I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

After reprimanding Zhou Biao, Qin Li slowly stood up from his chair, patted his clothes, and then stretched dramatically.

Dong Jin didn't know what Qin Li was up to, and his brows slowly furrowed. He had a feeling that Qin Li had ill intentions.

"My lord, you truly won't shed a tear until you see the coffin!"

"You'll only hand over the person if I, the prince, send men to search!"

At this moment, Consort Hui, clutching her handkerchief, spoke in a sharp voice, "Oh, look at what the First Prince is saying."

"No matter what, my brother is still the Marquis of Wuyang, a marquis who was granted the title through military merit."

"Without any evidence, and without His Majesty's decree, how dare the Crown Prince order a search of the residence?"

Qin Li searched the Marquis, who rose to power through connections, and no one else would say anything.

But Dong Jin is different. He was a marquis who was truly ennobled through military merit, and even Emperor Xuan could not easily touch him.

Qin Li stepped forward and said with a smile, "Who says this prince has no evidence? As for His Majesty's decree, I'll go and fetch it in a moment."

Emperor Xuan and Qin Li had always been at odds, so Qin Li preferred to act first and report later.

This time will be no exception. He can wait until he has found the person in Dong Jin's residence before requesting permission.

It would be nice to see Emperor Xuan's liver-like face; why not?

"Is Your Highness planning to force the issue?"

Dong Jin couldn't help but be furious. "Your Highness has already given me ample face. Don't push your luck!"

Others may fear Qin Li, but he is not.

Having survived countless battles and even rolled among piles of dead bodies in his early years, why would he be afraid of Qin Li?

Not to mention, there was a behemoth standing behind him, the Dong family of Huozhou, a family with a four-hundred-year-old heritage!

There are many aristocratic families, but few have a lineage that has lasted for four hundred years. The Dong family of Huozhou is one of the six great aristocratic families of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Even the Emperor Xuan had to curry favor with the Huo family and was somewhat afraid of them, so he married Consort Hui into the palace!

He wanted to see if Qin Li dared to offend the Dong family behind him!

"Who has bullied Lord Dong? Lord Dong, speak up, and this prince will avenge you!"

"As for me, this prince has always preferred to speak with evidence and dislikes bullying the weak and oppressing the strong!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Jin couldn't help but let out a few cold laughs.

Qin Li didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed when he said that?

He felt ashamed for Qin Li.

Throughout the entire world, not just the Great Zhou, the one who most enjoys bullying the weak and oppressing the strong is Qin Li.

This is universally acknowledged and there is no disagreement!

"Your Highness, please leave immediately. The Marquis's residence does not welcome you!"

Dong Jin stretched out an arm, deliberately turning his head away from Qin Li, and once again ordered him to leave.

He simply couldn't believe that Qin Li was so shameless that even the master couldn't chase him away.

"I said, as long as you hand over the person, I will leave with my men immediately."

Qin Li really has a thick skin. Anyway, he has plenty of time today, and he can afford to waste it with Dong Jin.

If Dong Jin doesn't hand over the person, he'll stay here and won't leave.

Having finally found Fang Yuan's trail, Qin Li wouldn't give up so easily.

Who knows when we'll see any more traces of them?

Qin Li didn't want to sleep with his eyes open every night from now on.

He can't rest easy as long as the protagonist, Fang Yuan, lives!

As Qin Li and Dong Jin were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to yield, a voice suddenly came from outside the hall:

"Imperial edict has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Jin hurriedly led Consort Hui out of the hall to receive the imperial edict, while only Qin Li frowned.

The imperial edict didn't come earlier or later, but it had to come at this exact moment; it wasn't that they were deliberately trying to ruin his plans.

Outside the hall, seeing the Seventh Prince Qin Feng arriving with the imperial edict held in one hand, Dong Jin and Consort Hui looked at each other in confusion.

"Seventh Prince, why are you the one delivering the imperial decree?" Dong Jin asked.

Qin Feng's arms were almost sore from holding the imperial edict up. He didn't know why he was the one who came to deliver the edict, instead of the eunuch who was specifically there to announce it.

Today, he was sleeping soundly in his own residence when Han Zhen suddenly barged in with his men, ordering him to come to the Marquis of Wuyang's residence to deliver an imperial decree.

Qin Feng was completely baffled, but since this was Emperor Xuan's will, he couldn't and dared not disobey, so he had no choice but to come.

"Seventh brother?"

At this moment, Qin Li also came out with his men.

Upon seeing Qin Li, Qin Feng, who had been wondering why he was the one who had come to deliver the imperial decree just a second ago, immediately understood.

Because the imperial edict in his hand was for Qin Li, and only if he read it aloud would Qin Li listen to it. After all, in the eyes of the Xuan Emperor, he and Qin Li were on the same side.

"Big brother?"

Qin Feng feigned surprise, took the imperial edict and stepped forward, "What are you doing here, elder brother? I heard there's a banquet at your residence today, why didn't you invite me? Have you forgotten about me?"

Han Zhen had told him about the banquet that was scheduled to be held at Qin Li's residence early that morning.

Han Zhen even deliberately made sarcastic remarks about him, saying that he had helped Qin Li so much on this trip to the border, yet Qin Li didn't invite him to the banquet.

Qin Feng knew that Han Zhen was deliberately trying to sow discord between the two brothers.

Qin Feng wasn't fooled at all, because he wasn't Qin Li's man at all.

"Enough with the nonsense, what are you doing here?" Qin Li retorted.

Qin Feng said, "Announcing the decree, elder brother, this decree from Father is probably for you. You can read it yourself; I won't read it aloud."

After saying that, Qin Feng forcefully stuffed the imperial edict in his hand into Qin Li's arms.

Qin Li opened it and took a look; his expression turned grim.

The decree didn't say anything else, just that he should leave quickly with his men in consideration of Dong Jin's merits, and not to disturb him, otherwise he would be severely punished.

Qin Feng, who was nearby, peeked out and whispered:

"Brother, since Father has issued the decree, let's leave."

"This Dong Jin is no ordinary official; he has real military achievements."

"If things get too ugly today, everyone will start talking about our eldest brother."

Qin Feng had no choice but to offer these words of advice.

Emperor Xuan sent him here to deliver the imperial decree, precisely for this purpose.

If he fails to persuade Qin Li to leave, Emperor Xuan will not forgive him when he returns.

Qin Li could go against the Xuan Emperor, but he couldn't, because his current strength was still too weak.

Let alone going against Emperor Xuan, even if Qin Feng went against Dong Jin, he wouldn't gain any advantage.

He wants Qin Feng to persuade him?

impossible!

Qin Li spoke the truth to Qin Feng, saying, "Fang Yuan has fled back to the capital and is currently hiding at Dong Jin's residence!"

"Seventh Brother, give Big Brother a hand and find Fang Yuan!"

"If we can find Fang Yuan, I'll petition the court for you!"

"Based on your achievements at the border, you should at least be granted the title of Prince!"

"Really?" Qin Feng's eyes lit up immediately.

However, the light in Qin Feng's eyes quickly dimmed.

He knew Qin Li too well; how could Qin Li be so kind?

They just want to take advantage of him for free; they're just making empty promises that won't be kept.

"Absolutely true, brother would never lie to you!"

Qin Feng still didn't believe it and deliberately changed the subject, "Fang Yuan has fled back to the capital? Is this true or not? Brother, don't lie to me. Didn't Fang Yuan suffer a qi deviation?"

"..."

Seeing the two brothers whispering to each other, Dong Jin, who was not far away, became impatient.

To this day, he still doesn't know what was written on the imperial edict.

Would Emperor Xuan be afraid of Qin Li and order Qin Li to search the mansion?

If that's the case, then he'll be very disappointed.

"Brother, it's okay."

Consort Hui comforted him, "His Majesty issued the decree to order Qin Li to leave with his men as soon as possible, otherwise he wouldn't have sent Qin Feng to deliver the decree."

"But aren't they brothers?"

Qin Li and Qin Feng are brothers, so why would Qin Feng side with him?

"Fake friends!"

Consort Hui whispered.

Others might not notice, but she could.

Qin Li and Qin Feng are brothers in name only. On the surface, they seem very close, but secretly they both want the other to die a horrible death.

"Oh, I see."

Dong Jin nodded, understanding.

Since that's the case, then he has nothing to be afraid of.