wanted to frame him and implicate him in the case of the Emperor's assassination, thus achieving their goal of attacking him.
But who was it? Who had such a great enmity with him that they wanted to frame him?
Li Tan's hair stood on end. He did not know what to do. This night, he could not sleep at all.
Other than Li Tan's residence, the same situation occurred in the other five residences. These five princes naturally could not sleep. They were all shivering as they waited for the arrival of the day.
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