Chapter 126: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind

In fact, on the way back from Beijiang, Dongfang Qi had already formulated the route and strategy for returning to the capital.

He knew clearly that after the previous Donglin Fu case, his whereabouts would certainly attract much suspicion.

None of the princes in the capital who were eyeing his position wanted him to return alive.

Even with the protection of the Beiyuan Regional Military Governor's troops, they would not let go of the opportunity to assassinate him.

And Yixiantian Canyon was the only way in and out of the capital, and also the most convenient place for an ambush.

Dongfang Qi and Lin Qingyue guessed that they would inevitably encounter an ambush here.

So while at Donglin Fu, Dongfang Qi and Xie Shouzheng disguised themselves and left. They arrived ahead of Yixiantian Canyon and joined forces with the rescue team sent by Qi Zhaodi.

They were just waiting for the ambushers to act, so they could play the role of the oriole behind the mantis and capture 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 kind of thick smoke is indeed very harmful to ordinary people. But Lin Qingyue had drawn two thousand Fire-Avoidance Talismans in advance and distributed them to everyone.

So at this moment, not only were they unharmed by the smoke and fire, but they also charged out of the canyon with great ferocity, forming an encirclement with Dongfang Qi, Xie Shouzheng, and the others.

In just a moment, the rebel army was captured, and the fire in the forest was also brought under control.

And from beginning to end, not a single person on Dongfang Qi's side was lost.

Lin Qingyue asked Dongfang Yan with a smile, "Do you still want to stop me now?"

Dongfang Yan sighed with unwillingness, "Let's go, I will accompany you to see the Crown Prince."

Outside Yixiantian Canyon, the fire in the forest had been extinguished, leaving only lingering blue smoke.

Xie Shouzheng pressed the leader of the rebel army and questioned, "Speak, who sent you to ambush the Crown Prince?"

The man opened his mouth, about to bite down on the poison he was holding, but Xie Shouzheng beat him to it and dislocated his jaw.

After digging out the poison from his mouth, Xie Shouzheng sneered, "This trick only works once; do you really think I have no way to deal with you dead soldiers? Ambushing the Crown Prince is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations. You don't want to live, but do you want to implicate your family? Confess the mastermind and perform meritorious service to atone for your crimes, so your nine generations won't suffer!"

The man's jaw was dislocated, and he trembled all over from the pain, arguing vaguely, "No one directed us, we are just bandits from nearby. We don't know anything about any Crown Prince."

Luo Qing came over and kicked the man fiercely, "Lord Xie, no need to waste your breath. In our army, we have plenty of ways to torture people!"

These two were single-mindedly trying to dig out the mastermind.

Dongfang Qi looked around and didn't see Lin Qingyue, so he asked Luo Qing, "Where is Deputy Envoy Lin?"

Luo Qing also just remembered Lin Qingyue, and while looking around, said, "Just now when entering the canyon, I saw Deputy Envoy Lin checking the situation around. I thought she would follow on her own, why is she gone now?"

Dongfang Qi felt a panic in his heart and hurried back to find her, only to see a troop of people walking out of the canyon.

The person in the lead was none other than Jin Wang Dongfang Yan, and Lin Qingyue was right beside him, with her usual uninhibited smile on her face.

Seeing Dongfang Qi, she raised her hand and waved, as a greeting.

Seeing that Lin Qingyue was safe and sound, Dongfang Qi finally felt a little relieved.

Looking at Dongfang Yan again, his eyes turned cold instantly.

Dongfang Yan met Dongfang Qi's gaze without fear, his eyes calm, but with a slight regret in his heart: It's a pity I didn't see you die.

The next moment, Dongfang Yan lowered his eyes and bowed, "Subject Dongfang Yan, pays respects to the Crown Prince!"

No matter how unwilling he was inside, no matter how unruly he was usually, at this moment, facing the Crown Prince of Qi, Dongfang Yan had to observe the etiquette of a subject.

Dongfang Qi's gaze passed over Dongfang Yan and fell on Lin Qingyue.

Although he didn't speak, Lin Qingyue could still read the concern in his eyes.

She shook her head to indicate she was fine.

Dongfang Qi nodded, and then said slowly, "Jin Wang, you may rise."

Xie Shouzheng hadn't asked who the mastermind was just now, and seeing Dongfang Yan appear voluntarily, he immediately suspected him, "Your Highness Jin Wang, aren't you in the capital? Why are you here? Could the ambushers outside the canyon be your masterpiece?"

Dongfang Yan said, "Lord Xie, please be careful with your words. I am here to save the Crown Prince."

Xie Shouzheng sneered, "All the crises have been resolved, and you, Your Highness, have only just arrived late. You call this saving the Crown Prince? Go lie to a ghost!"

Dongfang Yan didn't care about Xie Shouzheng's rudeness and said to the Crown Prince, "I have evidence of the Li Wang's rebellion here!"

As he spoke, he took a letter from his sleeve and presented it to Dongfang Qi.

"This is a secret letter written by the Li Wang and his party, instructing his party to send dead soldiers to intercept and kill the Crown Prince. Because this matter is of great importance, I took a team of guards to leave the capital urgently to meet you. Fortunately, Your Highness is blessed by heaven and has turned danger into safety!"

Hearing this, Lin Qingyue couldn't help but look at Dongfang Yan:

No wonder he sat on the mountain and watched the tigers fight; it turns out he had long since mastered the evidence of the Li Wang plotting against the Crown Prince. If the Li Wang succeeded, Dongfang Yan would then reveal the evidence to convict the Li Wang.

If the Crown Prince won, he would not only be able to clear himself but also perform meritorious service.

Sure enough, when not being bewitched by Lin Ruzhen, this person still has some brains. ===== CHAPTER 127 =====