Chapter 2223: King Duguyuan

Guan Chengfang said respectfully, “Your Highness, there is a major matter that this humble one is too dull to discern its authenticity. I ask Your Highness to make a decision.”

“Oh?” Dugu Yuan showed an interested expression. “Then tell me, what matter requires this Prince’s decision?”

“Your Highness, this morning a Black-Clothed Man suddenly broke in and left this note for me. Please take a look.”

Guan Chengfang said as he handed over the note in his hand.

It must be said that this fellow was indeed an old fox; he handled matters flawlessly.

If he had immediately recounted how Ye Bufan had harmed Guan Qirui, he would have immediately fallen into a disadvantage, and might even have aroused Dugu Yuan’s displeasure.

After all, the Prince’s status was too high; he had no interest in managing their family’s messy affairs.

But now, by directly handing over the note, he tied his family’s private affairs, the night intrusion into Prince Kaoshan's Residence, and the Crown Princess’s disappearance together.

At that time, even if he didn’t speak, Dugu Yuan would inquire, and thus he would gain the initiative.

Indeed, Prince Kaoshan, who had been composed, immediately changed his expression after receiving the note and asked in a deep voice, “Was that Black-Clothed Man captured?”

Although Guan Chengfang kept his head down, he had been observing Dugu Yuan’s movements. Seeing the Prince’s reaction, he immediately rejoiced, knowing that he had hope.

The Prince did not get angry after reading the note but instead inquired, which meant that the latter two points were not false but indeed true.

This indirectly proved that the woman in the clinic was indeed Crown Princess Situ, and thus Ye Bufan would not escape his doom.

He immediately said, “No, that person’s skill was extremely strong. None of the guards in my Prince’s Residence detected anything. After throwing down the note, he disappeared.”

Prince Kaoshan stood up, hands behind his back, and paced around the great hall. After two turns, he turned back and asked, “How credible do you think this note is?”

“This humble one does not know. I ask Your Highness to make a decision.”

The cunning Guan Chengfang kicked the ball back again.

“What is stated on here, about that young doctor named Ye Bufan, how did he frame your son?”

Finally, Dugu Yuan asked this question.

The latter two matters were of great importance, and he had to confirm whether the other party was speaking nonsense before he could take action.

But now he couldn’t confirm the Black-Clothed Man’s identity or find him, so he could only verify it through the first matter.

Guan Chengfang was waiting for this opportunity and immediately revealed the entire feud between Ye Bufan and the Guan family.

This included how Guan Qirui later acted abnormally, breaking the Minister of War’s son’s leg, and offending Laiyang Princess.

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After a narration, he said, “Your Highness, although there is no evidence, this subordinate speculates that this matter is true.

It must have been that Ye who impersonated my son to commit such a disaster.

But this matter is only my speculation. I don’t know how that person confirmed it.”

Dugu Yuan frowned, “There is even such a thing? A small clinic truly hides a Dragon, even a strong person at the Void Tempering Stage.”

“Indeed, Your Highness. Ever since that boy came to the Imperial City, we haven’t had a moment of peace here.”

Guan Chengfang continued, “To prevent being deceived by villains, I just went to Gu Yi Men Clinic.

There, I saw a woman whose specific appearance I couldn’t clearly see, but her figure was indeed identical to Crown Princess Situ’s.”

He also didn’t know what was going on with Crown Princess Situ, so he dared not add any subjective speculation, only stating the facts.

However, according to his guess, since Prince Kaoshan had this reaction, that woman was very likely Crown Princess Situ.

Indeed, after he finished speaking, Dugu Yuan immediately made a decision and waved his hand at the grand eunuch beside him: “Pass on my order, call Yan Feng, the Imperial Guard Commander, over.”

Although Yan Feng was the commander of the Imperial Guards, Prince Kaoshan resided within the Imperial City and was also under his command.

“Yes!”

The grand eunuch took the order and withdrew. Not long after, he returned with a brightly armored general who walked in from outside; it was Yan Feng.

“This subordinate greets Your Highness!”

Yan Feng immediately stepped forward to salute after entering the door.

He and Guan Chengfang had known each other for many years, and their relationship was good, so he had a guess in his heart when he saw the latter.

Dugu Yuan said, “Yan Feng, you are to now take three thousand Imperial Guards and immediately surround Gu Yi Men Clinic.

Someone said that there is a person there impersonating Crown Princess Situ. Go and investigate for me whether this matter is true.”

He also spoke very skillfully, not stating whether the Crown Princess’s disappearance was true or false, only saying that someone was impersonating her.

“This subordinate obeys!”

Yan Feng immediately took the order, then said with some difficulty, “Your Highness, that clinic has some relation with the Crown Princess. How far do you think I should go?”

Having served as the Imperial Commander in the palace for so many years, he naturally knew the interweaving interests. He neither wanted to offend Prince Kaoshan nor the Crown Princess.

“So that’s how it is.”

Dugu Yuan frowned. He truly held immense power in the Great Shun Empire; one could say he was the second most powerful person after the Emperor.

If this matter was true, he

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did not take Lin Sisi seriously, but if it was false, he also did not want to fall out with this future Crown Princess.

It wasn’t out of fear, but simply unnecessary, as the other party was his niece/nephew.

After all, the note Guan Chengfang brought was simply too illusory, appearing out of nowhere. Who knew which part was true and which was false?

“How about this, you take my golden token and go search Gu Yi Men Clinic.

If you discover that someone is truly impersonating Crown Princess Situ, then you don’t need to consider the Crown Princess’s reputation; directly arrest them.

If this matter is false, then forget it; just withdraw.”

Dugu Yuan finished speaking and pulled out a golden token, throwing it over.

This was also a very cautious approach. If Crown Princess Situ’s matter was true, then the other party was very likely the assassin who entered the palace at night.

If this point was not valid, then the second point was likely also false.

As Prince Kaoshan, his head was not for show. That note might have been fabricated by Guan Chengfang, who wanted to use him to eliminate the other party.

“Understood!”

With the situation clarified, Yan Feng felt confident and turned to leave.

“Your Highness, this humble one has seen the woman impersonating Crown Princess Situ before. Should I go with you to identify her?”

Guan Chengfang knew that this matter was his only chance to turn things around and could not allow any mistakes, so he volunteered to go along.

“You may, go!”

Dugu Yuan waved his hand, and Guan Chengfang left Prince Kaoshan's Residence with him.

After leaving, Yan Feng quietly asked, “Patriarch Guan, are you confident this time? Last time, you really put me in a difficult position.

That Ye, I don’t know how, but he has a very good relationship with the Crown Princess. If there’s no evidence, don’t easily do things.”

Guan Chengfang said, “I am ninety percent confident that the woman is Crown Princess Situ. Even if she isn’t, someone is impersonating her, and it’s certainly with malicious intent.”

“That’s good then, otherwise I would be in a very difficult position.”

Yan Feng was a person who played both sides. He neither wanted to offend Prince Kaoshan nor provoke the Crown Princess.

After speaking, he mustered three thousand Imperial City Guards, and they marched majestically towards Gu Yi Men Clinic.

At the clinic, not long after Guan Chengfang left, Crown Princess Lin Sisi walked in.

Ye Bufan knew she had something to say to him, so he directly led her into the adjacent quiet room.

Turning to close the door and set up a sound-insulating barrier, he immediately asked, “How is it? Is there news about Situ Dianmo?”