Chapter Eighty-Six: Are You Afraid?

Li Yi frowned deeply, his face etched with distress. Suddenly, the truth he had deduced struck him as utterly unbelievable! If what he suspected was true, it would spell enormous trouble.

“Uncle Li, it’s not that I wish to be evasive, but this matter is grave indeed. I dare not speak of it too openly—at the moment, I simply don’t know how to begin.”

Li Er’s brows knitted, as if he was already piecing together parts of the truth. “Speak freely. I promise you will not be punished.”

“Very well! Uncle Li, you must have heard by now—about two quarters of an hour ago, I was ambushed by a group of masked men dressed in black. I won’t bore you with the details of my escape; suffice it to say it was all a display of my own courage, skill in martial arts, and unyielding spirit in the face of danger—none of that is the point, and it need not be mentioned.”

Li Yi glanced up and saw that Li Er was about to lose his temper, so he quickly shifted the topic. “Ahem, Uncle Li, consider this: I was attacked at a busy city intersection. Though it’s the usual route I take from the palace to my residence, it’s a place teeming with people. The assassins, all masked and armed, couldn’t possibly have hidden there for long. It means they timed their approach so they’d arrive at exactly the same moment as I did—that’s the first point. Second, I entered the palace because you, Uncle Li, sent a message through Guard Feng. So how, then, did those assassins know about my journey? Surely they do not lie in wait for me at that hour every day. Third, since they sent so many men, they must have known I could defend myself, so they weren’t banking on a quick kill. They would have chosen a time just before or after the nightly curfew, when the streets are deserted and the patrols thinnest. That means they also had to ensure that I would appear at that very street corner at precisely that time, so…”

Li Er gave a start. “No, wait. When you left Wanchun Hall, there was still time before the curfew. By rights, you shouldn’t have been at that street corner at such an hour—unless…”

Li Yi gave a bitter laugh. “Precisely—unless someone in the palace deliberately delayed me, ensuring I arrived at that street corner right on time!”

Li Er’s face darkened. “Who?”

“The Prince of Yan!”

Li Er shot up from his seat, and Empress Zhangsun paled in shock. “You mean You’er? Are you certain?”

Li Yi quickly rose and bowed. “I am certain. After entering the palace, the only person I saw was the Prince of Yan. In fact, I encountered him once upon entering, and again upon leaving. He detained me under the pretense of wanting to reconcile, which is why I left the palace just before the curfew.”

Empress Zhangsun looked at Li Er, hesitant to speak. “Your Majesty?” Although Li You was not her own son, and she had little affection for him, he was still a prince—naturally, she was concerned for Li Er.

Li Er calmed himself and waved his hand. “Is there bad blood between you and You’er?”

“Not at all! Before today, my only encounter with the Prince of Yan was during the spring hunt, where we had a minor disagreement—hardly even that, really, just a few sharp words.” Li Yi then recounted the events of the spring hunt for Li Er.

After hearing him out, Li Er frowned in puzzlement. “That’s all?”

Li Yi replied with certainty, “That’s all.”

“It doesn’t make sense! You’er may be reckless and a bit unruly, but he wouldn’t go so far over such a trivial matter. And he’s just a boy of twelve or thirteen—how could he devise such an intricate scheme? More importantly, where would he find the men to carry it out?”

“Uncle Li, I was just as perplexed at first. But after thinking it over, there’s only one possible explanation: someone else besides the Prince of Yan wants me dead.”

Li Er’s eyes widened instantly. “You mean… Nonsense! Impossible!”

Li Yi was referring to a hidden faction. He hadn’t been in Chang’an long—he had made some enemies, such as old General Cheng, but only the Prince of Yan and some clandestine force would go so far as to seek his death. Clearly, Li Er had come to the same conclusion, but he could neither believe nor accept it. What did such forces want? Rebellion! If Li You was colluding with them, did it mean he was plotting against his own father? The memory of the Xuanwu Gate Incident was still fresh; Li Er could not bear the thought of fathers and sons turning on each other again.

Li Yi, too, was frustrated. How had he gotten caught up in such a mess? “Uncle, please don’t worry just yet. These are only my suspicions. Don’t assume the worst. If nothing else, this incident has forced the hidden faction to reveal itself, has it not?”

“Young man, is there anything else you wish to say?”

Li Yi scratched his head. “Actually, there is one way. Not only could it confirm whether the Prince of Yan was involved, it might even lead us to clues about the clandestine group. But it’s risky, and may not succeed.”

Li Er’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s hear it.”

Li Yi stepped forward and whispered the plan to Li Er, who nodded as he listened.

Night fell over Daxing Palace. In one of its opulent halls, Li You was frolicking with a handful of palace maids. He hadn’t given the events of the day a second thought—Li Yi was, to him, nothing more than a minor pawn.

Suddenly, two men in black burst through the window, their clothes stained with blood.

Li You’s face froze at the sight of them. He quickly gestured for the frightened maids to leave, and soon only he and the two strangers remained.

Li You moved to one side, wiped his hands with a towel, took a sip of tea, and finally spoke. “Who are you?”

One of the two, the shorter, stepped forward and produced a token for Li You to see.

Li You recognized it at once and smiled knowingly. “You’re from the Azure Dragon Society, aren’t you?”

The man in black replied, “Indeed. Our master sent us to inform you—the matter has been settled.”

Li You raised an eyebrow. “Oh? That wretch Li Yi is dead? I thought he’d be a tougher opponent. But so be it. Very well, you may tell your master that I shall not forget the favor I promised him.”

The man hesitated, then replied, “I thank you on my master’s behalf, Your Highness.”

Li You nodded, responding with a faint snort.

At this moment, the taller man in black stepped forward. “Your Highness, my master wishes to know whether you might be interested in deeper cooperation.”

“Oh? This is intriguing. Go on.”

“Are you not tempted by that position?”

Li You’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Insolence! I’ll pretend I never heard that. Do not let me hear such words again.”

The man in black was unperturbed, replying calmly, “What’s the matter? Are you afraid?”