We'll have you impersonate the Crown Prince and create a prosperous era for the Great Qian Dyna

No one knows the hardships Zhou Rui has endured along the way.

Before ascending the throne, he was just a down-on-his-luck prince who wanted to experience the joy of having many children and grandchildren, so that his life wouldn't have been in vain.

At that time, he teased the real prince by making him call him "father," which made him seem more intimate and genuine.

At that time, he had high hopes for the true prince.

But as Zhou Rui became emperor, the true crown prince became increasingly arrogant, their relationship gradually deteriorated, and they stopped understanding each other.

Until Zhou Tiancheng called out "Dad!"

That one word, "Dad," seemed to transport him back to more than a decade ago!

At that moment, Zhou Rui suddenly had a thought: in the eyes of the real crown prince, perhaps he was not the emperor who ruled the world, but just an ordinary father!

So, his previous antics and cruelty were just a rebellious son trying to attract his father's attention?

Zhou Rui felt a complex mix of emotions.

But he had made up his mind; he was determined to protect this son!

"Huang Chen, I'm leaving this matter to you."

"If Hou Tianzhen dares to deceive the Crown Prince and harbors treacherous intentions, then he deserves to die."

"If...if this matter is found to be untrue, the Crown Prince shall be demoted to a commoner and exiled to Qianzhou!"

Qin Zhiang raised his head and looked at Zhou Rui.

"Your Majesty, this is against the rules!"

"Killing an official is a serious crime. How can such a case be handed over to the secret guards? Even if the truth is found, if the Crown Prince is truly innocent, the people will only say that Your Majesty is protecting the Crown Prince!"

"In my opinion, this case should be handed over to the Ministry of Justice, where officials from various ministries will jointly try it. In this way, even if Hou Tianzhen deserves to die, it will silence the public's criticism!"

The secret guards are loyal only to the emperor.

The Ministry of Justice, on the other hand, is the domain of Qin Tao, the Minister of Justice and uncle of the Third Prince Zhou Tianze.

Qin Zhiang understood Zhou Rui's thoughts all too well. If Huang Chen were to handle this case, the Crown Prince would at most be forced to leave the capital and take up his fief.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, he only wanted to hand the case over to the Ministry of Justice.

His intention was obvious: to demote the crown prince to a commoner, so that he would never be able to rise again!

Zhou Rui slammed his hand on the table in anger.

A loud bang sent a shiver down Qin Zhiang's spine.

"That's enough!"

"Qin Zhi'ang, do you think I don't know what you're thinking?"

"Let me tell you, put away your little schemes. The Crown Prince is my son, the only thing the Empress left me!"

Qin Zhiang opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Is this all there is to it?

A thought suddenly popped into his head, and he turned to look at Zhou Tianze.

Now, only if Zhou Tianze speaks up can the emperor change his mind.

Even if you can't operate behind closed doors, shouldn't you at least be fair and transparent?

Under his sharp gaze, Zhou Tianze nodded blankly and subconsciously took a step forward.

"Father, since Grandfather has this concern, why don't we go to the Crown Prince's camp and investigate the matter thoroughly on the spot?"

Zhou Rui didn't speak; he glanced at Zhou Tiancheng.

His gaze seemed to be asking Zhou Tiancheng, "Are you really confident?"

If a court official is truly and unjustly killed without cause, even if he is the emperor, it is difficult to cover it up.

By handing the case over to the secret guards, he was already providing the Crown Prince with the greatest protection he could offer.

Zhou Tiancheng's gaze was calm.

"Father, as I said, Hou Tian was the one with ill intentions first, and my conscience is clear!"

Zhou Rui fell silent.

After all, when the Crown Prince killed palace maids, eunuchs, and guards, he had a clear conscience.

But in the end, nothing was found out. Instead, a large sum of money was wasted, which made him increasingly disappointed in the Crown Prince, who he felt was inherently cruel.

He even wanted to tell the Crown Prince that there are countless people in this world with wicked thoughts, and many of them are up to no good in the light of day.

But if you can't find any evidence of wrongdoing, you won't even be able to keep your throne in the end!

Do you really want to become an ordinary citizen?

Zhou Rui closed his eyes helplessly, blaming himself for not teaching his son well.

"By imperial decree, all commanders are to accompany me to the camp to thoroughly investigate this case!"

……

Carriages and horses were everywhere.

Qin Zhi'ang's carriage was moving slowly forward when another carriage quickly followed from behind, running alongside him.

The curtain was pulled back, and Zhou Qingyang looked nervous.

"Lord Qin, may I move a step?"

His appearance instantly made Qin Zhiang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, open them.

Qin Zhi'ang's hands were trembling as he lifted the curtain.

"You, what brings you here?"

"Is Hou Tian one of your men?"

Zhou Qingyang remained silent, his expression growing increasingly terrified.

Qin Zhi'ang understood instantly.

It's over.

This isn't a case investigation; this is a trip to clear the Crown Prince's name and vindicate him!

"Why didn't you tell me about something this important sooner?"

Qin Zhiang felt a chill run down his spine.

Zhou Qingyang spoke in a pitiful tone.

"Lord Qin, I never expected such a turn of events!"

"I was still on duty at the Ministry of Works when I suddenly heard that the Crown Prince had killed Hou Tian. By the time I arrived at the palace, I was already meeting with the Emperor. How could I possibly have the chance to tell you?"

"Lord Qin, you must save this old man!"

Qin Zhi'ang's eyes widened suddenly, his face filled with anger.

"Didn't I tell you to clean up the beginning and the end neatly?"

Zhou Qingyang was in even more pain, and the fear on her face became even more genuine.

"I haven't had time yet, have I?"

"Who would have thought that Hou Tiancai would be beheaded by the Crown Prince the moment he set off for the military camp?"

"Even if I had three heads and six arms, it would still take me some time to handle everything!"

Qin Zhiang narrowed his eyes, his hand trembled, and he leaned out of the window.

Zhou Qingyang was puzzled, but still subconsciously reached out his hand.

A round little bottle fell into Zhou Qingyang's hands.

Qin Zhi'ang's voice was icy.

"If the investigation leads back to you, take this pill, and I can guarantee your son Zhou An a lifetime of wealth and honor."

"If you are not willing to die, then neither you nor your son should live."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Zhiang climbed back into the carriage, lowered the curtain, and remained silent.

Zhou Qingyang stared blankly at the jade bottle in his hand, countless thoughts running through his mind.

expose?

Flip the table?

Or... to face death?

He closed his eyes in pain, tears streaming silently down his face. After a long while, suppressed laughter came from inside the carriage.

Many people turned around curiously when they heard the noise, completely unaware of what had happened.

Inside the carriage, Zhou Qingyang, having finished laughing, slowly took out the brush and ink from under the seat.

He thought for a moment and wrote three words on the top page of the paper.

"A letter to you."

Turning the page, the past kept replaying in his mind, and he finally understood that some people may not be suited for an official career. If they insist on forging their way in, they will only end up with a tragic ending.

"To my beloved son, Zhou'an."

"By the time you read this book, your father will have passed away. With my remaining years, I establish the ancestral precepts of the Zhou family: all sons of the Zhou lineage, for all generations, shall never enter officialdom or hold a government post!"

The letter continued, and Zhou Qingyang felt that she had countless things to say, and she could never finish writing them all.

But the carriage had already stopped.

We've arrived at the military camp!

Zhou Qingyang alighted from the carriage, handed the letter to the attendant beside him, and casually gave him a word of advice.

"Give the letter to the young master; he knows what to do."

The attendant nodded and left.

Zhou Qingyang glanced at Zhou Tiancheng, then straightened his clothes and beard, and strode forward.

At least, before he died, he was still the Minister of Works, a high-ranking official of the third rank in the imperial court, and he could not lack any of the proper demeanor!