Inside the Hude Hall.
When Chen Yao saw Wei Ran enter the hall unharmed, the heavy weight in his heart was finally lifted.
As long as the Heir of Prince Min wasn’t dead, it wasn’t a major incident.
“Your subject, Wei Ran, greets His Majesty.”
Wei Ran cupped his fists and saluted, neither arrogant nor servile.
Today marked the second time he had met Emperor Wen.
The late emperor Chen Lie’s era name was Tiger Virtue, and he was posthumously titled the Fierce Tiger Emperor.
The current emperor, Chen Yao, rules under the era name of Literary Virtue, and the people call him Emperor Wen.
A dozen gazes landed on Wei Ran, each belonging to at least a Third-Rank Official.
Chen Yao appeared somewhat agitated—it was unclear whether he was acting or genuinely concerned.
“Wei Ran, I heard you were ambushed last night. Were you injured by the assassins?”
Wei Ran shook his head. “In reply to His Majesty, this subject is fortunate and blessed. Thanks to the help of Eunuch Wen, I was not harmed.”
As he spoke, he looked at the eunuch beside Chen Yao with a friendly smile.
That eunuch, however, had a strange expression.
Chen Yao explained with a laugh, “You’ve mistaken him for someone else. He is not Eunuch Wen but Eunuch Wu, Wen’s twin brother.”
Wei Ran suddenly understood. No wonder his temperament felt different.
Eunuch Wen, though effeminate, had a righteous aura. This Eunuch Wu, on the other hand, looked sinister and venomous—he might appear to smile, but his expression was like that of a snake.
Wei Ran’s gaze turned cold and his expression became indifferent.
“The capital is the heart of the empire. To think that assassins could blend into the city as they please—this is a blatant disregard for imperial authority.”
“These assassins trample upon the laws of the Great Li Empire. I beg His Majesty to apprehend them and uphold the law, to grant me justice.”
This was exactly what the court ministers had been waiting for.
Chen Yao’s face darkened slightly.
“Rest assured, Wei Ran. I have already ordered a city-wide dragnet. Though those assassins are highly skilled, they won’t escape the capital.”
“It won’t be long before they are captured and punished. You will have your justice.”
An old man with a goatee glanced at Shi Jian, then chuckled mockingly.
“Prince Heir Wei has been in the capital for less than a month. Could it be you’ve already made enemies? Otherwise, how could you have been targeted for assassination?”
Wei Ran turned to the man, his face showing confusion. “And who might this esteemed lord be?”
The old man stroked his beard and squinted with a smile. “I am Yang Qilu, Imperial Inspector-General of the court, tasked with supervising all officials.”
The Imperial Inspector-General ranked alongside the Prime Minister and Grand Marshal as one of the Three Excellencies.
His words drew a glare from Shi Jian and even a hint of displeasure from Chen Yao.
Yang Qilu’s remark was clearly adding fuel to the fire.
Everyone present knew of the conflict between the Prince Heir and the Empress’s brother yesterday.
To bring it up now was clearly throwing Shi Jian under the bus.
Wei Ran shook his head. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“I’ve only been here half a month and have gone out twice in total.”
“First was to enter the palace and pay respects. Second was to attend the Third Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony yesterday.”
“If you ask whether I’ve offended anyone, there’s one. Yesterday, upon entering the palace, I had a dispute with the Empress’s brother.”
“But the Empress Dowager helped mediate, and we resolved the conflict peacefully.”
Shi Jian and Chen Yao both breathed sighs of relief.
But Wei Ran suddenly changed his tone, causing the two to tense up again.
“However, what truly infuriates me…”
“Is that the Prince, after agreeing to reconcile, secretly hired assassins to take my life.”
“This is a vile betrayal, a display of pure malice!”
He said this with a face full of anger.
He had overheard the conversation between Qin Feng and Su Yuchan in the streets—it likely wasn’t fake.
Wei Ran had been furious at the time. He only wanted to build power quietly and save himself, yet someone wanted him dead over a minor conflict.
He could no longer endure this.
Since he now had control of the narrative, he wasn’t going to let the culprit go free.
Even though Shi Lingkuan and the assassins were not the same group, the deed was done.
Wei Ran wore a look of grief and indignation—though it was mostly an act.
“Your Majesty, I’ve traveled from afar to the capital, with no friends or family here. In order to stay safe, I even confined myself indoors, not daring to go out.”
“Yet I was targeted and attacked. My tolerance has only emboldened the Prince’s arrogance.”
“If my parents in Liangzhou knew how I was being bullied, they’d be heartbroken.”
“I plead with Your Majesty to uphold justice on my behalf.”
Wei Ran bowed again.
Chen Yao’s temples throbbed.
Shi Jian stood up with a smile and faced Wei Ran.
“Prince Heir Wei, your words are too harsh. Though my grandson is idle and unrefined, he’s not a malicious person.”
“The two female assassins who attacked you—he had nothing to do with them. Please rest assured.”
Wei Ran glanced at him coldly. He had already guessed the man’s identity: the Empress’s grandfather, Shi Jian, Grand Marshal of the court.
But Wei Ran didn’t fear him. Instead, he glared back in anger.
“Grand Marshal Shi, is this some sort of joke?”
“Your grandson is ‘not malicious’? Then why did he hire killers?”
“Those assassins aimed straight for my vitals. Every strike meant to kill me.”
“If not for Eunuch Wen’s timely arrival, I’d be lying dead here instead of standing before you.”
Shi Jian frowned. “Prince Heir Wei, please don’t make baseless accusations. My grandson only hired a few armed escorts—not assassins.”
“He just wanted to rough you up a bit. He had no intention to kill. Those two female assassins have nothing to do with him.”
“Have you ever seen a mastermind admit to hiring assassins after being exposed?”
Yang Qilu nodded in agreement. “Indeed, that’s true.”
Shi Jian’s face darkened. “You claim my grandson hired those two assassins. Do you have proof?”
“Proof? Ha!”
Wei Ran laughed. “Everyone in court knows the truth, and you ask me for proof?”
“Fine, you want proof? Then I want proof from you too.”
“Produce evidence showing your grandson did not hire those two female assassins.”
Shi Jian’s face twisted in anger. “You… you’re being unreasonable!”
Wei Ran had no interest in further nonsense.
He turned to Chen Yao and bowed with a mournful expression.
“I’ve been wronged and beg Your Majesty to intervene. If not, then…”
“I can only write a letter home to Liangzhou and ask my parents to speak for me.”
These words shocked the entire hall.
The meaning was clear: if you don’t give me justice, I’ll have Wei Wuji march his army south.
Even if Wei Ran was a fake Prince Heir, who here knew the truth?
A fake heir could still carry real weight.
Chen Yao maintained a warm smile.
“Prince Heir Wei, I understand your fury after this ordeal.”
“But every matter must be judged with evidence. I am doing all I can to capture the assassins. Once they are caught, the truth will naturally come to light.”
“Do not worry. Your father and I are like brothers. I will see justice done for you.”
“Let’s put aside the two female assassins for now. What we do know is that the Prince did hire escorts to assault you.”
“Hiring thugs to commit violence is punishable by exile. I promise you this—once the truth is clear, there will be no leniency. Are you satisfied?”
Chen Yao was helpless. He didn’t want to offend either side.
But Wei Ran frowned, fully aware the emperor was stalling.
Even if the assassins were found, the issue would be downplayed and quietly dismissed.
He had seen enough palace dramas to understand how imperial families operate.
Seeing Wei Ran’s expression, Chen Yao was displeased, but he didn’t show it.
“I know you’re troubled. As your elder, it’s my duty to protect you.”
“As compensation, I offer the hand of the Third Princess in marriage. Do you accept?”
Wei Ran was stunned, and his heart rang with alarm.
He didn’t expect Chen Yao to offer a marriage decree at such a sensitive moment.
“This subject… does not accept.”
With that one sentence, the hall fell into dead silence.
He was… defying the imperial decree?