After watching Yun Xi leave, Qi Rong's eyes gradually turned cold. He let out a cold snort.
"Coming so soon. It seems they can't wait any longer!"
Zhan Feng was confused, but Qi Rong took the lead and strode towards the mansion gate.
At the gate of the Prince Xian's Mansion, dozens of people were gathered, each holding a weapon and ready for action. By the time Qi Rong stepped out of the gate, Prince Huai and Lin Hai had already stood there.
On a withered tree beside them, a naked man was hanging upside - down, shivering in the cold wind. The moment he saw Prince Huai, he immediately let out a series of muffled cries for help.
Prince Huai gave the man a cold glare, then shifted his gaze to Qi Rong, who was standing on the steps looking down at him haughtily. He frowned slightly, walked up the steps a few paces to stand on the same level as Qi Rong, and then spoke.
"Seventh brother, still awake?"
Prince Huai's expression was half - smiling. He smelled the faint scent of alcohol on Qi Rong and patted his shoulder as if to console him.
"I heard that the old Duke Luo just passed away. Even though you're sad, seventh brother, you should still take care of yourself and not ruin your health!"
Qi Rong glanced casually at the hand on his shoulder and brushed it off with the back of his hand. He looked at Lin Hai and Prince Huai arrogantly and sneered.
"Not sleeping at this late hour. Is that all you've come to do, fifth brother, talk nonsense at my Prince Xian's Mansion?"
"I didn't know that you, fifth brother, and Lord Lin were so free that you've taken to this dog - catching - mice business!"
As soon as Qi Rong's venomous words came out, Prince Huai and Lin Hai's faces immediately turned ashen. The false smile on Prince Huai's face could no longer be maintained. He got straight to the point.
"Qi Rong, stop talking nonsense! I've received definite secret intelligence that someone from the Luo family has secretly entered the capital and come to seek refuge with your Prince Xian's Mansion."
"Why didn't they come earlier or later, but choose this critical moment when the old Duke Luo has just passed away? Could it be that the Luo family is planning some great scheme with you, Prince Xian?!"
Since the new emperor ascended the throne, he had issued a special order: Without the emperor's edict, border soldiers and their families were not allowed to enter the capital privately, otherwise they would be severely punished!
This order was undoubtedly aimed at the powerful Luo family. Therefore, the emperor attached great importance to the Luo family's actions.
The slightest sign of trouble would immediately prompt a reaction!
Now, the power of the Luo family had been weakened, and the old Duke Luo had died of rage. While the emperor was overjoyed, his nerves were also on edge.
If at this time, someone from the Luo family entered the capital privately and even made contact with Qi Rong, it would surely arouse the emperor's suspicion!
Regardless of whether there was a conspiracy between the Luo family and Prince Xian, Qi Rong would lose the emperor's trust. The project of building dams and bridges that the emperor had entrusted to him before would also be transferred to someone else.
The reason why Prince Huai was so active was, on the one hand, to show his loyalty to the emperor; on the other hand, of course, to gain some benefits.
As for Lin Hai, it was even more so.
During the hunting, he was angrily scolded by the emperor. He had just finished being interrogated a few days ago and was eager to improve the emperor's trust in him. Moreover, Qi Rong had injured his son last time, so Lin Hai had always harbored a grudge!
Finally getting the chance to take revenge on Qi Rong, he hit it off with Prince Huai.
They came to the Prince Xian's Mansion in the middle of the night, ready to catch both the criminal and the evidence!
However, when he saw the naked man hanging upside - down on the tree at the gate of the Prince Xian's Mansion, Lin Hai suddenly had a bad feeling.
Qi Rong glanced at the imperial guards in soft armor. How could he not know that the two were well - prepared?
His gaze fell on Prince Huai Qi Xuan's face, burning with a look of contempt.
"Your nose is quite long, fifth brother. I just caught a blabbering thief at my Prince Xian's Mansion. And here you are in a hurry to rescue him?"
"If I were to say that this man has nothing to do with you, fifth brother, even if I believe it, I'm afraid the emperor won't. How about we go to the palace tomorrow and report this to the emperor and let him judge!"
Qi Rong was calm and showed no sign of panic. Instead, everyone was intimidated by his imposing manner and looked at each other in surprise for a moment.
Prince Huai frowned and shouted coldly.
"Qi Rong, don't make unfounded accusations! We're here to arrest someone from the Luo family. Stop diverting the topic and talking nonsense!"
As he spoke, his eyes couldn't help but glance at the man hanging upside - down on the tree. He saw that the man was shivering all over from the cold. Coupled with the reverse blood flow, his face had turned blue and purple.
If they dragged it out for a few more hours, the man would probably die. There would be no way to testify against Qi Rong!
Seeing this, Lin Hai stepped forward and said.
"Since Prince Xian says this man is a thief, then we'll take him back to the Ministry of Justice first and wait for the emperor to review the case tomorrow. What do you think?"
Although Prince Xian was not very old, he was unpredictable, domineering and arbitrary. Even an old official like Lin Hai, who had been in the officialdom for decades, couldn't figure out Qi Rong's mind and often suffered setbacks.
So, as long as the witness was still alive, they had plenty of ways to make the emperor believe that Qi Rong had ulterior motives!
"Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? A mere petty thief doesn't need your concern, Lord Lin. You'd better go with fifth brother to arrest the person from the Luo family quickly, lest you waste time and let them escape!"
Seeing that Qi Rong refused to hand over the man, Prince Huai couldn't help getting angry.
"Qi Rong, I have reason to suspect that this man was sent by the Luo family. Do you dare to let us interrogate him?"
Qi Rong sneered and glanced at the man.
"Be my guest! But I've already ordered someone to cut out his tongue. If you can still make him talk, fifth brother, it'll be your ability."
"What?!"
Prince Huai was shocked when he heard this. He noticed that there was indeed blood on the man's mouth. He stepped forward to pull out the cloth ball in the man's mouth, but was stopped by Zhan Feng.
"Prince Huai, our master has instructed that we shouldn't let the thief's blood stain the Prince Xian's Mansion. Please stop."
He hadn't forgotten his master's previous instruction that if the man made a sound again, his tongue would also be cut!
Moreover, seeing the current situation, he had roughly guessed that this was a trap set for his master. Fortunately, his master had noticed it early.
If he had been as stupid as to treat this man as an honored guest and write a letter to General Luo Yuan, they would surely have been caught with evidence and brought disaster upon themselves!
By then, not only their Prince Xian's Mansion but also the Luo family far away on the border would have suffered a devastating disaster!
Thinking of this, Zhan Feng's back was soaked with cold sweat. He remembered what Qi Rong had warned him in the prison.
His current master was only Prince Xian Qi Rong. Therefore, he must also do his utmost for his master!
"Get out of the way!"
Prince Huai was extremely angry and kicked Zhan Feng, but Zhan Feng stood straight and refused to move an inch.
Lin Hai frowned and kept looking at Qi Rong. Seeing that he always had a joking expression and remained calm, he couldn't help but feel a little scared.
If one had no guile, how could one be so calm?
Since this man's tongue had been cut and he couldn't speak, and his body had been stripped naked, it was even difficult to prove his identity. How could they find the physical evidence to accuse Qi Rong?
Recalling all the things Qi Rong had done, they seemed to be done without a pattern, but they always hit the mark. This was also the main reason why the emperor was willing to use him.
After much thought, Lin Hai still decided to act cautiously.
"Prince Huai, perhaps the intelligence is wrong. We don't need to waste any more time."
"How can that be? We haven't even questioned him yet!"
After saying this, Prince Huai suddenly remembered that the man's tongue had been cut. He immediately deflated. He looked at Qi Rong with a contemptuous expression and then at the man on the verge of death.
Finally, he turned around angrily, flicked his sleeves and left!