Chapter Fifteen: Confronting the Assassin

One could say that Li Tie’s appearance was the most convincing argument—far better than Zhou Hao’s earnest but tiresome admonitions after revealing his identity.

Li Tie gazed at the grand residence of the eldest prince with eyes full of gratitude. Since leaving the army, this was the first time he had felt such care, especially knowing it came from the eldest prince himself.

“Your Highness, from now on, my life belongs to you,” Li Tie declared.

If his health had permitted, he would have knelt with his entire family, bowing deeply to Zhou Hao in thanks. Although Zhou Hao was still unused to such displays of reverence, seeing Li Tie’s heartfelt gratitude, he waved his hand, allowing them to feel at ease.

Upon arriving at the estate, servants promptly settled Li Tie and his family. Zhou Hao then retired to his chamber to prepare for the challenges ahead. Since he was to take up his fief, he needed to manage everything—from soldiers and supplies to iron forging and trade. He had no faith that Emperor Zhou would grant him a land rich in resources; more likely, the territory would be a remote and barren one.

With Li Tie back, the task of recruiting disabled soldiers would fall to him. After all, if Zhou Hao had to recruit each one personally, how could he attend to anything else?

Just as Zhou Hao pondered his next move, Luo Xu returned, accompanied by a large group of servants.

“Your Highness, I have fulfilled your orders. These servants come from reputable families with no hidden burdens and can be brought to the fief without worry,” Luo Xu said with a light laugh, handing Zhou Hao a detailed roster that clearly outlined each servant’s background.

“Truly worthy of being the chancellor’s descendant; your talents are extraordinary,” Zhou Hao remarked but tossed the list aside without a second glance.

“Since you recruited them, how could I doubt?”

Luo Xu nodded, smiling as always.

“Your Highness, you trust your men well. May I ask if today’s matters have met with success?”

“Of course. I brought a disabled soldier suffering from illness and arranged proper care for him,” Zhou Hao replied. “He will later be entrusted with assembling a core team.”

After a moment’s thought, Luo Xu offered a suggestion. “Your Highness, if you don’t think I’m redundant, may I accompany him? My presence will lend credibility to his words and help prevent any spies from infiltrating.”

Zhou Hao nodded in agreement.

“Very well, as you say. Though he is still unwell and will need time to recover.”

“Have you heard of any other incidents recently?”

As the highest-ranking civil official, the chancellor’s information and connections far surpassed those of a mere prince. It was wise to make good use of his network.

After some contemplation, Luo Xu pointed out a troubling detail.

“Your Highness, are you aware that the third prince is indulgent and arrogant? Yet, after suffering such humiliation today, he has neither retaliated nor made a scene. There must be some hidden reason.”

Zhou Hao understood—it was likely the Empress who had suppressed the matter, preparing an even fiercer revenge. But he was ready for it.

The general was his father-in-law; how could he face these assassins alone? There was no need to flaunt bravery unnecessarily.

“Rest assured, I have my own strategies,” Zhou Hao said with a faint smile.

Just then, a servant’s voice called from outside.

“Master Bi Yutang has arrived.”

Hearing this, a trace of joy appeared on Zhou Hao’s face. Bi Yutang’s early arrival showed the general’s high regard for his son-in-law.

Thinking so, Zhou Hao hurried forward to greet Bi Yutang personally.

Seeing Zhou Hao’s demeanor, Bi Yutang hesitated briefly before addressing him.

“Brother-in-law, this time I brought household soldiers from the estate. Though not as seasoned as veterans, they are capable fighters.”

Bi Yutang clearly understood that Zhou Hao had earned his father’s favor through his abilities, especially with the comprehensive suppression of Zhang Jinzhong. He could not fathom what kind of man could carry out such actions—let alone a prince from a barbarian land.

Even though Bi Ruxue harbored some resentment, what did it matter? With the eldest prince’s talents, winning her over would be effortless.

Thus, Bi Yutang felt no shame in calling Zhou Hao “brother-in-law.”

Zhou Hao was momentarily taken aback, then patted Bi Yutang on the shoulder, smiling warmly.

“Changing your tune so soon? If I’m not mistaken, your sister still holds some displeasure, doesn’t she?”

As they walked, Bi Yutang replied, “It’s normal; the marriage was arranged before they truly met. But this isn’t bad news for her—it’s a great blessing.”

Looking around to ensure no one else was near, he lowered his voice.

“It’s common knowledge that the Emperor favors the third prince. But favoring the younger over the elder is the root of all chaos, especially with the second prince under you.”

“When the Emperor passes, it will surely be a bloody storm.”

Bi Yutang’s words grew more resentful of Emperor Zhou. While he could not outright condemn the emperor, such blatant favoritism was chilling.

Between Zhou Hao and the third prince, it could be considered a family affair. But if their disputes dragged the officials into conflict, it would no longer be a private matter.

“Don’t speak such disrespectful words. Father must have his reasons—after all, he sent the eldest son to the barbarian lands,” Zhou Hao warned, though his dissatisfaction was clear.

Bi Yutang dared not argue further and decided to focus on preparing for the evening’s events.

“Brother-in-law, how credible do you find the eunuch’s words?”

Even without this matter, the general had planned to bring a group of household soldiers to support Zhou Hao. But in light of recent events, he brought mostly capable fighters.

“The credibility is high. The Empress is vindictive, like a rabid dog,” Zhou Hao said coldly. “I struck her most vulnerable spot—how could she not react?”

“Today, the third prince came to me, claiming the Empress had summoned me to the palace. I beat him up. If she could tolerate that, she wouldn’t be the Empress.”

Zhou Hao had intended to escalate the conflict and make a big scene, hoping to provoke the Empress into a reckless move, which would make things easier to handle. The third prince’s visit gave him the perfect excuse to thrash him openly.

After all, the third prince was no match for him. Even if he were, he wouldn’t dare fight back.

Bi Yutang rubbed his nose, gaining a new understanding of his brother-in-law’s temperament. Avoiding the palace was wise, but casually beating the third prince meant their conflict had reached a deadly point.

Upon reaching the front of the residence, Bi Yutang’s expression changed instantly.

“Brother-in-law, this place is off. There’s definitely a mole inside who left something behind.”