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

Everyone was shocked when they heard this.

The officials who had not yet left the hall stopped in their tracks.

The few imperial censors who had just been vying to expel Lu Cheng from the royal family turned around, their obsequious expressions still lingering on their faces.

Lu Cheng had just been carried away by the Imperial Guards when Lu Yuan was accused of being the mastermind of a rebellion.

The officials exchanged glances, none of them willing to speak first.

They have already offended Lu Cheng to death.

If Lu Yuan also falls, the remaining princes of Dayong are all in their fiefdoms, and it's uncertain who will become the crown prince.

And you can't jump around too much.

That would make it rather unsightly to be popular.

Lu Cangqiong sat back on his throne, his face grim, and asked, "Who recruited them?"

"Du San, a bodyguard from Fuyuan Escort Agency."

The constable presented the confession with both hands, saying, "Du San said that three days ago, someone contacted the Zhao family in the name of the Ninth Prince's residence, asking them to take advantage of the opportunity of escorting the gifts from Northern Liang to transport weapons to the northern border."

He also said that His Highness the Crown Prince had an ambiguous relationship with Zhao Mingzhu, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family, and had personally come to propose marriage.

"The Zhao family promised to assist His Highness in smuggling military equipment. Once the matter is settled, Zhao Mingzhu will marry into the Ninth Prince's household."

Lu Cangqiong did not take the confession, but looked at Lu Yuan.

What's going on between you and Zhao Mingzhu?

Lu Yuan did not answer, but walked straight up to the constable.

What is Du San's status at the Fuyuan Escort Agency?

"Your Highness, he is a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who has been working with the镖师 for seven years."

"Has he seen me with his own eyes?"

"no."

"Who relayed the message to him?"

"The statement says it's Miss Zhao."

"Who loaded the weapons into the wagon?"

"He...he said he was unaware of it."

Lu Yuan reached out and took the confession, reading it from beginning to end.

This confession tied him, Zhao Mingzhu, and Fuyuan Escort Agency together, but it didn't include a single verifiable detail.

This is an blatant frame-up.

Judging from Madam Zhao's previous attitude, she would never try to harm him.

There's only one possibility.

They were subjected to severe torture to extract a confession.

Wei Zhengyuan bowed and said, "Your Majesty, this person even dared to implicate the Crown Prince, so his testimony may not be credible."

The censor who had just criticized Zhao Guoqiang also stepped forward.

"I second that opinion."

"His Highness the Crown Prince offered horseshoes, cement, snowflake salt, and alcohol, showing his concern for the Great Yong Dynasty. How could he possibly smuggle hundreds of armor plates?"

Vice Minister Chen took half a step back and quickly changed his words.

"The Fuyuan Escort Agency may also be bewitched by demonic energy."

"The Second Prince was corrupted by evil spirits, so naturally the people in his household would also be tainted by evil influences."

"That Du San's baseless accusations against the Crown Prince might actually be the work of evil spirits!"

Qin Xuanzhen turned to look at him and couldn't help but offer a reminder.

"Lord Chen, being tainted by demonic energy is not madness. I have never said that a person tainted by demonic energy would give false testimony at will."

Chen Shilang's noodles were reddish.

"Please forgive me, Celestial Master; this is merely my speculation."

Another official added, "In any case, His Highness the Crown Prince has just been appointed, and we cannot make unfounded suspicions based solely on the testimony of one bodyguard."

"I suggest that Du San be interrogated severely."

"If it is found that he framed the crown prince, he should be executed!"

Lu Yuan folded the confession and looked at the officials who were vying to speak on his behalf.

When Zhao Guoqiang fell to the ground, this group of people wished they could immediately take away the position of Minister of Rites.

After the Celestial Master identified Lu City, they vied to move Lu City out of the Imperial Register.

Now that they're involved, they've even come up with the excuse of being bewitched by demonic energy.

Lu Yuan turned his head and met Lu Cangqiong's gaze for a moment.

Both father and son saw disgust on each other's faces.

You can't be a fence-sitter like that!

Lu Cangqiong suppressed his anger.

"Wei Zhengyuan".

"Your subject is here."

"Aren't you the one who values ​​the laws and regulations of the imperial court the most?"

"Now that someone has accused the Crown Prince of smuggling weapons, why don't you request a joint trial by the three judicial authorities?"

Beads of sweat appeared on Wei Zhengyuan's forehead as he bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, I simply believe there are many suspicious points in the confession."

"I am in charge of supervising all officials, and I must also prevent anyone from falsely accusing the crown prince."

"What a clever way to prevent false accusations."

Lu Cangqiong sneered, "In Li Zhenyuan's case just now, why didn't you think that someone was framing the Crown Prince?"

Wei Zhengyuan lowered his body.

"Your subject acknowledges his guilt."

Lu Yuan was too lazy to look at these fence-sitters anymore.

Many people knew that he had visited the Zhao family and publicly declared his intention to marry Zhao Mingzhu.

But there was only one person who knew about his entanglement with Zhao Mingzhu and had the motive to drag the Zhao family into it.

Wu Yu, Principal of the Ministry of Rites.

That guy originally wanted to exchange marriage certificates with Zhao Mingzhu, but he intercepted the deal.

Fuyuan Escort Agency happened to be handling the Ministry of Rites' assignments.

If Wu Yu uses the Ministry of Rites to replace the goods, and then has Lu Cheng mobilize the Five Cities Military Command, the whole scheme can be connected.

Lu Yuan handed the confession to Zhou Fu.

"Father, I request to personally investigate this case."

Lu Cheng has just been expelled from the royal family, so Wu Yu must not yet know about the changes in the court.

Now is the perfect time to catch them in the act.

Lu Cangqiong nodded, "The case of Fuyuan Escort Agency will be handled by the Crown Prince personally."

"The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Rites, and the Five City Garrison Commands will all be under the Crown Prince's command."

"The Crown Prince may execute any official involved in the case, regardless of their rank, without prior approval."

Guo Kai, Minister of Justice, and Han Zheng, Minister of War, stepped forward to receive the imperial decree.

The censors who had just defended Lu Yuan also kowtowed.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

"With His Highness the Crown Prince personally handling the case, he will surely uncover the true culprit!"

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand and pointed at Wei Zhengyuan.

"Hasn't the Censorate lost enough face today?"

"Get out, all of you!"

The officials dared not linger and all withdrew from the main hall.

As Lu Yuan passed by Qin Xuanzhen, he whispered a sentence to her.

"Celestial Master, please wait a moment."

Qin Xuanzhen nodded slightly.

……

When the news reached Zhaohua Palace, Consort Shen was waiting for a reply from outside the palace.

The palace maid knelt before her and recounted the events that had transpired in the court.

"The Second Prince has been removed from the Imperial Clan Register."

"His Majesty also proclaimed to the world that from now on, the title of 'Prince' shall no longer be used."

Consort Shen's teacup fell to her feet.

"Where is the Celestial Master?"

"The Celestial Master personally identified the Second Prince as a demon."

Where is Lu Yuan?

"His Highness the Ninth Prince has been officially named Crown Prince."

The palace maid paused for a moment, then added, "Someone from the Fuyuan Escort Agency accused the Crown Prince of smuggling military equipment, but His Majesty handed the case over to the Crown Prince for personal trial."

Consort Shen gripped the edge of the table, her chest heaving rapidly.

She gave him the old jade pendant, asking Qin Xuanzhen to repay the Shen family for saving her life.

Instead of identifying Lu Yuan, Qin Xuanzhen ruined everything for her son.

"Lu Yuan!"

Consort Shen swept all the items off the table.

"I will never forgive you!"

"And then there's Qin Xuanzhen, that ungrateful wretch..."

Before she could finish speaking, she fell to the side.

Several palace maids quickly caught her.

"Your Majesty!"

"Quickly, fetch the imperial physician!"

"Send someone out of the palace again to tell General Shen that something has happened in the capital!"

Just as a palace attendant reached the palace gate, a troop of imperial guards appeared outside.

The leading captain unfolded Lu Cangqiong's command.

"His Majesty has decreed..."

"Zhaohua Palace is to be closed immediately."

"No one is permitted to enter or leave without a warrant from His Majesty or the Crown Prince!"