"Northwest Prince Heir, you are making unfounded accusations!" Prince Kang's face flushed crimson as he spoke with fierce intensity.
Shen Yungan paid him no heed, remaining bowed before the Youning Emperor: "This matter is of grave importance. I feared my sister might have misseen, hence I dared not report it to Your Majesty, instead dispatching agents to secretly investigate the southern mountains. Only when someone approached me carrying the waist token of my dispatched scout did I depart with them.
Miss Xue, concerned for my safety, secretly followed. Had it not been for Miss Xue's rescue, I would likely have faced grave danger."
At this point, Shen Yungan's eyes reddened at the corners as he glared at Prince Kang with seething resentment: "I never imagined Prince Kang would kill multiple birds with one stone—using this opportunity to send impostors posing as the Fourth Princess's maid to deceive my sister, nearly causing her to suffer a tragic fate!"
"Your Majesty, this is absolutely untrue!" Prince Kang ignored Shen Yungan, persistently pleading his innocence. "My loyalty to the throne shines as brightly as the sun and moon! The Northwest Prince Heir and Lady Shen are slandering me with baseless accusations. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for your servant!"
The involvement of private weapons forging—a capital offense—made all court officials present, whether allies or adversaries of Prince Kang, hesitant to speak rashly.
Yet among them were those familiar with Prince Kang's ways and seasoned strategists, such as Deputy Secretary of the Department of State Affairs Wang Zheng: "Your Majesty, private weapons forging constitutes rebellion. Your Majesty is in the prime of life, having implemented benevolent governance that has brought prolonged peace to the realm. Moreover, the Crown Prince remains the designated heir, and all princes excel in both civil and military arts. How could Prince Kang possibly harbor rebellious intentions?"
"Minister Wang's statement appears biased," Secretary-General Xue Heng stepped forward. "Whether Prince Kang holds rebellious intentions or whether the Northwest Prince Heir is making false accusations should be determined by Your Majesty's sagely judgment. As your servants and close advisors, we serve as Your Majesty's eyes and arms. In such grave matters, we must not let personal conjectures cloud Your Majesty's brilliant discernment."
Since Xue Jinqiao had become involved, the Xue family could no longer remain neutral. While Xue Heng favored neither side, he would not stand by as Wang Zheng shielded the accused.
"Your Majesty, since the Northwest Prince Heir dares make such claims, I firmly believe they are not baseless and that evidence must exist," Tao Zhuanxian stepped forward to support his grandson, especially with Shen Xihe currently unconscious. His gaze sharpened like daggers, wishing to pierce bloodied holes through Prince Kang!
This vile bastard deserved to bleed out slowly, tormented to death!
The Youning Emperor's expression remained unreadable. "Weian, do you have evidence?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I do!" Shen Yungan clasped his fists. "The assassins who ambushed me have been captured."
"Where are they? Bring them forth," the Youning Emperor commanded.
Soon, two corpses were carried into the main hall and laid before the assembly.
"Both dead?" the Emperor's voice carried implicit authority.
"Your Majesty, these two carried poison sacs in their mouths and consumed the toxin upon capture," Shen Yunnan explained calmly. "However, my agents dispatched to investigate the southern mountains had already sent word—all private guards overseeing the weapons forging operation bear a crossbow tattoo on their arms."
After speaking, Shen Yunnan tore open the sleeves of both corpses, revealing the distinctive tattoos.
At the sight of the emblem, Prince Kang's lips trembled and cold dread crept up from his feet. He finally realized—he was finished!
The assassins sent to eliminate Shen Xihe and Shen Yunnan were indeed his doing. The origins traced back two days prior, when he visited the private forge and detected surveillance. After considerable effort, he discovered the pursuers were Shen Yunnan's operatives.He had once considered confessing everything to His Majesty, but after calming down, he chose to first target Shen Xihe and Shen Yungan today.
He relied solely on their weak influence in the capital and used individuals who would never leave any traces. Even if unsuccessful, no evidence could be linked back to him. There was no way he could mobilize the guards stationed at the weapon forging site—they were all His Majesty’s men!
Yet, the guards stationed there indeed bore the exact same emblem on their arms, identical in both position and size!
These were not his men!
"Your Majesty, I have identified the location of the illicit weapon forging site. If you dispatch someone to investigate, the truth will be revealed!" Shen Yungan declared with a stern expression.
Hearing this, Prince Kang, who had been as restless as an ant on a hot pan, regained his composure. His Majesty would protect him—he was acting on the Emperor’s orders!
"Your Majesty, I am utterly loyal and refuse to be slandered by the Northwest Prince Heir. I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!" Prince Kang spoke with resolute conviction.
This left the observing officials shifting their gazes between the two, momentarily unable to discern who was telling the truth.
A sharp glint flashed in the Youning Emperor’s eyes, inwardly furious at Prince Kang’s incompetence. Yet, at this critical moment, he had no choice but to cover for him. He could not afford to lose years of meticulous planning over this. The illicit weapon forging involved far-reaching consequences.
One key aspect was the source of iron ore—he had concealed a reported iron mine. If the illicit weapon forging were discovered and a large cache of weapons seized, the origin would be thoroughly investigated. Where did the iron for forging these weapons come from?
This was like pulling up a radish only to bring mud along with it. One misstep, and the trusted aides he had cultivated in secret would suffer devastating losses!
"Buwēi, disclose the location to the Embroidered Uniform Envoys. I will dispatch them personally!" the Youning Emperor commanded.
"Your Majesty, the mountainous terrain is treacherous and winding. It would be safer if I led the Envoys there," Shen Yungan requested.
The Youning Emperor remained expressionless, his tone flat. "Zhaoning has been frightened, and she has no close relatives in the capital. It is more appropriate for you to stay."
This was a reminder that his precious younger sister was in the palace.
Most civil and military officials did not suspect the Youning Emperor, assuming he merely wished to keep the identities of the Embroidered Uniform Envoys concealed, hence refusing Shen Yungan’s accompaniment.
Wang Zheng added, "Your Majesty’s words are most wise. Since the dispute between the Heir and Prince Kang remains unresolved, neither should take part, to avoid any suspicion of framing."
The Grand Secretary Xue Heng and Cui Zheng, who had initially seen nothing amiss, now furrowed their brows slightly.
Wang Zheng was a sycophant, skilled at pleasing the Emperor and never acting without personal gain. His behavior now…
After a moment of contemplation, their eyes sharpened with understanding, though both remained silent.
With the two of them refraining from comment, others who followed Wang Zheng voiced their agreement. Just as Tao Zhuanxian was about to speak, Shen Yungan preempted him: "Your Majesty is most sagacious. I shall remain to care for my sister."
Thus, the Youning Emperor had Shen Yungan sketch a simplified route and dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Envoys posthaste from the palace.
These men were not sent to gather evidence but to silence witnesses and destroy all traces.
A faint, mocking smile curled Prince Kang’s lips as he glanced at Shen Yunnan.
Once the Embroidered Uniform Envoys returned empty-handed, he would counter-accuse the Shen siblings of slandering both imperial kin and court officials!
Shen Yungan paid him no heed, instead standing guard by Shen Xihe’s bedside. Gazing at her pale, sleeping face, his eyes filled with anxiety.
Shen Xihe had assured him it was all an act, yet her complexion was alarmingly pallid. Moreover, they had no allies in the Imperial Hospital, yet none of the physicians had detected her feigned condition. He truly feared that Shen Xihe might have been genuinely frightened or that something had gone awry in their plan…Just as Shen Yungan was lost in wild thoughts, the wives of the officials had been dismissed and the officials were accompanying the Youning Emperor while awaiting the outcome, when someone from the Jingzhao Prefecture outside the palace came to report: "Your Majesty, a great fire has descended from the sky in the southern part of the southern city. The surrounding residents have gathered to extinguish it and discovered someone privately forging weapons..."
Lying in the inner chamber, Shen Xihe slowly curved her lips into a smile.
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