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

"Is the sorcerer inside the palace?"

Lu Yuan sneered, "No need to guess, that demon is definitely me."

Lu Cangqiong glared at him.

"Don't let your imagination run wild. The Celestial Master hasn't said who it is yet, so don't try to pin it on yourself."

Zhou Fu also bent down and whispered to Lu Yuan.

"Your Highness, the Celestial Master enjoys extremely high prestige in the Great Yong Dynasty!"

"More than a decade ago, when there was a severe drought in Hedong, the Celestial Master set up an altar to pray for rain, and three days later, the rain fell. When a plague broke out in the northern border, the Celestial Master also led his disciples to distribute medicine."

"Many people in the community say he is a living god."

When Lu Yuan looked at Zhou Fu, the corner of his mouth twitched violently.

"Eunuch Zhou, do you also believe he can summon wind and rain?"

Zhou Fu smiled awkwardly, "This old servant believes that the Celestial Master is of high moral character and prestige, and has no grudge against His Highness, so he should not intentionally harm His Highness."

Lu Cangqiong nodded as well.

"The Celestial Master has rarely been to the capital in recent years, and has never participated in the power struggles in the court."

"If he truly discovers evil spirits in the palace, I will naturally investigate thoroughly. Don't assume he's after you before you've even seen him."

Lu Yuan pulled up a chair and sat down.

"OK."

"If Father doesn't believe me, just wait and see tomorrow."

"But such important matters shouldn't be discussed behind closed doors in private."

"Make him go to court tomorrow and point out that sorcerer in front of all the officials."

Lu Cangqiong frowned. "Do you want to make a big scene?"

"He said there was a sorcerer in the palace himself, it wasn't me who forced him to say it."

Lu Yuan pointed to the little eunuch outside the door.

"Using superstition to ruin a prince, I, your son, would like to see how he will end up."

Zhou Fu's expression tightened.

The idea of ​​ghosts and gods is most likely to mislead people.

If the Celestial Master were to privately label Lu Yuan a sorcerer, Lu Cangqiong could suppress the news.

Once they were in the imperial court, it was difficult for either side to back down.

Lu Cangqiong looked at Lu Yuan for a moment, then turned to instruct the eunuch at the door.

"Go tell the Celestial Master."

"I am currently treating patients at the Imperial Hospital and will not see any officials today."

"We will discuss his claim about the sorcerer again at tomorrow's morning court session. He should bring all the evidence and explain it clearly in front of the entire court."

The young eunuch bowed and accepted the order, then quickly left the Imperial Hospital.

Lu Yuan leaned back in his chair.

"Father, I'm letting you know in advance."

"If the Celestial Master of Tomorrow calls me a demon, please don't join him in calling for my death."

"I am not that confused."

Lu Cangqiong looked at He Shen on the bed, then glanced at the jar of alcohol next to him.

After a moment, he suddenly turned his head.

"Ninth Brother".

"Which girl did you hook up with yesterday?"

Lu Yuan was stunned.

Zhou Fu lowered his head, unable to hide the smile on his face.

Lu Yuan quickly understood.

The horseshoe was obtained after he consummated his marriage with Su Yuling, while the cement and snowflake salt were said to be treasures bestowed upon him by the Old Immortal of Nanhua after he married Shen Hanqiu.

Now that alcohol has been added to his list of ailments, Lu Cangqiong naturally assumes that another woman has joined his side.

Lu Yuan did not hide anything.

He recounted how he had been assassinated the previous night and how he had escaped to the Fuyuan Escort Agency.

As for the part where he hid in Zhao Mingzhu's bathtub, was knocked unconscious by the other party with a wooden stick, and was then tied up in the woodshed by the bodyguards, he changed it all to a hero rescuing a beauty.

In his account, Zhao Mingzhu was forced into marriage by her cousin, and he stepped in despite being injured to protect the eldest daughter of the Zhao family.

The two have shown true affection in adversity, and they slept together last night.

Today, he even personally visited Zhao Mingzhu's home to drive away Wu Yu, who had come to propose marriage.

Zhou Fu's eyebrows rose higher and higher as he listened.

Lu Cangqiong looked at Lu Yuan's left arm, which was wrapped in gauze, and his face grew darker and darker.

"You were chased by more than a dozen assassins last night, and you are still injured."

"Even in this situation, you can't let go of that little thing?"

"Zhao Mingzhu fell in love with me at first sight."

Lu Yuan spread his hands.

"Your subject cannot possibly hurt the girl's feelings."

"I fear that if you become emperor, you will become a tyrannical ruler who only knows how to lust after women!"

"Father, do you perhaps have some misunderstanding about my abilities?"

Lu Yuan stood up and straightened his robes.

"Your subject is just lazy."

"If I were just a little bit more diligent, becoming a great emperor of all time would be nothing more than a stepping stone for me."

Lu Cangqiong raised his foot and kicked.

"Get lost!"

Lu Yuan was prepared and dodged to the side.

"You personally promised me the position of Crown Prince; you cannot go back on your word."

"Go back to your princely residence!"

Lu Cangqiong grabbed the medicine pillow next to him and threw it at him.

"While you were missing for one night, the Su and Shen families have turned most of the capital upside down."

"If we don't go back and report that we're safe, they might bring people and tear down the Five Cities Garrison!"

Lu Yuan caught the medicine pillow and placed it back beside He Shen.

Knowing that Su Yuling and Shen Hanqiu were still waiting for news at the mansion, he didn't delay any longer.

"My uncle has woken up. Send someone to inform me immediately."

"And tomorrow's morning court session, Father Emperor, remember to prepare the Crown Prince's imperial edict."

"Get out of here!"

As Lu Yuan walked out of the Imperial Hospital and was about to find a horse to return to his residence, a hundred Imperial Guards arrived from the other end of the palace road.

The leading captain walked up to him and saluted.

"His Majesty has decreed..."

"This humble general will lead a hundred Imperial Guards to escort His Highness the Ninth Prince back to his residence. From this day forward, this contingent of Imperial Guards will be stationed at the Ninth Prince's residence. Anyone who approaches with suspicion will be apprehended."

Lu Yuan glanced back at the Imperial Hospital.

Lu Cangqiong told him to get lost verbally, but secretly he had already arranged for guards.

He mounted his horse and led the Imperial Guards away from the palace.

……

The Second Prince's Mansion.

Two of the wine jugs on the table were already empty.

Lu Cheng ripped off the gauze wrapped around his face and threw a stack of papers on the ground.

The paper contained a record of Lu Yuan's whereabouts when he took Liu Ruyan out yesterday.

Silk shops, jewelry stores, pharmacies, and study rooms are located in the eastern part of the city.

Wherever Lu Yuan went, he would introduce Liu Ruyan's identity to the public.

Now everyone in the capital knows that the woman the Second Prince has loved for many years has been taken into the Ninth Prince's household.

Some people even secretly mocked Lu Cheng, saying that if he couldn't even protect his own woman, what right did he have to compete for the throne?

The aide picked up the papers from the ground, his expression extremely serious.

"Your Highness, the matter of Miss Liu entering the Ninth Prince's residence was decided by His Majesty himself."

"The Imperial Clan Court is still investigating the Liu family's affairs, so we cannot act rashly for the time being."

Lu Cheng smashed the wine pot against the corner of the wall.

"This palace knows!"

"I don't need you to remind me."

He walked around the room, supporting his still-recovering left arm.

"How is Mother doing?"

The aide hesitated for a moment, but then spoke up.

"We can't contact the people who were lying in ambush outside the palace gates last night."

"The assassins tasked with killing He Shen today have all taken poison."

"The Ninth Prince returned to the palace alive, and He Shen was sent to the Imperial Hospital. The Emperor has ordered the Three Departments to begin investigating the matter."

Lu Cheng turned around and kicked over the chair next to him.

"waste!"

"What kind of useless people has Mother chosen?"

"More than a dozen assassins surrounded and killed Lu Yuan, yet he still managed to escape!"

The staff quickly stepped aside.

"Your Highness, please be careful with your words."

"If outsiders hear about this, the three judicial departments will quickly find out about it."

"So what if we find out?"

Lu Cheng grabbed his advisor by the collar, "Lu Yuan stole my woman and ruined my reputation."

"Now that he has been assassinated, the Emperor has sealed off the capital and mobilized the Three Departments to investigate."

"On what grounds?"

Lu Cheng pushed his staff aside, his eyes bloodshot.

"Why is Lu Yuan so lucky?"

"He wasted ten years of his life doing nothing, then suddenly produced a few pictures and became the emperor's filial son and virtuous grandson."

"I've cultivated relationships with officials in the court for many years, and I've done countless favors for my father."

"Did Father see it?"

The aide steadied himself on the corner of the table and advised, "Your Highness, it is precisely at times like these that you must remain calm."

"The Ninth Prince has just been assassinated. Any action taken against him will arouse His Majesty's suspicion."

Just as Lu Cheng was about to speak, the butler outside the door strode in.

"Your Highness."

"An official from the Ministry of Rites is requesting an audience outside the residence."

He said his name was Wu Yu.

The butler took out a name card and handed it to him with both hands.