Duke Wen's gaze darkened, then he chuckled, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Prince An has found the military tally and rendered a great service. Congratulations!"
"The loss of the military tally was a great worry for Father Emperor. Prince An's help in finding it is truly a great achievement!" Dongfang Zhan had just recovered from his severe poisoning, and his face and lips were somewhat pale. His voice was weak and feeble, but his smile was gentle and warm.
The Crown Prince echoed in approval, "The military tally was stolen by Dongfang Han. I also suspected that he had put it in the Holy King's Mansion, but we had never found it. Prince An has indeed made a great contribution by finding the military tally!"
Dongfang Heng smiled. They were striking first, trying to force him to hand over the military seal!
The mastermind behind it all was Dongfang Zhan. He didn't do it himself, but instead instructed the Duke of Wen to take action. He was really clever to push things along from behind.
However, Duke Wen has always been a member of the Crown Prince's faction, and Su Yuting almost married the Crown Prince. When did he join the Prince of Zhan's side?
Or is Dongfang Zhan deliberately creating a mystery, having Duke Wen take the lead to make him think that the Crown Prince is plotting against him?
"What are you talking about? When did I find the military tally of the Imperial Guards?" After a thousand thoughts raced through his mind, Dongfang Heng looked directly at the crowd, his deep eyes flashing with doubt and confusion.
If the Duke of Wen forces Dongfang Heng to hand over the military tally, the emperor will not only not reward him, but will also harbor resentment towards him. In that case, he has fallen into Dongfang Zhan's trap.
Duke Wen was not too surprised after hearing this, as if he had expected Dongfang Heng to say this. His smile froze slightly: "I went to the Holy King's Mansion just now and saw the Prince holding a military tally. Isn't it the military tally of the Imperial Guard? It's exactly the same as the one drawn on the paper."
Dongfang Heng smiled, guessing Wen Guogong's plan. He would use the excuse of visiting the old prince to go to the Holy Prince's Mansion to see Dongfang Heng, and then go to the capital to meet the emperor, saying that he saw the military tally in Dongfang Heng's hands and that the emperor would definitely summon him to ask for the military tally.
"Duke Wen must be mistaken. I have never had any contact with the military tally of the Imperial City Guards." Dongfang Heng disliked being forced to hand over the military tally. Besides, he had not yet achieved his goal and could not hand it over.
"Really?" Duke Wen frowned. "When I entered the Holy King's Mansion, the wooden plaque you were holding really looked like a military tally. I saw Princess Lixue looking at it from left to right, and she seemed to love it!"
The non-existent scene was vividly described by Duke Wen, making everyone feel as if they had seen it with their own eyes. Looking at his thoughtful expression, no one doubted that he had truly seen the military tally. His displeased gaze fell on Dongfang Heng.
Using military tally to win the heart of a beauty, indulging in romantic entanglements, is tantamount to playing with the vast empire of Qingyan Kingdom—it's utterly absurd!
“Prince An, the military tally of the Imperial City Guard is not to be trifled with. If Li Xue likes it, you can give her other valuable wooden plaques, but you must not give her a military tally as a gift!”
“Prince Zhan, I have already said that I have never seen the military tally of the Imperial City Guard. Why don’t you believe me?” Dongfang Heng’s eyes were sharp and his expression was cold and arrogant.
Dongfang Zhan's gaze sharpened, his tone slightly arrogant: "It's not that I don't trust you, but rather, the Duke of Wen said..."
“Your Highness Zhan, my surname is Dongfang, and I am a member of the Dongfang royal family. Duke Wen’s surname is Su, and he is an outsider. Why would you rather believe the words of an outsider than believe my words?”
Dongfang Heng stared coldly into Dongfang Zhan's eyes. His pupils were deep, cold, and ruthless, like a pool of stagnant water that could freeze a person to death. Long ago, he knew that Dongfang Zhan's gentle appearance was a disguise. Over the years, Dongfang Zhan's disguise had become more and more perfect, leaving no room for doubt.
Dongfang Zhan and Dongfang Heng each held their own version of events, arguing fiercely. The Crown Prince's gaze darkened as he recalled Dongfang Han's plot to frame Dongfang Heng.
Becoming the Azure Flame War God at such a young age, holding a high position and wielding great power, inevitably arouses jealousy. "Father, Prince An is the Azure Flame War God. He is very clear about the function of the military token and would never give it away lightly. There may really be a misunderstanding here!"
The Emperor looked at Dongfang Heng, whose eyes were full of righteousness and whose heart was open and honest, and who did not seem to be lying. Then he looked at Duke Wen, whose face was old and whose eyes were desolate and helpless, and who did not seem to be lying either. Between the two of them, who was telling the truth? Who was lying?
"The matter of the military tally concerns the safety of Qingyan. It is a matter of great importance. As a senior official in the court, Duke Wen would certainly not speak nonsense..." Dongfang Zhan insisted on his opinion.
Dongfang Heng curled his lips into a cold smile: "In the end, Prince Zhan still suspects that I took the military tally!"
"Does Prince An have a way to prove that he didn't take the military tally?" Dongfang Zhan quietly set a trap, waiting for Dongfang Heng to jump in.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has already led a search of the Holy King’s residence, but they found nothing!” Dongfang Heng’s gaze was profound.
Dongfang Zhan smiled at Dongfang Heng, his smile gentle but not reaching his eyes: "The military tally is very small. If it is hidden on one's person, how could the guards find it!"
"Does Prince Zhan want to search my body?" Dongfang Heng understood Dongfang Zhan's intention, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Would Prince An dare to have his body searched?" Dongfang Zhan grew up in the imperial palace and knew that rooms would be searched again and again. Nowhere was safe to keep his belongings; only his person was truly safe.
A body search is extremely disrespectful to a person. Unless there are special circumstances, a body search should never be conducted. Dongfang Heng is the God of War of the Azure Flame, and searching him would be an extreme insult to him...
Seeing that everyone's eyes were on him, Dongfang Heng glanced at Dongfang Zhan and sneered, "It seems that Prince Zhan will not give up easily without searching my body..."
"Duke Wen, I'll ask you one last time: are you sure you saw me take the imperial guard's military tally?" Dongfang Heng suddenly changed the subject, his sharp gaze fixed on Duke Wen.
Duke Wen lowered his eyelids, his gaze flickering unnaturally: "Your Highness, although this old minister is old, my eyes are not yet failing. I saw that wooden plaque clearly; it is the military tally of the Imperial City Guard!"
“Prince An, what else do you have to say?” Dongfang Zhan stared at Dongfang Heng, determined to force him to hand over the military tally no matter what.
Dongfang Heng gazed at the azure sky through the half-open window, a strange smile on his face: "I have nothing to say!"
"Then please summon the eunuch to give this to Prince An..."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" An old eunuch rushed into the imperial study, his aged face beaming with excitement: "The military tally... the military tally isn't lost... look..."
An old eunuch carried a tray into the room. On the tray was a wooden plaque about the size of a child's palm, with four auspicious clouds inlaid at the four corners and a large "soldier" character carved in the center. It was the military tally of the Imperial City Guard.
The emperor was startled. He picked up the military tally and examined it closely. He had seen every inch of it many times and was extremely familiar with it. This was the real military tally: "Where did you find it?"
"This old servant just went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to clean your room and found this military tally on your headboard!" The old eunuch spoke in a softer voice.
The emperor's sharp eyes narrowed instantly. What was going on? The lost military tally had returned on its own?
Dongfang Zhan's deep eyes also darkened instantly. Dongfang Heng had voluntarily returned the military tally? Wasn't he planning a rebellion? Why was he returning the military tally?
"The military tally hasn't been lost, congratulations, Your Majesty!" Dongfang Heng said casually, interrupting the emperor's thoughts.
The emperor smiled, but before he could speak, Dongfang Heng continued, "Your Majesty, the real military tally is already in your hands. I can clear myself of the suspicion of possessing the military tally. However, I would like to know what the crime is for framing a prince of the royal family?"
Duke Wen was startled, and his old face instantly turned deathly pale!
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... Please be patient for a few more days, my wedding is just around the corner!
Chapter 152: Tender Affection
"Your Majesty, I have heard that the more than 100,000 troops at the Subei border have returned to the capital without being summoned. I suspect that Prince An has ulterior motives and thus devised this plan to test him. I had no intention of framing him. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"