Chapter Eighteen: The Assassin’s Soul-Snatching Strike

"Hahaha..."

Li Chengqian suddenly burst into loud laughter, then looked at the astonished crowd. "Do not be nervous. Since I could name this person, I have long since prepared a countermeasure."

"May Your Highness please enlighten us!" Yang Jiguang and Lu Liangping hurriedly pressed for an answer.

This matter was of grave importance. If handled improperly, it would bring about severe repercussions and could potentially deal a devastating blow to the entire Crown Prince’s Residence. Yet, looking at Li Chengqian, he appeared entirely composed, showing not a hint of fear.

"Come, Commander Yang, Deputy Commander Lu, I have a silk pouch here. Once you open it and read it carefully, you will naturally understand. However, this pouch cannot be kept; it must be burned immediately after reading."

Li Chengqian smiled faintly, took a silk pouch from his robe, and handed it forward.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Yang Jiguang and Lu Liangping, as if grasping at a life-saving straw, hurriedly stepped forward to take the pouch and began to read it closely. Before long, they finished, their faces breaking into joyful smiles.

"You have both read it; what do you think?" Li Chengqian asked in a clear voice, noting their expressions.

"Your Highness, you are absolutely right. We know what must be done," Lu Liangping and Yang Jiguang replied in unison, bowing.

"Burn it." Li Chengqian gestured toward the nearby stove, his expression blank.

"Yes, Your Highness." The two men complied, consigning the silk pouch to the flames without hesitation. This was a top-level secret; the fewer people who knew, the better.

Currently, Li Chengqian’s division of labor was clear: Yang Jiguang was primarily responsible for the outer perimeter and the overall security of the residence, while Lu Liangping served as his personal bodyguard, never leaving his side. This was the current state of affairs; Li Chengqian was silently executing a grand plan. Regardless of the outcome, he was determined to try. Even if the path was overgrown with thorns, he would clear them away and walk forward steadily.

"Zhao Hu, you have done well this time, but you must continue to play my role. I have urgent matters to attend to during this period and cannot show my face." Li Chengqian looked at the man before him and chuckled.

"Your Highness, thank you for your undeserved praise. I will obey your command. At your word, I would go through fire and water," Zhao Hu said, hurriedly kneeling.

"Deputy Commander, distribute the reward money to everyone. See that everyone gets a share," Li Chengqian said, waving his hand toward a chest not far away.

"Yes, Your Highness." Lu Liangping hurried to the chest, opened it, and took out three portions. One was for himself, and the other two were for Zhao Hu and Yang Jiguang. As he handed out the rewards, the atmosphere eased significantly. The men realized that as long as they performed their duties well, anything was possible. The Crown Prince was truly generous. Lu Liangping, in particular, having known what the reward was beforehand, felt sweeter than if he had eaten honey a hundred times over.

"Thank you, Your Highness." The three men knelt together, their eyes filled with gratitude.

"Rise. This is nothing. From today on, I will not appear in public. If there is news, leave a note here, and I will receive it promptly." Li Chengqian stood up slowly and waved them off.

"Yes, Your Highness." The group replied happily, thanking him for his grace.

"Let's go, Your Highness," Yang Jiguang said to Zhao Hu, bowing. Zhao Hu was momentarily stunned, not realizing Yang Jiguang was addressing him.

In truth, this was Li Chengqian’s plan: to have Yang Jiguang lead the 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu out in public, while he directed from behind the scenes. This had many benefits, not only ensuring his safety but also facilitating his command. By funneling information through a very small circle, he could ensure accurate and timely implementation. However, there were side effects—for instance, his visits to the Crown Princess had become much rarer, and even when wearing guard attire, he rarely ventured out. Of course, he did not need to go out often; if anything truly urgent arose, he could arrange it via his golden medallion. The privilege of acting at his own discretion, granted by Emperor Li Shimin, was no empty promise.

After Yang Jiguang, Zhao Hu, and the others left, they revealed the evil deeds of the assassins to the guards and maids within the residence, showing them the corpses. Only then did the people of the household find peace; otherwise, the atmosphere had been one of panic and mutual suspicion, with the residence maintaining only a veneer of prosperity while chaos simmered beneath.

The residence returned to its usual rhythm, with everyone performing their duties, believing the ordeal had passed. More than twenty days went by, and although Yang Jiguang and the 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu appeared often, they never encountered the top-tier assassin known as 'Soul-Snatcher' that Li Chengqian had warned them about. Yet, they trusted Li Chengqian’s words implicitly and continued their search daily. They would not give up; this was a special order, and Li Chengqian had specifically noted that this assassin was unusual and would not strike easily—the only option was to wait.

Li Chengqian continued his research. Beyond the steam engine, he had invented several small gadgets, though these were negligible compared to the engine. Ultimately, everything depended on it. Without the steam engine as his cornerstone, what would be the significance or value of his transmigration?

Two months later, the Eastern Palace remained calm. Emperor Li Shimin had sent messengers to inquire a few times, but Li Chengqian had fended them off. The steam engine was a top-secret project; even the Emperor could not know too much yet, for fear that a leak might disrupt the entire process. Regardless of who designed or built it, it was of immense benefit to the Great Tang Empire, but for Li Chengqian, it was different. This patent and invention had to be his—no one else’s.

That day, Yang Jiguang rushed in, flustered, heading straight for the main hall. "Your Highness, it is bad! A person in the Eastern Palace has been murdered!"

Upon entering, Yang Jiguang reported to the 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu.

"Let's go. I will accompany you to take a look." 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu stood up hurriedly and walked out with Yang Jiguang and the others. Before long, they arrived at the scene. Another guard had been killed, the cause of death unknown.

"Your Highness, I have checked; there is no fatal wound found, not even a single scratch," Yang Jiguang said, giving the 'Crown Prince' a meaningful look.

"Continue checking! You must find the cause of death. The Eastern Palace has been very peaceful lately. It must remain so; I will not tolerate such incidents. I give you three days to drag the assassin out for me!" 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu snapped sternly.

"Yes, Your Highness." Yang Jiguang hurriedly agreed and turned back to the deceased guard. "Come, let us examine him closely. The Crown Prince has decreed that the culprit must be found within three days." Yang Jiguang’s voice grew grim.

The nearby guards hurried over to begin their inspection. After checking twice more, they finally made a discovery.

"Commander Yang, I found the fatal wound!" a guard said, looking up with a beaming smile.

"Speak, where is it?" Yang Jiguang asked, his interest piqued.

"It is... it is..." The guard stammered. Yang Jiguang felt something was wrong; the guard was usually articulate. "Speak quickly, what is going on?" Yang Jiguang shouted, enraged.

But the guard merely closed his mouth, suddenly raised his broadsword, and slashed fiercely at 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu. The speed was so fast that it was impossible to anticipate. The other guards were shocked; they never expected a member of the palace guard to launch a sudden attack on the 'Crown Prince'.

However, Yang Jiguang was no amateur. He had anticipated the guard’s move. He raised his own sword high and met the strike. In an instant, the two blades collided with a deafening clang. They fought intensely, locked in a stalemate. But after a few exchanges, Yang Jiguang began to lose ground. Only with the help of other guards could they barely keep up with the 'guard'.

'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu, under the protection of his guards, began to retreat. This was no longer a safe place; he had to be cautious, for even a moment of carelessness could cost him his life. Seeing the Crown Prince depart, the 'guard' flew into a rage. After trading a few more blows with Yang Jiguang, he turned and drifted away with ease.

His martial arts were terrifyingly high—far superior to the previous assassins. Yang Jiguang realized this must be the 'Soul-Snatcher' the Crown Prince had spoken of. He was indeed powerful; Yang Jiguang was no match for him. Furthermore, four or five guards had already been killed. The assassin’s audacity was boundless—he treated the Eastern Palace as if it were his own backyard.

Yang Jiguang soon led his men back to the main hall. "Your Highness, are you unharmed?" he asked, while surreptitiously signaling to Zhao Hu.

"Unharmed? Nonsense! I was almost assassinated, and you tell me I am unharmed? You all deserve to die! Is this how you protect me?" 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu grabbed a teacup and smashed it to the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. It was indeed my failure that disturbed you."

"Strengthen the defenses! If such an incident happens again, I will have your head!" the 'Crown Prince' barked. It was clear he was livid, bordering on hysterical. The guards outside heard every word and dared not breathe, fearing the Crown Prince’s wrath would fall upon them. They had been scapegoats before, and no one dared to provoke him.

"Yes, Your Highness," Yang Jiguang replied hurriedly. The two were performing their act well.

"From today on, you will no longer protect me! What use are you? If you cannot show some competence, I will promote your lieutenant, that man called Zhang San, to lead my guards!" A majestic voice rang out as 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu smashed another teacup. The sound was even louder than the last. He sounded hysterical, his tone sharp and scathing.

Yang Jiguang was genuinely shaken, kneeling to beg for mercy. "Your Highness, please, for the sake of the years I have served you, give me one more chance! Let me continue to be your commander." His voice trembled, stripped of its usual sharpness and authority.

'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu hesitated, then said coldly, "Then I will give you one more chance. If this happens again, you will be beheaded without mercy."

"Yes, Your Highness, I obey." Yang Jiguang, overcome with gratitude, agreed immediately.

Among the guards, one man stood with a cold expression, a sharp, sinister glint in his eyes. He had heard the entire conversation. He felt no sympathy, only secret joy.

Before long, 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu and Yang Jiguang opened the doors and stepped out. The nerves of everyone present were frayed; the situation in the Eastern Palace had descended into a quagmire just two months after finding peace. If this continued, everyone serving in the palace would live in fear. Who would want to serve here? The palace would become a hollow shell.

"Give that guard a proper burial, and comfort his family," 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu said, his voice calm and seemingly sincere.

"Yes, Your Highness, I obey." Yang Jiguang agreed. It was all they could do for the dead.

"Strengthen the defenses! If I detect any further unrest in the palace, I will not forgive you!" The Crown Prince’s voice remained grim. It was evident he was furious—more so than anyone had ever seen. While only one guard had died, the true cause of his anger was the blatant threat to the safety of the Eastern Palace.

"Yes, Your Highness," Yang Jiguang stammered.

"Did you not hear him? Do it immediately! Whoever shows the slightest negligence will be executed!" Yang Jiguang vented his frustration on the guards, as he dared not vent it on the Crown Prince.

"Yes, Commander Yang," the guards replied, quickly carrying the fallen guard away to arrange a burial and provide the compensation.

In truth, the assassin 'Soul-Snatcher' was among the guards. He had infiltrated the ranks to monitor Li Chengqian and wait for an opportunity. Unlike the other assassins, he was arrogant, but his skills were superior and he was meticulous in his work. More importantly, while he was a cold-blooded killer, a flicker of justice lay buried deep within his heart.

After the skirmish, he had infiltrated again and had already gauged the strength of Yang Jiguang and his men. He was certain that no one in the Eastern Palace was his match. Yet, after observing for a while, he realized that Li Chengqian treated his subordinates with genuine care. He was not the incompetent, cruel, or useless person his employer had described—he was not at all the failure he was painted to be.

The 'Soul-Snatcher' hesitated. He did not know whether to proceed with the assassination; he felt his hands trembling. This was a bad sign; as an assassin, he hadn't felt this way in years. It simply didn't feel right.

Just then, 'Crown Prince' Zhao Hu cleared his throat. "Cough, cough... My brothers, my words earlier were harsh. But you are all my brothers. Every life is precious; every one of you is someone's child, and you are all valued."

"Your Highness..." The guards knelt, overwhelmed with gratitude. They had not expected such an emotional display from the Crown Prince.

"I have only one thing to say today. As the Crown Prince and the future successor of the Great Tang Empire, I must accomplish something great. What I do, I do with a clear conscience toward Heaven and Earth, and toward His Majesty and the people of the Great Tang." The 'Crown Prince's' voice grew strong and resonant.

"Yes, Your Highness! We are willing to follow you to the death!" the guards shouted in unison.

Among them, the 'Soul-Snatcher' remained silent, still hesitating, wanting to see more of the 'Crown Prince's' performance.

"The Crown Prince is wise!" Yang Jiguang raised his hand and shouted.

"The Crown Prince is wise!" the others echoed.

The atmosphere reached a fever pitch. Everyone was stirred. They had not expected things to turn around so favorably; the Crown Prince was truly considerate of them. Such a Prince was the ideal they had dreamed of. Many guards were so busy celebrating that they forgot the most important thing: the assassin 'Soul-Snatcher' was standing right among them, and neither the guards nor Yang Jiguang had any idea.

The situation began to grow obscure, and everything remained an uncertainty...