son, don't mess around

Public opinion in Linjiang City is still fermenting!
None of the noble families who were watching in secret had expected that the Prince Lin's Mansion seemed to really force the Chen family into a desperate situation.

Everyone originally thought that this was just a warning to the Chen family by the Lin Wang Mansion using Chen Junru as an excuse.

Since it is just a knock, it should stop when it is necessary.

No one thought that the Lin Wang Mansion would really do it!
After all, the Chen family has considerable power in Linjiang City and also has considerable influence among the noble families. Moreover, the Chen family and the Linwang Mansion had a good relationship in the past. Although there have been some conflicts in the past two years, it is far from being tense.

Therefore, in the eyes of many people, the Chen family just became the first bird to be attacked by the Linwang Mansion!
But after all, as a big family, the Lin Wang Mansion will not really fall out with them completely, right? The Chen family represents not only the Chen family, but also a series of family forces behind it. If the Lin Wang Mansion falls out with the Chen family, it is tantamount to falling out with all the families behind the Chen family.

Under normal circumstances, the Prince Lin's Mansion would never do such a thing.

But no one expected that what was originally thought to be just a warning would eventually turn out to be beyond everyone's expectations.

He meddled in government affairs and arrested the prefect. At the same time, he reopened the case of Chen Junru, which had been closed a few days ago, and retried it!
Anyone with a discerning eye could see the problem with Chen Junru's case. Even for those aristocratic families, it was already a tacit understanding.

The person who died was just an ordinary civilian. It doesn’t really matter whether it was Chen Junru who killed him.

Kill him if you want!
As long as no one mentions it, the matter is over.

But the Prince Lin's Mansion suddenly retried the case, and even wanted to retry it openly.

The purpose is self-evident!
How can this case survive a trial?
There is no doubt that once the trial is retried, Chen Junru will not be able to escape the blame.

The Lin Wang Mansion's move was tantamount to telling everyone that they were serious!
After all, Chen Junru is Chen Hongsheng's only son. Pushing him to death is tantamount to pushing Chen Hongsheng to his death.

This move was nothing short of impulsive, and it was definitely not something that Prince Lin would do, as it would break off relations with the Chen family.

I'm afraid all of this was the work of that Prince Lin!
This way, everything is explained!
The reputation of the Prince of Lin was mediocre to begin with. In the eyes of most people, he was just a playboy who was uneducated and unskilled. Even if he was hiding his incompetence, how could he, a young man, have such deep scheming?
The falling out with the Chen family just proves that this guy is incompetent!
But unfortunately, no one stopped him from doing so.

The entire Lin Wang Mansion allowed him to act like this.

This aspect also seemed to be conveying an extremely important piece of information to the outside world...Prince Lin, I'm afraid something has really happened to your health!
Otherwise, with him around, how could he allow the Prince of Lin to act so recklessly?
……

Chen Mansion.

The atmosphere was dull.

It seemed as if it was shrouded in a shadow.

These days, the Chen family's reputation in Linjiang City has plummeted.

With Sun Yuan's wife Xu Xianglian as a witness, Chen Junru was accused of abducting a decent woman and illegally imprisoning her. The evidence was irrefutable, and the Chen family had no way to refute it even if they wanted to!
In addition, Chen Junru's confession when he surrendered himself admitted the crime of sending someone to accidentally beat Sun Yuan to death.

At the same time, after Chen Junru's explanation, Lin Jiangnian sent people to capture several servants who had been bribed by the Chen family to kill someone and then left Linjiang City.

As a result, when the evidence gradually became complete, Chen Junru was found guilty of raping a woman, accidentally killing someone, bribing the government, and colluding with the prefect...

What awaits him is a heavy loss of skin, even if he doesn't die, which is enough to make him suffer a lot.

More importantly, on the surface, all these charges were on Chen Junru. But anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was clearly aimed at the Chen family.

Chen Junru is just a playboy. How could he be qualified to collude with the prefect?

How could it be possible that the Chen family wasn't behind this?
More importantly... the current question is whether the Chen family will save Chen Junru?
If he didn't save him, Chen Junru would be found guilty and punished for multiple crimes. His fate is self-evident.

But if they want to save him, the Chen family will inevitably fall into a passive situation. Now the people of Linjiang City are watching the case. Once the Chen family intervenes, it will trigger a chain reaction.

Incredible!

It is even very likely to arouse public indignation and create a situation that is difficult to control.

Chen Mansion.

"boom!"

Chen Hongsheng slammed the table hard, his face turned ashen, and he said nothing.

The atmosphere in the entire hall was solemn.

In the hall, in addition to the housekeeper beside Chen Hongsheng, there were also several elders from the Chen family and figures from several other aristocratic families in Linjiang City.

These families are on good terms with the Chen family, have close contacts, and have a deep interest-bound relationship. They came here today because of Chen Junru.

"Hongsheng, you need to stay calm and put the overall situation first!"

An old man from the Chen family looked at Chen Hongsheng and advised him earnestly: "Junru is now stuck in a quagmire, and has already aroused resentment among the people. If you intervene at this time, it will be tantamount to dragging the Chen family into the quagmire, which will not be worth the loss!"

As soon as the old man spoke, the others followed suit.

"Yes, Brother Chen, you must not be impulsive at this time. The Lin Palace is clearly setting a trap for you to jump into. You must not fall into it!"

"We should think about this matter in the long term. We must not ignore the overall situation for the sake of immediate interests!"

"Yes, Brother Chen, calm down and don't be impulsive..."

People around were talking about it, and they all advised Chen Hongsheng not to be impulsive.

They could naturally see the purpose of the Prince Lin. Whether it was taking over the government office with great fanfare or re-examining the case of Chen Junru, it was all done deliberately for them to see.

Chen Hongsheng said nothing, but glanced at everyone in the hall with a gloomy face and deep eyes.

Why doesn't he know this truth?

The best plan for the Chen family now is to give up that rebellious son and sever all ties with him. In this way, not only can the Chen family survive this crisis, but it can also create an image of the Chen family that they are selfless and impartial.

but……

A trace of pain flashed across Chen Hongsheng's eyes.

But no matter what, that rebellious son is still Chen Hongsheng's only son!
How could he give up?
Once you give up, the rebellious son will almost certainly die!

But what else can I do if I don’t give up?
Falling out with Prince Lin’s Mansion?

Does the Chen family have the capital to do so?

Chen Hongsheng looked at everyone in the hall expressionlessly. After everyone gradually quieted down, he took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Junru has indeed made a big mistake this time and should be punished. It is also because I, as a father, did not teach him well."

"But no matter what, he still has the blood of the Chen family flowing in his veins. He is my, Chen Hongsheng's, only son. How can I watch him die?"

"More importantly..." Chen Hongsheng looked around and said in a deep voice: "Is the Lin Wang Mansion trying to warn my Chen family this time, or...does it want to put my Chen family to death?!"

"Once my Chen family falls, what will happen to you all? I don't need to say more, right?"

There was sudden silence all around.

Everyone looked at each other in silence, their faces gradually becoming solemn.

If the Chen family falls, how can those families that are dependent on the Chen family escape?

It will definitely be uprooted and completely eradicated!
And this is indeed what they are most worried about!
No one could guarantee what the purpose of the Linwang Mansion was. And the things that the various noble families had done privately in Linjiang City over the years also made them have to be cautious and worried.

Now the conflict between the imperial court and the Lin Wang Mansion is getting deeper and deeper, and the voices of reducing the power of the vassal states have never stopped. If the Lin Wang Mansion really rebels, will they be the first to attack these noble families to establish their authority?

No one can guarantee it!
"Brother Chen, what do you mean by this?!"

Someone from a noble family asked about it.

Chen Hongsheng looked at him expressionlessly: "Everyone should know that now in Prince Lin's Mansion... it's not Prince Lin who is in charge!"

"Now, everyone in the palace is headed by the Prince of Lin. The Junru incident was caused by him!"

There were whispers all around, so they were naturally aware of the matter.

Since Prince Lin was attacked, he has not appeared again. It is hard not to suspect that something unexpected has happened after such a long absence!
In addition, the Prince Lin is constantly behaving recklessly, which makes people feel more certain... something might have really happened to the prince!

Everyone knew that if something really happened to Prince Lin, the outcome would be almost certain... With the Prince Lin, whose hair had not even fully grown, it was questionable whether he had the ability to control the Prince Lin's Palace and the Prince Lin's Army, let alone cope with the imperial court's reduction of power.

And this is also the reason why various families are ready to make a move.

Without Prince Lin's Palace, it would not be enough to make them afraid.

What's more, there is a rumor circulating in Linjiang City that the Prince of Lin is a fake... The source of the news is no longer verifiable.

But this news can spread quickly in Linjiang City. It is hard to say whether these noble families are secretly fanning the flames...

"My Chen family is not something that can be easily controlled by a young boy. I'm sure everyone here has the same idea as me!"

Chen Hongsheng looked at everyone present with deep eyes: "Junru's matter is just the beginning. His Royal Highness will definitely not let it go. If my Chen family gives in today, he will definitely use more violent means in the future..."

"You are all smart people, you should know the consequences better than me!"

The surroundings were quiet, with only the people from various families whispering to each other with serious expressions.

Everyone knew this truth, but no one pointed it out. Now that Chen Hongsheng pointed it out, everyone felt vaguely uneasy.

"Brother Chen, what do you mean by that? Just tell me clearly!"

"You all have a very deep relationship with my Chen family. We all prosper together and suffer together. If anything happens to my Chen family, none of you here will be any better off!"

Chen Hongsheng looked deep in his eyes and said in a cold voice: "This time, my Chen family cannot retreat!"

"Everyone here can't retreat!"

"Does the Lin family really think they are the king of Linjiang City?"

"Everyone here is from aristocratic families in Linjiang City that have been around for dozens or even hundreds of years. If we unite together, are we really afraid of a mere prince like him?!"

"..."

The undercurrent in Linjiang City is still surging and getting worse!
During this period, the various noble families in Linjiang City were not idle either. More and more people were entrenched in and outside the Prince Lin's Mansion, trying to find out the situation in the palace.

There are countless people visiting every day, and even various aristocratic families have sent their respected elders to try to use moral blackmail.

But Lin Jiangnian didn't tolerate it at all and refused to see it!
If it were Lin Hengzhong, he would have to give some face to these respected elders from various families in Linjiang City.

But Lin Jiangnian is different!
He is a playboy prince. With his personality set up, everyone in the world knows that Prince Lin is not a good guy. He is uneducated and absurd... It is reasonable that he does not see these old guys!
On the other hand, the news about the fake Prince Lin was also gaining momentum in the city, and naturally, those aristocratic families were behind it, fanning the flames.

These opinions gradually divided into two factions!

One group believes that the rumors are not groundless, and that there is indeed something wrong with the current Prince Lin. Not only has his temperament changed drastically, he is also willing to fight to the death with the Chen family to plead for the people, and he even rarely goes to brothels... There must be something wrong!

How could a Crown Prince who doesn't like visiting brothels be the real Crown Prince?
This is a collapse of character!
The other faction believes that there is nothing wrong with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is an unscrupulous person by nature. Let alone a fight to the death with your Chen family, no one would be surprised if His Royal Highness led his troops to raid the Chen family one day.

As for Your Highness not going to brothels...nonsense, don't you see what kind of girls are there in Qingfeng Tower and Yingfeng Garden nowadays?
Apart from Su Lu from Yingfeng Garden, how many other pretty girls are there who can catch the eye of our Crown Prince?

Besides, the palace hasn't said anything yet. Even the prince hasn't discovered that his son is a fake, and the people around His Highness haven't discovered it either. It's just you bunch of unruly people who are talking nonsense, right?

It must be a dog sent by the Chen family, deliberately trying to discredit my brother...

It has to be said that the quarrels among the people were very fierce, and the two factions refused to give in to each other. From time to time, one could see some people in some public places in the city starting fighting after quarreling.

On the other hand, after several days of evidence collection and retrial at the government office, Chen Junru was found to have abducted women, raped women of decent families, killed people to silence them, imprisoned others, colluded with and bribed government officials... A long list of crimes were listed, the circumstances were serious, the crimes were heinous, and he must be severely punished!
It was finally decided that three days later, Chen Junru would be beheaded outside Linjiang City as a warning to others!

As soon as this news came out, it once again caused an uproar in Linjiang City.

Many people were stunned after hearing the news!
Senseless!

No one expected... for real?!
Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince serious about this?

Beheading in public?

Do you really want to kill me?
This news was beyond everyone's expectations!
Although the situation has come to this point, many people still believe that... it will not come to this.

After all, he is the eldest son of the Chen family!

The only son of the current head of the Chen family!
If we kill him, won't that mean his family will be extinct?

Therefore, no matter how serious Chen Junru's crime was, many people would only think of him as being sentenced to life imprisonment or exile... For the eldest son of the Chen family, this was already a very severe punishment!
Who would have thought that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not a person who plays tricks at all!
What is life term?
What exile?
All the bells and whistles!

Killing someone means paying with your life, it is only natural!

If you kill someone, you should be sentenced to death!

...(End of chapter)