Chapter 154 Bet
The guards of the Eastern Palace responded in unison and followed Dongfang Qi to the back garden.
The third son of the Li family shouted, "The Li family has never committed any crime. No one can violate this without the emperor's order! Come!"
The servants of the Li family responded to the call and blocked the entrance to their back garden, refusing to give an inch.
In this way, the two forces came into conflict.
One is the high and mighty crown prince, and the other is from a top aristocratic family, and the situation is tense.
Li Xiu said, "Your Highness, are you really going to make a scene? Whether it's your deputy commander or Prince Chao Lan, our Duke's Mansion has no reason to detain them. Perhaps the person you're looking for is in her own residence."
Dongfang Qi said stubbornly, "She is in the Duke's Mansion."
Li Xiu snorted coldly, "Empty words, and you want to search the entire mansion? It seems that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really doesn't take us aristocratic families seriously!"
Dongfang Yan was still fanning the flames: "Your Highness, do you really want to use your power to pressure me? I heard you just said that if you can't find the person, you are willing to issue an edict of remorse. If you storm the Duke's Mansion today, how will it end? Will you abdicate?"
Dongfang Qi glanced coldly at the people around him and said, "If we can't find Prince Chaolan in the Duke's Mansion today, I will not only issue a self-blame edict, but also abdicate!"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.
Duke Cui hurriedly said, "This is a serious matter. Prince, please do not take it lightly!"
Dongfang Yan then asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean what I say, Prince?"
"Of course I take it seriously. Everyone here can testify to this." Dongfang Qi paused, then looked at Li Xiu and the many Li family members behind him. "But if Prince Chao Lan is found, what will the Li family do?"
Li Rui was about to speak when Li Xiu quickly winked at Dongfang Qi and said, "What does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince want from the Li family?"
He smiled and said, "Such a big scene today. Could it be a play performed by Prince Chaolan and the Crown Prince? One is hiding, the other is looking for him, and then they turned our Li family upside down? What is the grudge between our Li family and the Crown Prince?"
He was very smart and put all the blame on Dongfang Qi, so no matter whether the person was found in the end or not, the Li family could stand as innocent.
Dongfang Qidian nodded, seemingly speechless after hearing his words.
"Prince Chaolan is really in our Li family. Whether she is hiding on purpose or she disappeared accidentally, it is all because of our Li family's poor treatment. Our Li family is willing to apologize to Prince Chaolan."
The main reason why Li Xiu said these things was because he was afraid that Dongfang would react and not want to take the bait, so he softened his words.
Others didn't know, but he was very sure that Prince Chao Lan must have broken into the secret room and discovered the location of the fox demon, and was accidentally trapped in the space formation he set up.
The so-called spatial formation was a technique he had learned from a rare ancient book. He had set up underground spaces beneath his secret room and in his back garden. Anyone and anything that entered these spaces could be exchanged at his will.
So just now, when the prince wanted to search his secret room, he quietly moved the space under the secret room to the back garden. Therefore, no matter where the prince wanted to dig, he could move it at will.
Although he didn't know how the prince found the secret room and the back garden.
But even if the prince really dug up the back garden three feet deep, he could guarantee that he would not find anyone.
Dongfang Qi held a faint smile on his lips. "Just an apology wouldn't be sincere enough. How about Master Li, die and atone for your sins?"
"What did you say?" Li Xiu's face changed drastically.
Although he was sure of victory, the prince actually gambled his life, which was too much! Although Li Xiu was a bastard, his eldest brother was Duke Li!
Outside, his status might not seem high enough, but in the Li family, who wouldn't consider him a legitimate descendant?
But now, in the prince's mouth, it was as if he was just like those lowly common people, ready to sacrifice his life at any time.
"Why, you don't dare anymore?"
Dongfang Qi, who was in a hurry to find someone before, suddenly became leisurely at this moment.
Did Dongfang Qi realize his words were rash? Did he regret it? Was he deliberately trying to scare Li Xiu and gamble his life?
Dongfang Yan didn't want to miss this great opportunity, so he quickly winked at Li Xiu to ask him if he was sure.
Li Xiu was naturally confident. What he was most proud of in his life was his space magic. Especially after absorbing the fox demon's demon pill, his attainments improved and his control over space became even better.
After a moment's hesitation, he nodded and agreed, "Alright! Everyone here can bear witness! My Li family and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have entered into a gentleman's bet. If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince finds Prince Chaolan in the back garden, it will be considered that my Li family has failed to provide adequate hospitality, and I, Li Xiu, am willing to pay for it with my life! Conversely, if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince fails to find him, I will voluntarily issue an edict of self-criticism and abdicate! A gentleman's word is as good as gold!"
Duke Zhao immediately said, "Alright, we will serve as witnesses. A gentleman's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold. I hope Your Highness will not go back on your word when the time comes."
Dongfang Qi said: "No."
Dongfang Yan couldn't help but feel a little suspicious when he saw Dongfang Qi agreed so readily.
Why was he so confident? Was it Lin Qingyue who gave him the confidence?
The second master of the Li family was well versed in the mystical arts, and Dongfang Yan also knew a little. Since he was willing to gamble his life, he must be completely confident.
Dongfang Yan pondered for a moment before speaking, "Since we've made a bet, we need to be rigorous. To avoid disturbing the young ladies of the Duke's Mansion, we'll be searching in the back garden. Of course, we can't search indefinitely, so how about setting a time limit of half an hour? If it's too long, I'm afraid Qingyue will get impatient."
The time and scope are limited, so even if the prince wants to use tricks to delay or change the location temporarily, he can't do it.
Li Xiu couldn't help but praise him in his heart: "Your Highness the Prince of Jin has thought it through thoroughly." Dongfang Qi, this reckless man, was foolish and impulsive. How could he possibly be worthy of the position of crown prince?
Dongfang Qi frowned, as if weighing the pros and cons.
Duke Cui still approved of Dongfang Qi's character and did not want him to fall into a trap so rashly, so he came over to persuade him:
"Your Highness, the position of crown prince concerns the very foundation of the nation. It's no joke. How can you gamble with others? If you believe Prince Chaolan might be trapped in Duke Li's mansion, why not return to the palace and ask for permission before conducting a search? That way, you can have a legitimate reason."
But Dongfang Qi knew that if he left, Lin Qingyue would be in a very passive position. Duke Li was still holding a grudge against her for the incident at Donglin Mansion, and he would definitely not let her off easily.
Duke Cui asked him to return to the palace to ask for permission. The round trip would take a lot of time, and he could not guarantee that there would be no more accidents in the meantime.
And his father would not allow him to search the Duke's Mansion without sufficient evidence.
Because this will not only not help but offend the entire class.
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