Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 817: Chapter 2: Assassinations One After Another (Part 2)

"You really are obsessed with food."

"Of course, one will face divine retribution if they don’t live for food," Zhao Yao said seriously, "Besides eating, I have no other hobbies."

"You get busy with your own things, I’m leaving."

At this moment, Tong Xi walked in, first saluting Zhao Yao and He Lianfang, then immediately said, "Your Highness, it’s raining outside."

"It’s raining, huh?" Zhao Yao pinched his chin and said meaningfully, "Rainy days are best for murder."

Tong Xi was startled by Zhao Yao’s words: "Your Highness, please don’t say such scary things."

"Tonight’s show will be quite a spectacle." Zhao Yao said with anticipation.

Tong Xi looked speechless: "Your Highness, are you really looking forward to the assassins coming to kill you?"

"Drifting at sea for so long, I’m almost bored to death; finally, there’s a good show tonight, of course I should be full of anticipation."

Tong Xi: "..." Your Highness, have you gone mad at sea?

Zhao Yao waved his hand, instructing Tong Xi to escort He Lianfang back to his room.

It quickly turned dark. There was no moon tonight, and the sea was pitch-black. The only light came from the lamps on the two dozen or so ships.

Behind Zhao Yao’s twenty-some ships, a boat was slowly approaching.

The light was still on in Zhao Yao’s room, and he sat at the table reading, with General Hu lying at his feet.

A noise came from outside the window, followed by Xiao Jin flying in.

Xiao Jin stood on the windowsill and said to Zhao Yao: [Yao Yao, a boat is stealthily following, filled with people in black clothing.]

"Finally, they’re here," Zhao Yao reached out and patted Xiao Jin’s head, "When they board the ship, have fun."

Upon hearing this, General Hu quickly stood up and barked twice at Zhao Yao: [I want to have fun too.]

Zhao Yao patted General Hu’s head, "Then you have fun too."

General Hu wagged his tail satisfactorily.

Zhao Yao yawned, got up, and stretched lazily: "Then I’ll sleep now." With that, he blew out the lamp.

Just as he lay down, a person suddenly appeared in his room. General Hu immediately lunged at the person, who agilely dodged.

"Your Highness, it’s your subordinate."

Recognizing the voice, Zhao Yao called General Hu back to his side.

"What’s the matter?"

"Your Highness, a boat is approaching our ship. They seem to be assassins. Please stay in your room and don’t come out."

"Alright, then I’ll leave it to you all."

"Protecting Your Highness is our duty," said the Hidden Guard, disappearing from the room afterward.

Zhao Yao had originally planned to watch the show with He Lianfang, but since it started raining heavily, he was worried something unexpected might happen. So, he canceled their plan to watch together and let He Lianfang stay in his own room.

Shortly, the sounds of fighting came from outside the window.

Upon hearing the noise, Xiao Jin and General Hu immediately ran out. Then, sounds of wailing and screaming rang out.

The fighting and screaming continued, adding a bit of "liveliness" to the silent and boring rainy night.

Zhao Yao didn’t curiously run out to watch, nor did he peer out the window. He simply lay in bed, quietly listening to the sounds outside.

A moment later, the sounds of fighting and screaming outside ceased.

Zhao Yao raised an eyebrow slightly, muttering in the dark, "The first wave ended so soon?"

Knock knock knock, there came a knocking on the door, followed by Tong Xi’s voice.

"Your Highness, it’s me."

"Come in."

Tong Xi, carrying the scent of blood, entered, "Your Highness, there were thirty assassins in total, all dead."

"No survivors?"

"We initially captured a few alive, but they committed suicide."

Zhao Yao frowned, "Didn’t I tell you to prevent them from biting into the poison in their mouths for suicide?"

"They acted too quickly for us to stop them," Tong Xi said, "Your Highness, they weren’t just assassins, they were a suicide squad."

"A suicide squad?" Zhao Yao exclaimed, then chuckled, "They went to such great lengths to send a suicide squad to kill me, they must think quite highly of me."

"Your Highness, I believe there will be more attempts on your life tonight."

"This is just the first wave, followed closely by more," Zhao Yao asked quickly, "Did any of our people get hurt or killed?"

"Some, but not many."

"Let the injured be treated first," Zhao Yao instructed again, "Later, give me the list of the dead and wounded."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Xiao Jin and General Hu did not return. The two little ones were preparing for the second wave of ’prey’ to arrive.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before another wave came.

The second wave of assassins were also a suicide squad.

Zhao Yao didn’t know if there would be more assassins after that, because he fell asleep. By the time he woke up the next day, all the blood on the ship had been cleaned up. However, suddenly there were many sword marks, knife marks, and arrow marks on the ship.

The people sent by Prince Chu and Prince Wei to protect Zhao Yao quickly sent letters back to the capital, informing them about the attempt on Zhao Yao’s life.

After court ended, Prince Chu and Prince Wei found out that Zhao Yao was attacked at sea, and the assassins were highly trained suicide squads, naturally making them furious.

Prince Wei immediately ordered the Southern Wei people in Lingnan to investigate who sent the people to assassinate Zhao Yao.

Prince Chu didn’t have anyone in Lingnan either, but he still sent people to investigate. Worried about more assassins targeting Zhao Yao, he also sent some Hidden Guards to protect him.

After receiving the news of the attempt on Zhao Yao’s life, the emperor naturally was informed as well.

Although he had anticipated that Zhao Yao would face assassination in Lingnan, upon learning that the officials there dared to really send someone to assassinate a prince, the emperor was extremely angry. However, he didn’t take any action.

The emperor didn’t plan to deal with the officials in Lingnan, instead leaving it to Zhao Yao to handle himself. He believed in Zhao Yao’s abilities and wouldn’t let those people get away.

Knowing that the three waves of assassins sent last night didn’t return, the officials in Lingnan realized the assassination failed. They hadn’t anticipated that Zhao Yao would have so many skilled defenders by his side.

In the following days, not only at night, but even during the daytime, assassins appeared, determined to kill Zhao Yao.

However, by the time Zhao Yao arrived at Swamp Prefecture, their assassination attempts hadn’t succeeded.

The governor of Swamp Prefecture didn’t come to the dock to welcome Zhao Yao; instead, he sent his subordinates.

Seeing that there were only a few officials to greet Zhao Yao, Tong Xi was furious: "Your Highness, the officials of Swamp Prefecture are too arrogant. Not only did they send people to assassinate you, but they didn’t come to welcome you."

"They’re trying to show me who’s boss."

"These officials deserve to die!"

"Why be angry with such people?" Zhao Yao patted Tong Xi on the shoulder, smiling, "Your prince here has many serious things to do."

"Your Highness, won’t you deal with them?"

"Of course I will, but I believe someone has already collected evidence of these officials’ crimes. In a few days, I’ll personally deal with them."