Yusui Chang'an

The evidence found by the Dali Temple detailed how Zhao Xian sneaked into the general's mansion and drugged the general, as well as Zhao Xian's confession before his death, and a list of people Zhao Xian had contact with during his lifetime.

During the past six months, one of the people Zhao Xian had the closest contact with was Chu Chengping's personal bodyguard, Feng Xun.

Feng Xun lost both his parents when he was young, and was adopted and raised by Marquis Pingyang. Not only did he give him a surname, he also made him study and practice martial arts. After he finished his studies, he became the bodyguard of Chu Chengping and was extremely loyal to Marquis Pingyang's mansion and Chu Chengping.

It was clearly weird that Zhao Xian, the man who poisoned the people, had contact with such a person.

"Father, you know that I have no interest in government affairs and I respect my brother even more. Moreover, Yanling is my cousin and Yichen is my best friend since we were young. I would never use such a vicious scheme to frame my brother, and I chose to do it at the wedding banquet of Yanling and Yichen. Father, I am innocent!"

Before, the emperor and the prince would have believed these words to about 70%, but after hearing that Chu Chengping wanted to marry the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, they suddenly felt that these words were not credible.

Although Master Lin was known as the head of the clean civil officials, he had no real power to control. But behind his granddaughter was the Gu family, which controlled the strongest military force in Tianchu.

Not to mention that Chu Chengping, as a prince, must know how much help the Gu family has. How can he be simple-minded to marry the younger generation of the Gu family? Even if he has no wolfish ambitions, it is hard to guarantee that he will not do so in the future after getting in touch with such a connection.

After the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, the Crown Prince had been wary of Chu Chengping, and now he was even more hostile:
"Fourth brother, you are right. Everyone thinks so. But because of this, no one will doubt you after the incident, right? All this evidence was obtained by the Dali Temple. I am the victim who was slandered and have not yet cried out for justice. Fourth brother, there is no need for you to be so speechless."

The emperor listened carefully to the prince's first two words, and his eyes were filled with coldness:

If Chengping really did it, then he was better at disguising himself than the second brother. He used the kindest and simplest face and even hid the truth from himself, without any suspicion.
Thinking of this, the emperor was secretly shocked and scolded Chu Chengping. Not only did he ask the Dali Temple to bring Feng Xun to the court for questioning, he also rejected Chu Chengping's request:
"Since your uncle risked his life to save me, I won't punish you today. Go back home and reflect on your actions. I'll hold you accountable once the truth is revealed! As for marrying Lin Jinyan, I'll wait until the truth is revealed before discussing it."

Chu Chengping pleaded for Feng Xun in vain, and was wrongly accused and unable to prove himself. The emperor suddenly turned against him and scolded him, not believing anything he said and concluding that he was a vicious person. His bright eyes were red with grievance and his sadness was visible to the naked eye.

Listening to the emperor's verdict, he gritted his teeth but still couldn't hold back his tears, and was forced to kowtow and thank the emperor. It took a while for the emperor to finish speaking before he realized what was going on, and he stood up and said:

"The one I want to marry is not Lin Jinyan. I am not aware of the poisoning, but I am suspected and it is not good to harm Miss Lin. Father, please pretend that I never told you about the marriage. I believe that you and my brother will find out the truth and clear my name."

After saying this, the emperor and the prince were stunned.

The Crown Prince: "Not Lin Jinyan? Didn't you say she was the granddaughter of Grand Tutor Lin? At the Royal Grandmother's birthday banquet, you also expressed your intention to marry Lin Jinyan?"

Chu Chengping's voice was dull:
"The one I love is another granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, the concubine's daughter of the second branch of the Lin family who was separated from the family. Her name is Lin Wanrong." (End of this chapter)