Yang Zixuan left after only half an hour.
It wasn't that she didn't want to stay longer, but people from the Crown Prince's faction, and even other princes, wouldn't let her.
Every time Yang Zixuan visited, imperial guards would accompany her, and when the time was up, these imperial guards would directly come in and escort her out.
Furthermore, Emperor Yang Jian, for reasons unknown, had always tacitly allowed this.
Not long after Yang Zixuan left, the sky had completely darkened.
After all, winter days are short.
"Uncle Neng, Little Grass, you should both rest early too."
"Your servant withdraws~ This old servant withdraws."
In the bedroom, Yang Hong, lying on the bed, had already dismissed the two people by his side before sitting up again to cultivate the basic breathing technique.
They say one must practice their fists and mouth their songs. Since his transmigration, Yang Hong had not slacked off in his cultivation for a single day.
However, when he first transmigrated, he hadn't received the complete memories of the Sixth Prince, and by the time the Sixth Prince was confined to the Cold Palace, he hadn't had the chance to start cultivating.
Later, he was targeted by the Crown Prince and couldn't find any cultivation techniques.
As for Zhou Neng, he cultivated martial arts similar to the "Sunflower Manual," which only eunuchs could practice; Mother Liu's situation was similar.
Therefore, he could only cultivate under Zhou Neng's guidance, practicing the most basic breathing and body-strengthening methods of the Great Sui Dynasty.
And he couldn't expose his cultivation progress.
Otherwise, the only thing awaiting him would be death!
There would be no second possibility!
...
At the same time, in a side hall within the exquisite and majestic Crown Prince's Palace.
The Crown Prince Yang Yong sat high on the main seat, with three Grand Eunuchs standing below.
"Zhang Rang, are you certain Yang Hong is truly not cultivating martial arts?"
"Replying to His Highness the Crown Prince, your subordinate has investigated thoroughly. The Sixth Prince is only practicing basic breathing and basic strengthening methods, and he is not even doing it correctly, making him somewhat effeminate. He is absolutely not cultivating martial arts!"
Grand Eunuch Zhang Rang stepped forward slightly, answering respectfully.
"Zhao Zhong, you saw that old fellow Zhou Neng today. Are you sure he is a Grandmaster of the Xiantian realm?"
"Replying to His Highness the Crown Prince, this old servant and Zhou Neng are from the same generation and both cultivate the 'Flying Needle Technique,' so we are quite familiar with each other's aura. This old servant can confirm that Zhou Neng's cultivation is definitely at the Xiantian Grandmaster level, and he has only recently broken through. His Xiantian inner energy aura cannot be well contained yet."
An old eunuch, who looked to be in his fifties, also stepped forward slightly.
"Guo Sheng, has the matter of Yang Hong's bloodline been clarified?"
"Replying to His Highness the Crown Prince, I have investigated this matter thoroughly. The Sixth Prince is indeed the son of His Majesty and Consort Wu Hui. The so-called 'Replacing the Crown Prince with a Feline' was merely a conspiracy fabricated by schemers. As for the palace maid who was favored by His Majesty, she did exist and is still alive, but she never conceived a royal child."
The last middle-aged eunuch also stepped forward slightly to report.
The Crown Prince Yang Yong, listening from his seat, fell silent. The only sound in the room was the tapping of Yang Yong's fingers on the table.
"Tap~ tap-tap~"
After waiting for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Yang Yong narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
"Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong, mobilize thirty Xiantian imperial guards. They are to quietly assassinate Yang Hong tonight. Guo Sheng, you will take care of that palace maid. Remember to be thorough."
"Yes~"
The three eunuchs responded in unison and began to retreat from the side hall.
"Also, find a way to implicate my second brother Yang Guang and third brother Yang Hao in Yang Hong's death. Remember to be careful and discreet."
"Your servants obey."
The three eunuchs were startled and immediately bowed in agreement. They all understood that if this matter was not handled properly, they would likely lose their heads.
Even if the mission was completed, if Emperor Yang Jian found out, they would surely die.
Therefore, they had to be careful, extremely careful.
After the three Grand Eunuchs had left, Yang Yong looked towards a corner of the side hall and said in a dark tone.
"An San, you will follow Zhang Rang and the other two. Once the matter is concluded, kill them all."
"Your subordinate obeys."
A faint voice echoed, a gust of wind blew through the corner of the side hall, but no figure appeared. This was a top assassin, a true shadow walker.
...
The night deepened gradually. The moon, at some point, was obscured by dark clouds. It seemed even the bright moon was unwilling to witness the secret dealings and darkness that could appear at any moment in the imperial palace. Even the myriad of stars had dimmed.
"Phew~ This basic breathing technique is quite good. A full circulation takes only an hour, and it even has a slight effect of purifying true qi. If I can cultivate it to level 100 and it evolves again, it will undoubtedly be even more powerful."
After completing a full circulation, Yang Hong not only felt warmth throughout his body but also became much more energetic.
"This means I can use cultivation to replace sleep now? Continue cultivating."
Filled with the excitement of acquiring a new martial art, Yang Hong's spirit was high. Thus, when time reached the hour of Yin, his excited spirit detected someone approaching his room.
And there were quite a few of them.
"This is the aura of Xiantian Grandmasters, thirty of them, and they're already outside my room?"
"Is this... an assassination attempt on me?"
Yang Hong might not be the smartest, but he was certainly not foolish. He immediately understood what was happening.
"Heh heh~ Just as I broke through to Grandmaster, they're sending me practice dummies."
He quietly leaped onto the roof beam, waiting for the assassins to arrive.
"Hmm~ You're quite clever, actually knowing to use sleeping powder first. Not bad~ Not bad."
"Oh~ You've also prepared sleeping powder for Little Grass and Zhou Neng? That's good, it will be quieter and safer when things get started. However, you've reminded me of something."
Yang Hong knew he lacked combat experience, so he planned to ambush and counter-kill these assassins. But seeing the sleeping powder, he had a new idea. He held his breath and returned to the bed, gently pushing aside a bed board, taking out a packet of powder he had concocted himself, and lightly dusting it around the room.
"Heh heh~ This is a mixture of nine-grade rosemary, nine-grade pyrethrum, and five other flower pollens. It's a sleeping powder, and although not fatal, it's colorless and odorless."
*Click~ click...*
After a few light sounds, the nine windows on three sides of the room were gently pried open, and thirty figures quickly flashed inside.
*Puff~ puff~ puff~*
As soon as a few assassins entered and saw the slightly bulging bed, they swung their blades without a word. Within moments, not only was the quilt sliced to shreds, but the bed itself was chopped into small wooden pieces.
"Not good~ The person isn't here."
"Head, I'm feeling dizzy~"
"Who swapped our sleeping powder? Hurry and bring out the antidote."
"You bastard, give me the antidote."
In order not to make any noise, these people had all stimulated their inner energy, wrapping their attacks to dampen the sound. Thus, within moments, they had all fallen victim to the sleeping powder.
*Sizzle~ sizzle~ sizzle~*
A sound of bleeding echoed. In just nine breaths, the room fell silent.
"Alas~ No sense of accomplishment. These assassins are truly unprofessional," Yang Hong said with a sigh, wiping his short sword on an assassin's clothes. He had originally hoped to have a fight and learn some moves. But it was resolved just like this. While these assassins were blaming each other, he floated down from the roof beam and, using his fastest speed, directly slit their throats, taking them all down in one go! Not a single one had a chance to retaliate, which is why Yang Hong called these assassins unprofessional.