If it weren't for something necessary, Shen Qingfeng really didn't want to step into the Prince Cheng's Mansion again.
The scene of being drugged in public here a few days ago was still vivid in his mind. Shen Qingfeng felt rather aggrieved, but he knew that if he couldn't bear it, he might ruin his grand plan. So he composed himself and entered the mansion side by side with Lu Yan.
As for Lu Yan, he had been holding Shen Qingfeng's hand all the way from the Three Saints Mountain back to Lige City and never let go.
The two of them took their seats. Xu Ruhui and Yu Shuang were stopped outside the house. Xia Yonglin was sitting in the main seat in the main hall. After the maids served the tea, they closed the door. Inside the room, there were only the three of them left.
Each of them had their own concerns. For a moment, it was so quiet in the room that you could hear a pin drop.
Shen Qingfeng was the first to break the silence. He took a sip of tea and said with a light smile, "I wonder what the Second Prince wants to ask us about by summoning us here?"
Lu Yan had been holding Shen Qingfeng's hand all the way, and Xia Yonglin naturally saw it. He smiled meaningfully and said in a rather provocative tone, "Qingfeng, do you think I should ask Uncle Wang to avoid this matter?"
Lu Yan's voice was cold. "What right do you have to ask me to avoid?"
As soon as Lu Yan said this, Xia Yonglin's movement paused. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, Lu Yan was the one who chased after Shen Qingfeng and should have cared a lot about Shen Qingfeng's opinion. But this time, he spoke first.
One of them was a prince and the other was a marquis. Moreover, Lu Yan was Xia Yonglin's uncle. No matter what, Xia Yonglin really didn't have the right to ask Lu Yan to avoid.
Shen Qingfeng sensed that Lu Yan was in a bad mood. He secretly squeezed Lu Yan's hand and replied, "Second Prince, let's just get straight to the point."
Xia Yonglin was only sixteen years old after all. How could he match Lu Yan in terms of momentum? He coughed to cover up his embarrassment and said, "Then let's be straightforward. Qingfeng, I know you want to save my elder brother and your elder brother. But this matter is no small feat. My elder brother burned the statue of Xingtian, which is equivalent to desecrating our ancestors. I know you have feelings for him. If you tell me his motive, maybe I can find some ways to reduce the condemnation of the common people against him."
Lu Yan's eyes were gloomy. He sat there silently.
After hearing this, Shen Qingfeng said bluntly, "He had no motive because it wasn't him who burned the statue of Xingtian."
Xia Yonglin said, "Qingfeng, I know you can't accept this, but just now, you saw it clearly with your own eyes in front of everyone. Father handed over this sacrifice to him completely. He had to review every step. There's no reason for such a big mistake to happen."
Shen Qingfeng shook his head and said, "Second Prince, my elder brother is the chief of the Divination Hall. He would review all sacrifices, big or small. You said that A Li had premeditated this. If I had known, do you think I would have let my elder brother get involved in this trouble?"
Xia Yonglin understood as soon as he heard it. He smiled and said, "So what you mean is that he didn't tell you about this?"
"No." Shen Qingfeng said, "If A Li wanted to express something through this, why did he choose a way that would offend the entire people of Lixia?"
Xia Yonglin said, "So you're saying that my elder brother was framed?"
Shen Qingfeng nodded, looked at Xia Yonglin and frowned, "Exactly."
After hearing this, Xia Yonglin stood up and paced in the room. "Then who do you think framed my elder brother?"
Shen Qingfeng stared at Xia Yonglin and said sadly, "If that person wanted to frame A Li, he must have wanted to get something from him. Second Prince, A Li is an out - of - favor prince. King Xia Jie doesn't like him. He has almost nothing..."
Xia Yonglin walked a few steps, pinched his chin and pretended to be thinking. "Then who on earth is it? What could they possibly want from my elder brother? Could it be a revenge from the Jianghu or a premeditated retaliation?"
Shen Qingfeng propped his head with both hands and pretended to be on the verge of collapse. "Second Prince, A Li is just an empty - shelled crown prince. Burning the statue of Xingtian is equivalent to taking A Li's life. He has been in the palace since he was a child. How could he have any Jianghu grudges? Besides, even if those people wanted to take revenge, why did they have to make such a big deal and kill him?"
Xia Yonglin asked, "It's not necessarily so. Qingfeng, think quickly. Has he ever had any grudges with anyone?"
"He has no grudges at all. He has nothing..."
"Maybe someone wants something from him." Xia Yonglin said.
"Who would want something from an empty - shelled crown prince?"
"There must be someone. Think quickly. Is it someone else?"
"Who..." Shen Qingfeng slowly raised his head and looked at Xia Yonglin.
Xia Yonglin's eyes lit up. He sat down opposite Shen Qingfeng and said, "Have you thought of someone?"
"You." Shen Qingfeng said, staring firmly at Xia Yonglin.
The air suddenly froze.
Xia Yonglin remained sitting. The expression on his face instantly froze and then turned sinister.
Shen Qingfeng just stared at him. After a while, he asked again, "Was it you, Second Prince?"
Xia Yonglin slowly stood up and looked down at Shen Qingfeng.
"Ha... Shen Qingfeng, you are really a talent. You took such a long - winded way, and this is what you really wanted to say." Xia Yonglin laughed wildly. His face was extremely gloomy. He slowly stood up, glanced at Lu Yan who was sitting beside Shen Qingfeng with a dark face and glaring at him, and said, "You suspect it was me?"
Shen Qingfeng didn't say a word. He just stared at Xia Yonglin.
Xia Yonglin laughed a few times, then turned and walked to the main seat in the main hall. He turned to look at the two of them.
The mask between them had been torn off.
Xia Yonglin knew that Shen Qingfeng had found out it was him. Just thinking about how he had been acting like a clown in front of Shen Qingfeng before made him feel ashamed. Xia Yonglin laughed wildly. He picked up the teacup with one hand and rubbed it. His face was full of pride and ferocity. "Qingfeng, you can't save Xia Chuli. Even if you can save his life, how are you going to stop the criticism of the common people?"
Shen Qingfeng ignored him and calmly lowered his head to take a sip of tea.
"Xia Yonglin, are you admitting it!" Lu Yan suddenly slapped the table and shouted in a low voice.
Xia Yonglin sneered and said, "So what if I admit it? Even if you go out and tell others, will anyone believe you? Everyone knows that it was Xia Chuli who was in charge of the sacrifice. The statue of Xingtian burned right under Father's nose. Don't you understand what this means?"
"Uncle Wang, do you know why I invited you here too?" Xia Yonglin said wickedly.
Lu Yan stared at him without saying a word. The killing intent in his eyes gradually condensed.
"I've already seen your relationship." Xia Yonglin said. He seemed very happy. He picked up the tea and took a big sip, smacking his lips in satisfaction. "If I tell Father about this, do you think he will agree to your marriage?"
Shen Qingfeng smiled faintly and said, "Is the Second Prince threatening us?"
"You have no other choice." Xia Yonglin said, "Uncle Wang, you are alone in Lige now. You have no army and no back - up. A wing - clipped eagle is no different from a chick. You can't even put up a bit of resistance. And you, Qingfeng, a good bird chooses a tree to perch on. You are a smart person. It's better to bring Uncle Wang and defect to me than to hang yourself on that hollow and crooked tree, Xia Chuli. Moreover, Xia Chuli was about to marry Qi Mengmeng behind your back. What's the point of doing so much for him?"
After hearing this, the coldness in Lu Yan's eyes reached its peak. He was once a proud son of heaven. He had been acting cautiously in Lige City all because of Shen Qingfeng. Now that his situation was said out so mercilessly, he couldn't help but be filled with killing intent, but he managed to suppress it.
Shen Qingfeng tightly grabbed the corner of Lu Yan's clothes to help him control his emotions. His eyes were firmly fixed on Xia Yonglin as he said, "What can you promise me? If it's just some so - called glory and wealth, then let's forget about it."
Xia Yonglin blinked his eyes and said, "Then I promise you that I'll make it possible for you to marry Uncle Wang legitimately. How about that?"
Shen Qingfeng raised his eyebrows. "Is the Second Prince so confident that he can persuade the King?"
Xia Yonglin laughed and said, "You don't have a choice in this matter."