The frail counselor you said, you fight against three heroes alone?

Qin Feng, the secret guard arranged by Xi Yu to investigate the assassin, was extremely cautious in his actions.

He carefully carried the assassin's body out of the palace and placed it in a remote open space.

Qin Feng knew that the most urgent task was to find out the identity of the assassin, so he decided to wait until the next day to find a highly skilled painter to paint a portrait of the assassin.

The next morning, just as the sun was shining on the earth, Qin Feng had already brought the painter to the open space.

The painter carefully observed the assassin's facial features and moved the brush in his hand quickly across the paper. After a while, a lifelike portrait appeared before his eyes.

Qin Feng took the portrait and immediately arranged for his men to post the portrait in various conspicuous places in the city.

Every time he posted a portrait, he would solemnly say to the people around him: "This person is the assassin who tried to kill the emperor. If anyone knows his identity or whereabouts, please report it immediately. This is a matter of national security. If you provide effective clues, you will be rewarded handsomely."

The people looked at the stern face in the portrait and began to whisper.

Everyone was shocked by the assassination attempt on the emperor, and were secretly guessing the identity of the assassin and the mastermind behind it.

As the portraits were posted widely in the city, the atmosphere on the streets became tense.

People were talking about the assassination after dinner, while Qin Feng was secretly paying close attention to everyone who came to see the portrait, hoping to find some clues from their reactions.

Qin Feng asked for a quiet room in a busy inn, and then he posted notices in conspicuous places in the lobby and at the entrance of the inn.

He told everyone that if anyone knew any clues about the assassin, they could come directly to this room and report to him.

Qin Feng waited in the room with great anticipation, listening carefully to every movement in the corridor.

However, as the day passed, no one came forward to provide any clues.

He paced back and forth in the room, his brows furrowed more and more. He wondered in his heart: Is it because the portrait is not clear enough?

Or was it that the assassin was hiding so well that no one knew where he came from? Or was it that the people were worried and didn't dare to report him?
Qin Feng walked to the window, looking at the bustling crowd on the street, searching for suspicious people in the crowd with sharp eyes. He knew very well that every day he delayed would give the mastermind behind the assassin a chance to escape.

In desperation, Qin Feng decided to expand the scope of the investigation.

He called his men and ordered them to post portraits in surrounding towns and not to miss any place where clues might be found.

Xi Yu still lived peacefully in the palace, chatting with Liu Xie every day, and playing cards with him when they were in a good mood.

There seemed to be a tacit understanding between them, and no one mentioned the thrilling assassination incident, as if the terrible assassination had never happened in the palace.

Beneath this apparent calm, Xi Yu's heart was like a turbulent sea.

He knew that the assassin's appearance was no accident and there must be some hidden meaning and conspiracy behind it.

However, he did not want to show his concerns in front of Liu Xie so as not to make the emperor too worried.

Liu Xie also seemed immersed in this brief relaxing atmosphere. He smiled and interacted with Xi Yu, enjoying this moment of tranquility.

But deep in his eyes, a trace of imperceptible worry would occasionally flash across his face, which was a warning against unknown danger.

Another night has come.

Liu Xie's worries grew stronger, and he finally couldn't help asking Xi Yu, "What's the situation with this assassin now?"

Xi Yu smiled faintly upon hearing this. He bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I have been with you all day, so I am naturally not aware of the situation outside. However, as long as the secret guards responsible for the investigation have not passed on any information, it means that no results have been found yet."

Liu Xie frowned, sighed helplessly, and said, "It's been so long, and there's still no news. It's really worrying."

Xi Yu hurriedly comforted him, "Your Majesty, don't worry. The secret guard Qin Feng is very reliable. If there is any clue, he will report it as soon as possible. There is no news at this time. It may be that the identity of the assassin is very hidden and it takes more time to investigate."

Liu Xie nodded slightly, but the worry on his face did not completely disappear. He looked out the window, as if expecting the secret guard to bring good news as soon as possible.

The night was as dark as ink, covering the palace. Liu Xie fell asleep in this quiet night.

In the dream, it was pitch black all around and a cold wind blew quietly.

Suddenly, the terrible assassin appeared again like a ghost, and his cold eyes and the weapon with a cold glow stabbed straight at Liu Xie.

Liu Xie wanted to call for help in horror, but found that he could not make any sound.

Then, the dream changed and Xi Yu appeared in front of him. He looked at him with a cold and suspicious look and said coldly: "Your Majesty, did you call the assassin?" Liu Xie shook his head desperately to explain, but Xi Yu did not believe it.

Liu Xie suddenly woke up from a nightmare, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat and his heart was beating violently in his chest.

He was horrified to find that his bed was wet - he had wet it.

Liu Xie's face was full of shame and regret. He had never thought that he would be in such an embarrassing situation because of a nightmare.

He quickly called the eunuchs and ordered them to change the beds quietly. He didn't want others to know that he was so out of control because of the nightmare.

Although the eunuchs were surprised, they did not dare to ask more questions and quickly changed the beds.

Liu Xie sat on the edge of the bed, unable to calm down for a long time. The scene in the nightmare and the shame of wetting the bed made him feel extremely tormented. He began to doubt whether the palace was still safe and whether his throne was really stable.

The next morning, the sunlight shone through the gaps between the leaves, forming spots of light.

Liu Xie was feeling depressed, so he asked Xi Yu to accompany him for a walk in the courtyard of the palace.

The two walked slowly and finally sat down in an exquisite pavilion.

Liu Xie looked at the flowers blooming in the yard, and suddenly seemed to remember something. He turned around and asked Xi Yu: "Is the newspaper doing well now? I happened to see an issue last time, and it felt pretty good."

Xi Yu bowed slightly and replied respectfully: "Thank you for your praise, Your Majesty. I have been working hard to run the newspaper well, publishing news, anecdotes and some government orders from all over the country so that the people can know in time."

Liu Xie nodded and said, "This newspaper is indeed a good thing. It can let my people know about the world and let me know what the people think."

Xi Yu continued, "Your Majesty is wise. We will also publicize your kindness and achievements in the newspapers so that the people will love you even more."

After hearing this, Liu Xie showed a relieved smile on his face, but behind that smile seemed to be hidden worries about the assassin.

Seeing that Liu Xie's face was still ugly, Xi Yu knew that His Majesty's worries had not been eliminated.

He comforted her softly, "Your Majesty, please be at ease. The assassin's case will be solved sooner or later. Your Majesty does not need to worry too much."

After hearing this, Liu Xie sighed heavily. After a moment of silence, he said with some embarrassment: "To be honest, I had a nightmare yesterday. The assassin appeared again in the dream. I was terrified. And... and when I woke up, I found that I had wet the bed."

As he said this, Liu Xie lowered his head in shame. Although he was an emperor, he felt extremely embarrassed at this moment.

Xi Yu was stunned at first, then he quickly said: "Your Majesty, this is just a nightmare. Your Majesty is nervous, and it is normal for such a situation to occur occasionally. Your Majesty does not need to be too ashamed."

Liu Xie shook his head and said, "As the Son of Heaven, I am so out of control. If this gets out, I will be laughed at." His tone was full of regret and self-blame.

Xi Yu said quickly, "Your Majesty, no one else will know about this. I will keep my mouth shut and won't say a word. Your Majesty is trusting me by telling me this."

After listening to Xi Yu's words, Liu Xie raised his head slightly, looked at Xi Yu's sincere eyes, and the feeling of shame in his heart was slightly relieved.

He said: "I feel uneasy, and the assassin's matter is like a thorn in my throat. There are not many people around me that I can trust, and you, Xiyu, I know you have always been loyal."

Xi Yu bowed and said, "I have received your majesty's great favor, and I shall repay your majesty with my life. I will do my best to investigate the assassination, and I will make sure that the person behind the scenes receives the due punishment, so that your majesty can rest in peace."

Liu Xie nodded and looked into the distance, as if thinking about something.

He said, "I hope there will be more loyal ministers like you in this world, so that my country can be stable. The newspaper is doing well now, you can promote more ideas of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism in it, so that the people can have a loyal heart." Xi Yu replied, "I understand, I will make arrangements."

On this day, the sunlight shone through the windows of the inn onto the ground, forming patches of light.

In the lobby of the inn, a masked man walked in quietly. His figure was somewhat mysterious, and his steps were steady.

Qin Feng was sitting in a corner of the lobby, worrying about the dilemma of the assassin, for he had no idea what to do.

When he saw the masked man, his eyes instantly became sharp.

The man walked up to Qin Feng and said in a low voice: "I can provide clues about the assassin."

Qin Feng was overjoyed when he heard this, and he quickly stood up and said, "Please speak."

The man said mysteriously, "I think the assassin looks like someone from the Song family in the south of the city."

The man continued, "I am willing to lead you to the Song family to check it out."

After a little thought, Qin Feng felt that this was a rare opportunity and agreed.

They quickly left the inn, the man leading the way, Qin Feng following closely behind, feeling both expectant and alert. They shuttled through the streets and alleys, gradually heading towards the south of the city.

Qin Feng had been secretly observing this mysterious man along the way, wondering if this was a trap, but his strong desire to solve the case made him choose to continue following the man.

Qin Feng followed the man to the Song family and looked around.

The Song family's mansion is quite large and looks very grand.

The man leaned close to Qin Feng's ear and whispered, "I'm leaving first. I'll be waiting in the ruined temple ahead. My Lord, please remember to reward me."

Qin Feng looked at the man with deep eyes, nodded and said: "As long as your clues are useful, you will naturally get the reward."

After getting Qin Feng's reply, the man quickly turned around and left the Song family, and his figure soon disappeared around the corner.

Qin Feng straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and walked towards the Song family's gate.

He secretly thought in his heart that if the assassin was really related to the Song family, then there must be a complicated entanglement behind it.

He knocked on the Song family's door, his heart filled with an eager search for the truth.

A doorman slowly opened the door, looked at Qin Feng with sleepy eyes, and asked him impatiently what he was doing there.

Without saying anything, Qin Feng immediately displayed the assassin's portrait in front of the concierge and asked sternly, "Take a quick look. Do you recognize this person?"

The doorman nodded subconsciously at first, but then seemed to realize something and quickly shook his head.

Qin Feng's eyes were as sharp as an eagle. Seeing the doorman's inconsistent reaction, he already had an idea in his mind. He could almost conclude that the assassin was someone related to this place.

He suddenly made a move, and his powerful hand grasped the doorman's neck like an iron clamp, and asked again in a cold voice: "Do you know him? Tell the truth quickly, or I will be rude!"

The doorman was frightened by Qin Feng's sudden action and his face turned pale. He made a "clucking" sound in his throat, and tried desperately to pry Qin Feng's hands open with his hands, his eyes full of fear.

The doorman was strangled by Qin Feng and couldn't breathe. His face turned from pale to blue.

Qin Feng loosened his grip a little, and the doorman started to cough violently. He said in fear while coughing: "Mercy, mercy. I...I have indeed seen this person."

Qin Feng narrowed his eyes and said in a cold voice: "Tell me in detail, otherwise I will arrest you and bring you to the authorities now."

The doorman trembled and said, "This man... This man seems to be a guard in our house, but I don't know the details. I have only seen him a few times."

Qin Feng's heart trembled, it seemed that his guess was correct.

He pushed open the doorman's door and rushed straight into the Song family.

When the other members of the Song family heard the noise, they all ran out.

Qin Feng said loudly: "I am the secret guard in charge of investigating the assassination case. Now I have reason to suspect that your Song family is related to the assassin. Everyone is not allowed to move and accept my inspection."

When the Song family heard this, some looked panicked, while others were filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

Qin Feng's eyes were like torches. He said loudly, "I am the Prime Minister's man. I am investigating a case concerning the assassin. Be honest!"

When everyone heard that it was the Prime Minister's man, although they were dissatisfied, they did not dare to openly disobey.

Qin Feng unfolded the portrait and walked slowly in front of the crowd, while staring at everyone's expressions with his sharp eyes.

Some people just glanced at the portrait quickly, with no expression on their faces, as if they really didn't know.

Some people avoided their gazes and dared not look directly at the portrait. Qin Feng secretly remembered these people's reactions in his heart.

Some people showed surprise on their faces, but soon regained their composure.

After Qin Feng walked around the Song family's yard, he had some preliminary judgments in his mind.

He pointed at a few people with strange expressions and said, "You guys, come with me. I have something to ask."

The few people looked at each other, and although they were somewhat reluctant, they still followed Qin Feng to the side tremblingly. Qin Feng lowered his voice and asked: "The expressions on your faces just now tell me what you know. Tell me quickly, maybe you can get a lighter sentence."

One of them said tremblingly: "He is our family's guard, but he has only been here a few times. We don't know the details. We have to ask our master."

At this moment, the head of the family, Song Guangshan, heard the noise and rushed over. He frowned and asked loudly, "What happened? Why is it so noisy?"

Seeing this, Qin Feng directly showed the assassin's portrait in front of Song Guangshan and said coldly: "Are you the head of the Song family? Do you know the person in the portrait?"

Song Guangshan's eyes suddenly widened, his face turned pale in an instant, and the change in his expression was very obvious. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

Qin Feng saw all the changes in Song Guangshan's expression. He stepped forward and asked, "Master Song, your expression has betrayed you. Tell the truth, what is the relationship between this person and your Song family?"

Song Guangshan calmed down and asked Qin Feng in a trembling voice: "Who are you?"

Qin Feng replied expressionlessly: "I am from the Prime Minister's Mansion."

When Song Guangshan heard the words "Prime Minister's Mansion", his body trembled noticeably and he thought to himself that something was wrong.

But he quickly regained his composure, forced a smile on his face, and said in a flattering tone: "It turns out to be the master from the Prime Minister's Mansion. I am sorry for not welcoming you in person. It is windy outside, why don't you come inside and talk in detail."

Qin Feng looked at Song Guangshan's hypocritical smile and knew that there must be something fishy going on, but he also wanted to see what tricks Song Guangshan was up to, so he followed him into the house.

After entering the house, Song Guangshan warmly invited Qin Feng to sit down and asked the servants to serve tea.

Qin Feng sat down calmly, staring at Song Guangshan, and said, "Master Song, can you tell me about the person in the portrait now?"

After the servants dispersed, they gathered in the corner of the courtyard and began to whisper and talk.

A maid whispered, "This is terrible. How could it be related to the assassin? The guard doesn't look like a bad guy."

The servant next to him frowned and continued, "Who knows? Maybe the guard is hiding some unspeakable secret. But the people from the Prime Minister's Mansion are here, it seems that the matter is very serious."

Another older servant lowered his voice and said, "I saw that the man was very aggressive and the master's face was also very unhappy. There must be something serious going on. If it is really related to the assassin, our Song family will be in trouble."

They discussed it one by one, and the emotions of worry and curiosity spread among the crowd. (End of this chapter)