Chapter 427: Chapter 427: All’s Fair in War
At a time like this, he was likely the only one who dared to stand and speak for Xiao Chengxuan.
Shen Yanchuan was not surprised. He gave a slight nod. "Mr. Jiang, please speak."
Jiang Zhao Yuan turned, his gaze sweeping discreetly over Xiao Chengxuan. Seeing his grandson’s panicked and distraught expression, his heart filled with both anger and sorrow.
He had always been proud of his grandson, doting on him since childhood.
Who could have imagined that Xiao Chengxuan would ever see such a wretched day?
All his pent-up emotions curdled into bitter resentment toward Shen Yanchuan.
’If it weren’t for him, how could things have escalated to this point?!’
Jiang Zhao Yuan stared at Shen Yanchuan. The veteran official, who had weathered countless storms at court, finally revealed his shrewd and incisive nature.
"Princely Heir," he began, "you just said that Ye Chutang recognized the arrows used by the Wulan Mountain assassins as being identical to those from Ye Zheng’s assassination three years ago. But then you said that wasn’t the case. Your statements are contradictory. We are at a loss as to which part is true and which is false."
This question cut right to the heart of the matter.
Although Shen Yanchuan had successfully used this ploy to expose Xiao Chengxuan, he had, frankly, used one lie to test another.
Truth and lies—who could tell the difference?
Yet Shen Yanchuan’s expression remained perfectly calm. Far from being nervous, a faint smile even touched his lips.
"An excellent question, Mr. Jiang. In truth, my previous words were a mix of fact and fiction, merely a probe. They don’t count."
Xiao Chengxuan was so furious he nearly coughed up blood.
’With those words, wasn’t Shen Yanchuan treating him like a toy to be played with as he pleased?!’
’And Shen Yanchuan had said it so casually! How detestable!’
Jiang Zhao Yuan clearly hadn’t expected Shen Yanchuan to admit it so directly. Even his deep-seated composure couldn’t stop his expression from darkening.
"Princely Heir, where do you think you are? How dare you make such a mockery of these proceedings!"
Never mind that Xiao Chengxuan was a Prince—Emperor Muwu himself was sitting right there on the throne!
’Does he think this is some hall in his Dingbei Marquis Mansion where he can speak as he pleases?!’
"Don’t be angry, Mr. Jiang. My method may have been reckless, but it was effective, was it not?"
Had he said nothing, it might have been better. But with that remark, Jiang Zhao Yuan’s anger flared even hotter.
’What does he mean, "effective"?!’
’Is he trying to hound Xiao Chengxuan to his death before he’ll stop?!’
"You—"
"Second Miss Ye did say she had seen identical arrows before. That part wasn’t a lie. It just wasn’t in the Capital City, but elsewhere."
Jiang Zhao Yuan could barely suppress his rage. "And where might ’elsewhere’ be?! Don’t tell me it’s another place you’ve just invented on the spot, Princely Heir!"
"Of course not."
Shen Yanchuan paused. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Chengxuan’s expression suddenly freeze. Only then did he continue with a faint smile,
"She said she saw them in Qingzhou."
Xiao Chengxuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
A nearly imperceptible smile flickered in the corner of Shen Yanchuan’s eyes, gone in an instant.
Jiang Zhao Yuan’s brow furrowed. "Qingzhou?"
"That’s right." Shen Yanchuan nodded. "It happened just a short while ago."
Everyone in the capital knew that Miss Ye of the Ye Family had recently transported the remains of her parents and elder brother back to their ancestral home in Qingzhou.
Shen Yanchuan continued, "Perhaps the culprits from three years ago learned they were returning and went to Qingzhou, intending to wipe them out for good. However, their visit coincided with the torrential rains in Qingzhou. The siblings spent most of their time indoors, giving their enemies no opportunity to strike."
The crowd exchanged uncertain glances.
Put that way, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.
The very people who were supposed to have died three years ago had been living in exile. It was only upon their return to the Capital City that everyone learned they were, in fact, still alive.
Why wouldn’t their enemies want to eliminate them, root and stem?
It was difficult to act in the capital, but Qingzhou was another matter entirely.
Xiao Chengxuan hung his head, finding the whole thing absurdly laughable.
’To come after me, Shen Yanchuan was even willing to spin such a ridiculous lie!’
’How could there possibly be anyone in Qingzhou?’
’There’s no way Ye Chutang could have encountered anyone or anything there related to Ye Zheng’s death!’
’He’s trying to trick me again!’
’But I just fell for it once. How could I possibly be fooled a second time?’
’Shen Yanchuan is severely underestimating me!’
Jiang Zhao Yuan, however, was running out of patience.
His expression turned cold. "She only claims to have seen them, but she has no proof. How can anyone determine if it’s true or false? And even if it were true, it would still have no connection to Prince Qi, would it?"
Shen Yanchuan nodded, not bothering to refute the point.
"You are correct. Seeing them in Qingzhou proves nothing."
Jiang Zhao Yuan snorted.
"Unless the assassins are captured and rigorously interrogated, only then can the truth be known! Otherwise, all this talk is useless—"
"Mr. Jiang is absolutely right."
A ghost of a smile touched Shen Yanchuan’s lips.
"Setting her side of things aside for a moment... as for me, I happened to capture two of the black-clad men from Wulan Mountain. And I have already interrogated them through several rounds and obtained two very thick confessions."
Jiang Zhao Yuan was stunned.
Xiao Chengxuan was also stunned.
Everyone stared at Shen Yanchuan, their faces blank with confusion.
’Wait, what did he just say?’
’He has... assassins from Wulan Mountain in his custody?!’
Shen Yanchuan bowed to Emperor Muwu.
"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report."
Emperor Muwu felt a breath catch in his chest.
’At a time like this! What else could he possibly have to report?!’
’He’s clearly just trying to stir up more trouble!’
But Emperor Muwu couldn’t stop him. He could only say in a grim voice, "Speak!"
Shen Yanchuan’s expression was lucid as he spoke, enunciating every word clearly.
"In early March, on my way back to the Capital City from the Northern Border, I was ambushed in an assassination attempt. It was only thanks to Miss Ye’s intervention that my life was saved. The arrows used by those black-clad men we encountered on Wulan Mountain were, in fact—identical to those used by the assassins who attacked me."
Dead silence.
The looks on everyone’s faces as they stared at Shen Yanchuan were beyond complex.
In such a short time, the situation had twisted and turned, with one shocking reversal after another!
Every truth and every lie had been a blade hidden within his words, waiting for the perfect moment to deliver the fatal strike!
Shen Yanchuan raised his eyes, a cold glint in their depths.
"I implore Your Majesty to grant me justice."
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