Chapter 592: Plan within a Plan (1)_1
Despite taking on the temporary role of Chief of Royal Protection for this autumn hunt, responsible for the safety of everyone within the enclosed hunting grounds, Xiao Ruiyuan only needed to arrange manpower and guard each critical passageway, preventing assassins or those with ulterior motives from infiltrating and plotting nefarious deeds. Figures like Emperor Huian and Chu Heng had Imperial Secret Guards protecting them covertly; there was no need for him to constantly stand by them, and even less for anyone else to be granted the privilege of his personal protection.
However, the current situation made it impossible for Xiao Ruiyuan to remain uninvolved.
Those noblemen were one thing; even if an accident really did happen in the Savage Beast Forest, nobody would dare to place the blame on Xiao Ruiyuan. But the Princes were different; even if they were not as important as the Crown Prince in Emperor Huian’s eyes, they were still his flesh and blood. With the Crown Prince’s frail health, Emperor Huian might well be considering other possibilities.
Perhaps among these Princes, there was a candidate Emperor Huian had in mind to succeed the Crown Prince. Should an accident occur, Emperor Huian would surely be enraged. The wrath of an Emperor could lead to a bloodbath, and Xiao Ruiyuan, as the person in charge of the safety of the hunting grounds, would bear the brunt of it.
The blatant threat from King Heng enraged Xiao Ruiyuan, yet he had to compromise, stepping into the trap King Heng had set because King Heng was not as loving and soft-hearted towards his brothers as he appeared to be.
Xiao Ruiyuan had confirmed that King Heng had ill intentions, whether it was demanding him to instruct several young Princes in archery in front of the palace or the Thirteenth Prince’s deliberate loss and wandering into the Savage Beast Forest; all were part of King Heng’s carefully calculated steps. As for the aim... it was to completely eliminate himself as an obstacle!
Eventually, Xiao Ruiyuan ordered a guard to return to the palace to report the truth to Emperor Huian and arranged for an additional two hundred guards to come over, ensuring the safety of the party.