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

Lu Yuan turned around and first saw a face that was still bruised and purple.

He stared at Lu Cheng for a moment, then reached up to touch his waist.

"Oh ho, so you're not going to kill the Prey Mummy today?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng stopped two steps away, his expression instantly freezing.

"Lu Yuan, don't be so smug. After court today, I'll see if you'll still be laughing!"

"What's it to you? Your mother has been implicated by you countless times!"

When the two men started fighting again, several officials nearby quickly stepped aside to avoid getting caught up in the fray.

Lu Cheng went to court despite his injuries, hoping to show the officials just how arrogant Lu Yuan was.

As soon as they met, their old wounds were reopened.

He raised his hand and touched the bridge of his nose, forcibly suppressing his anger.

"Ninth Brother is still as sharp-tongued as ever."

"However, some things, once said today, can never be said again."

Lu Yuan looked him up and down and said bluntly, "You came to court before your confinement period was over, and you're dressed so formally."

"What, in such a hurry to have Father break another arm?"

Lu Cheng did not get angry; instead, he stepped aside to make way for him.

"Ninth Brother, please go first."

Many things will happen at the morning court session today.

"You'd better hold on tight."

Lu Yuan walked past him and casually replied.

"You should take care of yourself first."

"If you're still not behaving properly with only one arm, be careful you don't lose the other one too."

Lu Cheng watched his retreating figure, his smile growing ever wider.

The Fuyuan Escort Agency should be approaching Shili Pavilion by now.

In another half hour, the weapons will be found in the Zhao family's truck.

At that time, Lu Yuan's chances of becoming the crown prince, or even keeping his life, will depend on whether his father, the emperor, will consider their father-son relationship.

Lu Cheng straightened his court robes and walked straight to the main hall.

As soon as Lu Yuan passed through the palace gate, an official from the Imperial Clan Court caught up with him.

"Your Highness, please wait."

The visitor was Du Xiangming, the Vice Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, who had been in charge of investigating the Liu family's case for the past few days.

He walked side by side with Lu Yuan to the side of the corridor and handed over a file.

"Your Highness, the evidence is complete regarding the Liu family's encroachment on land, their driving tenants to their deaths, and their collusion with local officials."

"Grandpa Liu owns more than 6,000 mu of fertile land, half of which is of unknown origin."

"Several members of the Liu family have also injured ordinary people who came to file complaints."

Lu Yuan opened the file.

The Liu family had been dependent on the Second Prince for many years, and through this relationship, they had seized land and merged shops, and had indeed done many evil deeds.

According to the laws of the Great Yong Dynasty, the main culprit in the Liu family should be exiled, and those involved should also be imprisoned.

Du Xiangming observed his expression.

"The Imperial Clan Court has prepared the arrest warrants."

"However, Miss Liu Ruyan is currently residing in the Ninth Prince's residence, and His Majesty has personally stated that her affairs are to be handled by you."

"Therefore, I would like to ask first, what should be done about the Liu family?"

Lu Yuan closed the file and said in a deep voice, "Arrest those who should be arrested, and return the land that should be returned."

Du Xiangming's expression relaxed slightly.

"Will the entire Liu family be exiled as well?"

"Let's close it for a while."

Lu Yuan returned the dossier to him, saying, "Make them return all the land, shops, and money they seized, and then compensate the victims."

"The Liu family members who committed various crimes will be dealt with according to the law."

"As for Old Man Liu and the others, they will be released after they have suffered enough."

Du Xiangming nodded and noted it down, then asked curiously, "Is Your Highness doing this because of Miss Liu?"

"Ruyan has severed ties with them."

Lu Yuan raised his hand and pointed to the dossier.

"I only want them to pay the price; there's no need to go to extremes for the sake of a few old and weak people."

"However, once the people are released, the Liu family cannot remain in the capital."

"Give them some small plots of land so they can return to their hometowns and live their lives there."

Du Xiangming bowed and accepted the order.

He had initially worried that Lu Yuan would protect the Liu family for Liu Ruyan's sake, but now it seemed that the Ninth Prince had only left them a way out and had not allowed the Imperial Clan Court to erase the evidence.

"I will lead my men to investigate the case today."

After Du Xiangming left, Lu Yuan continued walking towards the main hall.

Half an hour later, the civil and military officials lined up on both sides.

Lu Cangqiong entered through the side door and had just sat down in front of the throne when his gaze fell on Lu Cheng.

What are you doing here?

Lu Cheng stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your subject has important matters to report."

"I hereby confine you to your quarters for one month!"

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand and threw a memorial at his feet.

"The curfew has only been in effect for a few days, and you dare to openly defy it?"

"Father, it's all a misunderstanding, your son..."

"Someone come here!"

"Take this rebellious son back to the Second Prince's residence and confine him for another three months!"

The imperial guards outside the palace immediately rushed in.

Lu Cheng's composure vanished somewhat.

According to Wu Yu's plan, once the person is captured at Shiliting, a fast horse will be dispatched to the palace immediately.

But even now, none of his confidants have appeared outside the palace gates.

Damn it, I mustn't make a mistake.

Otherwise, he would have been in real trouble today.

"Father, I do indeed have something important to discuss."

"What important matter could make you disobey an imperial decree?"

"This matter concerns the safety of the imperial court, and also..."

Lu Cheng stopped abruptly at this point.

He wasn't sure whether the Fuyuan Escort Agency had been arrested or whether any weapons had been found.

If the plan is revealed in advance, it will expose your true intentions if problems arise outside.

Lu Cangqiong's expression darkened further when he saw him stammering.

For some reason, he found Lu Cheng increasingly unpleasant to look at.

I consider myself wise and powerful, so how did I end up with this thing?

Could it really be like Lao Jiu said, that we'll find time to do a blood test to determine kinship?

"You can't even explain what's going on, yet you dare to barge into the morning court session?"

"Drag him out and give him twenty strokes of the cane!"

The Imperial Guards held Lu Cheng's arms.

Lu Cheng's wound was touched, and cold sweat quickly broke out on his face.

"Father, I do have something to say, but I haven't thought of how to phrase it yet!"

"Go back and think about it slowly!"

"Wait a minute."

Lu Yuan stepped out from the line of princes.

Lu Cangqiong looked at him, "You want to plead for him again?"

"My second brother is willing to defy the imperial decree to attend court; there must be something truly important on his mind."

Lu Yuan turned and glanced at Lu Cheng.

"Father, why don't you let him finish speaking?"

"If he's just talking nonsense, it's not too late to take him back."

A hint of suspicion flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes.

He and Lu Yuan had reached a point of life and death, so how could the other party possibly speak up for him?

Lu Yuan, however, remained calm.

"Second Brother, who exactly are you going to impeach?"

"This palace..."

Lu Cheng looked towards the palace gate.

Still no one has sent a message.

The members of the Censorate were also whispering among themselves, seemingly preparing to step forward.

Lu Cheng had no choice but to delay.

"Father, the evidence is still on its way."

"Once the evidence is available, I will naturally explain everything."

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand and pointed at him.

"Then you shall stand there."

"We'll talk about it when we've figured it out."

Lu Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the princes' ranks.

As long as the morning court session continues, he will still have a chance to receive news from Shiliting.

Lu Cangqiong didn't look at him again, but turned to Zhou Fu.

Zhou Fu picked up a gold-patterned wooden box from beside the imperial desk and walked to the front of the officials.

All eyes were on the wooden box.

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand.

"Proclaim the imperial decree."