"Li Xue, let me take you back to the manor first!" The person who switched the military tokens is extremely intelligent and very well hidden. He is a very difficult character to deal with and may suddenly appear at any time. Dongfang Heng is worried about Shen Li Xue.
"You go into the palace first. I have martial arts skills and Zimo is here with me. Nothing will happen!" Shen Lixue walked slowly, watching the people coming and going on both sides of the street. In the distance, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys, and the aroma of food wafted over, reminding people that it was time for dinner.
"Only after seeing you enter the Holy King's Mansion can I be completely at ease!" Qingyan Capital is full of hidden talents and experts. Moreover, with the military seal lost and that person unable to find an opportunity to leave the city, Dongfang Heng dared not be careless.
Dongfang Zhan walked along the street, looking at Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, who were walking side by side and very close, ten meters away. His gaze narrowed slightly, and he turned and took the left-hand avenue leading to the palace.
A pedestrian walked past him, but he didn't pay any attention and continued walking. Suddenly, a cold wind swept up his back. He was startled and quickly turned to the side. A sharp dagger grazed his clothes, leaving a very shallow and faint bloodstain on his arm.
Dongfang Zhan's gaze was sharp as a knife as he coldly looked at the tall man dressed in plain clothes with his face covered by a black cloth. He clenched his fist slightly, and his profound inner strength quickly gathered: "You dare to ambush me!"
The man in black didn't speak. His eyes, visible outside his mask, narrowed slightly, a chilling glint in them. He glanced at the bloodstained dagger, raised an eyebrow, turned, and flew away.
"Trying to leave!" Dongfang Zhan's eyes turned cold. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a powerful burst of internal energy at the man in black. The instant the energy struck, a surge of blood welled up in his chest, a metallic taste rose in his throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
On the road, Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue were walking when they suddenly heard a muffled thud, the sound of internal force hitting the wall. It was a sound unfamiliar to others, but very familiar to the two of them.
"Something's happened!" The two exchanged a glance and said in unison, then quickly turned and ran toward the source of the muffled sound.
A black figure darted out of the alley. On the side of the alley, Dongfang Zhan lay unconscious. By the light from the doorway, it was clear that his lips had turned purplish-black, and a trickle of blood hung from the corner of his mouth.
"Stop!" Zi Mo shouted coldly, leaping after the black figure.
The sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out, and Crown Prince Dongfang Hong arrived with a large number of guards. The noise from earlier had been quite loud, and they had heard it as well.
Upon seeing Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue, he paused for a moment, then asked, "What happened?"
"Prince Zhan was ambushed and poisoned!" Dongfang Heng said calmly, looking at the black wound on Dongfang Zhan's arm, his gaze growing increasingly intense.
Dongfang Hong raised an eyebrow: "Someone, take Prince Zhan to the Imperial Hospital!"
"Yes!" Several guards accepted the order and quickly stepped forward to lift Dongfang Zhan up.
Looking at the small wound on Dongfang Zhan's arm, Dongfang Hong frowned slightly. Although the wound was small, it had drawn blood and poison had seeped into the body, indicating that the assassination had been successful: "Third Prince, you are highly skilled in martial arts, yet you were still successfully ambushed. It seems that the person was very skilled. Did Prince An see what that person looked like?"
"My guards have already gone after them!" Dongfang Heng said casually, putting his arm around Shen Lixue's waist and following the marks left by Zi Mo, he flew forward.
"Your team stays behind to continue patrolling, while you come with me to capture the assassin!" Dongfang Hong quickly made the arrangements, leading a team of guards to follow closely behind.
At first glance, it looked like Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng were running away, while Dongfang Hong led his men in pursuit.
A sudden, ominous premonition welled up in Shen Lixue's heart; something was wrong!
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!" Dongfang Heng's lightness skill was very high, and his speed was extremely fast. In no time, he caught up with Zi Mo. Directly in front of him, the man in black was holding a dagger and was fleeing at high speed.
Dongfang Heng's eyes turned cold, a chilling smile appeared on his lips, his jade-like fingers clenched slightly, his profound inner strength rapidly condensed, and he struck the man in black with his palm.
The man in black seemed to sense danger as he moved forward, suddenly changed direction, darted into a large courtyard, and vanished without a trace.
Shen Lixue was startled, her brows furrowed tightly, and a cold glint flashed in her clear eyes. Why would a man in black come here?
Dongfang Heng gently landed on the ground with Shen Lixue in his arms. Looking at the three elegant characters "Holy King's Mansion" above the gate of the mansion, his dark eyes grew deeper and deeper. He had chased the assassin who attacked Dongfang Zhan, and now he had chased him into his home. Ha!
"Dongfang Heng, this is a trap!" Shen Lixue looked at Dongfang Heng, her cold voice not a question, but a statement.
“I know!” A cold smile appeared on Dongfang Heng’s lips. He had sensed it when the man in black flew to this place. It was a trap, set up perfectly and specifically for him.
"The man in black has entered the Holy King's Mansion!" Dongfang Hong rode a fast horse and arrived at the gate with a large number of guards.
They arrived too quickly; Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue had no time to do anything.
"What's going on?" Dongfang Hong dismounted and looked at Dongfang Heng suspiciously, as if to say, "Is the assassin from the Holy King's Mansion?"
Dongfang Heng sneered: "Does Your Highness think that an assassin who has killed someone would be foolish enough to lead the officials to their own home and expose their identity?"
Dongfang Hong stepped forward and looked through the wide-open gate of the Prince's mansion into the secluded bluestone path: "Does Prince An mean that someone framed you?"
"Isn't that right?" Dongfang Heng raised an eyebrow, asking a question instead of answering.
Dongfang Hong lowered his head and remained silent. He knew something about the conflict between Dongfang Heng and Dongfang Zhan. Although the two were not on good terms, they had not gone to war. They still maintained a semblance of civility so that they would not be at each other's throats when they met. He did not believe that Dongfang Heng had sent someone to assassinate Dongfang Zhan. This was indeed a frame-up...
"Your Highness!" A guard rushed over, holding a white handkerchief with a black, unidentified substance on it, which was finely broken and looked like flour.
Dongfang Hong's gaze darkened. He picked up a few pieces, brought them to his nose, and sniffed them. His expression changed drastically: "Where did you find this?"
The guard clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Your Highness, the place where Prince Zhan was assassinated was left by the assassin in black!"
Dongfang Hong's eyes sharpened, and he strode up to Dongfang Heng, handing him a white handkerchief. He lowered his voice and said, "The mysterious person who switched the military tally also left these things in the palace. They should be the same person. Prince An, I want to search the Holy Prince's Mansion!"
Dongfang Heng looked at the specks of black light hidden beneath the white cloth and sneered. The assassin was indeed targeting him: "What does Your Highness want to search? The assassin, or the military tally?"
"Search both!" Dongfang Hong's cold eyes flashed with a sharp light. As the crown prince, he had the duty to retrieve the military tally and capture the assassin.
"The Holy King's Mansion was bestowed by the Emperor, and its owner is surnamed Dongfang. If we allow anyone to search it so casually, how can we talk about the dignity of the royal family!" Dongfang Heng said calmly, his words sharp despite their nonchalant tone.
"You want to stop me from searching the mansion?" Dongfang Hongli's sharp eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze towards Dongfang Heng carrying a hidden edge.
"No, I just want to know, what if His Highness the Crown Prince cannot find the assassin and the military tally?" Dongfang Heng said calmly, a slight smile playing on his lips, his heart open and honest, without the slightest hint of guilt or fear.
Looking at Dongfang Heng's open and sharp gaze, Dongfang Hong sighed inwardly: "Prince An, I know you are loyal to the country and would not do anything treasonous. However, in full view of everyone, an assassin broke into the Holy Prince's Mansion. If I do not search, it will be difficult to silence the gossip, and the Emperor will also become suspicious of you!"
There was no confrontation, no forceful coercion, but rather reasoning and appealing to emotions. Dongfang Hong's gentle approach hit the nail on the head, leaving no room for rebuttal.
"In that case, Your Highness, please search!" Dongfang Heng smiled and did not stop him any longer, generously inviting Dongfang Hong into the mansion.
Shen Lixue's lips moved slightly, but Dongfang Heng quickly grabbed her wrist and secretly gave her a look, signaling her not to make any rash moves.
"Search!" Dongfang Hong commanded coldly, and the guards, swords in hand, surged into the Holy King's Mansion like a tidal wave, meticulously searching every room and corner.