The Prodigal Son

Urgent report from Ningzhou!

These four simple words have made many people's hearts leap into their throats.

Ningzhou is right next to Yinzhou!

An urgent report from Ningzhou suggests that there's likely some unusual activity on the side of the Prince of Chengyang!

Did the news spread that fast?

Zhao Yan was only arrested and imprisoned in the Baojing Division by Qin Yu yesterday, and the Prince of Chengyang is already making strange moves today?

impossible!

It would take at least three days to send a message back and forth, right?

This doesn't even include the time when the Prince of Chengyang made his unusual moves!

Or perhaps, the Prince of Chengyang had long harbored rebellious intentions?

But this shouldn't be happening!

Even if the Prince of Chengyang was already planning to rebel, why would he foolishly send Zhao Yan to the capital?

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through the minds of the ministers.

But the more they thought about it, the more confused they became.

Shangguan Youyi took the mailbox and opened it. Just as he was about to present the urgent report inside to Zhao Luan, Zhao Luan waved his hand and said, "Read it!"

"yes!"

Shangguan Youyi accepted the order, quickly opened the urgent report, and read aloud: "Your Majesty, I, Zeng Guan, report: General Yun and I were ordered to secretly investigate the matter of Emperor Yizu's apparition. After my investigation, it has been found that this was a charlatan's act of supernatural powers performed by the Prince of Chengyang..."

The Prince of Chengyang's aim was to force Zhao Luan to go to Ningzhou to pay respects to their ancestors by using the story of Emperor Yizu's miraculous appearance.

Then, he could use the pretext of "purging the court of corrupt officials" to raise an army, detain Zhao Luan, and plot to seize the throne of Daming.

Three days ago, they received a secret report from Fang Junji, a confidant of the Prince of Chengyang, saying that the Prince of Chengyang wanted to go to Ningzhou under the guise of ancestral worship, to personally inspect the terrain and secretly send troops to hide in Ningzhou.

Coincidentally, they encountered Guo Yang and others who were also in Ningzhou investigating the matter of Emperor Yizu's miraculous appearance.

After discussing it, they decided to capture the kingpin and escort the Prince of Chengyang to the capital.

However, the Prince of Chengyang stubbornly resisted and intended to flee back to Yinzhou to raise an army and rebel.

Left with no other choice, they had to engage in a bloody battle with the forces of the Prince of Chengyang.

In the end, the Prince of Chengyang was defeated and committed suicide, and all his family members died in the chaos.

In this battle, the Baojing Division lost more than sixty men, and Guo Yang's men lost more than eighty men. Guo Yang killed Cao Yuan, but he was also seriously injured.

Fearing unrest among the Yinzhou army, Yun Zhao, adhering to the principle of expediency, took the heads of the Prince of Chengyang and his family to the Yuwang Mountain camp and forcibly seized military power...

Shangguan Youyi was still reading, but Lu Cheng and the others could no longer hear what came next.

At this moment, Lu Cheng's head was buzzing, and his face was completely bloodless.

He simply didn't believe there could be so many coincidences in the world!

This is clearly an elaborate trap!

Their goal was to completely eliminate the Prince of Chengyang at the lowest possible cost!

It's likely that the appearance of Emperor Yizu was also a carefully planned scheme by them!

The purpose was to lure the Prince of Chengyang to Ningzhou and eliminate him in one fell swoop!

Now, the Prince of Chengyang is dead, and Zhao Yan has been captured.

All the blame fell on the Prince of Chengyang and his son!

It was the Prince of Chengyang and his son who were plotting something sinister, not that Zhao Luan couldn't tolerate the last vassal king of Da Ning!

They wanted to eliminate the vassal kings, but they didn't want to bear the infamy of slaughtering their own relatives!

Wanting to be a prostitute while also wanting to maintain a virtuous image!

What a plan!

The mother and daughter put on a show for Zhao Yan in the imperial city, gradually leading the Prince of Chengyang into a fatal trap!

At this point, Zhao Yan probably still thought that the Empress Dowager was on his side!

Finished!

It's all over!

With the death of the Prince of Chengyang, I fear that none of the courtiers who were loyal to him will survive!

Lu Cheng's legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, limp and weak. He struggled to lift his head, forcing a bitter smile: "Your Majesty, what a brilliant move! I... admire you!"

Zhao Luan narrowed her eyes slightly. "So, you're in cahoots with the Prince of Chengyang! Guards, take this traitor to the Baojing Division for interrogation!"

Upon hearing Zhao Luan's order, two palace guards immediately rushed in and dragged the limp Lu Cheng out like a dead dog.

Seeing Lu Cheng being taken away, the other officials were already terrified.

Thump, thump...

One by one, the men knelt down, bowing their heads tightly and pleading, "Your Majesty, spare our lives!"

"You're also working for the Prince of Chengyang? Isn't that an admission of guilt?"

Zhao Luan coldly looked at the group and ordered again, "Take all of these people to the Baojing Division and interrogate them thoroughly! Qin Yu, you will accompany them and interrogate them personally!"

"yes!"

Qin Yu accepted the order.

After the palace guards rushed in and dragged them all away, Qin Yu bowed and took his leave.

Watching Qin Yu's retreating figure, Song Zhuo and Xue Chengdao, the insiders, couldn't help but secretly admire him.

This kid's plan actually succeeded!

From now on, this kid is truly going to become His Majesty's favorite minister!

Who knows, he might climb into the emperor's bed someday!

Their decision to team up and push this kid up was the right one!

Unfortunately, Cao Yuan refused to surrender and died, causing the Great Ning to lose a grandmaster for nothing.

Zhao Luan suddenly exuded an aura of power, his cold gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. "Who else is secretly colluding with the Prince of Chengyang? Step forward now, and I might spare their life! But if Lu Cheng and the others implicate them, don't blame me for disregarding the proper relationship between ruler and subject!"

Meeting Zhao Luan's icy gaze, Fei Zhong, who had hesitated for a long time, suddenly knelt down on the ground with a thud...

……

The Mirror Bureau, the dungeon.

Zhao Yan woke up in her "single room," stretched lazily, and straightened her clothes, showing no sign of panic.

Lu Yong and others in his prison did not receive the same treatment.

Lu Yong and the others shared a room in groups of four.

The prison space was already cramped, and with four people crammed into such a small space, there was simply no room to move around.

But the cell next to them was empty!

It was intentional!

The people from the Treasure Mirror Bureau are deliberately torturing them!

The only saving grace was that the people from the Baojing Division did not torture them.

Seeing that Zhao Yan had finally woken up, Lu Yong hurriedly knelt down at the prison door, asking with a fawning expression, "Your Highness, aren't you worried at all?"

"What's there to worry about?"

Zhao Yan remained calm and composed, her composure undiminished by her imprisonment. "If they really dared to do anything to us, would we still be here unscathed?"

"Don't worry, His Majesty is merely using our detention as a warning to those spreading rumors!"

"I bet the court is in complete chaos right now. We should be able to leave by nightfall at the latest!"

Zhao Yan was very confident.

He believed that Zhao Luan would never dare to do anything to him!

Unless Zhao Luan wants to cause internal strife in Da Ning, giving Bei Qi and Yan the opportunity to take advantage of the situation!

Hearing Zhao Yan's words, Lu Yong felt much more at ease, and then flattered him with a beaming smile: "Putting everything else aside, just considering the young master's demeanor, none of us can match it!"

Those who achieve great things remain calm in the face of chaos!

Zhao Yan gave a refined and profound smile. "Remember this: no matter what, never lose your composure! As long as you stay calm, your subordinates won't panic!"

"The Crown Prince's words are truly invaluable!"

Lu Yong flattered Zhao Yan again, bowing deeply through the prison door: "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness!"

Zhao Yan smiled calmly, about to continue teaching Lu Yong, when she saw a group of people walking towards them.

As those people approached, he realized that it was Qin Yu escorting Lu Cheng and the others.

"Lord Lu, did that scoundrel Qin Yu arrest you too?"

Zhao Yan frowned deeply, almost unable to believe his eyes.

Lu Cheng turned his head with difficulty to look at Zhao Yan, wailing with grief and indignation.

"Your Highness, the Prince... has been killed! We... are finished!"