Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 499: Assassin (Part 2)

Vice Minister Yang immediately clasped his hands in acknowledgment, waved his hand, and the constables stepped forward to carry the corpse away.

Vice Minister Yang hesitated slightly and said in a low voice, "Commandery Princess, the blood stains on the ground also need to be cleaned. We should avoid alarming the officials of the Six Ministries during the day."

The assassin lurked, attempting to assassinate the Commandery Princess. This incident itself is not something neat or pleasant. The barely stable court and the hearts of the people would once again face upheaval and chaos.

Jiang Shaohua slightly nodded: "As for the investigation, I am not familiar with it. Everything will be decided by Vice Minister Yang."

Vice Minister Yang breathed a sigh of relief, issued an order, and the constables immediately fetched water from inside the Ministry of Industry to wash away the blood on the ground.

Minister Zhou finally staggered out. His old face was greatly shaken by the night’s incident, and he was barely able to pull himself together as he said, "The Commandery Princess was frightened! Fortunately, the Commandery Princess is unharmed! If the assassin had injured her, I wouldn’t have the face to attend court again."

"Could it be Minister Zhou who sent the assassin?" Jiang Shaohua, feeling unwell, coldly glanced over.

Minister Zhou choked: "Absolutely not!"

Jiang Shaohua said coldly: "Since it is not, why would Minister Zhou have no face to attend court? There are villains who dislike seeing me straighten up the court, attempting to assassinate me, even if only to intimidate and disturb morale. I am unharmed and not at all frightened. What is there for Minister Zhou to fear?"

"The sky hasn’t fallen, I am fine. The court cannot be chaotic, Minister Zhou should perform his duties as usual, don’t think of slacking off or being lazy!"

Minister Zhou, also agitated by her words, his old face flushed red: "When have I been lazy or negligent? Tomorrow, I will lead the Ministry of Industry’s officials to repair the riverbank, to handle our duties, also to avoid making the Commandery Princess from always looking at this old minister with displeasure, picking on everything."

Jiang Shaohua said indifferently: "When you leave, take more house servants and guards to avoid being targeted by assassins."

Minister Zhou instinctively shivered.

At this moment, a sound of chaotic footsteps approached. Song Yuan, with a cold face, strode over, clasped his fists in salute, and reported: "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, those assassins have been apprehended by my subordinates."

Vice Minister Yang was overjoyed: "Are any alive?"

Song Yuan said expressionlessly: "No, all killed!"

Vice Minister Yang: "..."

These assassins were extremely vicious, fighting desperately without a care for their lives. Capturing them alive would have resulted in many more casualties on our side. Song Yuan knew the temperament of the Commandery Princess and ordered ’kill without mercy’ before she could say anything.

There was no need for Song Yuan to explain these matters; Jiang Shaohua understood and slightly nodded: "Commander Song acted correctly. These assassins were Death Warriors, sent just to die. Kill them all; there’s nothing to regret."

"For an investigation, even dead ones can be used."

Vice Minister Yang calmed his mind and repeatedly acknowledged, waving his hand again to instruct the constables to take charge of the other corpses.

"Everyone, disperse and go back to rest." Jiang Shaohua’s voice echoed once more. Everyone turned to look; the lanterns hanging high outside the Ministry of Industry’s office were quite bright. Jiang Shaohua still had a lingering aura of killing intent in her brows, her gaze sharp as a knife, and no one dared to meet her eyes, bowing their heads in agreement.

Wang Jin, supported by a trusted aide, managed to stand up and whispered: "With such a major incident, we must immediately send word to the palace."

Jiang Shaohua made a sound of acknowledgment and instructed several trusted aides to deliver messages. Besides sending messages to the palace, envoys were also dispatched to the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Duke An’s Mansion.

"Wang She Ren was frightened tonight, his mind is unsettled, so do not return to the palace. Rest for the night at the Prince Mansion." Jiang Shaohua said, "If Prime Minister Wang has anything to say, it will be easier to ask you directly."

However, Wang Jin said, "I will return to the palace with the Commandery Princess."

Wang Jin looked gentle but was actually very assertive.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at him: "As you wish."

Then, Jiang Shaohua inquired about the injuries of the trusted aides. Song Yuan quickly counted the number of people, then whispered: "There were eight assassins in total, all killed. On our side, two died and three were injured."

Particularly that trusted aide with a knife through the abdomen was critically injured. No one dared to pull out the knife for fear of letting out a breath.

Jiang Shaohua felt a pang of sadness in her heart but remained composed: "Properly bury the dead and immediately send the wounded back to the Prince Mansion for medical treatment."

Song Yuan clasped his hands in acknowledgment and swiftly made arrangements.

Chen Jinyu, with a pale but beautiful face, walked to Jiang Shaohua’s side. Jiang Shaohua inquired with her eyes, and Chen Jinyu lightly shook her head, indicating she was fine.

"Return to the palace!"

The group led by Jiang Shaohua soon departed, leaving the place clean and clear.

Minister Zhou, supported by his subordinates, watched the Commandery Princess’s party leave. The ground in front of the Ministry of Industry’s office was still wet, exuding a bloody stench, making one nauseous.

"Lord Minister, the Commandery Princess’s assassination is no small matter, the Emperor will definitely be enraged, and the court will have waves again." The Vice Minister whispered uneasily: "This assassination happened just outside the Ministry of Industry, we are afraid we can’t clear ourselves of involvement."

Minister Zhou steadied his mind and glared at the Vice Minister: "I conduct myself uprightly and am not afraid to face anyone."

"Pass my order; everyone in the Ministry of Industry should pack up, and we will set off in two days to repair the riverbank."

The Vice Minister was taken aback: "Are we really leaving?"

"Why stay if not leaving?" As soon as Jiang Shaohua left, Minister Zhou’s back straightened, and the authority belonging to the Minister of Ministry of Industry returned: "Investigating the case is the Ministry of Justice’s affair; our top priority in the Ministry of Industry is to repair the riverbank. We will depart early the day after tomorrow!"

...

That night, the news of Nanyang County Princess being attacked by assassins outside the Ministry of Industry spread like wildfire among the residences of the major officials.

Prime Minister Wang, upon receiving the news, instantly furrowed his brows, his face turning grim.

With Jiang Shaohua’s attack, everyone would first suspect him, the Prime Minister. Heaven knows, he really did not make a move.

He couldn’t explain; the more he tried, the worse it would appear. It’s a terrible feeling, as if forcibly smeared with filth on his face.

Jiao’s advisor also frowned: "In a Capital City so large, there are only a few who have the guts and capability to plant assassins outside the Ministry of Industry. It wasn’t us; who could it be?"

Prime Minister Wang’s eyes flickered coldly: "Go to the Ministry of Justice, instruct them to conduct a thorough investigation, and find out the identity and origin of the assassins, to give the Emperor an explanation, to give Jiang Shaohua an explanation."

Meanwhile, the study in Duke An’s Mansion was also brightly lit.

Duke An and several trusted advisors were also discussing the matter: "It is highly likely that Prime Minister Wang is behind this. Who else has the capability and means besides him?"

"That might not be the case. Perhaps the Nanyang County Princess has acted too prominently, unknowingly offending someone. Someone wants to teach her a lesson."

As for how many people Jiang Shaohua had actually offended, that was hard to say. Key officials from the Six Ministries, dignitaries of the court, she had not been polite to any of them.

Even Duke An himself had no lack of reasons to act.

Of course, Duke An was certain he hadn’t done it.

Who exactly was the person who made the move?