Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 734: The Duke’s Perfect Counterattack in the Trial (3)_1

Chapter 734: Chapter 734: The Duke’s Perfect Counterattack in the Trial (3)_1

What seemed to be words of concern actually hid a trap, as those who felt pity for the disfigured King Heng started to have subtle changes in their expressions upon hearing it.

The status of the Prince’s Mansion was far above that of King Heng’s Mansion; not to mention that a minor doorman from the King’s Mansion dealing with the Manager of the Prince’s Mansion, even if it were the Manager from the King’s Mansion, he would still have to give way and offer apologies. Where would a doorman get the audacity to behave recklessly?

Besides, even if that doorman was bumped into by the Manager of the Prince’s Mansion, it wasn’t as if he had collided with the actual master. Yet this doorman, with audacious gall, refused entry to the Manager representing the Crown Prince. Behind such boldness, if there wasn’t someone instructing or backing him, would he dare to be so courageous?

The humble facade King Heng was pretending to maintain suddenly stiffened on his face, and his hands, which were in the middle of making a respectful bow, tightened involuntarily, wishing he could punch away the falseness of the person before him. But he couldn’t do that!

After taking a deep breath, the humble expression on King Heng’s face was replaced by shock, and his voice suddenly rose several octaves, "Is such a thing possible? Those wicked servants must have been negligent in attending to the mansion’s affairs, seeing that the Imperial Brother was injured. When I return, I will personally tie up that wicked servant and deliver him to the Second Imperial Brother’s Mansion to apologize."

This clever speech pushed all blame onto the doorman while portraying his injury to gain sympathy, and with a retreat as an advance, made clear he would deliver the doorman to the Crown Prince’s Mansion as an explanation. It looked like an admission of guilt, but it subtly hinted that Chu Heng was being overly aggressive.

"It’s merely a friction between the servants of our two mansions, for which the Third Imperial Brother is actually taking it seriously, making me look petty and spiteful," Chu Heng said jokingly, without a change in his expression.

In just a moment, he reduced the discord between the two mansions to a mere squabble among servants, and his light-hearted words made it seem like he was not holding a grudge, while making King Heng appear to be the one sulking.

In the span of a breath, the two men skillfully laid traps for each other. Although they wished death upon each other inwardly, outwardly they displayed a picture of deep brotherly affection, a sight that left Mo Yan amazed. If these two were to travel to modern times and become actors, they might well bring home an Oscar statuette to their country’s glory!

Those young scholars who didn’t understand the subtleties stood no chance of noticing, but those old foxes with years of official experience, how could they not discern the undercurrents between the most privileged brothers in the world?

While everyone was guessing how this verbal battle would conclude, the high-pitched announcement of a eunuch echoed from outside the hall: "The Emperor arrives—"

The more than a thousand people inside the hall quickly took their positions, and at the moment Emperor Huian entered, they all knelt down and exclaimed in unison, "Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long, long live!"

Emperor Huian climbed the stairs with a steady gait and sat on the Dragon Throne with an imposing presence, declaring in a deep voice, "Rise."

"Thank Your Majesty!" Everyone got up from their knees in unison.

Emperor Huian sat loftily on the Dragon Throne, casting his gaze around the hall. His eyes flickered with surprise when he spotted Mo Yan in the crowd. He then commanded Liang Gonggong beside him, "Provide seats for the Crown Prince and Princess Hejia!"

A flash of astonishment passed through Liang Gonggong’s eyes, and he promptly had the little eunuchs standing by fetch two chairs from the side chamber.

Mo Yan almost thought she had misheard until she saw a couple of little eunuchs carrying over two large chairs. She then believed it and quickly knelt down to express her gratitude.

Not to mention Mo Yan’s surprise, the others present were even more astounded, their mouths agape.

Chu Heng not to mention, for he was the Crown Prince, and with his health not fully recovered, it was understandable for The Emperor to be compassionate and offer him a seat. But for the daughter, a suspect in the cheating scandal, even if she was a County Lord, she should not have been granted a seat; yet, Emperor Huian did precisely that. Could it be that The Emperor not only believed in the Crown Prince’s innocence but in the County Lord’s father’s innocence as well?