Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

Inside the Taiji Hall, the deathly silence was broken, followed by a cacophony of noise, like boiling water being poured into oil.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

The first to step forward was not Prime Minister Lin Ruofu, but Guo Zheng, an imperial censor from the Censorate.

This man had always been affiliated with the Prime Minister's faction. Now that he saw Fan Xian dare to point the finger directly at the Prime Minister's residence, he was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and his finger pointing at Fan Xian was trembling.

"Fan Xian! Young Master Lin is the daughter of a high-ranking official, and he wouldn't even dare kill a chicken in his daily life. How could he possibly collude with the Northern Qi Imperial Guards? This is a frame-up! A blatant slander! Your Majesty, I beg you to punish Fan Xian for deceiving the Emperor, and immediately order him to be flogged in court to set the record straight!"

Guo Zheng's shout immediately drew a chorus of agreement.

"I second that opinion! Fan Xian is an eccentric and disrespectful man. Today, he dared to openly slander the Prime Minister's son in the imperial court. If he is not severely punished, what will become of the law?"

"I second that! We cannot rely solely on Fan Xian's words in the Niulan Street case!"

In an instant, accusations and criticisms rose and fell in the imperial court. Those officials who usually fawned over the Crown Prince, the Eldest Princess, and the Prime Minister's residence, like sharks smelling blood, jumped out one after another, trying to drown Fan Xian with their spittle.

Despite being at the center of the storm, Fan Xian remained upright. He knelt on the ground, but his eyes shone with a frightening intensity, and a faint, cold smile even lingered on his lips.

He didn't rush to defend himself, but listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the most boisterous officials one by one, as if trying to etch their faces into his mind.

Finally, his gaze fell on the silent old man—the current prime minister, Lin Ruofu.

Lin Ruofu's face was ashen, his hands were tucked into his sleeves, and his figure was as imposing as a mountain.

He wasn't as furious as Guo Zheng, but the oppressive aura of someone who had long held a high position was heavier than any words.

Finally, Lin Ruofu moved.

He slowly took a step forward, and the clamor in the court instantly subsided.

"Your Majesty," Lin Ruofu's voice was low and hoarse, filled with suppressed anger, "This old minister has failed in his duty to educate his son. If Gong'er has truly committed such a heinous crime, this old minister will not tolerate it. I am willing to put righteousness above family ties and resign from my post to atone for my sins."

At this point, his tone shifted, his gaze piercing Fan Xian like a knife: "But, if anyone maliciously frames me to escape punishment, or for some ulterior motive, this old minister... will absolutely not allow it! Fan Xian, you say Gong'er fled to escape punishment, do you have any evidence? You say Gong'er colluded with Northern Qi, where is the evidence? Based solely on your words, do you intend to sentence my son to death and ruin the Lin family's century-old reputation?!"

These words were spoken with great force, both expressing their stance and turning the tables on Fan Xian.

"Does Prime Minister Lin want evidence?"

Fan Xian abruptly raised his head, meeting Lin Ruofu's gaze without fear. "The evidence lies with Lin Gong! Once we find Lin Gong, everything will become clear! May I ask, Prime Minister Lin, where was Lin Gong last night? Where was he this morning? Why, despite the commotion in court today, has he remained nowhere to be found?"

"This..." Lin Ruofu's heart skipped a beat.

Lin Gong did not return last night. He sent people to search for him at the other residence, but they could not find him.

Thinking of this, Lin Ruofu's expression changed slightly.

Could something have really happened to Gong'er?

Seeing Lin Ruofu's momentary hesitation, Fan Xian felt reassured.

You made the right bet!

Lin Ruofu didn't know where Lin Gong was!

If that "nameless" expert was one of Lin Ruofu's men, Lin Ruofu should have been able to confidently refute him after rescuing Lin Gong, and might even have handed Lin Gong over for confrontation. But his current reaction is one of surprise and unease.

Therefore, that expert with golden true energy is definitely not one of Lin Xiang's men!

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, Fan Jian, the Minister of Revenue who had been standing at the front with his eyes closed, finally opened them.

He slowly stepped forward, blocking Fan Xian's path, and bowed to Emperor Qing: "Your Majesty, although Fan Xian acts rashly, he is by no means a person who speaks nonsense. During the assassination attempt on Niulan Street, Fan Xian almost lost his life, and Teng Zijing died tragically on the spot."

His pursuit of the true culprit is perfectly reasonable. Now that he dares to make accusations before the Emperor, he must have solid leads. I believe the most urgent matter is not debating whether Fan Xian is guilty, but… finding Lin Gong.”

"Minister Fan is mistaken!"

A soft, feminine voice rang out, and everyone looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Chen Pingping sitting in a wheelchair, gently tapping the armrest with her fingers, her face bearing that ever-present gentle smile.

"What are your thoughts, Dean?" Fan Jian asked, his brows furrowing slightly.

Chen Pingping smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room before finally settling on Emperor Qing: "Your Majesty, this old servant believes that while Fan Xian is intelligent, he is, after all, young and impetuous. Accusing the prime minister's son is a matter of great importance. Without irrefutable evidence, it will indeed be difficult to convince the public. However…"

Chen Pingping changed the subject, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable. "The Detective Bureau did receive some information last night, saying that there were signs of a battle between experts outside the city. Moreover, according to reports from various sources, the Northern Qi Imperial Guards' spies have been active in the capital recently and have indeed been in contact with certain powerful figures."

That old fox!

The officials cursed inwardly. Chen Pingping's words, seemingly fair, were actually handing Fan Xian a knife! What "certain powerful figures"? Wasn't that a veiled reference to Lin Gong?

That's enough.

Emperor Qing, who had been sitting high on the dragon throne and observing coldly, finally spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to possess a certain magic, instantly silencing the entire Taiji Hall.

Emperor Qing slowly stood up, his loose white robe swaying gently with his movement. He didn't look at Lin Ruofu or Fan Xian, but instead turned his gaze to the Second Prince, Li Chengze, who was standing aside watching the show.

"Chengze".

"Your subject is here." Li Chengze sighed inwardly. Sure enough, he couldn't avoid it. He quickly put away his lazy demeanor and respectfully stepped forward.

"You've been watching this play for a while now, what do you think of it?" Emperor Qing asked with a half-smile.

Li Chengze blinked and said innocently, "Your Majesty, I am foolish and cannot understand the intricacies of this matter. I only feel that Fan Xian is truly bold, Prime Minister Lin is truly imposing, and the voices of all the officials are... truly loud."

"Pfft—"

Someone in the crowd couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, then quickly covered their mouth.

Emperor Qing was amused and pointed at Li Chengze: "You're such a slippery character. I ask you, what do you think of this matter?"

Li Chengze's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Father, I believe this matter is actually quite simple. Fan Xian says Lin Gong fled to avoid punishment, while Prime Minister Lin says Fan Xian is making baseless accusations. Since they can't reach an agreement, the core issue is: where is Lin Gong?"

"Once we find Lin Gong, we'll know whether he's right or wrong with just one question. If Lin Gong really ran away, then he's guilty, and what Fan Xian said is true. If Lin Gong just went out for a trip, then Fan Xian is making a false accusation, and it won't be too late to punish him then."

I'm currently reading Chapter 50, Fan Xian's Analysis, "The Three-Day Term!", and I'm completely engrossed in it.

Everyone likes to play both sides, fine, I'll join in too!

After listening, Emperor Qing nodded slightly, and his gaze finally fell on Lin Ruofu.

"Lin Xiang".

"Your old minister is here." Lin Ruofu trembled and knelt on the ground.

"Did you hear what Chengze said?" Emperor Qing said calmly. "I don't believe my prime minister's son would betray the country. But Fan Xian's words are so certain, the entire court is watching, and the people are watching too. If we don't find him, this stain will be impossible to wash away."

"Your Majesty..." Lin Ruofu's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

"I will give you three days."

Emperor Qing held up three fingers, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Within three days, I demand to see him alive or dead. If Lin Gong is still nowhere to be found after three days... then I will have to suspect that what Fan Xian said is true."

"As for Fan Xian..." Emperor Qing glanced at the kneeling youth, "Since you were the one who filed the complaint, you won't be idle for the next three days. Assist Prime Minister Lin in finding the person. If they can't be found, or if it's proven that you made a false accusation, I will not let you off lightly!"

"Court adjourned!"

After saying this, Emperor Qing waved his sleeves, turned around and left, leaving behind only an unfathomable figure.

"Congratulations to Your Majesty—"

The courtiers knelt in worship.

……

Outside the Taiji Hall, the sunlight was blinding.

Fan Xian walked out of the main hall, feeling his back soaked with cold sweat. The scene just now, seemingly initiated by him, was in fact a precarious situation where every step he took was on the edge of a cliff.

"Young Master Fan, what a brilliant move!"

A strange, sarcastic voice came from afar. Fan Xian turned his head and saw the Second Prince, Li Chengze, squatting on the stone steps not far away, holding a bunch of grapes that he had somehow produced and putting them into his mouth one by one.

"Your Highness flatters me." Fan Xian cupped his hands in greeting, his expression wary.

Li Chengze spat out a grape skin, clapped his hands, stood up, walked over to Fan Xian, and chuckled in a low voice, "However, while your 'creating something from nothing' trick was brilliant, have you considered what you'd do if Lin Gong were actually found, and still alive and kicking?"

Fan Xian's pupils contracted slightly as he stared intently into Li Chengze's eyes: "Your Highness seems to have a hidden meaning in your words?"

"No, just saying." Li Chengze shrugged, a hint of mockery flashing in his seemingly clear eyes. "I just feel that the waters of Kyoto are too deep. Sometimes you think you're fishing, but actually... you're the fish."

After saying that, Li Chengze ignored Fan Xian's reaction, turned around and swayed away, leaving Fan Xian with a dashing back view.

Fan Xian looked in the direction Li Chengze had left, his brows furrowed.

He had never been able to see through the Second Prince's stance. He should have been his adversary, and should have taken advantage of his misfortune. However, the Crown Prince, the Eldest Princess, and even the Prime Minister's Mansion all made moves against him, but he alone, apart from saying he would kill him when they first met, had not made a single move since.

Fan Xian shook his head, temporarily setting aside these distracting thoughts. The most urgent task now was to analyze the identity of that "nameless" master.

He found a quiet corner, his mind racing as he began to review everything that had just happened in the court.

"First, Lin Ruofu's reaction."

Fan Xian recalled Lin Ruofu's expression when he heard "fleeing from justice." It was one of shock, anger, and a hint of barely concealed panic.

"If Prime Minister Lin had sent someone to rescue Lin Gong, he would never have reacted this way. He would have been much calmer, and might even have turned around and accused me of kidnapping Lin Gong. His panic shows that he really doesn't know where Lin Gong is. Therefore, that expert with golden true qi is not from the Lin family."

"Secondly, regarding the eldest princess."

Although the Princess was not in court, Guo Zheng and the others reacted far too intensely. This intensity was more like a conditioned reflex of protecting their master than a well-prepared counterattack.

"If the Eldest Princess had such a skilled fighter, she could have killed Uncle Wuzhu last night, or at least severely injured him. But that 'Nameless' only forced Uncle Wuzhu to retreat; he didn't kill him. It was more like... he was trying to stop the killing, not trying to kill him."

"Moreover, the Eldest Princess is both mad and vicious. If she had saved Lin Gong, she would have definitely tried to hide him and then fabricated evidence to frame me. But the current situation is that Lin Gong has completely disappeared, and even the Eldest Princess's people are searching for him all over the world."

"Then, let's exclude Prime Minister Lin and the Eldest Princess..."

Fan Xian raised his head and looked into the depths of the majestic palace, feeling a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"Emperor Qing".

"Only him."

"Only he had a reason to do this. He didn't want Lin Gong to die, because that would completely enrage Prime Minister Lin and cause the court to become unbalanced; he also wanted to put pressure on the Eldest Princess."

"That 'nameless' expert possesses golden true energy, extremely yang and powerful... Could it be some variant or advanced form of a cultivation technique used by the royal family?"

Fan Xian felt increasingly alarmed the more he thought about it.

"His Majesty sent people to rescue Lin Gong, but instead of returning him to Prime Minister Lin, he made him 'disappear.' Then, in court, he deliberately gave me three days to force Prime Minister Lin to go and find him."

"These past three days have been torture for Prime Minister Lin as His Majesty has inflicted upon him."

"If Prime Minister Lin cannot find the person, in order to protect the Lin family, he will have no choice but to bow down to His Majesty and hand over the evidence to Emperor Qing in order to save his family."

"What ruthless methods! What deep-seated scheming!"

Fan Xian clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

"So, in His Majesty's eyes, my desperate assassination attempt and revenge were nothing more than a pawn he used to cut off the Princess's power and subdue Prime Minister Lin."

"Even... the appearance of that 'nameless' master was a warning to me, a warning to Uncle Wuzhu. It was telling us that there is still a force in Kyoto that can restrain us, and that we should not act rashly."

Fan Xian took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

Although he deduced the "truth," he did not feel relieved; instead, he felt that the shackles on his body were even heavier.

"Since Your Majesty wants to put on this show, then I'll play along to the very end."

A ruthless glint flashed in Fan Xian's eyes. "Three days. If Prime Minister Lin cannot be found in three days, then Lin Gong's charge of 'fleeing to evade punishment' will be confirmed. Whether he lives or dies, he'll be forced to take the blame!"

……

The Second Prince's Mansion.

Li Chengze returned to his residence, dismissed his attendants, and went to his study alone.

He took off his heavy court robes, changed into a light casual outfit, slumped in the armchair, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

"Fan Xian must now believe that the 'Nameless' is one of his father's men."

Li Chengze picked up a grape, popped it into his mouth, and grinned like a sly fox. "Too clever by half. Fan Xian, you trusted your logic too much. You thought that by eliminating all the impossibilities, the remaining one must be the truth. Too bad..."

Let reading always be a chapter faster than others.