Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

Meng Huaran and his son quickly put on polite smiles, but countless speculations arose in their minds.

His Majesty has finally summoned them.

But what awaits them ahead?

Meng Huaran asked with a hint of warmth, "Vice Commander Yu, could you tell me why His Majesty suddenly summoned my son and me?"

Yu Hai glanced at them indifferently, his tone cold: "Lord Meng need not ask any further questions; you will naturally know once you enter the main hall."

Seeing Yu Hai's cold attitude, Meng Huaran's heart sank.

As soon as Meng Huaran and his son entered the main hall, they saw a group of people dressed in prison uniforms kneeling in the center of the hall.

The most conspicuous one is Akinohara.

As Meng Huaran passed by Ming Zhiyuan, he stared intently at him. Ming Zhiyuan also looked up, their eyes brushing against each other's.

Meng Huaran wanted to see some information in Ming Zhiyuan's eyes, but unfortunately, all she saw was the will to die.

Meng Huaran's heart sank again.

He finally stepped forward, knelt down, and bowed his head in greeting, "Your subject Meng Huaran greets Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Emperor Cangxuan, seated at the head of the table, stared at them and said in a deep voice, "Meng Huaran, you've been in Anzhou for three years. How are the people of Anzhou living?"

Meng Huaran's heart sank. He hadn't expected His Majesty to ask him such a question right away.

He replied, "Your Majesty, the people of Anzhou are doing alright."

"Not bad?" Emperor Cangxuan laughed, but he felt a lump in his throat.

People really do laugh when they're extremely angry. While Emperor Cangxuan was laughing, a terrifying storm was gathering in his eyes.

Meng Huaran lowered his head. Although he did not look directly at Cangxuan Emperor's expression, he could clearly feel how cold and murderous the two gazes shooting from above were.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead, and his face was pale. Even so, he still said, "Your Majesty, although there was some accident at Anzhou Fishing Lake, the people of Anzhou are still living a decent life. I have been looking for a solution."

Hearing his sophistry, the murderous intent in Emperor Cangxuan's eyes surged, almost solidifying into a tangible form.

All the civil and military officials in the hall dared not utter a sound. Some secretly glanced at Meng Huaran, their eyes filled with indifference as if he were a dead object.

They were acutely aware of His Majesty's fury.

And this Meng Huaran actually dared to lie through his teeth. I really don't know whether to admire him or pity him.

Some officials also secretly glanced at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and others.

The Meng family has a marriage agreement with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. One of the reasons the Meng family returned to the capital this time was to discuss the two marriage agreements.

Given Meng Huaran's current predicament, can the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion truly turn a blind eye?

Meng Huaran clearly thought so too.

He lowered his head, his eyes flashing with calculation. He didn't know how much Ming Zhiyuan had confessed, nor did he know if Emperor Cangxuan had any evidence.

But he knew that what he had to do at that moment was to deny it to the death.

As long as he doesn't admit it, and there's no evidence, even if he's wrong, it won't cost him his life.

At most, Emperor Cangxuan will no longer give him important positions.

Moreover, their family is engaged to the Shangguan family. As long as their family survives, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will be even less able to dissolve the engagement.

Not only could they not break off the engagement, they had to take even more initiative to marry the Meng family girl.

At that time, the Meng family might still have a chance to turn things around.

As he was pondering this, a thunderous drumbeat sounded outside.

For some reason, when Meng Huaran heard the first drumbeat, he felt a strange sense of unease and panic.

Boom!dong dong!

As the drums beat one after another, the civil and military officials couldn't help but raise their heads and look towards the back of the hall.

At this moment, someone actually struck the Dengwen Drum.

Who is so quick to arrive?

The officials were all on tenterhooks.

"Who struck the Dengwen Drum?" Emperor Cangxuan shouted.

Before long, the imperial censor who was guarding the Dengwen Drum came in, followed by a young girl.

The girl was beautiful and gentle, with a tall and straight figure. She seemed delicate, but her eyes were resolute, revealing a determination that was both gentle and strong.

She is not a weak woman.

All the officials were staring at the girl.

Some officials had met Meng Wanli and felt that she looked somewhat familiar.

Soon, someone recognized Meng Wanli.

Those people looked at Meng Wanli, then at Meng Huaran who was running on the ground.

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became even more eerie.

Has Meng Huaran gone mad after staying in Anzhou for three years?

At a time like this, how dare he let his granddaughter beat the petition drum? Does he really think His Majesty has no evidence that he has oppressed the people and betrayed the country?

It's such a pity for this Meng family girl. She could have married into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and lived a good life, but she had to take such a tragic path.

Meng Wanli's beating of the petition drum was merely a show for the civil and military officials and the people of the world.

She glanced at Meng Huaran and Meng Zhenxiao kneeling to the side, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.

She knelt respectfully and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Meng Mianli, greets Your Majesty!"

These words were undoubtedly a heavy blow to Meng Huaran and his son.

They suddenly looked up and gazed in Meng Wanli's direction.

What's going on? Meng Wanli should be in Anzhou right now, left to fend for herself.

Although they received a letter from Mingzhiyuan on the way saying that Meng Wanli had escaped, in their judgment, how could a young girl like Meng Wanli escape the pursuit of the soldiers?

But right before their eyes, Meng Wanli was truly there. No, this was the morning court session, the main hall.

Not only were there civil and military officials, but also Emperor Cangxuan.

And Meng Wanli, surprisingly, appeared here alive and healthy.

Even the disfiguring scars on her face have disappeared.

What's going on?

Meng Zhenxiao's mind went completely blank almost instantly.

Meng Wanli is here alive and well, so what will happen to Dong Ying?

Meng Huaran, however, had a glint in his eyes. If the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was unwilling to accept Dong Ying, what about Meng Wanli?

At this time, Meng Wanli was alive, and it was almost a certainty that she would marry into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

This would actually benefit the Meng family.

Meng Huaran did not believe that Meng Wanli would betray the Meng family.

"Meng Wanli, why did you strike the Dengwen Drum? Do you have a grievance?" Emperor Cangxuan asked.

Because she had already paid her respects to Emperor Cangxuan last night and even received his permission, Meng Wanli was not nervous at all.

She raised her head, straightened her back, and said loudly, "Your Majesty, the reason I struck the Dengwen Drum is because I truly have a great injustice to accuse you."

I, your humble servant, wish to personally inform my grandparents, my second uncle and aunt, and my cousins.

"I wanted to accuse them of plotting to steal my marriage from the Duke of Zhenguo's family. To prevent their scheme from succeeding, they disfigured me and left me in Anzhou to fend for myself. If I hadn't been rescued, I would be a pile of mud by now."

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials in the hall showed expressions of shock.

That's absolutely amazing!

Both Meng Huaran and his son Meng Zhenxiao stared wide-eyed.

Especially Meng Huaran, he never expected that Meng Wanli would dare to sue him!

"Meng Wanli, how dare you slander your own elders?" Meng Huaran rebuked.

Meng Wanli didn't even glance at him, and continued, "Not only that, I also want to accuse the Meng family of colluding with local officials in Anzhou, betraying their country and their master, and allowing people from other countries to become their rulers, and refining longevity pills. In order to destroy evidence, they dumped the waste pills and pill residue into Anzhou Fishing Lake."

They knew that this might lead to the destruction of Yuhu Lake and the loss of livelihood for the people of Anzhou, yet they remained unrepentant, unworthy of being local officials.

Your Majesty, I, your humble servant, must appeal to Meng Huaran, the Meng family, and the entire Anzhou officialdom for my own sake and for the sake of the people of Anzhou!