Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

That night.

Xiyuan, near Leitan.

In the dark room, the rapid breathing continued for half an hour before gradually subsiding.

"Furong, Zhu Houyu has accepted Guo Xun's invitation to a banquet at the Marquis of Wuding's residence tomorrow night."

Wang Ziyan held Chen Furong in his arms.

"The Left Protector, Master, and the six elders of the main altar have made full preparations for tomorrow night's operation. If nothing unexpected happens, the mission should be completed smoothly."

Over the years, I have carried out many missions and have faced life and death many times.

I originally thought I could keep a calm mind this time too.

But when the time comes, I always feel a little uneasy.

The planned time to carry out the assassination was on the long street in the south of the city, when Zhu Houyu was returning from the Wuding Marquis's residence.

Within the capital, he wouldn't have many guards around him, and the terrain of the long street also limited the possibility of guards swarming him.

As long as the two elders each block one direction of the Prince of Ying's guards, the other four elders can join forces to kill Zhu Houyu without worrying about their rear.

All six elders are masters of internal martial arts. Even in a fair one-on-one duel, they would be roughly equal to Zhu Houyu, a master of external martial arts, and it would be difficult to determine a winner in a short time.

With Zhu Houyu drunk and without a weapon, the four of them launched a sneak attack together, which would surely cause the enemy to react poorly and be overwhelmed.

The elders had calculated that, if everything went smoothly, the battle could be ended and their lives taken in just a few breaths.

Even if Zhu Houyu's martial arts skills were higher than expected, there was absolutely no way he could hold out until the main force of soldiers arrived to rescue him.

The Left Protector himself will lead more than ten elite followers to meet the elders in the vicinity for their evacuation.

The master would take hangover pills beforehand and then, at the banquet, he would pull Guo Xun to keep toasting Zhu Houyu until he got him drunk.

My task was to cover for Elder Pan, who was impersonating the master's disciple, and create an opportunity for him to switch Zhu Houyu's double-edged swords.

Guo Xun and his master will naturally accompany Zhu Houyu at the banquet tomorrow night.

It's unlikely that Zhu Houyu would carry a long sword with him at a banquet.

Guo Xun's third son, Guo Shoulu, and I have some personal acquaintance. In the past two years, he has often invited me to brothels and taverns in the capital. We can be considered drinking buddies.

Guo Shoulu will surely invite me to sit with him, and I will find an excuse to tour the Wuding Marquis's residence with him.

Using his status as the third young master of the Marquis's mansion, it shouldn't be difficult for him to go to the location where the Prince of Ying's long sword is kept, attract the attention of the Prince of Ying's guards, and create conditions for Elder Pan.

However, plans often fail to keep up with changes.

What's more, the person we're going to assassinate this time is a master of external martial arts!

If something goes wrong in any step, the entire effort may be in vain.

Assassinating a Prince Regent is a heinous crime. If Zhu Houyu survives the assassination attempt tomorrow night, the Left Protector and the elders may still be able to break through the encirclement with their superb martial arts skills.

It was almost impossible for my master and me to escape alive.

Even Duke Guo Xun of Yiguo will be implicated, along with his entire family.

"And aren't I the same?"

Chen Furong sighed softly.

"Now, the sixteen palace maids of Yikun Palace have secretly formed an alliance with Consort Wang Ning."

These palace maids had never even killed a chicken. Although I secretly instructed Consort Yang Jinying on how to make a killing weapon from a wooden hairpin, I was still not entirely confident.

But I can't do it myself!

Even if I don't actually do it, I can still use Empress Fang's token to go to the Imperial Stables and ask someone to save the emperor in the name of the Empress, thus clearing myself of suspicion of regicide.

After the Imperial Horse Administration officers apprehend them, they will certainly be subjected to severe torture.

These palace maids could not withstand torture; every single one of them would be questioned about their actions in detail.

If I had also taken action, there would have been no way I could have escaped unscathed.

For the heinous crime of regicide, these palace maids, along with Consort Wang, will all face certain death.

"If I were them, I would have taken my own life immediately after killing the emperor, rather than suffer the agony of being torn to pieces."

"Furong, in tomorrow night's operation, whether successful or not, you must prioritize your own safety."

After a moment of silence, Wang Ziyan slowly spoke.

"If the palace maids could successfully take the emperor's life, that would be best."

If you fail, you must immediately urge Empress Fang to kill all the palace maids involved in the operation.

Their families were moved with your help. If the emperor were to die, it wouldn't be difficult for Empress Fang to cover it up, and she wouldn't leave it undisclosed.

After all, you went to the Imperial Stables to rescue the emperor under her name.

If you're implicated, she herself will also become a suspect.

But if the emperor himself sent people to interrogate these palace maids, Empress Fang would be powerless to do anything about it.

"I have considered this, so you don't need to worry."

Chen Furong whispered in Wang Ziyan's ear.

"What I'm about to say is even more important!"

Wang Ziyan gritted his teeth.

"If the palace maids succeed in assassinating the emperor, you must advise Empress Fang to seal off all exits of the West Garden as soon as possible."

They also need to send trusted confidants to each exit, and once they hear that the Prince of Ying is going to enter the West Garden, they must immediately kill all these palace maids!

If the Left Protector's assassination plan fails, and Zhu Houyu hears the news of the emperor's assassination attempt in the Western Garden, he will definitely rush to the Western Garden.

He was the emperor's younger brother. Although he wouldn't be disrespectful to his sister-in-law, Empress Fang, she couldn't stop him from taking away the palace maid who had assassinated the emperor and handing her over to the Northern Garrison for interrogation.

Once he gets the palace maids' testimonies, you'll definitely be implicated, and he might even take the opportunity to drag Empress Fang down with him, accusing her of plotting to kill the emperor.

Furong, I've thought it through carefully. No matter which side's operation fails tomorrow night, your only way out is to cling to Empress Fang's coattails and become as deeply entangled with her as possible.

After this incident, she will definitely rely on you as a confidant, and you will have a solid foundation for your survival in the palace.

As for outside the palace, you don't need to worry.

You were personally sent to the palace by the leader. Besides me and my master, only the leader and the left protector know your identity.

With the cult leader far away in Taiyuan, the Left Protector is unlikely to personally participate in the assassination attempt, making it improbable that he has fallen into enemy hands.

I would rather die than betray you.

The only person who could possibly reveal your identity is your master.

Don't worry, if it really comes to a last resort, I know what I should do!

. . .

The following afternoon.

A prince's imperial carriage, surrounded by dozens of officers of the Imperial Guard, exited the Donghua Gate and headed towards the residence of the Marquis of Wuding.

Lu Chen sat upright in the elephant carriage, closing his eyes to rest.

Finally, we are about to clash with the transmigrators who have established a stronghold called "Black Cliff" in Pingding Prefecture and have infiltrated the Taiyuan military.

Lu Chen had no idea what tricks this mysterious time traveler had up his sleeve.

This person transmigrated to this world much earlier than me, and has been operating the "Blackwood Cliff" stronghold for at least ten years.

Having secretly developed for so long, yet still unable to gain an overwhelming advantage over the indigenous people, their advanced technology must be quite limited.

But as a time traveler, he most likely created some advanced weapons.

Heavy weapons like cannons could not possibly be transported into the capital, so that's out of the question.

However, one might encounter modern composite crossbows, flintlock muskets, or even rifled guns.

Tonight might very well be the first real tough battle I've faced since I transmigrated!