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

Lu Cheng's cries echoed through the Qian Yuan Hall.

The imperial guards outside the hall touched the hilts of their swords, but none of them dared to rush in.

The officials' gazes lingered between Lu Yuan and the stretcher; some swallowed hard, while others looked down at their shoes.

Lu Cangqiong sat on the dragon throne, his head throbbing with pain.

This inverse.

He beat his own brother in front of everyone.

Once this gets out, how will people all over the world view the royal family?

But then again...

The second brother's attitude was so convincing, it was as if he had the words "I'm a bad guy" written all over his face.

Do you really think he can't see through the fact that people in the court are framing him?

But the emperor cannot say this, for to do so would be considered favoritism.

Lu Cangqiong's chest heaved slightly as he slammed his hand on the imperial desk.

"presumptuous!"

As soon as he opened his mouth, the eunuch next to him immediately shrank back.

Lu Yuan released his grip, stood up beside the stretcher, turned around, and bowed to the dragon throne.

"Your subject knows his crime."

Despite saying that, he showed no remorse whatsoever.

Lu Cangqiong looked at him, wishing he could slap him twice.

But he couldn't bear to do it, after all, they were his children with the late empress, and now they were even protected by the gods.

"Lu Yuan!"

Lu Cangqiong, suppressing his anger, said, "What kind of behavior is it to hit someone in the palace?"

Lu Yuan lowered his head and said, "I was forced into a corner."

"Forced?" Lu Cangqiong sneered. "Who forced you?"

"It's my second brother!"

Lu Yuan raised his head. "He sent Censor Zhou to impeach me. If my son doesn't defend himself, won't he just needlessly earn a bad reputation?"

Lu Cheng tried to sit up on the stretcher.

"You're talking nonsense! When did I ever summon Censor Zhou to impeach you?"

"It doesn't matter if Second Brother doesn't admit it."

Lu Yuan turned to him and said, "Han Gou was beaten up yesterday, and this morning Imperial Censor Zhou's memorial was already submitted to the Emperor. The case wasn't even fully investigated overnight, yet the memorial was already written!"

"This kind of efficiency can't even match the Ministry of War's urgent dispatches."

Those inside the hall couldn't help but burst out laughing.

The laughter was quickly suppressed, but the tension lessened somewhat.

Lu Cangqiong looked at Lu Yuan.

That unfilial son, he certainly knows how to talk.

"alright!"

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand to stop him, saying, "This matter ends here. I will not pursue the impeachment further!"

Lu Yuan immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Father is wise!"

Lu Cangqiong's eyebrows almost stood up.

This rebellious son is someone you both love and hate.

Lu Yuan grinned, feeling secretly pleased.

With an old deity hanging up there, he can walk sideways in the capital without any problem.

The emperor could only turn a blind eye.

Even if he gets into a huge mess, we still have to clean up his mess.

We must find a way to ensure the elderly live to be a hundred years old.

The officials below looked at each other.

So that's the end?

Your Majesty means that the Ninth Prince has gained Your Majesty's favor.

Wang Shuzi of the Hanlin Academy lowered his head in deep thought; it seemed that a major change was about to occur in the court.

After the Ninth Prince presented his treasure, His Majesty not only granted him a marriage and bestowed gifts upon him, but also showed him favoritism in front of everyone.

It seems we need to reconsider our decision regarding siding with the prince.

The civil officials were quiet, but several old generals in the military ranks had their eyes shining.

Horseshoes, stirrups, and saddles—if these three items are used on cavalry, their combat effectiveness will double.

His Highness has made such a great contribution, so what's wrong with His Majesty showing a little favoritism?

Lu Cheng, on the stretcher, stared wide-eyed.

Is that all?

After being beaten twice and losing face so badly, the Emperor simply said "I won't pursue the matter" and that was the end of it?

Lu Cheng gritted his teeth, feeling very unhappy.

Why is it always him who gets hurt?

He sat on the stretcher, raising his head, the gauze on his face turning his face a purplish-brown.

"Father!"

"Shut up!" Lu Cangqiong rolled his eyes at him.

Lu Cheng opened his mouth, but ultimately no sound came out.

But I still felt a little uncomfortable.

The Ninth Prince hit me, but Father Emperor didn't punish him.

On what grounds?

So, are they just three pieces of junk?

Lu Cheng grew angrier the more he thought about it. He turned to look at Lu Yuan's figure and muttered something under his breath.

"Lu Yuan, you've got a lucky break this time. We'll see!"

The sound wasn't loud, but Lu Yuan heard it.

He turned his head and tilted it to look at the stretcher.

"Second brother, can't we leave?"

Lu Cheng was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Lu Yuan ignored him and turned around to bow to the dragon throne.

"Father, I have something else to report."

Lu Cangqiong's eyebrows furrowed.

What kind of trouble is this unfilial son going to cause this time?

"explain!"

Lu Yuan changed his approach and raised his voice.

"I want to impeach the Second Prince, Lu Cheng."

The hall was in an uproar, with officials discussing the matter animatedly, like a pot that had boiled over.

Lu Cheng's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"What...what did you say?"

Lu Yuan ignored him and continued talking.

"Your Majesty, I impeach the Second Prince, Lu Cheng, for colluding with the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to frame me and Su Yuling, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yongning, in an attempt to ruin my reputation and discredit the Su family!"

The moment these words were uttered, an uproar erupted among the officials.

Some people were drawing in air, while others were staring wide-eyed.

Lu Cangqiong's hand stopped on the armrest of the dragon throne.

Is Lao Jiu about to flip the table?

Lu Cheng tossed and turned in bed.

"Bullshit! When did I ever frame you?"

"Second Brother, you haven't forgotten that you had Su Yuling bring the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review to me for a marriage proposal, have you?"

Lu Yuan took two steps forward. "Everyone in the court knows perfectly well who the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is on their side!"

He turned around and looked at the civil officials. The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review quickly lowered his head and hid behind one of the officials.

"The daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was sitting next to Su Yuling at the time. While pouring tea, she slipped the medicine into it. Su Yuling was affected; the medicine had already taken effect!"

"My second brother arrived just then with four armed guards and broke down the door!"

Lu Yuan's voice turned cold. "One thing leads to another. You think this wasn't planned all along? Who would believe that?"

Lu Cheng's face turned extremely ugly.

"You're spouting nonsense!"

"Making false accusations?"

Lu Yuan sneered, "Then explain why you drugged Su Yuling? And why you arrived so promptly?"

Lu Cheng opened his mouth, but was speechless.

Lu Cangqiong sat on the dragon throne, his expression not good.

This was, after all, a royal scandal, and he didn't want it to escalate.

Even when Zhou Wenzheng impeached him, this matter was not mentioned.

As a result, this brat showed absolutely no respect for royalty.

At this moment, Han Zheng, the Minister of War, stepped out from the procession.

He was in his fifties, with a dark reddish complexion, dressed in the clothes of a second-rank official, and stood ramrod straight.

"His Majesty!"

Han Zheng cupped his hands and said, "Your subject has something to say."

Lu Cangqiong glanced at him.

"explain!"

Han Zheng turned around and looked at Lu Yuan.

"Your Highness, do you have any evidence for what you've said?"

Lu Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Does Lord Han require evidence?"

"Of course!" Han Zheng said sternly, "Words are meaningless without evidence. Wouldn't that be framing the Second Prince?"