The Prince of Duan did not know this. He could only stare blankly as Huang Fengxian kicked open the door and rushed into the study like lightning.
He searched everywhere inside like a headless fly.
During this time, Huang Fengxian, whether intentionally or unintentionally, used the imperial sword in his hand to overturn the rare books he had painstakingly collected.
He also damaged several of his meticulously collected Hu brushes.
After a show of pretense, Huang Fengxian decided to drop the act. He glanced at the three people standing in a line before him.
Two men and one woman. One was Shen Yun, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, and the other was the second son of the Prince of Duan's residence.
He recognized both of them.
Only the woman, he felt, looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall who she was.
However, he didn't need to concern himself with such minor details.
All he needed to know was that once he brought out the item in front of these people with the Imperial Guards,
No one who had come to the Prince of Duan's residence that day would escape.
Their association with the Prince of Duan would be equivalent to treason.
Huang Fengxian felt his mood lift considerably, and he even whistled in front of everyone. He pretended to look up at the ceiling beams inadvertently.
He scanned them again and again, and then again, and then again.
Hmm, why were they gone?
The Crown Prince had clearly told him that his men had hidden the zitan wood box containing the dragon robe on the ceiling beams of the study in the main courtyard of the Prince of Duan's residence.
That thing was large, and by all accounts, it should have been impossible to miss at a glance.
But now, no matter from what angle he looked up from below, he could not see the thing that should have been there.
Huang Fengxian's heart sank. He immediately thought of the three people who had entered before he brought his men.
"Guards, seize them."
Liang Jingchen said sternly, "How dare you insult your superiors and violate the imperial family! I will report you to His Imperial Grandfather and have you charged with gross disrespect."
Huang Fengxian was both anxious and angry. He didn't care about charges.
He drew his imperial sword and pointed it at Liang Jingchen, unleashing a barrage of accusations:
"Don't forget that your entire family is currently under indictment.
Once the dragon robe is found, your family will be rebels, and everyone will be justified in killing you."
Liang Jingchen sneered, "Is that so? But you have to find the dragon robe first."
As he spoke, he fixed a fierce gaze on Huang Fengxian, his eyes bloodshot and intently fixed on him.
Huang Fengxian saw that the three of them were lined up in front, completely blocking a soft couch behind them.
Suddenly, he had an idea.
He thought that they must have secretly taken down the box containing the dragon robe.
But they hadn't had time to get it out yet.
Humph, if that were the case, even better.
He pointed with his imperial sword, demanding that they move aside.
He suspected that the dragon robe was hidden by them.
These words made all three of them jump in their hearts.
But soon, Su Xiaoqi, as if nothing had happened, gently squeezed Shen Yun's fingers.
Shen Yun understood and lightly patted Liang Jingchen.
It meant to reassure him.
His wife had already handled everything.
Liang Jingchen then turned aside, revealing the scene behind him.
A sturdy zitan wood couch, intricately carved with the Queen Mother's peach feast motif, appeared before everyone.
Huang Fengxian's eyes widened.
The scene he had envisioned, where the three would move aside and reveal a large wooden box, did not materialize.
This made him immensely frustrated.
"How is this possible? The box, the box!" he exclaimed uncontrollably.
Liang Jingchen glanced at Su Xiaoqi, who was leaning on Shen Yun. His heart ached slightly, but when he faced Huang Fengxian, he let out a burst of arrogant laughter:
"Hahaha, Lord Huang, what box are you talking about?"
He didn't know what method Xiaoqi had used to help him hide the zitan wood box.
Or where she had hidden it.
This was not something that needed to be pursued now.
He only needed to know that the zitan wood box, which had caused them so much trouble and even put their lives at risk, was gone. Huang Fengxian's pretext for wielding power was gone.
Now it was his turn to deal with Huang Fengxian severely.
He first asserted his status as a member of the imperial family and berated Huang Fengxian loudly.
When he infuriated Huang Fengxian enough that he charged forward with his imperial sword to stab him, Liang Jingchen stuck out a leg, tripping him and sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.
The imperial sword, dropped on the ground, snapped in two.
Everyone was stunned, staring blankly at the scene.
Only Shen Yun looked at Liang Jingchen.
Everyone else thought the sword had broken when Huang Fengxian fell.
In fact, he had clearly seen Liang Jingchen, concealed by his wide sleeves, use a profound iron dagger that could cut through metal to sever the imperial sword.
Shen Yun raised an eyebrow slightly.
He had to admit that Liang Jingchen was very brave.
This was the imperial sword, not some ordinary blade.
To see the sword was to see the Emperor.
With the Emperor present, he dared to swing a blade to break it.
Even though Shen Yun disliked him, he couldn't help but praise him for his courage and decisiveness.
He had to admit that what Liang Jingchen had done at this moment was the best course of action.
It could prevent trouble for the Prince of Duan's residence, quickly drive away Huang Fengxian,
And also serve as a form of retaliation.
Such a plan, executed within moments, was decisive and resolute.
No wonder he could inspire Xiaoqi's wholehearted assistance.
Even he himself, despite remembering his personal feud with Liang Jingchen, was still willing to help him.
"Ah... ah..." Huang Fengxian first heard a crisp "clang."
Soon he saw the imperial sword broken into two pieces.
The sword had broken in his hand.
Terrified, he yelped and immediately cupped his face, begging for forgiveness and weeping.
The Prince of Duan, who had been following behind, had already lost all hope.
He felt that he now had only two paths to take.
One was to let Huang Fengxian take the dragon robe found in his study to the palace and await his father's judgment.
Watching helplessly as the fruits of his efforts for over a decade vanished into thin air.
The second was to kill Huang Fengxian on the spot, silencing him, and then disposing of the dragon robe, finding a suitable excuse to cover it up.
However, this would also leave him open to criticism and was not ideal.
He had never expected that a third situation would arise at the scene.
The dragon robe was not found, but Huang Fengxian had broken the imperial sword, an item of imperial use.
This was a capital offense!
Liang Jingchen stepped forward, supported the now weak-kneed Liang Xinyi, and reminded him loudly:
"Father, Lord Huang has disregarded imperial authority and wantonly damaged the imperial sword bestowed by His Majesty. What crime should he be punished with?"
Liang Xinyi's heart relaxed. He found support in Liang Jingchen and said word by word:
"He has shown contempt for imperial power and wantonly destroyed an imperial gift. He deserves death."
Huang Fengxian was terrified on the spot.
Normally composed, he was now unable to maintain his composure. In a panic, he rubbed the broken sword with his hands, his heart trembling.
"No, no, you framed me! You, you did this on purpose! The dragon robe must be in here."
When he left the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince had clearly told him that the dragon robe had been hidden by his spies, who had infiltrated the Prince of Duan's residence, on the ceiling beams of the study in the main courtyard.
Something that large could not be hidden easily.
No, that was not right. The problem was no longer just that.
The problem was with him.
He had destroyed a sacred imperial item; he was doomed. "Ah, my life is over!"
A cold glint flashed across Liang Xinyi's clear face. He sternly ordered:
"Huang Fengxian, the facts are clear, and everyone present is a witness. Your life is indeed forfeit. Do you have anything else to say?"
Startled, Huang Fengxian's body went limp and collapsed to the ground.
Among the Imperial Guards he had brought, several were the Crown Prince's men. Seeing this situation, they quickly and quietly retreated, turning and fleeing like the wind.