Soon after, Shen Yehong and Lu Fan arrived at the First Prince's palace.
The First Prince was drinking tea and looked at them with confusion, "Why have you two come?"
"Big Brother, did you send someone to assassinate Lu Fan and the others?" Shen Yehong questioned, "Why was your guard token found at the Immortal Residence?"
"That's impossible. Apart from the Gu Hai incident, I haven't sent anyone to assassinate anyone!" Shen Zhengguo stated directly, "You say you have my token; show it to me!"
Shen Yehong did not hesitate and brought the token before Shen Zhengguo, his expression becoming serious.
Shen Zhengguo took the token and was even more incredulous. He simultaneously looked towards the guard contingent, "Are any of the guards absent from the palace today?"
"Your Highness, the Second Prince is not in the palace!" a steward reported. "We don't know why he left the palace, and he hasn't returned!"
"He probably won't be returning!" Lu Fan stated directly. "The assassination failed, and he chose to commit suicide by poison! This token fell from him!"
"This matter was absolutely not instigated by me!" Shen Zhengguo declared. "Even if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't send just one person!"
"However, the person who went to the Immortal Residence was indeed someone from the First Prince's manor!" Lu Fan said directly. "Now Liuli is severely poisoned, and if there is no antidote, her life may be in danger!"
Shen Zhengguo frowned. This matter was not instigated by him, yet it involved a guard from his manor. For a moment, he was at a loss for what to do.
"If it truly wasn't the First Prince's doing, then perhaps someone had already planted an informant here, intending to frame the First Prince!" Lu Fan's expression was cold.
"Frame him?" Shen Yehong was slightly startled. "But if that's the case, who would be responsible?"
"Your Second Brother, Shen Tian!" Lu Fan said coldly. "Apart from him, no one else would be so calculating!"
"Second Brother has always wanted to befriend you, so why would he send someone to assassinate you!" Shen Yehong shook his head. "There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Although he sincerely wants to befriend me, it's only to deal with the First Prince," Lu Fan chuckled. "For him, letting me fall out with the First Prince would be the greatest gain. Only he would do something like this!"
Shen Yehong was instantly speechless. If this were true, how could he face Lu Fan, especially since Lu Fan and the others were his fellow disciples, and he was the one who brought them into the palace.
"Liuli is currently poisoned. Your Second Brother must have the antidote!" Lu Fan stated directly. "I don't want to resort to violence within this palace. As for the antidote, I'll trouble you with it!"
"Rest assured, if it was indeed Second Brother's doing, I will go and get the antidote immediately!" Shen Yehong nodded solemnly, not daring to hesitate. Lives were at stake. If Liuli truly met with any misfortune, Lu Fan and the royal family would be in conflict, which was what he least wished to see.
"Since that's the case, I'll wait for you here!" Lu Fan nodded and said, "I hope you can get the antidote!"
"Don't worry, my Second Brother listens to me the most. He wouldn't act recklessly," Shen Yehong nodded and then left.
Shen Zhengguo, however, chuckled, "I truly never expected my Second Brother to have such methods. He's truly exceptionally intelligent, but unfortunately, he's not using it for the right path."
"The First Prince has such an opponent, yet he can still laugh," Lu Fan said softly. "I'm afraid the succession to the throne won't be so easy in the future."
"I am the eldest son. As long as I am here, he cannot succeed," Shen Zhengguo stated directly. "I don't worry about these things."
"That's true, the eldest son inherits the throne!" Lu Fan smiled slightly. "But if you are not here, it's another matter!"
"What do you mean by that?" The First Prince frowned, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.
"Nothing else, just a reminder to the First Prince," Lu Fan smiled slightly, his gaze appearing even more indifferent, as if everything was as clear as day in his eyes.
Meanwhile, in Shen Tian's palace, upon learning that Lu Fan had angrily gone to the First Prince's palace, he was quite excited. His scheme had finally succeeded, and it would be nearly impossible to clarify the matter, especially since the attacker was a subordinate of the First Prince.
"Second Brother!" Shen Yehong walked over and called out, looking towards Shen Tian.
"Why do you have time to visit me?" Shen Tian asked in surprise.
"Hand over the antidote! Otherwise, Liuli's life will be in danger!" Shen Yehong stated directly.
"What are you talking about? I don't quite understand," Shen Tian feigned surprise. "What happened? How did Liuli get poisoned?"
"Second Brother, are you still going to lie?" Shen Yehong said coldly. "This was all your doing. Did you think we wouldn't know?"
"Little Sister, I truly don't know what you're talking about!" Shen Tian shook his head. "I've been in the palace the entire time and don't know what's happening outside. Why are you acting like this?"
"You have already offended Tongtian Academy. If you remain stubborn, you will only bring trouble upon yourself," Shen Yehong stated directly. "Liuli is a disciple of Tongtian Academy. If he dies unjustly, Tongtian Academy will not let this matter rest, and you will also face due consequences."
"Second Brother also wants to save him, but this matter was not done by me," Shen Tian hurriedly said. "Little Sister, you must believe me."
"To this extent, Second Brother is still so obstinate!" Shen Yehong said with a wry smile. "Do you know that if this matter escalates, even the Taiyan Dynasty will be implicated? How can you possibly stay out of it then!"
"Little Sister, why don't you believe me!" Shen Tian's eyes suddenly became sharp, filled with anger. This was a trap he had set for his elder brother, but he never expected Lu Fan and the others to suspect him.
"Lu Fan has already guessed that this was your doing. Even if Big Brother is foolish, he wouldn't send someone to deal with Lu Fan," Shen Yehong stated directly. "You might not know, but last night, Big Brother personally went to apologize to them, so Big Brother would absolutely not do this."
"But the attacker was someone from Big Brother's manor!" Shen Tian frowned.
"Meaning you already knew!" Shen Yehong said with a bitter smile. "You knew all of this! This matter was also your doing!"
"If you insist on thinking that way, I have nothing more to say!" Shen Tian's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with displeasure, but unfortunately, he was helpless. His plan had now been exposed, and it was not possible to salvage it.
"Second Brother, turn back while there is still time!" Shen Yehong stated directly. "Hand over the poison. If I put in a good word, Lu Fan and the others won't make things difficult for you!"
"Ridiculous! I am a prince of the Taiyan Dynasty. How can he make things difficult for me!" Shen Tian said coldly. "Even if he is a disciple of Tongtian Academy, so what?"