"Your majesty, after they killed concubine Hu, they actually interfered in the court proceedings and thereby showing themselves to the world. This would look like a foolish move, as it would directly make other forces act against them, as it happened in today's court. But, the premise was that they succeeded with consort Su and her children's assassination. That would've made other factions act in caution around them as well as your majesty, as any rash action would've caused death of other concubines and consorts or actually make those factions and you believe it."
He paused, took a sip of tea, moistened his throat and continued.
"But they failed yesterday. This foiled their plans, which would've left them with two choices. Advance or retreat, and they chose advance without a second thought, since the news of successful assassination was blocked by your majesty and the night lockdown and city wide search made them believe that they succeeded."
The emperor got the full picture by just one meeting with the state preceptor.
'Sure enough, there's a reason why elder Yang is qualified as a state preceptor. Even the parts where I lacked insight was covered by him.'
"Then preceptor Yang, their final motive must've been to scare me and destabilize the Yang dynasty, correct?"
"As you said, your majesty."
"Then this force is definitely foreign or anti-Yang. It cannot be a rebellious force, since such a force must've been noticed early on by us, that lefts us with foreign forces."
"Your majesty, in this case, I believe it must be either Wu or Chu, if not, then someone out of our perception."
"Why can't it be Daqian or Jin?"
"Your majesty, Daqian is a very powerful dynasty when it comes to defense. Their forte is defense, with which they have resisted the attacks of various dynasties and are able to stand firm. But, they are currently filled with internal strifes. The Daqian court is focused on quelling the rebellion and defending the borders to prevent other dynasties from taking advantage of their internal weakness and this includes us."
"While we might think that this maybe a delay tactics to divert our gaze, but there is no need for such drastic actions like assassination, or revealing themselves. Thus, they are out of the calculations."
"As for Jin, their emperor only knows how to ride on the cottails of his son in laws. I remember that is his 3rd son in law is an advisor, but no sane advisor would actually take such rash actions. Jin dynasty is also surrounded by multiple dynasties and doesn't share border with us, why would they go out of their way to provoke us? Plus, the empress was also a princess from Jin and you are well aware of her nature."
"Thank you, preceptor Yang, for your valuable insights."
"It is all your majesty's grace."
After the flattering, they went back to sipping the tea.
The moon was high above the sky, shining like a pearl of heaven. The emperor took a glance at the moon and kept his empty cup on the table. Yang Wuzhu, sensing the emperor's mood, also followed suit and asked.
"Your majesty, is something else bothering you?"
*Sigh*
Yang Jian took a deep sigh and nodded.
"Yes preceptor Wu. There is in fact one more thing I can't wrap my head around. I don't even know where to start."
"Do not worry your majesty, it is my duty to share your burdens and guide you. Even if I don't have any insights about the matter, I will surely be able to help."
"Then I will have to trouble you, preceptor Yang."
Barely two minutes had passed when Yang Wuzhu immediately stood up with a dumbfounded look. None of the elegance of a state preceptor was left on his shocked face.
"Your majesty, are you completely sure?"
"Yes, uncle Yang. This was verified by the 3 imperial doctors on the scene and I have personally seen with my own eyes. Even my brocade guards were shocked and left speechless."
The old man slowly sat down on his seat as it took him a while to completely digest the information. He gulped and spoke.
"Your majesty, the 1 month prince possessing such inhuman strength that he could stop a dagger from an adult human, even if she's a woman and possessing enough strength to tear apart the jaw, even legends and myths aren't that exaggerated. It will be more believable if a news came from the north and west borders that we defeated Wu and Chu and expanded our territory inside their mainland and are about to capture their capital."
"I also felt that the fact was too absurd. I still have a hard time believing that such a child could exist in this world. It looks more like the power of gods and demons."
Yang Wuzhu also understood the emperor's dilemma. His mind worked at a fast speed and he advised the emperor the best advise he could. At one glance, he could make out the motives of the force. He was also proud of himself and felt that he was worthy of the title of State preceptor. But now, like the emperor, he also fell in self doubt.
He was still not sure what had actually transpired there, but neither jinyiwei nor the imperial doctors were fools. The emperor also said that consort Su evaded the question by saying that she was just worried for her son.
The assassin's lower jaw had a poison paper wrapped and stored in between her back tooth, ready to be taken as the situation demanded. The truth of He Chenge's suicide was also revealed with this, since they both belonged to the same force.
But whether it's the damaged right hand of 19th prince which had it's bones cleaved, which blocked the sword or the damaged left hand, which tore apart an entire jaw with pure raw power and was now all bones with some of it stuck in the assassin's jaw. Every single action pointed to one thing.
"Your majesty, I think it's a fact that prince Yang Tian is born with the power of gods. I think that this is the blessing of our Yang dynasty. Instead of worrying about whether it's true or not and falling in self doubt, it's better to think about the future."
The emperor nodded and asked, "Then you should know the what would happen if this matter is leaked."
"The turbulent times will fall upon us even sooner. There are expressions of speech that a capable general is better than a thousand or ten thousand soldiers or that once a powerful general went inside the enemy's army and beheaded their general thereby winning the battle. But we both know how true is that on a battlefield. Without capable guards, what is a lone general in front of hundred or thousand men. Without his position as a general, what can he rely on to defend himself when he is alone? But with prince Tian...."