The Prodigal Son

Qin Yu experienced attending court for the first time in his life.

Although the old man had explained the rules of attending court to him last night, he was still a little nervous.

Although he successfully silenced the Empress Dowager with fireworks, he knew in his heart that the female demon held a grudge, and the matter of the monkey stealing peaches would definitely not be so easily forgotten.

The female demon will definitely find another reason to punish herself!

Qin Yu consciously stood at the very back of the line.

Yes, this place is close to the main gate of the Zichen Palace.

In case the female demon goes on a killing spree, I can at least run away quickly.

After the courtiers lined up, Zhao Luan, dressed in a black imperial robe, walked out with a dignified and steady gait and sat down on the throne that symbolized imperial power.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

All the ministers knelt down and paid their respects.

However, Song Zhuo, Qin Fumeng, and Su Yu simply bowed in greeting.

Qin Yu was surprised.

The old man wasn't bragging!

He really has the privilege of not having to bow when entering the court!

Damn it, I wish I could have such privileges someday!

"My esteemed subjects, rise!"

Zhao Luan spoke slowly, but her gaze swept over Qin Yu at the very back.

That bastard has really made something of himself; he's actually won over the Empress Dowager!

Now, not only can they find no reason to lock him up, but they also have to reward him!

This is really a headache!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The officials bowed in thanks, rose, and stood with their heads bowed.

Zhao Luan surveyed the assembled officials: "My esteemed ministers, do you have any important matters to report today?"

No sooner had Zhao Luan finished speaking than an official stepped forward, declaring aggressively, "I, Yu Du, the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, impeach Qin Fumeng and Qin Yu!"

"Cough cough..."

Song Zhuo coughed softly, "Minister Yu, the Duke of Wei has already resigned from all his official posts, and Qin Yu also holds no official position. What are you impeaching him for?"

"this……"

Yu Du's momentum instantly weakened.

Yes!

Neither of them, grandfather nor grandson, hold any official position, so what's the point of impeaching them?

Lu Chunqiu looked at Song Zhuo with suspicion.

He didn't think Song Zhuo's words were just a simple reminder.

This is to show our stance!

What, is Song Zhuo going to side with the Qin family?

After a brief moment of thought, Lü Chun stepped forward: "Your subject, Lü Chunqiu, Minister of Justice, hereby impeaches Qin Fumeng and Qin Yu!"

Zhao Luan narrowed her eyes, about to ask a question, when Su Yu stepped forward again.

"Your subject, Su Yu, Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Academy of Literature, hereby impeaches Qin Fumeng and Qin Yu!"

Immediately afterwards, another high-ranking official stepped forward.

"Your subject, Imperial Censor Cui Xu, hereby submits this memorial..."

"Your humble servant, Du Zhiwen, Minister of Revenue..."

"Minister of Works Fei Zhong..."

"Your subject, Feng Shinan, Grand Master of the Palace..."

One, two...

Under Zhao Luan's astonished gaze, a large number of officials stepped forward to question the Qin family grandfather and grandson.

Looking at the scene before her, Zhao Luan couldn't help but gasp.

Good guy!

These are all important officials in the court!

The grandfather and grandson must be proud to have so many important officials veto them, right?

But soon, Zhao Luan frowned again.

Qin Yu made a great contribution to the court yesterday, yet today so many people are criticizing him and his grandfather.

Who is stirring up trouble behind the scenes?

Did someone guess that he wanted Qin Fumeng to regain military power?

Do they really not want Qin Fumeng to take power?

For some inexplicable reason, Zhao Luan glanced at Song Zhuo out of the corner of her eye.

In this imperial court, perhaps only he has the ability to get so many ministers to collectively impeach the Qin family grandfather and grandson.

Was his earlier reminder to Yu Du not an attempt to side with the Qin family, but simply a way to distance himself from them?

However, as far as she knew, her mentor and Qin Fumeng had only argued because of their differing political views, and had no personal grudges against each other.

He has no reason to target the Qin family like this!

Finally, no ministers stepped forward to impeach the Qin family grandfather and grandson anymore.

Looking up, one sees that over 60% of the officials in the court are going to impeach them!

Zhao Luan's gaze swept over the assembled officials, and he asked with a puzzled expression, "Why have you, my esteemed ministers, impeached the Duke of Wei and Qin Yu?"

It would have been better if Zhao Luan hadn't asked.

Her question immediately caused an uproar in the imperial court.

"The Qin family grandfather and grandson abused the imperial gold medal bestowed by His Majesty, using the pretext of borrowing silver by imperial decree, and forcibly came to my residence to borrow 80,000 taels of silver. I was unwilling to comply, but Qin Fumeng threatened me with force..."

"They used the same method to forcibly borrow 50,000 taels of silver from my residence. That was my hard-earned savings accumulated over many years, intended for my retirement after I returned to my hometown to buy dozens of acres of fertile land..."

"I originally planned to arrange a marriage for my son this year, but they forcibly borrowed all the money from my household..."

"Qin Fumeng assaulted Lu Cheng, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, outside the Zichen Palace, thus disrespecting the imperial authority and deserving of punishment!"

"They are using His Majesty's imperial decree to commit robbery, and they are also suspected of falsely conveying imperial orders. Their crimes deserve death!"

"We implore Your Majesty to severely punish Qin Fumeng and Qin Yu..."

The court officials launched a full-scale attack, condemning the evil deeds of the Qin family grandfather and grandson.

However, almost everyone talks about their evil deeds of forcibly borrowing money, while hardly anyone mentions Qin Fumeng's beating of Lu Cheng.

Hearing the clamor of the courtiers, Zhao Luan's pretty face twitched uncontrollably.

Row!

They're really something!

Holding his imperial gold medal, he went to the homes of his ministers and forcibly borrowed money!

It's one thing for Qin Yu to act recklessly, but Qin Fumeng, a veteran of three dynasties, is also acting recklessly?

Does he think his grandson hasn't caused enough trouble, and he wants to add fuel to the fire?

Are they borrowing money?

This is a false transmission of imperial orders!

It's a robbery!

"Alright! Stop talking!"

Zhao Luan coldly silenced the assembled officials, her gaze suddenly falling on Qin Fumeng. She asked, trying to sound as calm as possible, "Duke of Wei, don't you have an explanation for me?"

"Your Majesty, I'm innocent!"

Qin Fumeng immediately protested his innocence.

Lu Chunqiu retorted angrily, "Innocent? What gives you the audacity to claim you're innocent?"

"I have been wronged!"

Qin Fumeng declared defiantly, "Your Majesty, the matter of borrowing silver by imperial decree was all the work of that scoundrel Qin Yu!"

"The only reason this old minister went was to uphold the authority of the imperial gold medal bestowed by His Majesty!"

"This old minister has devoted his life to serving the emperor and the country, and will absolutely not allow anyone to disregard His Majesty's bestowed gold medal!"

As Qin Fumeng spoke, he proudly raised his head.

It's as if he's saying: I am a loyal subject.

Upon hearing Qin Fumeng's words, the assembled officials were in an uproar.

Shameless old thief!

How can this be described as loyalty to the emperor and patriotism?

And they even sold off their own grandson completely?

What's wrong with his grandson? Is he going to risk his life to earn money for his retirement?

But then again, this old rogue's argument is really hard to refute!

When he went to various households to forcibly borrow money, it was Qin Yu who kept saying that he was borrowing money by imperial decree; he never mentioned borrowing money at all!

Zhao Luan was almost amused by Qin Fumeng's words, and her cold gaze suddenly fell on Qin Yu at the back of the crowd.

She strongly suspected that Qin Yu knew about the inexplicable bond between them.

That's why I dared to be so bold!

Only then did Qin Fumeng dare to confidently push all the blame onto Qin Yu.

"Your Majesty, I'm innocent!"

Meeting Zhao Luan's gaze, Qin Yu immediately joined in protesting his innocence.

The courtiers glared angrily at Qin Yu.

"Shameless thief, where do you get the nerve to cry foul?"

"You falsely claimed to have received an imperial decree and committed acts of plunder; how dare you cry foul?"

"Are all of us accusing you?"

"How dare you deceive the emperor in front of him?"

"Your Majesty, Qin Yu has acted recklessly and must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others..."

The ministers' eyes blazed with fury as they all spoke up to angrily rebuke Qin Yu.

This grandfather and grandson are blatantly lying!

Absolutely shameless!

The old man cried out for justice, and the young man followed suit?

How dare he claim innocence?

Zhao Luan suppressed her anger and coldly questioned, "Tell me, where have you wronged me?"

Qin Yu: "I really am borrowing money under imperial orders!"

"Nonsense!"

Zhao Luan suddenly raised her voice, "When did I order you to borrow silver by imperial decree?"

"Has Your Majesty forgotten?"

Qin Yu looked at Zhao Luan with a bitter expression, "That day I said I needed two million taels of silver to organize the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, but His Majesty was only willing to allocate one hundred thousand taels. I said that if it wasn't enough, I would have to borrow it, and His Majesty said to do as I pleased..."