ASTRP -Chapter 143 The Assassin Was Killed in One Move

Behind him lay several corpses scattered across the ground.

“This…”

Everyone exchanged glances.

Don’t tell them these assassins were all killed by Xu Shu?

Is this little kid really that powerful?

“Xu Shu, are you alright?”

Seeing that the danger had passed, Xiao Yu immediately crawled out from under the bed and ran toward Xu Shu.

His words snapped everyone back to reality.

The imperial guards stepped forward to inspect the assassins and confirm there were no remaining threats.

Eunuch Chen also hurried over and pulled Xiao Yu and Xu Shu aside, asking if they were hurt.

Both shook their heads, and then Xiao Yu explained everything that had just happened.

After hearing the account, Eunuch Chen’s gaze toward Xu Shu subtly changed.

But Xu Shu wasn’t listening to Xiao Yu and Eunuch Chen’s conversation.

His eyes were lowered, fixed on the longsword in his hand—its blade stained with blood.

In truth, he wasn’t the one who killed anyone.

But he didn’t know who actually made the move.

Why, after killing the assassins, would that person place the sword in his hand?

And then leave without a sound?

One question after another surfaced in Xu Shu’s mind.

Suddenly, Eunuch Chen’s voice rang beside his ear.

“Xu family boy?”

Xu Shu jolted and snapped back to reality, looking blankly at him.

Eunuch Chen glanced at the sword and said, “Maybe you should throw it away?”

It wasn’t appropriate to keep holding a bloodied sword like that.

“No.” Xu Shu refused immediately. “I’m keeping it.”

“….”

What was there to keep about a murder weapon?

Eunuch Chen opened his mouth as if to say more, but Xiao Yu interrupted.

“Let him keep it.”

Since the young emperor had spoken, Eunuch Chen could only comply.

The imperial guards thoroughly searched the entire sleeping chamber again and questioned Xu Shu about the incident.

After confirming everything and posting additional guards outside the chamber, they finally left.

Xiao Yu wanted to speak privately with Xu Shu, but Eunuch Chen still hadn’t left. Xiao Yu grew impatient.

“Eunuch, please step out first.”

Eunuch Chen was worried about the young emperor and reluctant to leave.

“What if another wave of assassins comes? If I stay here, I can at least resist them.”

After thinking for a moment, he said, “Your Majesty, perhaps I should just sleep here tonight… I can lay a mat on the floor—”

Xiao Yu’s brows immediately furrowed.

The whole point of sending him out was so he could speak privately with Xu Shu.

If he stayed and slept here, how was that acceptable?

The young emperor cut him off.

“The imperial guards have already stationed multiple patrols outside. Not even a fly can get in.”

“And I still have Xu Shu protecting me—who’s protecting you, Eunuch?”

“Besides, you’re already old and frail. You probably can’t even run properly.”

Eunuch Chen: “…”

Was he being…—disliked?

And why did the emperor suddenly sound so much like that Xu family boy?

Eunuch Chen’s eyes drifted toward Xu Shu.

Xu Shu noticed his gaze and rolled his eyes.

“Why are you looking at me? Xiao Yu told you to leave. Are you deaf now?”

“….”

They were both calling him old.

Was he really that old?

Eunuch Chen sighed helplessly in the end.

“Then this old servant will take his leave.”

With that, he withdrew and the door closed behind him.

The moment the door shut, Xiao Yu shivered slightly, still feeling a bit afraid.

Xu Shu quickly reassured him.

“Don’t worry. They won’t come again.”

“They’re not stupid enough to come back and die. The imperial guards aren’t to be underestimated.”

Xiao Yu frowned. “But just now, the imperial guards…”

Xu Shu chuckled.

“You really don’t think about the time of night, do you? It’s deep night—people naturally get drowsy.”

“No matter how skilled they are, they’re still human. One moment of carelessness, and the assassins slipped in.”

“After this incident, the guard commander will definitely post people to keep constant watch.”

“And besides the imperial guards, aren’t there other experts secretly protecting you?”

“So don’t be afraid.”

“And you still have me here.”

As he spoke, Xu Shu suddenly reached out and draped an arm over Xiao Yu’s shoulder.

He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

“The assassin wasn’t killed by me. You saw it, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I saw it.”

“Then did you see who made the move?”

“No.” Xiao Yu shook his head. “I only saw a blur flash past, and then the assassins all fell.”

Xu Shu’s eyes widened.

“One strike… all killed?”

Xiao Yu hesitated. “Probably.”

Xu Shu frowned.

“One strike kill, and it was a single person. That means it must be a top-tier expert.”

“Who would have a top-tier expert protecting you?”

Xiao Yu shook his head.

Xu Shu rolled his eyes in exasperation.

“You really don’t know anything, do you?”

Xiao Yu puffed his lips. “Then who do you think it is? Who sent them to protect me in secret?”

Xu Shu was about to retort when suddenly a thought flashed through his mind.

A figure surfaced deep in his memory.

He froze.

He stared at Xiao Yu in a daze.

Xiao Yu was confused and was about to ask what was wrong when Xu Shu suddenly spoke.

“Could it be… your imperial uncle’s people protecting you in secret?!”

The words “imperial uncle” struck Xiao Yu like a blow.

His expression changed instantly.

It was hard to tell whether he was happy or unhappy.

He lowered his gaze.

“…It can’t be the imperial uncle, right?”

Xu Shu noticed his reaction and quickly changed his tone.

“Just a guess. Probably not your imperial uncle.”

“It could also be your empress dowager or your father’s people.”

As he spoke, his eyes subtly observed Xiao Yu’s expression.

When he mentioned that it likely wasn’t the regent, Xiao Yu’s tense expression visibly relaxed.

That subtle shift didn’t escape Xu Shu’s notice.

It was as if… Xiao Yu didn’t quite like the regent?

But before, Xiao Yu had been complaining to him and Chu Ning that the regent didn’t seem to like him or value him.

He wanted the regent’s recognition and affection.

They had all been helping him think of ways to get the regent’s attention and approval.

Recently, whenever Xiao Yu mentioned the regent, he had seemed quite happy, even animated.

If the person who killed the assassins really was sent by the regent…

Then logically, Xiao Yu should be very happy—because it meant the regent cared about him from the shadows.