I, the villainous eldest prince, will suppress everything!

The matter is now clear: the Sixth Prince bribed the students.

The students wrote the names that the sixth prince had chosen on their exam papers.

Whoever scored the best, the sixth prince would impersonate him and claim that he had taken the exam himself.

The purpose was to gain fame and obtain rewards from the Xuan Emperor.

But the truth came out and the Crown Prince discovered it.

That's why we have the joint trial by the three judicial departments in the imperial court today.

In order to exonerate the sixth prince, the Zhao brothers devised a plan to ensure that no one could testify against them.

But despite all their careful planning, they overlooked the fact that the Sixth Prince had kept it a secret from them as well.

They only knew that the Sixth Prince had bribed Chen Wangju, but they didn't know that the Sixth Prince had also bribed other students.

At this moment, the most furious people in the hall were the Zhao brothers.

It's a shame they went to such lengths to exonerate the Sixth Prince.

Little did they know that the Sixth Prince had kept it from them, refusing to tell them the whole truth.

Now that the Crown Prince has presented all the evidence, they are completely helpless.

"The Sixth Prince bribed scholars to cheat in the imperial examinations. As you say, from this day forward, he shall be demoted to a commoner!"

With that final decision, the Sixth Prince immediately slumped down, his head hanging low like a wilted eggplant.

……

Soon after.

On the way back to the residence from the palace.

"Your Highness, cutting the weeds without removing the roots is not like your style," Zhou Biao couldn't help but say.

Zhou Biao thought that no matter what, Qin Li would find a way to cut off the Sixth Prince's head.

After all, even if the sixth prince is demoted to a commoner, he is still alive. As long as he is alive, it doesn't count as eliminating the root of the problem.

Given Emperor Xuan's favoritism, he will definitely find an opportunity to restore the Sixth Prince's status as a prince in the future.

By then, it will be too late for regrets, and all the efforts made today will have been in vain.

With his hands behind his back, Qin Li simply said, "Who said I wouldn't nip it in the bud? Do you think Lao Liu will still be alive after he goes back?"

The sixth prince came from a good family. Although he was not as high-ranking as the third prince, he was clever, intelligent, and bold, and was well-liked by Emperor Xuan.

This is evident from the fact that he dared to bribe the students this time.

This time, if he really succeeds.

They not only earned the reputation of being fifth in the top division.

Even Emperor Xuan and his court officials had to look up to him.

He might be able to compete with himself.

At that time, Qin Li wanted to deal with him.

But it won't be as easy as it is now.

However, such people are also very concerned about their image and have a strong sense of self-esteem.

From then on, he was a commoner and suffered endless cold words and sarcastic remarks.

How could the Sixth Prince possibly tolerate such a disparity?

Therefore, the Sixth Prince will take his own life before he becomes a commoner, even after returning to his residence today!

Upon hearing this explanation, Zhou Biao suddenly understood and couldn't help but give a thumbs up, exclaiming in admiration:

"Your Highness, you are so incredibly wise!"

"This move is something I could learn for a lifetime."

"This move not only eliminated the Sixth Prince, but Your Highness also avoided the stigma of harming your own brothers. Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

After saying this, Zhou Biao thought that even if he didn't get Qin Li's praise, at least he wouldn't be scolded.

But to everyone's surprise, Qin Li reached out and, with a "smack," struck him squarely on the back of the head, nearly knocking his brains out.

Qin Li said, "Do you think I want to harm my own brothers and kill people at the drop of a hat? I also want everyone to live in harmony."

Killing was not Qin Li's original intention; it was merely a choice he was forced to make.

Zhou Biao rubbed the back of his head, indicating that he understood.

"What do you know?"

Qin Li asked.

"Your Highness actually wants to be a good person!"

"fart!"

Qin Li immediately started cursing, "Good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years. Don't you understand? What's so good about being a good person? I've always been a villain."

We returned home.

What Qin Li didn't expect was...

Bai Zhenzhen likes to stay in the library.

At this moment, they were actually waiting for him on the steps in front of the Crown Prince's residence.

At this moment, Zhou Biao couldn't help but speak again. He said:

"Your Highness, the sun has risen in the west."

Everyone in the Crown Prince's residence, from the head of the guards down to the grooms who fed the horses, knew about it.

There is a lady in the manor named Bai Zhenzhen, who was originally the head of the Jade Maiden Sect. She and the prince have a complicated love story.

Although Bai Zhenzhen has accepted and fallen in love with her prince in her heart, her body hasn't yet, and she always likes to avoid him, like a mouse encountering a cat.

It's truly a miracle that Bai Zhenzhen took the initiative to come out and greet us today.

Qin Li simply sighed, "Whether the sun has risen in the west or not, I don't know, but I do know that someone has definitely come to the manor."

Pei Qingluan has already set off for Xuanque Pass. Xiao Xue'er is now in charge of the manor. She must be dealing with the guests, which is why she had Bai Zhenzhen come out to greet her.

Qin Li stepped forward and couldn't resist pinching Bai Zhenzhen's cheek, deliberately saying:

"Wow, the sun must have risen in the west today! My Zhenzhen actually came out to meet people."

Bai Zhenzhen blushed like a peach at these words and quickly lowered her head, but she didn't forget the important matter and urged Qin Li:

"Guests have arrived at the manor. Sister Xue'er is dealing with them. You should go and see them."

Just as Qin Li had guessed.

However, Qin Li wasn't in a hurry at all, and even had the mind to continue teasing, "We have a guest! Let me guess who it is. It's not your old flame, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Zhenzhen was both angry and embarrassed, and punched Qin Li a few times in a fit of pique.

He's supposed to be the Crown Prince, yet he has no sense of propriety and only knows how to make fun of her.

Also, where did she get this old flame from?

Aside from Qin Li, she had barely spoken a few words to any other man.

"Oh dear, you should go inside quickly!"

Bai Zhenzhen pushed and shoved Qin Li into the mansion.

Outside the side hall, Qin Li had just arrived when Xiao Xue'er quickly walked out.

He hurriedly pulled Qin Li aside and whispered:

"Your Highness, Chen Shoutian and Chen Wangju arrived early this morning and knelt at the gate of our mansion. No matter how we tried to get rid of them, they wouldn't leave. I had no choice but to bring them inside."

"They are determined to persuade His Highness to show leniency and spare Chen Wangju's life."

Upon hearing this, Qin Li nodded.

He knew this would happen even before he set off for the palace today.

After all, the Chen brothers had a deep bond, and Chen Shoutian was willing to give up everything for his younger brother Chen Wangju.

Now that Chen Wangju has committed a crime, how could Chen Shoutian possibly sit idly by?

As for Cao Quan, he completely forgave him. I wonder if Chen Wangju would feel guilty if he knew what Cao Quan had done for him.

"Your Highness, what should we do?"

Xiao Xue'er asked, "Does Your Highness wish to see them? In my opinion, it would be better if you did not."

Qin Li knew that Xiao Xue'er was doing this for his own good, to avoid suspicion.

But Qin Li said, "Since you're here, let's meet them."

After saying that, Qin Li walked into the side hall.

Inside the hall, Chen Shoutian and Chen Wangju were sitting in the guest chairs, whispering to each other, their conversation unreadable.

Upon seeing Qin Li arrive, they quickly stood up and bowed. Then, Chen Shoutian knelt down at Qin Li's feet with a thud: "Your Highness, please have mercy! Please save my brother's life! He absolutely did not mean it; he was just blinded by greed."

Although Cao Quan did not act as dramatically as Chen Shoutian, he still pleaded with Qin Li to spare Chen Wangju's life.

Although Qin Li also wanted to spare Chen Wangju's life, he could only act in an official capacity and said coldly:

"That day at the gate of the examination hall, I declared that anyone found guilty of cheating in the imperial examinations would be executed without mercy!"

"Do you want me to break my promise?!"

Upon hearing this, they knew that Chen Wangju had no way out.

But as Chen Wangju's older brother, how could Chen Shoutian do nothing?

Bang bang bang!

He banged his head repeatedly, until blood appeared on his head.

He was determined to save Chen Wangju's life, even if it meant sacrificing his own.

Qin Li's expression remained frighteningly cold. He said, "Chen Shoutian, you don't need to force me like this. Although I have a very good personal relationship with you, I cannot open this door."

"Why can't it be opened? Why can't it be opened?!"

With tears streaming down his face, Chen Shoutian raised his head and said, "Your Highness, I know you are all officials protecting each other. As long as Your Highness is willing to save my brother, I will do anything, I will do anything."

"Chen Shoutian, what do you mean by protecting one official for another? Shut up!" Cao Quan scolded Chen Shoutian, telling him to shut up.

How can the unspoken rules of officialdom be spoken aloud?

In this way, there was no way to save Chen Wangju.