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

After the officials left, Lu Yuan returned to Qin Xuanzhen and bowed respectfully.

"I am very grateful to the Celestial Master for clearing my name of being a demon."

Qin Xuanzhen dodged to the side.

"Your Highness is now of noble status, and I am unworthy of such a courtesy."

"If the Celestial Master cannot accept this honor, then no one in the court can."

Lu Yuan straightened up, his gaze falling on the dragon-suppressing wooden plaque.

"I have a question that I do not understand. I would like to ask the Celestial Master for clarification."

"Your Highness, please ask."

Why are you helping me?

Lu Yuan didn't believe that the wooden plaque and the star chart could truly identify demons and evil spirits.

Qin Xuanzhen should have known long ago that the Shen family wanted to deal with him.

Since the other party owes the Shen family a life-saving favor, the simplest way is to take the opportunity to pin the label of evil on him.

Even if Lu Cangqiong doesn't believe it, he can still ruin the grand ceremony of the Crown Prince's investiture.

Qin Xuanzhen put away the wooden plaque, his expression calm.

"The Shen family has been kind to me."

"Sixteen years ago, I was seriously injured while traveling in the northern border region. It was General Shen who had the army doctor save me."

"Yesterday, Consort Shen sent someone to deliver that old jade pendant, in order for me to repay a debt of gratitude."

Hearing this, Lu Yuan became even more puzzled.

"Then why did you identify Lu Cheng?"

Qin Xuanzhen chuckled softly.

"The future of the nation is paramount; personal favors are secondary."

"Your Highness has recently donated several items that benefit the country and its people, and has also implemented a work-for-relief program in Hedong, saving countless disaster victims."

"Although I have lived in the mountains for a long time, I have heard about what Your Highness has done."

"The Shen family wants me to depose the crown prince based on rumors of demons and evil spirits. If I do so, I will be aiding and abetting evil."

"As for the Second Prince..."

Qin Xuanzhen glanced outside the hall.

"He has lost the emperor's favor and is too obsessed with the position of crown prince."

"Staying in the capital will only bring about your death."

"I have labeled him a demon because I intend to bring him back to the Celestial Master's Mansion."

"It's better to be locked up there for a few years than to die in the struggle for the throne."

Lu Yuan then realized that the other party had never intended to harm anyone.

Qin Xuanzhen neither went against his own principles nor did he want to protect Lu City in another way.

Unfortunately, seeing Lu Cheng lose power, the officials in the court were eager to show their loyalty to the new crown prince and directly expelled him from the royal family.

Lu Yuan took half a step back and cupped his hands again.

"I admire the Celestial Master for putting the country and its people first."

"Today, I will also make a promise to the Celestial Master."

"As long as Lu Cheng behaves himself and does not harm the people around me again, I will not take action against him."

Qin Xuanzhen bowed in return.

"This humble Taoist priest thanks the Crown Prince on behalf of the Second Prince."

"He is no longer a prince."

Lu Yuan offered a reminder, then added, "However, Father Emperor only expelled him from the royal family; he did not take his life."

"If he is willing to leave the capital and live a wealthy life, I can arrange for someone to ensure he has enough to eat and wear for the rest of his life."

"If he still refuses to relinquish his position as crown prince..."

Lu Yuan did not continue speaking.

Qin Xuanzhen already understood what he meant.

"I will try to persuade him."

Whether he listens or not depends on him.

Qin Xuanzhen turned around and prepared to leave.

Lu Yuan called out to him.

"Is the Celestial Master planning to leave Beijing soon?"

"I originally planned to return to the Celestial Master's Mansion tomorrow."

"Let's stay in the capital for a few more days."

Lu Yuan walked to his side.

"I have a few more things I would like to ask the Celestial Master."

"Taoism has a wide influence among the people. If we can cooperate with the imperial court, we can build clinics, take in orphans, and provide relief to the people during years of disaster."

"I will visit the Celestial Master after I have finished dealing with the arms case."

Qin Xuanzhen considered for a moment.

"This humble Taoist priest is temporarily residing at the Taiji Palace."

"If Your Highness has anything to say, just send someone to inform you."

After making their agreement, Qin Xuanzhen left alone.

As Zhou Fu watched his departing figure, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Master Qin does indeed have the air of a reclusive sage."

Lu Cangqiong stood up from his throne.

"If this old Taoist priest hadn't been somewhat sober, I would have demolished his Celestial Master's Mansion today."

"Ninth Prince, come with me to the Hall of Mental Cultivation."

……

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, there were only Lu Cangqiong, his son Lu Yuan, and Zhou Fu.

Lu Cangqiong threw the confession in front of Lu Yuan.

"There are no outsiders present now. Tell me, what's the situation with the weaponry of Fuyuan Escort Agency?"

Lu Yuan sat to one side and spread out the confession again.

"Someone must have given Lu Cheng a bad idea: to use the Ministry of Rites as a cover to hide the weapons in the Fuyuan Escort Agency's car."

"Then the Five Cities Garrison will conduct a public search."

"After the Zhao family was convicted of smuggling weapons, Zhao Mingzhu had no choice but to identify me as they demanded in order to protect her family."

Lu Cangqiong asked in a deep voice, "Is it that simple?"

Lu Yuan recalled Zhao Mingzhu's words and actions; she was innocent yet adorable, adorable yet clear-headed, a woman who valued loyalty and affection above all else.

"The Zhao family's bodyguards have been with them for so many years, and some of them are elders who watched Zhao Mingzhu grow up."

"Given Zhao Mingzhu's personality, she can disregard her own well-being, but she finds it hard to watch others suffer for her sake."

Zhou Fu said from the side, "If Miss Zhao continues to refuse, they can also forge a confession."

"If the weapons were indeed found in the Zhao family's truck, and there are also some eyewitnesses."

"His Highness the Crown Prince would find it difficult to provide a reasonable explanation."

Lu Cangqiong looked at Lu Yuan and asked curiously, "Who came up with this idea?"

"Wu Yu, Principal of the Ministry of Rites."

How do you know who he is?

"My son went to the Zhao family's house yesterday."

Lu Yuan briefly explained how he met Zhao Mingzhu.

"Wu Yu originally intended to exchange marriage certificates with the Zhao family, but his son announced in front of everyone that he wanted to marry Zhao Mingzhu."

"He hates that his son stole his woman, and he is also familiar with the procedures for transporting the gifts from the Ministry of Rites."

"Besides him, no one can bind the Ministry of Rites, the Zhao family, and your son together at the same time."

Lu Cangqiong raised his hand to press his forehead.

"The second son dared to send hundreds of armor plates out of the capital just because of a woman?"

"Does he even have a brain?"

"If even one piece of armor falls into the hands of rioters, it could kill the border troops!"

Zhou Fu whispered a reminder: "Your Majesty, Prince Lu Cheng probably only wanted to frame someone and didn't really think the weapons would leak out."

Lu Cangqiong glared at him.

"Stupid is stupid!"

"Why bother explaining for him?"

Lu Yuan folded up the confession.

"Rest assured, Father."

"Your subject will go to the Ministry of Justice now, and Wu Yu will be able to speak before dark."

Lu Cangqiong, however, did not let him leave.

He opened the map of the Northern Frontier Army and pointed to the Zhenbei Army's garrison.

"The arms case is a minor matter."

"Now that you are the Crown Prince, the real trouble lies with the Shen family."

"I have transferred the Earl of Yongning to take command of the twelve battalions in the northern border. Shen Chongshan may not obediently hand over power."

"After Lu Cheng was expelled from the royal family, the Shen family is more likely to resort to desperate measures."

"If things change in the north, things will get complicated."

Looking at the military map, Lu Yuan suddenly remembered something more important.

He turned to look at Zhou Fu.

"Eunuch Zhou, does the palace have silver needles and clean water?"

Lu Cangqiong looked at him warily.

"What are you trying to do now?"

Lu Yuan put on a stern face and said with utmost seriousness, "Father, how about we really do a blood test to prove kinship with Lu Cheng?"

"This guy is so stupid, he's nothing like your son!"