"His Majesty is getting old and is very sensitive to many things. He is often suspicious and his mind has become narrow. If the next emperor is a wise ruler who is open-minded and can distinguish right from wrong, he will never doubt the loyal and virtuous or harm the innocent!" Dongfang Heng, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, his cold light gleaming, exuding a refined and noble air.
"A wise ruler?" Nangong Xiao scoffed. "Do you know why my father was framed?"
"Did he offend the prince?" Shen Lixue guessed.
Nangong Xiao shook his head heavily: "The day after my father arrived in the capital, the Crown Prince and Prince Zhan secretly tried to win him over. He said he would not participate in the struggle for the throne and would not stand on the side of any prince. They then plotted to kill my father and used such despicable methods to frame him!"
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened. If that were truly the case, the prince's mind was far too narrow: "Do you know who the mastermind is?"
“One of the princes!” Nangong Xiao hadn’t yet found out who it was: “My father wants the people to live a peaceful life and doesn’t want any more bloodshed. He would never rebel, but the emperor’s repeated suspicions, the princes’ schemes to frame us, and their encouragement are forcing us to rebel!”
"Do you have anyone you suspect?" Dongfang Heng put down his teacup and looked up at Nangong Xiao.
"In my opinion, it's either the Crown Prince or Prince Zhan!" Nangong Xiao squinted as he spoke these two names. Among the royal princes, these two had the greatest power and the strongest abilities. No one else could have devised such a meticulous plan.
Shen Lixue frowned; the Crown Prince was poised and measured; Prince Zhan was gentle and courteous? On the surface, they didn't seem like such ruthless people...
"If you marry Yu'er and form an alliance with the emperor, the emperor's vigilance towards you should be relaxed."
"Dongfang Yu'er is a princess of the royal family. In other words, she is a spy sent by the emperor to my side. As long as I make any move, the emperor will know immediately!"
Nangong Xiao sighed. The emperor had fewer undercover agents, but now he had an overt spy who was always around him and could openly go to all his private places to uncover more secrets.
“Yu’er is outspoken and straightforward, but she’s not a tattletale!” Shen Lixue disagreed with Nangong Xiao’s opinion.
"If Dongfang Yu'er marries me with prejudice, she will definitely find fault with me and always look for my mistakes. In fact, she has become the emperor's spy!" This is another reason why the emperor let Dongfang Yu'er marry Nangong Xiao. The two are incompatible and will not be a harmonious couple.
Seeing Nangong Xiao's gloomy and cold gaze, Shen Lixue's eyes narrowed: "Have you ever thought about rebelling?" The King of Yunnan is getting old and unwilling to wage war again. Nangong Xiao is young, dignified, and proud. He has been suspected and oppressed for a long time, which will inevitably cause a backlash.
"Then we'll have to see how things develop!" If the next emperor is a wise ruler who no longer doubts or oppresses him, he certainly won't rebel. But if it's that shameless villain who plotted against him and the King of Yunnan, he will absolutely not tolerate it anymore!
"Dongfang Heng, you are young and yet you hold military power on the border. Be careful!" That prince is ruthless and likes to control everything. He will definitely not let important military power fall into the hands of others. Although Dongfang Heng also has the surname Dongfang, he has made great achievements in battle and is the best among the younger generation. His merits surpass those of any other prince. That prince will definitely try every means to seize the military power he holds.
Dongfang Heng looked at the teacup, the rising steam obscuring the expression in his eyes: "If that ruthless prince ascends the throne, it won't just be one or two people who suffer!" The meticulous planning and vicious methods clearly demonstrate that the man is ambitious and definitely harbors the desire to become emperor.
"We are now on the same side. We must find the mastermind behind this and never let him become emperor!" Nangong Xiao had been a hostage in the capital for many years, and he knew better than anyone the misery of being a hostage.
He was the crown prince. After the King of Yunnan passed away, he could return to Yunnan to inherit the throne, but his son would be left in the capital as a hostage. He was not one to be manipulated by others, and he did not want his descendants to be manipulated as well.
The night was cool and still, and Chen Lixue flew back to the Holy King's Mansion.
The butler paced back and forth in the Maple Pine Courtyard, his anxious gaze frequently drifting towards the gate.
With their robes fluttering, Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng gently landed on the ground. The steward was startled, then quickly came to greet them: "Prince, Princess, you've finally returned!"
"What happened?" Dongfang Heng asked with a frown. He had only seen the butler so anxious twice in his memory, and neither time it was anything good.
The steward said urgently, "Your Highness, it's the old prince. He heard that Dongfang Yi was beheaded and collapsed, vomiting blood..."
Dongfang Heng's gaze sharpened: "When did this happen?"
"Half an hour ago!" The steward dared not conceal the truth and reported it truthfully.
Dongfang Heng, holding Shen Lixue's hand, strode towards the old prince's courtyard, his gaze terrifyingly gloomy: "Didn't I tell you to instruct the servants to keep it from Grandpa for the time being?"
The steward said in a low, urgent voice, "I have already instructed all the servants not to reveal this to the old prince. It was Madam Ding (Dongfang Yi's wife) who was secretly crying in a corner, and the old prince happened to hear it..."
Dongfang Heng sneered. His grandfather rarely left the house and stayed in his courtyard all day. Why did Madam Ding have to come to his house to cry? It was clearly a deliberate attempt to give him a message that he was in poor health. Although he didn't get along with Dongfang Yi, Dongfang Yi was still his son, and the pain of losing his son would kill him.
"Has the imperial physician been summoned?"
"The ghost doctor from the southern border has already gone there to treat the patient..." the steward hurried behind, answering softly.
Dongfang Heng breathed a sigh of relief. With the Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang around, his grandfather should be alright.
The old prince's courtyard was brightly lit, with maids and servants bustling about carrying water, copper basins, and various medicinal herbs.
The legendary doctor from southern Xinjiang was standing by the bedside examining the old prince, forbidding any outsiders from disturbing him.
Shen Lixue stood at the door of the inner room and looked inside through the beaded curtain. She couldn't see the face of the person on the carved bed, but the strong smell of medicine filled the room, indicating that his condition was very serious.
She sighed softly. Even if Dongfang Yi had made a terrible mistake, he was still his own son. The old prince must be heartbroken to see his son die.
The Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang emerged, wiping the sweat from his brow. His eyes were haggard, and his steps were unsteady.
"Ghost Doctor, how is the old prince's condition?" Dongfang Heng stepped forward, his deep, worried gaze fixed on the inner room.
The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang stroked his beard: "His condition is temporarily stable, but he has been ill for too long, which has damaged his internal organs. To recover his health, he needs to take the Cold Stone Flower!"
"Cold Stone Flower?" Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened. "What kind of medicine is that?"
"It's a miraculous medicine that grows on cliffs. Once picked, it must be taken within three hours, otherwise the flower will wither and it will have no medicinal effect!" The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang explained solemnly.
Dongfang Heng gazed intently as he walked heavily into the inner room, onto the large bed.
Shen Lixue's gaze darkened as she looked at the Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang: "Where can I find the Cold Stone Flower?"
"Black Mist Mountain!" The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his gaze solemn.
"Black Mist Mountain!" Dongfang Heng's gaze instantly hardened.
Shen Lixue blinked: "Is Black Mist Mountain strange?" It actually made Dongfang Heng wary of it.
The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang looked up at Shen Lixue: "It is said that Black Mist Mountain is a dead mountain, and all those who go in never return."
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened: "Is it really that strange?"
"Don't be skeptical. Twenty years ago, a general, disbelieving in superstition, led a thousand-strong army into the mountains, and not a single one of them came out!" The Ghost Doctor of Southern Xinjiang's gaze was solemn, without a hint of joking.