Chapter 126 The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind
In fact, on the way back from the northern border, Dongfang Qi had already formulated the route and strategy for returning to Beijing.
He knew clearly that after the previous Donglin Mansion case, his whereabouts would definitely arouse a lot of suspicion.
None of the princes in the capital who were eyeing him covetously and wanted to replace him were willing to let him come back alive.
Even with the Beiyuan Jiedushi's troops escorting them, they would not miss the opportunity to assassinate.
The Yitiantian Canyon is the only way in and out of the capital, and it is also the most convenient place for ambush.
Dongfang Qi and Lin Qingyue guessed that they would definitely encounter an ambush here.
So when they were in Donglin Mansion, Dongfang Qi and Xie Shouzheng left in disguise and arrived at the front of Yixiantian Gorge in advance to join the rescue team sent by Emperor Zhao of Qi.
They just wait for the ambush to take place, and then they will take down the rebels in one fell swoop.
As for the two thousand guards in the canyon, they were not choked by the thick smoke at this moment.
This thick smoke is indeed very harmful to ordinary people. However, Lin Qingyue drew two thousand fire-avoiding talismans in advance and distributed them to everyone.
So at this moment, not only were they not harmed by the smoke and fire, they also bravely rushed out of the canyon and formed a siege with Dongfang Qi, Xie Shouzheng and others.
But in just a moment, the rebels were captured and the fire in the woods was brought under control.
From beginning to end, no one on Dongfangqi's side was lost.
Lin Qingyue asked Dongfang Yan with a smile: "Are you still going to stop me now?"
Dongfang Yan sighed unwillingly, "Let's go. I will go with you to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Outside the Yitiantian Canyon, the forest fire has been put out, leaving only wisps of blue smoke.
Xie Shouzheng held the rebel leader down and asked, "Tell me, who sent you to ambush His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
The man opened his mouth and was about to bite the poison in his mouth, but Xie Shouzheng took the lead and removed his lower jaw.
After removing the poison from his mouth, Xie Shouzheng sneered, "This trick is only effective once. Do you really think I can do nothing to you assassins? Ambushing the Crown Prince is a heinous crime punishable by the death of nine generations of your clan. You don't want to live, so do you want to implicate your family? Give out the mastermind behind this, make amends for your crime, and save your clan from suffering!"
The man, whose jaw had been removed, was shaking with pain. He mumbled a sophistry, "No one ordered us to do this. We were just local bandits. We don't even know who the Crown Prince is."
Luo Qing came over and gave the man a hard kick: "Thank you, sir, there's no need to waste your words. We have plenty of ways to torture people in our army!"
The two men were determined to find out who was behind the incident.
Dongfang Qi looked around but couldn't find Lin Qingyue. He asked Luo Qing, "Where's Deputy Envoy Lin?"
Luo Qing only just remembered Lin Qingyue. Looking around, he said, "When we entered the canyon just now, I saw Deputy Envoy Lin checking the surroundings. I thought she would follow us on her own, so why is she gone now?"
Dongfang Qi panicked and hurried back to find someone, but he saw a group of people walking out of the canyon.
The first person was none other than Jin Wang Dongfang Yan, and Lin Qingyue was beside him, with her usual uninhibited smile on her face.
When she saw Dongfang Qi, she raised her hand and waved as a greeting.
Dongfang Qi was relieved only when he saw that Lin Qingyue was safe.
When he looked at Dongfang Yan again, his eyes suddenly turned cold.
Dongfang Yan met Dongfang Qi's gaze without fear. There was no emotion in his eyes, but there was a slight regret in his heart: What a pity, I didn't see you die.
The next moment, Dongfang Yan narrowed his eyes slightly and bowed: "Your Highness, Dongfang Yan, pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
No matter how unwilling he was in his heart, no matter how unruly he was usually, Dongfang Yan had to observe the etiquette between a monarch and his subject when facing the Crown Prince of Qi.
Dongfang Qi's gaze passed Dongfang Yan and fell on Lin Qingyue.
Although he didn't say anything, Lin Qingyue could still read the concern in his eyes.
She shook her head to indicate that she was fine.
Dongfang Qi nodded, then slowly said, "Prince Jin, please excuse me."
Xie Shouzheng hadn't questioned the mastermind just now, but when he saw Dongfang Yan appear, he immediately became suspicious. "Your Highness, Prince Jin, weren't you in the capital? Why are you here? Could the ambush outside the canyon be your work?"
Dongfang Yan said, "Thank you, sir. Please be careful with your words. I am here to rescue you."
Xie Shouzheng sneered: "All crises have been resolved, and yet you are so late, Your Majesty. You call this saving the emperor? You're kidding!"
Dongfang Yan didn't care about Xie Shouzheng's unreasonableness and said to the prince, "I have evidence of King Li's rebellion!"
As he spoke, he took out a letter from his sleeve and presented it to Dongfang Qi.
"This is a personal letter exchanged between King Li and his cronies, instructing them to send assassins to kill His Royal Highness. Because this matter is of grave importance, I have urgently left the capital with a team of guards to assist. Fortunately, His Royal Highness has been blessed by good fortune and has turned the danger into safety!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyue couldn't help but look towards Dongfang Yan:
No wonder he was watching the fight from the sidelines; it turned out he already had evidence that King Li was plotting to murder the crown prince. If King Li succeeded, Dongfang Yan would then present evidence to convict King Li.
If the prince wins, he will not only be able to clear himself of the crime but also gain merit.
Sure enough, when he was not bewitched by Lin Ruzhen, this man still had some brains.
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