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

Lu Cangqiong's gaze fell on Zhou Wenzheng, and his expression darkened slightly.

"Is it wrong? What's wrong with it?"

Zhou Wenzheng knelt in the main hall, his official hat worn neatly.

"Your Majesty, I heard that yesterday, at the gate of the Yongning Marquis's residence, His Highness forcibly abducted Shen Hanqiu, the fiancée of Han Gou, the son of the Minister of War, in front of everyone, and then poisoned Han Gou, leaving him covered in wounds."

"The prince is arrogant and has forcibly taken a commoner's wife. This is an act that violates etiquette and damages the dignity of the royal family! We beseech Your Majesty to severely punish the Ninth Prince!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than two more people stepped forward from the civil servants' column.

One was Wang Shuzi of the Hanlin Academy, and the other was Liu Yushi of the Censorate.

Wang Shuzi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Zhou is right. The Ninth Prince's actions have caused a great uproar in the capital, and the people are discussing it extensively."

"If the imperial court doesn't impose restrictions, where will the dignity of the royal family lie?"

Imperial Censor Liu quickly added, "I second that. Not only did His Highness Ninth Prince seize a subject's wife, but he also publicly assaulted and verbally abused the family members of an official. Is such behavior no different from that of a street thug?"

The three of them took turns criticizing Lu Yuan, portraying him as a heinous and spoiled brat.

On the stretcher at the corner of the palace, Lu Cheng's eyes lit up.

coming!

He waited all night for this moment.

After being beaten yesterday, he sent someone to deliver the information to Zhou Wenzheng.

Zhou Wenzheng was his subordinate, whom he had been training for three years, just for this day.

Lu Cheng lay on the stretcher, a forced smile playing on his lips.

Although my face under the gauze hurt a lot, the feeling of relief in my heart had overwhelmed all the pain.

Ninth brother, oh ninth brother.

If someone steals another man's wife and assaults his husband, who can protect you in the imperial court?

Even if you contribute something like a broken horseshoe, if the merits and demerits cancel each other out, it'll still be enough to get you into serious trouble.

Lu Cangqiong leaned back on the dragon throne, his expression unchanged.

But his mind was racing.

Yesterday, Lao Jiu said he had fallen for Shen Hanqiu.

Could it be that Shen Hanqiu was also chosen by the gods?

Lu Cangqiong frowned and glanced at Lu Cheng.

This unfilial son, I used to find him pleasing to the eye, why is he so annoying now?

"Ninth Brother".

Lu Cangqiong spoke, his voice neither angry nor satisfied.

"The censor has impeached you for forcibly taking a minister's wife and assaulting the son of an official. What do you have to say in response?"

All the officials' eyes fell on the back of the procession.

Lu Yuan looked up and rubbed his eyes.

He almost fell asleep just now.

"Are you done talking?"

Lu Yuan yawned and tilted his head to look at Zhou Wenzheng kneeling in the hall.

"Lord Zhou, have you finished speaking?"

Zhou Wenzheng said solemnly, "Your Majesty's words are true. If you cannot defend yourself, please plead guilty and accept the punishment."

Lu Yuan nodded.

Then he stepped off the train.

One step, two steps, three steps.

He walked up to Zhou Wenzheng and stood still.

"Master Zhou."

Lu Yuan looked down at Zhou Wenzheng, who was kneeling on the ground, and said calmly, "I have three questions for you."

Zhou Wenzheng raised his head, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Your Highness, please speak."

Lu Yuan asked directly, "Have Han Gou and Shen Hanqiu gone through the wedding ceremony?"

Zhou Wenzheng paused for a moment, "The wedding hasn't taken place yet, but there's already an engagement..."

"A wife is not considered a wife if she hasn't had a wedding ceremony."

Lu Yuan pressed his finger down. "Article 73 of the Great Yong Code states that an engagement can be annulled if the wedding ceremony has not taken place. You, an imperial censor, can't even read the law?"

Zhou Wenzheng's face flushed red. "Even if the wedding hasn't taken place, the Shen family has already agreed to the marriage. Your Highness's forceful obstruction is still..."

"The second question."

Lu Yuan raised his second finger to interrupt him, "Shen Hanqiu's fiancé, Su Jiawulang, died in battle on the southwestern border, his body still warm. She was the martyr's betrothed."

Lu Yuan took a step forward, his voice suddenly rising.

"The widow of a martyr who died for her country, before even the seventh day after her death, Han Gou came to her door to force her into marriage! You, Zhou Wenzheng, instead of impeaching Han Gou for forcibly taking the martyr's widow, you're impeaching the prince who stood up for him?"

"Are you an imperial censor or a litigious manipulator who twists the truth?"

The shout exploded in the Qianyuan Hall, making the eyelids of the eunuchs standing on both sides twitch.

Zhou Wenzheng's face turned from red to purple, and his lips trembled a few times.

"Your Highness has misunderstood my meaning. I did not mean it..."

"third."

Lu Yuan raised his third finger, squatted down, and brought it level with Zhou Wenzheng's face.

"Whose side are you on?"

Zhou Wenzheng's eyes widened.

"Imperial censors rely on hearsay for their impeachments."

Lu Yuan's voice deepened, but every word was sharp.

"Han Gou was beaten yesterday, and this morning you impeached me. After a whole night, you haven't even investigated the details of the case, yet you dare to come to the palace to impeach the Emperor's son?"

"Lord Zhou, how much silver did you receive from the Han family? Or... who's backing you?"

Zhou Wenzheng's face turned very pale.

"Your Highness, as an imperial censor, it is my duty to impeach officials who break the law."

"Is it part of my duty?"

Lu Yuan stood up and sneered, "You should be seeking justice for the martyr's widow, not covering up for a scoundrel who forced her into marriage."

"Su Jiawulang joined the army at the age of fourteen and died on the battlefield at the age of sixteen. His body was transported from the south to the capital in less than three months."

"His fiancée was still observing mourning for him, but Han Gou brought more than a dozen thugs to surround the Yongning Marquis's mansion, trying to force him into marriage."

Lu Yuan's words were getting increasingly outrageous.

"The Su family is known for its loyalty and bravery."

"Not only do you fail to protect the widows of loyal martyrs, but you also speak out for the beasts who bully orphans and widows."

"Are you qualified to be an imperial censor?"

Zhou Wenzheng's body trembled.

His mouth moved twice, "You...you..."

Finally, he coughed up blood from his throat, and collapsed to the ground, leaning on his official tablet.

With a click.

The scepter fell to the ground and broke in two.

The officials nearby immediately ran over and helped Zhou Wenzheng up.

His face was pale, there was blood at the corner of his mouth, and his hands and feet were trembling.

A furious shout came from the stretcher at the corner of the palace.

"Lu Yuan! How dare you!"

Following the figure, everyone saw Lu Cheng struggling to sit up from the stretcher, supporting himself with one hand on the side, his severed arm dangling in the sling.

"Imperial Censor Zhou is devoted to public service. By what right do you insult a high-ranking official in court? Do you have no respect for the laws of the court?"

Lu Yuan turned his head and looked at the mummy who had sat up.

"Second brother, what's the rush?"

"What's the rush for me!"

Lu Cheng raised his voice to its highest point, and his face under the gauze turned a purplish-red.

"I'm speaking for the imperial court! You committed violence in the street, assaulted the son of an official, and even robbed him..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Lu Yuan had already walked up to the stretcher.

"Is Han Gou one of your men?"

Lu Cheng's pupils contracted sharply. "You're talking nonsense! I'm not familiar with Han Gou!"

"Not familiar with them?"

Lu Yuan grabbed the crooked official hat on his head and pulled it down along with the gauze.

"Then why did he rush to your house to complain as soon as he got into trouble? Do you think I didn't know?"

"Lu Yuan, let go!"

"I'll loosen your head, my foot!"

Lu Yuan raised his hand and slapped him.

Snapped!

The palm struck Lu Cheng's bandage, causing him to fall backward and hit the back of his head on the stretcher.

"Do you think the imperial court is your backyard? Are you trying to frame me?"

Lu Cheng was so badly beaten that he saw stars and let out a loud howl.

"Father! He hit me again!"