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

The audience was silent.

Lu Yuan then waved the memorial in front of Lu Cheng.

"Second brother, are you speaking out for a corrupt official who doesn't even respect Father Emperor?"

"What, you think three months of confinement is too short? Planning to go with him on his way?"

Lu Cheng's face turned ugly, and he was about to retort.

However, more than a dozen officials from the Ministry of Justice testified to Li Zhenyuan's statement that "Even His Majesty cannot enter the archives."

Those who speak for such people will be accused of disrespect and deceiving the emperor.

Wei Zhengyuan knelt on the ground, all the words he had prepared were cut off.

The censors following behind Lu Cheng also avoided his gaze.

Lu Yuan glanced at everyone.

"Were you all so eager to fight to the death just now? Why are you all so deflated now?"

"Lord Wei, how about I give you half an hour to compose another memorial?"

Wei Zhengyuan blushed with embarrassment and had no choice but to lower his head and admit his mistake.

"We have been deceived and have not found any evidence of Li Zhenyuan's corruption and abuse of power. We beg Your Majesty to punish him."

Lu Cangqiong coldly looked at the people from the Censorate.

"The Censorate is in charge of supervising all officials. A fifth-rank official embezzled 200,000 taels of silver, and you didn't see it."

"The Crown Prince recovered the silver for the court, and you managed to investigate the matter thoroughly overnight."

"Did I raise you all so you could save the lives of corrupt officials?"

More than a dozen censors bowed down to apologize.

Wei Zhengyuan gritted his teeth, "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty and have betrayed your trust."

"However, my impeachment of the Crown Prince was also to uphold the laws of the court, and I had no personal motives."

Whether or not you have ulterior motives is not for you to decide.

Lu Yuan threw the memorial back again. "In Li Zhenyuan's letters, there are several that mention the names of officials from the Censorate."

"I hope you will still be able to stand so straight after the Ministry of Justice has finished its investigation."

The expressions of the several censors changed drastically.

Lu Cheng couldn't help but look outside the hall.

What exactly is Wu Yu doing?

Fuyuan Escort Agency has clearly arrived at Shiliting, so why hasn't any news been sent yet?

Lu Cangqiong ignored the people from the Censorate and raised his hand to signal Zhou Fu.

"The imperial edict establishing the crown prince has been read out."

"Three days later, I will personally lead the Crown Prince to offer sacrifices at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and perform the grand ceremony of investiture."

"The Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Clan Court, and the Imperial Household Department shall make preparations immediately."

"There must be no mistakes!"

Zhao Guoqiang, the Minister of Rites, was the first to step forward.

"I obey your decree!"

The former members of the Su and He families followed closely behind.

Seeing that the emperor had made up his mind, no one dared to obstruct Li Zhenyuan's cause anymore.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, offer our congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Your Highness!"

Lu Cheng stood in the crowd, the wound on his hand turning white from being pressed down.

Three days later, a sacrifice was offered at the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Once Lu Yuan officially takes over the Eastern Palace, everything he has built up over the years will be finished.

He looked towards the palace gate again.

Just then, a eunuch ran in.

"Your Majesty, there is an urgent military situation at the Five Cities Garrison!"

Lu Cheng's eyes immediately lit up with joy.

coming!

Lu Cangqiong frowned.

"Let him in."

A captain of the city guards quickly entered the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, I hereby report."

"When the city guards inspected the goods that the Ministry of Rites was returning to Beiliang at Shiliting, they found thirty crossbows, six hundred sets of armor plates, and more than two hundred swords and spears that were not registered with the Ministry of War in four carriages belonging to the Fuyuan Escort Agency!"

"All the escorts from Fuyuan Escort Agency have been detained!"

The officials inside the hall all turned around.

The Minister of War was the first to step out of the ranks.

"Crossbows and armor are both controlled items in the military."

"It's a serious crime for ordinary people to possess even one set of armor, yet the Fuyuan Escort Agency transported six hundred sets?"

"This isn't escorting goods; it's clearly smuggling weapons!"

Lu Cheng suppressed his joy and deliberately revealed his fury.

"Father, this matter must not be handled lightly!"

"According to the laws of the Da Yong, anyone who privately possesses armor or crossbows shall be punished for treason."

"The entire Fuyuan Escort Agency should be immediately imprisoned and interrogated, and all those involved should have their families confiscated and be exterminated!"

Several officials echoed this sentiment.

"What the Second Prince says makes sense."

"Such a large quantity of weaponry is enough to equip thousands of people."

"If these things are transported to the North, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

"The person behind this must have grand ambitions!"

Zhao Guoqiang turned pale and immediately knelt down in front of the hall.

"Your Majesty, there must be some misunderstanding!"

"When this batch of gifts left the Ministry of Rites, they were all inventoried by the relevant departments."

"The box contained only silk, tea bricks, and porcelain; there were absolutely no weapons!"

"Someone must have framed me!"

Lu Cheng turned to look at him and sneered, "Minister Zhao is so eager to exonerate Fuyuan Escort Agency, does he know something?"

"I still advise you to tell the truth, so as not to bring disaster upon the Zhao family."

Zhao Guoqiang immediately shook his head.

"Second Prince, I am merely explaining the situation during the handover at the Ministry of Rites."

"The weapons were found in the Zhao family's carriage, so we should investigate the Fuyuan Escort Agency first."

Lu Cheng stepped forward. "I've heard that Zhao Shangqing, the chief镖头 (bodyguard/escort) of Fuyuan Escort Agency, is a cousin of Minister Zhao?"

All eyes of the officials immediately fell on Zhao Guoqiang.

Zhao Guoqiang broke out in a cold sweat.

"He is indeed my nephew, but over the years, I have had very little contact with him."

"You rarely keep in touch?"

Lu Cheng raised his hand and pointed at the city guard captain, "Who recommended the escort agency that was responsible for transporting the returned gifts to the Ministry of Rites this year?"

"Without your intervention, Minister of Rites, how could they possibly have received this assignment?"

Zhao Guoqiang's lips moved, but he didn't know how to explain.

At this moment, an official from the Ministry of Rites suddenly stepped out from the queue.

"Your Majesty, the Fuyuan Escort Agency was personally recommended by Minister Zhao."

Lu Cheng's face showed a sneer, "Minister Zhao recommended his own clansmen to take on the imperial duties."

"The weapons were found in the goods that the Ministry of Rites had given to the Zhao family."

"Now that the evidence is laid bare, Minister Zhao claims he knows nothing about it?"

"I ask the officials in the court, who would believe that?"

"My father is wise and mighty; how could he possibly believe that?"

Zhao Guoqiang hurriedly looked at Lu Cangqiong and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, I recommend Fuyuan Escort Agency because they have been escorting goods for many years without ever making a mistake."

"I have absolutely not smuggled any weapons, much less dared to commit treason!"

"We implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly! Please investigate thoroughly!"

Lu Cheng gave him no chance to explain and turned to interrogate the captain.

"Where are the people from Fuyuan Escort Agency?"

"Has the person behind this been identified?"

"Say it!"

He couldn't wait to hear Lu Yuan's name.

What good would it do to appoint a crown prince?

As long as Zhao Mingzhu identifies Lu Yuan, the crown prince in front of her will become a traitor.

At that time, Lu Yuan may become the crown prince with the shortest reign in history.

They became a laughing stock for the world.

The city guard captain lowered his head.

"Go back, Your Highness."

"The people from Fuyuan Escort Agency have been escorted to the Ministry of Justice. The heads of various departments know that this is a serious matter and are expediting the review."

Lu Cheng grabbed his shoulder excitedly and asked urgently, "Stop talking nonsense, just tell me who ordered them to do it?"

Upon hearing this, the captain looked up at him awkwardly.

"Your Highness, they would rather die than confess."

"From the moment he was arrested until now, he has been protesting his innocence in the main hall of the Ministry of Justice!"