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

"What?! A demon has actually corrupted the nation's destiny?"

Several older officials took a half step back.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites exchanged questions, while those from the Imperial Clan Court turned their attention to the princes.

Some people touched the amulets on their chests, while others asked the eunuchs to open the palace doors.

Lu Cangqiong sat on the throne, showing no surprise or panic.

"The Celestial Master said yesterday that there was a demon in the palace."

"With all the officials here today, explain yourself clearly."

"Where does this demonic aura come from?"

He wanted to see if things would develop as Lu Yuan had predicted.

Lu Cheng clenched his fists in excitement.

His eyes blazed with intense light.

Lu Yuan, this position of Crown Prince can only be mine!

You'll be forever branded a wicked person and infamous for all eternity!

At this moment, Qin Xuanzhen raised the Dragon-Suppressing Wooden Tablet and began to explain it to everyone.

"Your Majesty, this plaque is made from a thousand-year-old thunderwood from Longhu Mountain. It is placed at the palace gate and can ward off evil spirits."

"Last night at midnight, the southeast corner of the wooden sign was inexplicably charred black."

"I have observed the Purple Palace Enclosure again and discovered that a guest star has invaded the Emperor's throne, and red qi is swirling around the Heavenly Granary."

"This means that the demon has entered the royal family."

An official from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau came out.

"Master, the Imperial Observatory also observed the stars last night and found no guest star intruding into the imperial throne."

Qin Xuanzhen turned to look at him.

"The Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed the stars with the naked eye."

"This humble Taoist priest observes the changes in astrological destinies."

"If everyone can see it, what's the point of having cultivators?"

"Could it be that the Imperial Observatory is questioning the secret martial arts of Longhu Mountain?"

"Never forget, the first Director of the Imperial Observatory of the Great Yong Dynasty was none other than Master Qingwei of Longhu Mountain!"

The officials from the Imperial Observatory wanted to argue, but the director pulled them back.

How can we compete with them in terms of professionalism?

If it weren't for the fact that Longhu Mountain has always kept its distance from worldly affairs...

They all have to be laid off!

Lu Cangqiong narrowed his eyes and continued to ask, "What does it mean to join the royal family?"

"It means that demonic energy has possessed a member of the royal family."

"Now, that demonic aura carries a faint hint of dragon energy."

Qin Xuanzhen placed the wooden plaque on the ground.

"Anyone who can cause scorch marks on the Dragon-Suppressing Wood must possess royal blood."

"That demon is among His Majesty's princes."

The officials immediately looked at Lu Yuan and Lu Cheng.

Most of the other princes have already gone to their fiefdoms.

Today, only the two princes are standing in the court.

Lu Yuan crossed his arms.

"Here it comes, here it comes."

"This kind of thing will eventually fall on my shoulders."

Lu Cangqiong glared at him.

"The Celestial Master hasn't revealed who it is yet."

"Don't jump out on your own."

"Is that even a guess?"

Lu Yuan walked up to Qin Xuanzhen and circled him for a while.

"I used to be a lazy bum, but recently I've suddenly produced horseshoes, cement, snowflake salt, and alcohol."

"Normal people can't understand this, so they will naturally regard me as a monster."

He pointed to himself, feigning surprise, and said, "The demon the Celestial Master spoke of, could it be me?"

The officials' expressions changed.

When others encounter rumors of demons or evil spirits, they want to immediately distance themselves from the matter.

Lu Yuan, on the other hand, took the initiative to take the blame upon himself.

Wei Zhengyuan couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, this matter concerns the fate of the ancestral temple and the nation."

"This is not something to joke about."

"I am not joking."

Lu Yuan looked at Qin Xuanzhen.

"Since the Celestial Master dared to come to the imperial court to identify the sorcerer, he must have already confirmed the other party's identity."

"I'm too lazy to listen to his rambling."

"Just tell me if it was me or not."

Lu Cheng immediately stepped out of the queue.

"Is there even a need to ask?"

"You are the monster!"

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand and pointed at him.

"The Celestial Master hasn't even spoken yet, so who gave you the right to speak?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng immediately knelt down.

"Father, Ninth Prince himself has already admitted it!"

"For ten years, he has neither learned any craftsmanship nor been to a military camp."

"But in recent months, he has produced horseshoes, cement, snow salt, and alcohol."

"Where did these things come from?"

As he spoke, Lu Cheng looked at the officials below.

"Don't you gentlemen find this strange?"

An official from the Ministry of Works hesitated whether to step forward.

The blueprints for horseshoes and cement were far more advanced than existing processes.

"It's very difficult for ordinary people to imagine it out of thin air."

Officials from the Ministry of Revenue also spoke.

"The method of purifying snowflake salt is not recorded in ancient books."

"Even the experienced workers at the saltworks said they had never heard of such a thing before."

Seeing that others were echoing him, Lu Cheng became even more imposing.

"Father, this is the proof!"

"The real Lu Yuan only knows how to walk his birds and fish."

"The person standing in the court now is not the Ninth Prince at all!"

"His body has most likely been taken over by a demon!"

Several officials instinctively avoided Lu Yuan.

Lu Cheng raised his hand and pointed at Qin Xuanzhen.

"Celestial Master, the sorcerer is right here."

"Why aren't you taking him down yet?"

Lu Yuan stepped aside.

"Today I'd like to see how the Celestial Master plans to subdue the demon."

Qin Xuanzhen picked up the wooden plaque and examined Lu Yuan carefully for a moment.

Lu Cheng urged, "What are you waiting for, Celestial Master?"

"This demon has already bewitched the Emperor and usurped the position of Crown Prince."

"If we don't act now, the entire Great Yong Dynasty will fall into the hands of evil spirits!"

Qin Xuanzhen shook his head.

"Your Highness has misunderstood."

"The demon I spoke of is not His Highness the Crown Prince."

Lu Cheng's excitement froze instantly.

The official who had just echoed him was also stunned and stood there.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Not me?"

Are you sure?

Qin Xuanzhen nodded.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has a clear and upright demeanor, and is imbued with the imperial aura."

"Although there is an indication of a mysterious person transmitting the Dharma, there is not a trace of evil spirit."

"I can confirm that the sorcerer is not the Crown Prince."

This was a genuine surprise for Lu Yuan.

According to normal procedure, shouldn't the old Taoist priest say that he was possessed by a demon?

Then they threatened Lu Cangqiong with the ancestral land and forced all the officials to depose him.

Why did they suddenly change the script?

Lu Cheng stepped forward and grabbed Qin Xuanzhen's arm.

"Look again carefully!"

"He seems like a completely different person in just a few months, how could he not be a demon?"

Qin Xuanzhen withdrew his arm.

"I have seen it very clearly."

Lu Cheng lowered his voice, his jaw clenching and then relaxing.

"Master, matters concerning demons and evil spirits are of utmost importance."

You'd better think it through before you speak.

Qin Xuanzhen glanced at him.

"Precisely because the matter is of great importance, I cannot call a deer a horse."

Lu Cangqiong leaned forward.

"If the demon isn't the prince, then who is it?"

Qin Xuanzhen turned around.

His gaze swept over the officials and finally settled on Lu Cheng's face.

"Return to Your Majesty."

"The evil person referred to by the Dragon-Suppressing Wood."

"It is indeed the Second Prince, Lu Cheng!"

All the officials turned to Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng froze for a few moments, then rushed forward and grabbed Qin Xuanzhen by the collar.

"You're talking nonsense!"

"The demon is clearly the ninth prince, how could it possibly be me?"

"explain!"

"Did you take money from Lao Jiu to deliberately harm me?"