Part 3
The Mu family head hardened his scalp and continued: “I brazenly begged the Third Prince. In the end, the Third Prince was also worried the Zong family would be deceived right under everyone’s noses, so he investigated. The result is what we bring before Your Highness. This Ichi indeed has bold, thieving ambitions; everything he said before was a lie. He even harbors intentions to harm Marshal Zong.”
The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed tightly as he looked displeased at the Mu family head: “Ichi is Marshal Zong’s confidant, loyal and devoted, having gone through life and death with the Marshal. You say he wants to harm Marshal Zong; I don’t believe it.”
The Third Prince stepped out at this moment: “Big Brother, one may know a person’s face but not their heart. Since you don’t believe it, I’ll have someone present the evidence for you to take a good look at.”
The Crown Prince’s face grew even uglier. He didn’t reply to the Third Prince but looked at Ichi: “Do you want to explain first?”
Ichi stood straight: “Your Highness, I did not lie, nor would I ever harm the Marshal. They are slandering me.”
The Crown Prince pondered for a long while before choosing to lean towards Ichi: “Third Brother, I will send someone to investigate this matter after the banquet. Let’s talk about it later. I trust Ichi’s character.”
How could the Third Prince agree to investigate later? What if the Eldest Brother bribed Ichi?
Or what if Ichi was the Eldest Brother’s man? In that case, wouldn’t the Zong family fall into the Crown Prince’s hands?
The Third Prince bared his teeth in a smile: “Big Brother, you aren’t trying to shield Ichi, are you? You have a good relationship with Marshal Zong. Now that Marshal Zong might have been harmed by someone, and you refuse to seek the truth, that’s unjustifiable, isn’t it? If Ichi is truly innocent, he naturally can withstand investigation. What is there to fear?”
Ichi frowned and remained silent.
The Third Prince became more certain of his guess; this man definitely had something to hide.
That video connection earlier had caught them off guard, but thinking about it afterward, since they hadn’t seen the person in the flesh, everything could have been faked.
Zong’s father stepped forward at the right moment, kneeling with tears in his eyes: “Your Royal Highness, Old Five’s life and death are unknown abroad. He didn’t contact me, his second brother, but contacted Ichi first. It’s understandable since Ichi is his confidant. But even if Old Five was dissatisfied with Zong Ling, his nephew, becoming the new family head, and even if he was dissatisfied with me, his second brother, there are still Third Brother and Fourth Brother. Yet he appointed an outsider with no blood relation or connection to the Zong family as acting family head, giving him full authority over all Zong family assets. Your Highness, for the past two days, I’ve been tossing and turning with scenes of Old Five being harmed. Plus, we really did find something, which is why we dared to report to Your Highness to seek justice. After all, Old Five didn’t say when he would return to the Capital Star. Over time, this acting family head… might just become the real family head. In the future, this Zong family might become the Ichi family.”
Zong’s father’s impassioned and sorrowful speech made most people suspect his ultimate goal was the family head position, but it did raise suspicions. Marshal Zong suddenly appointing Ichi, an outsider, with full authority was indeed worth pondering.
The Crown Prince couldn’t show partiality at this point and could only look at the silent Ichi: “Can you explain the reason?”
Ichi lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and gave an explanation: “Marshal Zong doesn’t trust these people in the Zong family, which is why he let me take over temporarily.”
Zong’s father, with red eyes, feigned grief and indignation: “Your Highness, is this reason credible? Even if he doesn’t trust me, is everyone unworthy of trust?”
The Third Prince stepped forward slowly: “Why don’t Big Brother look at the evidence we found first?”
The Crown Prince finally sighed: “Bring it here.”
The Third Prince immediately shot a glance at the Mu family head. The Mu family head quickly opened his wristband, displaying quite a few things they had found.
“The first item is the live video connection between Marshal Zong and Ichi that day. Afterward, we used special channels to investigate and discovered something strange. That day, Marshal Zong’s ID never connected to the signal in the entire Capital Star region.”
The crowd understood and looked over sharply. This special channel was only accessible to the highest level. It seemed the Third Prince had expended great effort to obtain this.
Ichi pursed his lips, silent for a moment.
Of course, Marshal Zong’s ID hadn’t entered, because Marshal Zong’s wristband was currently in his possession, and the connection that day wasn’t made using the Marshal’s identity ID.
But he couldn’t explain this.
Ichi’s silence made everyone present exchange glances, and the Crown Prince frowned tightly.
The Mu family head was in an even better mood, quickly displaying the second piece of evidence: “Because Marshal Zong’s identity ID is of the highest level, and based on the first point worrying about his safety, we applied to investigate Marshal Zong’s ID. We unexpectedly discovered that Marshal Zong’s identity ID is currently on the Capital Star.”
“What?” The Crown Prince looked up in surprise this time. “Is this true? The Marshal has returned to the Capital Star?”
However, the Mu family head shook his head with a sorrowful expression: “Your Highness, he hasn’t. Or rather, from beginning to end, Marshal Zong’s wristband has been in Ichi’s hands. We checked his movements. He left the Capital Star not long ago, and the day he returned coincides exactly with the moment Marshal Zong’s identity ID appeared. But we checked, and only Lord Ichi returned at that time; Marshal Zong was not present.”
As soon as these words came out, everyone was dumbfounded.
No way. We were just watching a drama, but could Ichi really have harmed Marshal Zong? Even obtaining Marshal Zong’s identity ID?
Ichi’s face darkened: “Head of the Mu family, do you know that unauthorized inquiry into the whereabouts and classified information of high-ranking generals is a crime? Are you committing a crime openly?”
The Mu family head sighed: “I did it for Marshal Zong. If I can uncover the truth for Marshal Zong, I am willing to accept punishment.”
Ichi sneered: “Besides you, who else? What about Zong the Second? And the Third Prince? You all participated; you knowingly broke the law.”
Zong’s father laughed. A desperate dog jumps over the wall, trying to use this to force them to give up?
But if it was proven that Old Five’s identity ID was on Ichi, it would confirm he harmed Old Five. They would have performed a great service then.
Merits and faults would cancel each other out.
Zong’s father also knelt: “I beg Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince to seek justice for Marshal Zong!”
It was a pity their ambush on Ichi tonight failed; otherwise, they could have searched for Marshal Zong’s identity ID. Then they could have controlled the entire Zong family without Ichi.
This Ichi really had some skill not being trapped, so naturally, they didn’t get the identity ID.
The Crown Prince’s frown deepened. He looked at Ichi, then at Zong’s father: “You did see Marshal Zong appear on the connection at that time.”
Zong’s father and the Mu family head were prepared: “But if Marshal Zong’s identity ID was on Ichi, how could Marshal Zong connect? Plus, we were all in shock at the time, and Marshal Zong didn’t show his full body. Maybe it was just someone who looked very similar impersonating him.”
Everyone gasped upon hearing this. Good heavens, they were actually persuaded by Zong’s father and the Mu family head.
Indeed, apart from those present at the time, no one had seen the connection.
Even Marshal Zong himself only connected with Ichi, not contacting other Zong family members.
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thanks for the chapter!