Just as the assassin was about to strike a second sword, the riders from the Investigation Factory arrived to stop him. After a skirmish, the number of casualties among the men in black continued to rise. The leading man’s brows revealed a certain sternness; he had already been wounded twice. To prevent more of his companions from dying, he ordered, "We retreat."

The few remaining men in black listened to his command and scattered like birds, using Qinggong to flee.

At this moment, Shen Chen arrived, his aloof gaze locking onto the leading man as he gave chase. Since it was nighttime, once they exited the Imperial Palace, the man in black raced away and disappeared from sight after hiding in a grove.

Shen Chen then ordered the Investigation Factory personnel to conduct a thorough search and investigation.

Upon returning to the palace, Emperor Jingping was furious and assigned Shen Chen to take charge of this case, insisting that the assassins be caught and eradicated without leaving any potential threats.

After finally suppressing the incident involving Prince An, the appearance of assassins now compelled the Emperor to pursue the matter relentlessly.

Two days later, the Investigation Factory discovered that the leading man in black had fled in the direction of Yangzhou City.

As the end of the year approached, the Capital City was vibrant everywhere, but Shen Chen’s mind was constantly on Ah Zhi. The joyful reunions during the festivity seemed melancholic, prompting him to personally lead a team to Yangzhou City to capture the murderers.

In the pursuit along the way, by the time they reached Yangzhou City, the New Year had already passed.

Under the meticulous search by the Investigation Factory, the men in black were eventually captured in Yangzhou City and detained in the local jail. His true identity shocked everyone; he was none other than Master Zhi Chen from Longhua Temple.

Longhua Temple was widely known, and the people of Yangzhou City were abuzz with the news that a master from the temple turned out to be an assassin.

As soon as they captured the person, Shen Chen did not immediately return to the Capital but instead sent a message via carrier pigeon back to the palace, seeking Emperor Jingping’s opinion.

Ah Zhi had earlier praised Yangzhou City as an ancient famous city.

Stately willow trees follow remnants of nature, and the Yan Chi Rainbow Bridge resembles a painted scene. Ah Zhi, might you be here?

Shen Chen, unwilling to give up, sent more people to search. Meanwhile, Monk Zhi Chen was very tight-lipped and refused to divulge even a word under torture. From the time he was captured until now, not a single useful word was extracted from him, and ultimately, Shen Chen stopped using torture and simply locked him up, waiting for the Emperor’s instructions.

Upon receiving the news, Emperor Jingping immediately sent an urgent message back, ordering Shen Chen to execute Monk Zhi Chen on February 2nd in Yangzhou City as a warning to others.

...

The twenty-first year of Emperor Jingping’s reign. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The twenty-fifth day of the first month.

Xinghua Village.

Because it was located in Jiangnan, even during winter, it wasn’t cold, just that the cold wind blew more frequently, unlike the Capital City, which experience large snowflakes drifting down.

Ming Yan needed to buy some meat and oil-salt, items not available in Xinghua Village, so she had to leave to purchase them in Taiping Town, five li away.

On this day, she covered her face with a veil and dressed as a village girl, leaving early to sit on the ox cart heading to the town.

Coincidentally, Aunt Li, who had always wanted her as a daughter-in-law, was also going to the market.

"Ming Yan, you’re up so early today too, what are you going to town to buy?"

Aunt Li greeted warmly, her round, plump face smiling with eyes narrowed to slits.

There were four people on the ox cart: Coachman Chen, Aunt Li, Ming Yan, and Li Zhuangnian, a fifty-year-old man living at the village’s end.

Ming Yan didn’t look at her, her eyes blinking lively as she gazed at the flowers and plants nearby. "Just buying some oil and salt, nothing else."

The young lady had said that Aunt Li wanted her as a daughter-in-law and advised not to engage in too many topics if she wasn’t interested.

So she responded with a few perfunctory words~

Aunt Li was a typical farm woman, dressed simply. Years of farming had made her appearance more aged, with many wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.