Ming Dynasty: I am truly not the Emperor of Longevity

"How could this be?"

Li Dali slammed his fist hard on the table.

"The intelligence I gathered from my inside contacts shows that although Zhu Houyu traveled to many places in the capital incognito, even when visiting brothels, he never stayed overnight outside the palace."

This is also why we don't believe he would spend the night at the Marquis of Wuding's residence.

Although Zhu Houyu was not a very good drinker, he never got so drunk that he was unconscious.

I did instruct Duan Chaoyong to get Zhu Houyu drunk along with Guo Xun, but I didn't say to get him drunk to this extent.

Doesn't Duan Chaoyong know the meaning of "too much of a good thing"?!

Now that Zhu Houyu is spending the night at the Marquis of Wuding's residence, our original plan to ambush him on the road at midnight has completely failed!

"The arrow is on the string; it has no choice but to be released!"

After a few breaths, Wu Nian walked to Wang Ziyan's side.

When will they make their move at Xiyuan?

"Reporting to Elder Wu, the scheduled time for action is the beginning of midnight."

Wang Ziyan quickly replied,

"But no one can guarantee that there won't be any last-minute changes."

"It's just past Hai hour now. If nothing unexpected happens, we still have about an hour left."

Wu Nian tapped the table lightly with her fingers.

"The plan to assassinate the emperor in the West Garden was also planned for a long time and a lot of preparations were made. Most importantly, Empress Fang was also implicated!"

Many people do this kind of thing by relying on a burst of energy they've been holding in. Once that energy is released, it's extremely difficult to get them back on their feet.

Let's not even talk about whether it's too late to notify Xiyuan to cancel the operation now.

If it were really canceled, the anger that Empress Fang and those palace maids felt would dissipate.

Before we went to the capital, the leader carefully explained the pros and cons to us. It is very likely that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had already set their sights on the leader. It was only because of the Mongol invasion of Shanxi that this matter was temporarily put on hold.

I can't delay any longer when it comes to teaching!

The plan to assassinate the emperor and the Prince of Ying is to be carried out simultaneously. Now that the operation is about to begin at the Western Garden, if the emperor dies and the Prince of Ying remains unharmed, the court will not be in too much chaos!

So what if I spent the night at the Marquis of Wuding's residence?!

We can easily bring Wang Ziyan into the Marquis's residence under the guise of being Duan Chaoyong's attendant.

Duan Chaoyong is still at the Marquis of Wuding's residence and can act as an inside agent. He should first find out where Zhu Houyu will be staying tonight.

You and your apprentice are both familiar with Guo Xun and Guo Shoulu. It shouldn't be difficult to find a way to create some trouble and lure most of the guards of the Marquis's mansion elsewhere.

According to our original plan, although Zhu Houyu was also very drunk, he was still able to move around and would have the ability to fight back if he was assassinated.

Although he had lost his weapon and was drunk, he was still a master of external martial arts and was not completely powerless to fight back.

Now he's completely drunk and unconscious. If we can get into his lodgings smoothly, taking his life will be a piece of cake.

"Elder Wu is absolutely right!"

Li Dali pondered for a moment, and finally made up his mind.

"Let's not delay, let's split up and get started."

The Marquis of Wuding's residence is crowded with people and eyes; if too many people sneak in, it will be easy to be exposed.

Prince Yan then led the six elders into the mansion.

The operation was also scheduled for midnight, to be carried out simultaneously with the operation in Xiyuan!

Wang Ziyan, you and your master are familiar with the terrain of the Marquis of Wuding's residence. After the operation is over, immediately lead the six elders to leave through the back door.

I will personally lead a group to meet them near the back gate of the Marquis of Wuding's residence.

. . .

At the same time, in the guest room of the Marquis of Wuding's residence.

puff!

Peng Rui picked up the wine jug, took a large gulp of fine wine, and then sprayed it onto his chest.

"Your Highness, is this method appropriate?"

"This wine smells so strong, it might fool people."

Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction.

"Are you wearing the double-layered soft armor?"

"Your subject has already dressed properly under the long robe."

Peng Rui clasped his hands in a fist salute to Lu Chen and said,

"Your Highness is incredibly resourceful. I was instructed to impersonate Your Highness and pretend to be asleep in bed, while four Imperial Guards were hidden in the shadows outside the room."

"If those audacious assassins dare to come, we will capture them alive."

"Peng Qing, you must not be careless."

Lu Chen waved his hand.

"The assassins who may come today are no ordinary people; they may possess divine weapons that you have never seen before."

I don't know exactly what it is, but it's definitely not something an ordinary person can contend with.

Even though your internal strength cultivation has reached a high level, you may not be able to confront it head-on.

When facing an assassin, one must be extremely vigilant and never underestimate their strength.

"These traitors could never have imagined that His Highness had already seen through their scheme and set a trap for them."

Peng Rui's eyes were full of confidence.

"They would never have imagined that His Highness is actually a peerless master who has cultivated both internal and external internal energy!"

"You are the only one who knows that I have mastered both internal and external martial arts at the same time."

Lu Chen glared at Peng Rui.

Outsiders only know that I have mastered external martial arts techniques.

To use telekinesis to help subordinates cultivate internal martial arts, there must be a pretext. Simultaneously cultivating both internal and external martial arts was the excuse Lu Chen used.

Anyway, Lu Chen's real trump card is telekinesis, so it's fine if people think it's an internal martial arts technique.

"I will keep this matter a secret in front of outsiders."

Peng Rui immediately knelt down.

"I will never reveal His Highness's secret."

"Alright, get up. I trust you completely."

Lu Chen raised his right hand, and an invisible force of thought lifted Peng Rui up.

"I got drunk today and stayed overnight at the Marquis of Wuding's residence, which disrupted the rebels' plans."

However, the Marquis of Wuding's residence did not strengthen its defenses, and even the guards from the Prince of Ying's residence that I brought were not on high alert. In fact, most of them were taken away by Miao Feng and Tang Zhe to drink.

The assassin has an inside contact in the mansion; they will definitely be able to find out about these things.

In their eyes, I am in a better position to be assassinated than on my way back to the South.

The rebels have gone to great lengths to plan this operation and will not give up easily.

Although there has been an unexpected turn of events, the chances of a successful assassination have actually increased. I am more than 90% certain that they will change their plans and infiltrate the Marquis of Wuding's residence to continue the assassination operation.

I've been pretending to be drunk for about 45 minutes now. The news might have already reached the rebel leader in charge of the assassination. You should lie down on the bed and pretend to be fast asleep.

Those who think themselves the hunter's prey will probably make their move soon.

. . .

West Garden, Renshou Palace, East Side Room.

"Consort Ning, how is the situation inside the palace?"

Seeing Consort Wang Ning tiptoe in, Yang Jinying quickly stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

"After dinner, the emperor summoned several of your concubine Duan's newly arrived palace maids. Although they were supported by the elixirs refined by that sorcerer, they were still quite exhausted after the battle."

Consort Wang's face was filled with jealousy and resentment.

"Just now, Consort Duan and the palace maids who had served the emperor were sent to rest in the side hall next door, while the emperor slept alone in the back hall."

Now, the eunuchs in the main hall and rear hall of Renshou Palace have all been sent outside the hall by me under the false pretense of an imperial edict, and all those on duty inside the hall are my own people.

Let's do it now, it's better than dying by his hand!