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

Inside the Second Prince's residence.

Wu Yu slammed a bill of lading on the table, his face full of pride.

"Your Highness, everything has been taken care of!"

"The Fuyuan Escort Agency will leave the city first thing tomorrow morning; everyone involved will be imprisoned!"

Lu Cheng's eyes lit up, and he immediately took the order and read it line by line.

The Ministry of Rites sent a total of thirty-six cartloads of gifts to the northern border, four of which had already been replaced by Wu Yu.

The box was covered with silk, tea bricks and porcelain on the surface, but hidden in the interlayer were crossbows, armor plates and swords and spears that were not registered with the Ministry of War.

The officials in charge of inspecting the goods, the post station guards along the way, and the officers of the Five Cities Garrison were all arranged properly.

They were just waiting for the Fuyuan Escort Agency to transport the goods out of the capital.

"Was that Zhao Mingzhu personally escorting the goods?"

Lu Cheng asked.

Wu Yu pointed to the post stations marked on the route map and said, "Chief镖师 Zhao Shangqing has not yet returned to the capital. This transport mission is another task assigned by the Ministry of Rites, so Zhao Mingzhu will definitely lead the team personally."

"When they reach the city gate, the soldiers guarding the city will stop them for inspection."

"The weapons were found in the Zhao family's carriage, and the evidence is overwhelming. The Fuyuan Escort Agency has hundreds of people; not a single one can escape."

Lu Cheng supported his still weak arm and smiled.

"Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan, haven't you always been opposing me?"

"Once Zhao Mingzhu is in the Ministry of Justice's prison, I'll see whether you want to save her or not."

Wu Yu immediately chimed in, "Your Highness, if he doesn't save them, he'll be heartless and treacherous. If he intervenes, he'll be protecting the smuggling of weapons."

"Your Highness can have the Fuyuan Escort Agency shut down and the escorts interrogated one by one."

"As long as someone accuses the Ninth Prince of treason, then the charge of treason can be pinned on him."

Lu Cheng carefully put away the route map.

"Well done. Once I become the Crown Prince, the position of Vice Minister of Rites will be yours."

Wu Yu smiled broadly and bowed to the other person.

"This humble official is willing to serve Your Highness."

"Go back and keep an eye on it."

Lu Cheng raised his hand and pointed outside, "Once tomorrow's business is settled, immediately send someone to the palace to report."

"I want to see Lu Yuan deposed in front of all the civil and military officials."

After Wu Yu left, Lu Cheng immediately summoned the steward to prepare his court robes.

Upon hearing this, the staff immediately blocked the coat hanger.

"Your Highness, His Majesty has ordered you to stay home for a month, and you will not be allowed to attend court tomorrow."

Lu Cheng looked at him: "Lu Yuan is hoarding weapons and colluding with escort agencies, plotting a rebellion. As a prince, what's wrong with me going to the palace to expose this traitor?"

"But the lockdown order has not been lifted."

The aide pressed down his court robes and continued to persuade him, "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince has just been stabbed, and the Emperor already has great suspicions about you."

"If you defy the imperial decree, you may incur His Majesty's wrath."

Lu Cheng raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

The staff member stumbled beside the coat rack, and a red mark quickly appeared on half of his face.

"Does this prince need you to teach me how to do things?"

Lu Cheng tore off his court robes and threw them to a maid standing nearby.

"Father has only been temporarily deceived by Lu Yuan."

"After tomorrow, Lu Yuan will be seen as a traitor. I will be the only heir apparent Father can appoint!"

The aide covered his face, wanting to persuade him further.

"Your Highness, the matter concerning the Fuyuan Escort Agency is not yet settled. If something goes wrong along the way..."

"Shut up!"

Lu Cheng picked up the wine jug and smashed it at his feet, roaring like a madman, "Everyone's been arranged perfectly, what could possibly go wrong?"

"I've endured this for so long. Tomorrow, anyone who dares to stop me will be an accomplice of Lu Yuan!"

The staff dared not stop them any longer and could only instruct the maid to prepare court attire.

Lu Cheng walked to the bronze mirror and looked at his face, which was still swollen.

Every wound Lu Yuan left him seemed to be a reminder of the humiliation he had suffered.

Tomorrow, he will get it back with interest.

……

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Consort Shen knelt at the foot of the stone steps, holding a wooden plaque engraved with runes aloft with both hands.

"Your Majesty, demonic energy is rampant in the palace. If we do not eliminate this sorcerer as soon as possible, the fate of the Great Yong Kingdom will be in grave danger!"

Several palace maids knelt behind them.

The eunuchs had already come to persuade her twice, but Consort Shen still refused to get up.

She had just received news that the Ministry of Rites was preparing the necessary ceremonial robes and regalia for the investiture of the Crown Prince, and the Imperial Household Department was also retrieving the seals and registers from the Eastern Palace overnight.

If we wait until tomorrow's morning court session, Lu Yuan will become the crown prince.

By then, it will be even more difficult to bring him down.

Consort Shen took half a step forward.

"His Majesty!"

"The Celestial Master has already foreseen that a sorcerer within the palace is wreaking havoc on the court. Your Majesty, I only wish that Your Majesty summons the Celestial Master and hears his words."

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Lu Cangqiong didn't even raise his head.

He stamped the imperial edict with the imperial seal at the end, and then picked up a military report.

Zhou Fu glanced outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has been kneeling for more than half an hour."

"She can kneel if she wants."

Lu Cangqiong turned to the next page of the memorial. "The Celestial Master himself said that he would identify the demon during the morning court session. I have already given him the opportunity."

"Now he wants to go to the palace tonight? Does he think he won't dare to speak up in front of all the officials tomorrow?"

Zhou Fu lowered his head.

"The Imperial Concubine was probably doing this to ensure the safety of the palace."

What she was worried about was the second son's position as crown prince.

Lu Cangqiong handed him a secret report.

The document listed the dates of Consort Shen's recent meetings with the Celestial Master, as well as several boxes of items that the Shen family had delivered to the Taoist temple.

Zhou Fu's expression changed after seeing it.

"Should Your Majesty send men to arrest the Celestial Master?"

"The Celestial Master enjoys great prestige among the people. If we arrest him now, the common people will only think that I am cowardly and afraid of trouble."

Lu Cangqiong stood up and handed the written imperial edict to Zhou Fu, saying, "Tomorrow morning, have him announce it in front of everyone."

"I want to see how he's going to turn a living prince into a monster."

Zhou Fu took the imperial edict.

"Your Majesty, is this dish intended for the Crown Prince's Palace?"

"no."

Lu Cangqiong looked to the north and said, "Send it to the Yongning Marquis's residence overnight, and order the Yongning Marquis to act as the General of the North and depart within three days to take charge of the twelve camps in the northern border."

Zhou Fu raised his head.

The current General of the Northern Garrison, Shen Chongshan, is Consort Shen's own brother and the Shen family's greatest support in the army.

Replacing Shen Chongshan with Lu Cheng would be tantamount to cutting off one of Lu Cheng's arms.

"Your Majesty, what if General Shen disobeys the imperial decree?"

"Then take him back to the capital."

Lu Cangqiong picked up the imperial edict conferred by the Crown Prince and placed it in a hidden compartment on the imperial desk.

"Tomorrow, the Ninth Prince will have to face the Celestial Master, the Imperial Censor, and his restless brothers."

"I will first stabilize the northern border for him."

Zhou Fu carefully put away the imperial edict and personally led his men away from the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Outside the palace, Consort Shen saw the imperial edict in his hand and immediately stood up.

"Eunuch Zhou, has His Majesty agreed to summon the Celestial Master?"

"Your Majesty has misunderstood."

Zhou Fu walked around her and down the stone steps.

"This is His Majesty's decree to the Earl of Yongning."

Consort Shen watched the palace lanterns disappear into the distance, her face gradually turning pale.

The Earl of Yongning held sway over his former troops in the Northwest.

The decree issued by Lu Cangqiong to the Su family on the eve of the investiture of the crown prince was definitely not just an ordinary reward.

She turned to rush into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, but was stopped by the guards at the bottom of the steps.

"His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I have urgent business to discuss!"

The palace doors remained closed.

……

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

In the Ninth Prince's bedroom, clothes were scattered around the bed, and a thin blanket was crammed into a ball.

Shen Hanqiu grabbed Lu Yuan's outstretched hand, tears still streaming down her face.

"My husband, please spare me."

Liu Ruyan shrank to the inside of the bed and shook her head repeatedly.

"It really can't go on."

Su Yuling kicked Lu Yuan away and pulled the thin blanket over the three of them to protect them.

"Lu Yuan!"

Did you take any medication last night?