I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

"Crown Prince, how dare you speak to the Emperor like that?!"

The sixth prince's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but rebuke him.

Regardless of the specifics, they, as the younger brothers, had all observed Qin Li's usual attitude towards Emperor Xuan.

Qin Li was far too presumptuous, showing no regard whatsoever for their father, Emperor Xuan.

Those who don't know the situation might think Qin Li is the father and Xuan Di is the son, but that's not actually the case.

This is also why his younger brothers and Emperor Xuan usually disliked Qin Li.

boom!

Without saying a word, Qin Li took a few steps forward and kicked the Sixth Prince hard in the chest.

The sixth prince was shot backward like a cannonball.

The impact shook the entire dragon table before it finally stopped!

Immediately afterwards, the sixth prince's painful screams rang out.

He slumped down in front of the dragon table, his chest and back bearing the bruises of the impact, unsure of where to rub his chest.

This scene took everyone by surprise, and everyone's expressions varied.

Some were happy, and some were angry.

"You...you're incredibly audacious!"

Emperor Xuan stood up in anger, unable to hold back his stammering.

"Guards, drag this rebellious son out and give him thirty lashes!"

With a whoosh, Han Zhen led a group of imperial guards in single file, their eyes fixed on the enemy.

However, before they could make a move, Qin Li took the initiative and launched an attack.

He twisted his toes, raised his fist, and slammed it down on the Imperial Guard.

Wherever he went, not a single Imperial Guard could withstand a single punch from him; they were all sent flying backwards, flying directly out of the palace.

Only Han Zhen could barely withstand it, but even he was shaken so badly that his arms went numb and he had to take several steps back to regain his balance.

Everyone was shocked, as Han Zhen was one of the top experts in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

When did Qin Li's martial arts skills become so high? Even Han Zhen was forced to retreat repeatedly by him.

While Han Zhen's lack of offense was certainly a contributing factor, Qin Li's martial arts prowess in defeating Han Zhen was not to be underestimated.

After venting his anger, Qin Li returned and roared, "I did all this to show you that I can bring Lao Liu to justice by force!"

"The reason I haven't resorted to force directly, but instead presented evidence, is to give you face. Don't push me too far!"

"Sixth Brother, you said you didn't go to the examination hall or participate in this year's imperial examination, is that right?"

Qin Li's imposing aura was so strong that even Emperor Xuan was intimidated, and the Sixth Prince dared not refuse to answer.

He swallowed instinctively and said, "Yes!"

This is what Zhao Guanwen and Zhao Guanli emphasized: no matter what happens, he must insist that he did not go to the examination hall or participate in the spring examination. As long as he insists on this point, he will be able to stand firm.

"So, Lu Jia, who came in sixth place in this year's imperial examination, wasn't someone you bribed either?"

"Of course not."

The sixth prince, enduring excruciating pain, clutched his chest and scrambled to his feet. "What Lu Jia? I don't know him at all. I now strongly suspect that this Lu Jia is deliberately slandering me."

In fact, Zhao Guanwen and Zhao Guanli also taught the Sixth Prince a trick, which was to turn around and accuse Qin Li, saying that Lu Jia was arranged by Qin Li to deliberately slander him.

But given Qin Li's appearance, the Sixth Prince dared not speak.

"Alright, send Lu Jia!"

At Qin Li's command, Lu Jia was quickly summoned into the main hall.

On the day the incident occurred, Lu Jia was apprehended and imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.

At that moment, he was dressed in prison clothes and his hair was disheveled.

It was none other than an old acquaintance, Chen Wangju.

"Lift your head up!"

With a sharp shout, Chen Wangju, whose expression had been numb, raised his head.

He didn't know why things had turned out this way.

The man in black had clearly promised him.

As long as he passes the college entrance exam with the name Lu Jia.

He could then return to his hometown and become a county magistrate.

He was overjoyed on the day the results were released.

But he never saw the man in black again.

Instead, a group of soldiers arrived to arrest him.

Do you recognize this person?

Qin Li pointed at Chen Wangju and asked the Sixth Prince.

The sixth prince shook his head: "No, I don't know."

He really didn't know this person; this was their first meeting, since the work was handled by his subordinates.

"Chen Wangju, do you know him?" Qin Li asked again.

Chen Wangju shook his head; he didn't know the Sixth Prince either.

"Your Highness, what exactly are you trying to do?" Zhao Guanwen finally couldn't hold back any longer and stepped forward to ask.

"If they don't even recognize each other, how can we conclude that the Sixth Prince bribed the students? That's utter nonsense!" Zhao Guanwen said, flicking his sleeve.

"Why should the Sixth Prince personally bribe the students?" Xiao Yuanlu disagreed.

"Who bought it?" Zhao Guanwen asked.

Xiao Yuanlu said bitterly, "When they went to arrest him, he had already hanged himself at home, committing suicide out of fear of punishment."

"Prime Minister Xiao, you can't speak so carelessly. What evidence do you have to prove that he committed suicide out of fear of punishment? Countless people die every day in this world; do you mean they all committed suicide out of fear of punishment?"

At this moment, Zhao Guanli stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, if you do not have more concrete evidence, the Sixth Prince is innocent and should be released without charge!"

"Why release him? We didn't arrest him in the first place," Qin Li said.

These days, the Sixth Prince has been hiding in the palace, staying close to Emperor Xuan, not daring to leave even for a moment, for fear of being caught by him.

With a cold snort, Zhao Guanli said, "Since that's the case, His Highness the Crown Prince admits that there is no more concrete evidence, and that His Highness the Sixth Prince has been wronged."

Qin Li remained silent, quietly watching the other person's performance.

He wanted to see what kind of trouble the other party was going to cause.

Sure enough, the next moment, Zhao Guanli stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said to Emperor Xuan:

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Emperor Xuan waved his hand and said, "Granted."

Before speaking, Zhao Guanli glanced at Qin Li, then said:

"I intend to submit a memorial impeaching His Highness the Crown Prince for bribing scholars and framing His Highness the Sixth Prince, thus causing fratricide. Furthermore, I also intend to impeach His Highness the Crown Prince for cheating in the imperial examinations."

"Oh, is that so? Tell me the details," Emperor Xuan said.

Zhao Guanli flicked his sleeve, turned back to Qin Li, pointed at Chen Wangju kneeling on the ground, and asked:

"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince does not recognize this person. Do you?"

Qin Li said, "Of course I recognize him. This person is using the alias Lu Jia, but his real name is Chen Wangju."

Chen Wangju?

Upon hearing this name, the ministers in the hall all exchanged glances.

Zhao Guanli smiled and said, "Then does Your Highness admit that you traveled with this person the entire way back from Jiangnan?"

Qin Li puffed out his chest. "What's there to be ashamed of? We did travel with him. Not only did we travel together, but we also stayed at the Song family's rice shop in the capital for a period of time."

These words caused an uproar in the hall.

Everyone looked at Qin Li.

Qin Li actually knew Chen Wangju!

Before Zhao Guanli could speak again, Zhao Guanwen interrupted:

"Since that's the case, the facts are quite clear. Chen Wangju, under Your Highness's instructions, deliberately slandered the Sixth Prince by using Lu Jia's name to participate in the imperial examinations. Isn't that right?"

"You shouldn't ask me this question; you should ask him."

Qin Li pointed at Chen Wangju.

Zhao Guanwen looked at Chen Wangju and asked, "Is it yes or no?"

Chen Wangju hung his head, unsure how to answer.

He simply said, "At the time, a man in black came to me and asked me to participate in the imperial examination under the name of Lu Jia. As for who sent that man in black, I... I don't know."

Chen Wangju would not slander anyone.

Moreover, it was Qin Li, his benefactor.

"According to our investigation, that man in black is one of the Sixth Prince's men," Xiao Yuanlu kindly reminded him.

"Prime Minister Xiao, you are mistaken. Although that man in black was one of the Sixth Prince's men, it doesn't necessarily mean he was ordered by the Sixth Prince. Besides, he is dead, so there's no way to verify it!"

"According to you, this matter is completely unsolvable because the chain of evidence has been broken!"

"No, no, no!"

Zhao Guanwen said, "The chain of evidence pointing to the Sixth Prince has broken, but the chain pointing to the Crown Prince has not!"

Zhao Guanwen asked, "Your Highness, do you know Cao Quan?"

"Of course I know him. Like Chen Wangju, we came all the way from Jiangnan."

Having said that, without giving Zhao Guanwen a chance to speak again, Qin Li had already guessed what he was going to say, and said, "You're not going to say that I have a very good personal relationship with Cao Quan, and that I deliberately gave him the first place in the imperial examination by cheating, and that as for Chen Wangju, I also had him frame Lao Liu?"

Zhao Guanwen wasn't foolish enough to make a definitive statement; he simply said calmly, "Judging from the current situation, this is the most likely possibility."