I only wished to take up my fiefdom, but my elder brother forced me to rebel.

Chapter 16: Stripped Naked

When Lu Yuan saw Lu Cheng lying on the stretcher, he suddenly smiled.

Second brother, what you said has made me very uneasy.

He turned around, took two steps, then turned back, squatted down, and held the stretcher with his hands.

But I think your outfit isn't quite right.

Lu Cheng's gaze shifted to him.

What does that mean?

You're covered in bandages, and you're wearing an official hat on your head. Is this alright? Lu Yuan reached out and patted the official hat. "The hat's all crooked."

Lu Cheng tried to dodge, but with gauze wrapped around his neck, he couldn't move.

"Lu Yuan, what are you doing?"

"Let me tidy it up for you."

Lu Yuan's hand had already touched Lu Cheng's clothes.

Lu Cheng's eyes widened.

"Stop it right now!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Yuan grabbed Lu Cheng's coat collar.

"Are you crazy?" Lu Cheng, lying on the stretcher, gasped as the wound on his severed arm ached.

The four eunuchs carrying the stretcher were so frightened that they froze on the spot, too afraid to move.

Lu Yuan ignored him and continued to strip him of his clothes. After the outer clothes were removed, there was the underwear, and after the underwear was removed, there were the panties.

Lu Cheng got anxious and shouted at the little eunuch.

"What are you all standing there for? Stop him now!"

The four eunuchs looked at each other and were about to go up.

"roll!"

Lu Yuan didn't raise his head, and his voice was cold.

The four eunuchs' foot nails did not move.

Lu Yuan is a prince, and Lu Cheng is also a prince. They are both servants. Who would dare to lay a hand on them?

Lu Cheng was trembling all over, and the stretcher was shaking along with him.

"Lu Yuan, don't be so smug. The position of Crown Prince can only be mine."

"Then I'll wait."

Lu Yuan untied the belt of his outer garment, leaving it open and revealing a lot of gauze underneath.

Lu Cheng lay on the stretcher, his clothes disheveled, his official hat askew, looking like a naked rice dumpling.

The courtiers at the palace gate were stunned.

Some of the younger officials covered their mouths and chuckled secretly, while the older ones shook their heads and sighed.

Wang Shuzi took the tablet in his hand, walked up to the person next to him, and said something to him.

"Absurd, utterly absurd!"

Lu Yuan clapped his hands and stood up.

"Second Brother, are you trying to be funny?"

Lu Cheng was so angry that his eyes almost bulged out. He was cursing and swearing, but because his face was wrapped in gauze, he couldn't say anything clearly. His words were mumbled as if he were chanting a spell.

Lu Yuan turned and walked towards the palace gate.

The palace road was lined with imperial guards, dressed in black armor, holding swords and knives, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

The officials entered the venue one by one, forming a long line.

Lu Yuan yawned at the back of the group.

Lu Cheng was also carried along.

……

Qianyuan Hall.

His Majesty's dragon throne was placed on a high platform, with incense burners on either side.

The civil and military officials stood in two rows, dressed in their court robes, holding their tablets to their chests.

Lu Cangqiong sat on the dragon throne, expressionless.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

All the officials bowed in unison.

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand.

"Rise."

All the officials rose and stood with their hands at their sides.

Lu Cangqiong's gaze swept over the civil and military officials and landed on Lu Cheng on the stretcher.

Lu Cheng's official hat was askew, and his outer robe was open, revealing a white gauze underneath.

Lu Cangqiong frowned.

"Second son."

Lu Cheng struggled to get up on the stretcher, but was unable to move because of the bandages wrapped around his body.

"Your subject is here."

"What kind of outfit is that?"

Lu Cheng opened his mouth slightly.

"Your Majesty, I..."

"How can one behave in the imperial court with such disheveled attire?"

Lu Cangqiong's voice turned cold, filled with anger.

"A three-year salary deduction."

Lu Cheng was stunned.

He moved his mouth several times, wanting to explain, but didn't know where to begin.

It was Lao Jiu who stripped him of his clothes, but could he say that in front of the entire court?

Even if I told you, he's the one who's embarrassing himself.

Lu Cheng hesitated for a long time before finally managing to utter a single sentence.

"Father, I was...

"Alright, no need to explain."

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand to interrupt him.

"If you ever attend court in disheveled attire again, I will break your legs."

Lu Cheng opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Four eunuchs carried the stretcher and retreated to a corner of the hall.

Lu Cheng lay on the stretcher, staring at the caisson ceiling of the palace, feeling extremely frustrated.

He was fined three years' salary.

Just because of his disheveled appearance.

But these clothes were taken by Lao Jiu!

He wished he could jump off the stretcher, rush to Lu Yuan, and tear him in two.

Lu Cangqiong rose from the dragon throne and glanced at the officials.

"Before the court assembly begins, I have something to announce."

All the officials turned their gazes toward it.

Lu Cangqiong glanced at Zhou Fu.

Zhou Fu understood and waved to the outside of the hall.

Soon, several officials dressed in the uniforms of the Ministry of Works entered carrying trays.

The tray held horseshoes, stirrups, and a modified saddle.

The officials craned their necks to look ahead, but could not see clearly.

Lu Cangqiong pointed to the tray.

"Minister of Works, please explain to everyone."

Wang Ke, the Minister of Works, quickly stepped forward, took the tray, and held it above his head.

"My lords, these are horseshoes, which are nailed to the horses' hooves to prevent wear. These are stirrups, which are hung on both sides of the saddle. When you step into them, you can sit steadily on the horse's back."

He spoke while demonstrating.

"With these three things, the cavalry's combat power can be multiplied several times."

After hearing this, the officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

Someone muttered to themselves.

"Put shoes on a horse? How could anyone think of that?"

"The stirrup is ingenious; how come no one thought of it before?"

The Minister of Works handed the items back and stepped aside.

Lu Cangqiong sat back on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the officials.

"This item was presented by the Ninth Prince."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, a burst of exclamations erupted.

"Your Highness?"

"How is that possible?"

"That Ninth Prince who only knows how to walk his birds?"

All the officials' eyes fell on Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan stood at the back of the line, head down, as if he were dozing off.

Lu Cheng lay on the stretcher, his eyes wide open.

Was it offered by Lao Jiu?

How is that possible?

That good-for-nothing who just loafs around and waits to die, could he come up with something like this?

Ignoring everyone's surprise, Lu Cangqiong reached out and called Zhou Fu out.

Zhou Fu read the imperial edict in a loud voice.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."

Upon hearing his name called, Lu Yuan immediately knelt down.

"The Ninth Prince, Lu Yuan, has presented the methods for making horseshoes, stirrups, and saddles, a contribution to the nation. He is hereby betrothed to Su Yuling, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yongning, with an auspicious day to be chosen for the wedding. He is also granted a princely stipend and one thousand taels of gold. This is the imperial decree!"

The officials were once again in an uproar.

To bestow a marriage upon Su Yuling?

Isn't that the Second Prince's fiancée?

Lu Yuan knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times.

"Your subject kowtows to express his gratitude for the Emperor's great kindness."

After he stood up, he returned to his original position.

The officials were whispering amongst themselves.

Lu Cheng lay on the bed, his head buzzing.

What does it mean to be granted a marriage?

The emperor approved of the marriage between the ninth prince and Su Yuling.

It felt as if something had struck him hard in the heart, causing him so much pain that he could hardly breathe.

Just then, a voice rang out from the civil servants' column.