The guards of the Holy King's Palace were about to draw their swords to stop him, but Dongfang Heng waved his hand to stop them: "Your Highness, you must search carefully and not miss any suspicious places!" Dongfang Heng emphasized the word "suspicious," as if it were a silent sarcasm.
Dongfang Hong's expression changed. Looking at the guards who were acting roughly, he solemnly instructed them: "Be careful and thorough during the search. Be careful not to break or damage anything in the Holy King's Mansion!" This was the Holy King's Mansion, the home of his uncle, Dongfang Hong. If word got out that his own people were searching his own people so roughly, it would be a laughing stock.
"Dongfang Heng!" Seeing that the guards had searched the front hall and were about to head to the back courtyard, Shen Lixue gently tugged at Dongfang Heng's sleeve: "If it really was a setup, that military tally would definitely be in your Fengsong Courtyard!"
"I know!" Dongfang Heng held Shen Lixue's small hand and slowly walked towards Fengsong Courtyard, a cold smile on his lips. Daring to plot against him, he was courting death.
Dongfang Hong watched the two figures walk away unhurriedly, his eyes flashing. He then led his men to follow them. The moment Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue stepped into Fengsong Courtyard, he preemptively gave the order: "Thoroughly search Fengsong Courtyard."
Shen Lixue frowned. The military tally was in Fengsong Courtyard. She and Dongfang Heng had no time to search for or hide it. If the guards found it, Dongfang Heng would be guilty of stealing the military tally.
He is the God of War of Azure Flame, with an army and military tally in his hands. If he is found to have stolen the military tally of the Imperial City Guard, the Emperor will think he is ambitious and, in a fit of rage, will surely behead him and display his head to the public.
"Second Brother!" Dongfang Han, leaning on his cane and supported by a maid, limped into Fengsong Courtyard. He looked at the guards who were searching back and forth, his gaze cold and a chilling smile on his lips.
Shen Lixue was slightly taken aback and carefully examined Dongfang Han. He had suffered internal injuries from the shock, received a hundred lashes, and was grieving the death of his father. He should have been on the verge of death. Even if he had a strong will and barely survived, he should have been on the verge of death. It was impossible for him to recover so quickly.
Did he take some kind of magic pill?
"You're injured, why aren't you resting in your room? Why are you here?" Dongfang Heng glanced at Dongfang Han and asked casually.
"A major incident has occurred at the Prince's residence; how can I possibly rest peacefully!" Dongfang Han sighed, sat down opposite Dongfang Heng, and looked at him with a calm yet gloomy and sharp gaze.
"I'm going to change my clothes!" Dongfang Heng squeezed Shen Lixue's small hand and secretly winked at her.
Shen Lixue understood immediately, picked up the teapot, poured tea, and blocked Dongfang Hong and Dongfang Han's view: "Your Highness, Young Master Dongfang, please have some tea!"
Taking the opportunity, Dongfang Heng stood up and went into the room!
Dongfang Han subtly shifted his body and looked at Dongfang Heng again. There were many guards inside and outside the room. He wasn't afraid that Dongfang Heng would play any tricks, but it was still better for him to keep an eye on him.
Dongfang Heng entered the inner room amidst the watchful eyes of the guards, took off his dusty outer robe, threw it on a chair, and took a clean outer robe from the cabinet to change into.
Back in the courtyard, I sat down at the round table, picked up the cup of tea that Shen Lixue handed me, and leisurely sipped it.
Dongfang Han put aside his thoughts and coldly looked at the beautiful scenery of Fengsong Courtyard. Thinking of his own simple courtyard, a hint of malice appeared deep in his eyes.
The betrothal gifts that Dongfang Heng gave to Shen Lixue were piled up in the side room, box after box, too many to count. The guards opened them one by one to look at them, and Dongfang Han's eyes turned red: They were both sons of the Holy King's Mansion, so why did Dongfang Heng and Dongfang Xun enjoy wealth and luxury, while his life was so simple?
It's alright. After today, Dongfang Heng will be a prisoner, and he might be beheaded soon. He will have to live in the underworld instead of this beautiful Maple Pine Courtyard!
Just then, a guard stepped forward and reported: "Your Highness, we have thoroughly searched Fengsong Courtyard and found no assassin or military tally!"
"How is this possible!" Dongfang Han's expression changed, and he exclaimed in surprise.
Seeing that Dongfang Hong, Dongfang Heng, and the guards were all looking at him with puzzlement, he smiled awkwardly: "What I mean is, there are hidden compartments in Second Brother's room. Have the guards searched them?"
"We've already searched all six hidden compartments, but we didn't find the military token!" The guard's tone was firm, his face cold.
Dongfang Han frowned deeply. He had clearly put the military tally into the hidden compartment in Dongfang Heng's inner room, so how could it not be there?
A glimpse of white clothing fluttered by, and Dongfang Han's eyes lit up. He looked at Dongfang Heng and smiled mysteriously: "Second Brother just went inside to change his clothes!" Although he changed under the watchful eyes of the guards, with his abilities, it was still possible for him to tamper with things without being discovered.
"You suspect that I have hidden the military tally on my person?" Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow at Dongfang Han.
"Isn't that right?" Dongfang Han smiled coldly and bloodthirstily.
Dongfang Heng looked coldly at Dongfang Han: "We are both cousins from the Holy King's Mansion, why does my third brother look like he'd love for me to get into trouble?"
Dongfang Han stood up, gave a light snort, and said arrogantly, "I am only loyal to the Emperor. If Second Brother betrays the Emperor, I will show no mercy to you. Do you dare to let the guards search you?"
“Third brother has already made his suspicions so clear. If I don’t let you search him, wouldn’t I be guilty?” Dongfang Heng put down his teacup, stood up gracefully and slowly, his fingers slightly bent, and a powerful internal force quietly struck Dongfang Han’s knee.
Dongfang Han lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud. One leg flew high in the air, gliding past everyone before falling back down. Some black powder was stuck to the sole of his light gray boot.
"You're an assassin!" Dongfang Hong's eyes turned cold. With a flick of his wrist, his longsword was drawn, and the chilling blade was instantly placed against Dongfang Han's neck.
"No, no, no... It's not my fault, it was Dongfang Heng, he framed me!" Dongfang Han was at a loss for words and hurriedly explained. He could clearly feel the sharp blade pressed against his skin. If he dared to move, the sword would cut his neck. Waves of cold air seeped through his skin and into his body, making him shudder.
"The evidence is overwhelming, and you still dare to deny it!" Dongfang Hong reached out and took off Dongfang Han's boots, turned them upside down, and showed him the black powder: "This kind of stuff was also left in the palace."
Dongfang Han waved his hands violently: "No...no, Your Highness, please listen to me...I accidentally got this on myself when I went into the kitchen..."
"Where's the military tally? Where did you hide it?" Dongfang Hong ignored Dongfang Han's explanation, grabbed his collar tightly, and questioned him angrily.
"The military tally, the military tally..." Dongfang Han murmured anxiously, looking angrily at Dongfang Heng. He had hidden the military tally in a secret compartment in Dongfang Heng's inner room, but he couldn't say it. Otherwise, wouldn't he be admitting that he had stolen the military tally?
"Not telling the truth? Guards, take him to the Ministry of Justice prison!" Dongfang Hong shoved Dongfang Han to the ground and coldly gave the order.
"Your Highness, spare me, spare me!" Dongfang Han knelt on the ground, begging for mercy. As long as he kept his mouth shut and didn't spit it out, they couldn't convict him based on the black powder alone.
If he confesses everything, it will be considered stealing the military tally, a capital offense punishable by death. He will be the one to suffer, and he won't be able to harm Dongfang Heng at all.
Dongfang Heng escaped another disaster, how despicable!
Two guards stepped forward and dragged Dongfang Han away.
Dongfang Hong turned around and looked apologetically at Dongfang Heng: "Prince An, I'm sorry for disturbing you!" The assassin was Dongfang Han, and he had wronged Dongfang Heng!
"It's alright!" Dongfang Heng looked at Dongfang Han, who was howling and being dragged out of the courtyard by the guards, with a cold tone and indifferent gaze.
"Farewell!" Dongfang Hong smiled. He had searched the wrong courtyard and wrongly accused the wrong person. He couldn't stay any longer, so he took his leave.
The guards followed him out of Fengsong Courtyard, leaving only Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue in the courtyard.
After confirming that no one was around, Shen Lixue lowered her voice and asked, "Dongfang Heng, where did you put the military tally?"
Chapter 151 Frame the Prince? He's courting death.