Chu Ruoyan immediately said, "Yulu, let him in!"
Meng Yang entered the room and hastily bowed. "Young Madam, Prince Yu came today, insisting that our young master's origins are questionable—even suspecting him of colluding with the southern barbarians to kill the Grand General! That Vice Minister of Justice Shi Hong is stubborn as a mule. The moment he heard this, he took our young master away, and even presenting the seal of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was useless!"
The Vice Minister of Justice held a second-rank position, and with Prince Yu egging him on, arresting Yan Zheng was indeed easy.
However...
"Did your young master say nothing?"
Meng Yang stomped his foot in frustration. "That’s exactly what’s maddening—he said nothing at all! He even told this subordinate to surrender his official seal, saying a man under suspicion of crime dared not hold office... Oh, and before leaving, he asked me to inform you not to worry!"
Chu Ruoyan frowned. "I understand."
"?"
Understand what? Could she please explain?!
Meng Yang was practically tearing his hair out in anxiety, but the young madam merely said, "This is a game of chess, and all the pieces are now laid bare. Your young master has thrown himself into the board to force the opponent’s move."
Meng Yang: "???"
He was utterly baffled. Earlier that morning, Old Xu had also muttered with a furrowed brow that the young master’s actions were too dangerous, then left to tend to Young Master Wen Jing without giving him a chance to ask further.
Why did everyone else seem to grasp the situation so clearly while he remained in the dark?
Chu Ruoyan sighed. "Meng Yang, do you remember Ajiao?"
Meng Yang froze before realization struck. "You mean the young master is using himself as bait again to lure out the mastermind? But didn’t we already confirm that Princess Ansheng is the one behind it all?"
"Indeed. But if we want to find Sun Cai, we can’t bypass Her Highness..." Chu Ruoyan’s lips curled into a cold smile as she recalled last night’s exhausting efforts—all for nothing. "Your young master has never valued his own life. It was true in the past, and it remains true now. Sometimes I wonder if he’s ever truly abandoned his death wish."
Meng Yang scratched his head sheepishly. "Not really! Last night, he had me refill the bath with hot water twice—he must really want to live!"
Chu Ruoyan: "..."
Sensing the awkward silence, Meng Yang quickly asked, "Then, Young Madam, what should we do next?"
"Nothing." A hint of mockery flashed at the corner of her lips. "Someone will help him out of this predicament."
Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Justice.
Yan Lin had just clocked in when his superior dragged him onto a carriage. Dazed, he arrived at the Hall of Heavenly Purity, only to look up and see a sea of high-ranking officials in violet robes. He immediately dropped to his knees in terror.
"Is the Director of the Ministry of Justice’s Bureau of Gates, Yan Lin, present?"
The emperor’s authoritative voice rang out, and he hastily kowtowed. "Y-yes, Your Majesty..."
"Good. Tell me, do you know the truth about your nephew, the Marquis of Anning’s origins?"
Yan Lin’s eyes widened. He instinctively raised his head and saw Yan Zheng, dressed in plain white robes and seated in a wheelchair, calmly positioned at the center of the hall.
Flanking both sides of the hall stood officials of the second rank and above—aside from Prince Yu. Among them was a woman: Yan Shu, whom he had ordered confined!
"Yan Lin, His Majesty asked you a question. Why do you not answer?" Prince Yu snapped.
Yan Lin trembled. "This humble official... knows nothing..."
"Is that so?" Prince Yu turned to the emperor. "Your Majesty, since all parties are present, let them confront each other directly."
The emperor nodded, and Prince Yu called out, "Yan Shu!"
Yan Shu curtsied gracefully before addressing Yan Lin in a gentle voice. "Uncle, have you forgotten? Yesterday at the Sun residence in the outskirts, the Marquis of Anning repeatedly obstructed us from meeting Granny Sun... He even threatened you and Grandmother, saying that since the Yan family now relies solely on him, if you uncover the truth and bring him down, the entire clan will be ruined. Do you not recall?"
Cold sweat dripped down Yan Lin’s forehead. He couldn’t help but glance at Yan Zheng, whose expression remained as still as water, as if he hadn’t heard a word.
He forced himself to steady his voice. "N-no such thing happened..."
"Hmph!" Prince Yu scoffed. "Yan Lin, do you dare deceive the emperor?"
To deceive the sovereign was a crime punishable by death!
Yan Lin collapsed to the ground in terror. "Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me! This humble official only acted for the sake of the Yan family—I never meant to deceive you!"
His words amounted to an admission of Yan Shu’s claims.
The hall erupted in murmurs. The emperor’s face darkened. "Marquis of Anning, do you have anything to say in your defense?"
He was giving him a chance to explain. Yet Yan Zheng replied indifferently, "This humble official has nothing to say."
Gasps filled the hall.
"What’s going on? Is the Marquis of Anning truly not the Grand General’s son?"
"Impossible! He was raised for twenty years—how could the Grand General not know?"
"Then the Grand General left behind no bloodline..."
Seizing the moment, Prince Yu declared, "Your Majesty, if the Marquis of Anning is not the Grand General’s son, then his testimony about the Hangu Pass battle—where he alone survived—cannot be trusted. It’s highly possible he colluded with the southern barbarians to orchestrate the defeat! I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
This was the very outcome he had painstakingly engineered.
A flicker of disdain passed through Yan Zheng’s eyes as he silently observed the reactions of every official present.
Unexpectedly, Chu Huaishan stepped forward, eyebrows raised. "By Prince Yu’s logic, the Marquis of Anning traveled to the border, braved swords and fire alongside the Grand General, and even lost the use of his legs—all to collude with barbarians and kill the Grand General? Then why return to the capital? To seek death?"
Prince Yu faltered. Even Yan Zheng was taken aback.
This future father-in-law had always disliked him—why was he...?
"Your Majesty, the entire court knows that this old minister and the Marquis of Anning are at odds over my daughter’s affairs, so I’ve no reason to defend him! But I must speak the truth: for a man who crawled on broken legs to deliver news from Tiger Prison Pass and escorted the Grand General’s remains back to the capital, I refuse to believe he’s a southern barbarian spy!"
Many officials nodded in agreement. The emperor pondered deeply. "Duke Chu’s words are not without merit..."
Prince Yu couldn’t let his prey slip away. He shot Yan Shu a meaningful glance.
She prostrated herself. "Your Majesty, as a mere woman, I know nothing of whether the Marquis of Anning betrayed our nation. But yesterday, before all witnesses, he ordered his subordinate to assault Grandmother—even severed her hair! This is irrefutable!"
"What?!!"
The hall erupted in outrage.
Old Censor Yu, renowned for his integrity, trembled as he stepped forward. "Your Majesty! Harming one’s grandmother is one of the Ten Abominations—the crime of ‘Contumacy’! I beg Your Majesty to punish this severely!"
Vice Minister Shi Hong added sternly, "Indeed. As the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Marquis of Anning knowingly violated the law. His offense is doubly grave!"
Amid the chorus of condemnation, Prince Yu smirked. "Duke Chu, what say you now?"
Chu Huaishan flicked his sleeves. "That’s the Yan family’s affair—what concern is it of mine?" He retreated to his position, though inwardly he cursed Yan Zheng’s impulsiveness. From what his daughter had said, the old matriarch’s actions were vile—but no matter how justified, one mustn’t leave evidence!
The emperor finally declared, "In that case, strip him of his position as Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and—"
Before he could finish speaking, a young eunuch suddenly rushed in and whispered something to Yin Shun, who immediately leaned in to report to the emperor: "Your Majesty, Princess Ansheng has arrived and has been kneeling outside the hall for some time..."
The emperor was startled and glared at him. "Why haven't you summoned her in yet?"
Yin Shun promptly raised his voice and announced, "Princess Ansheng is granted entry to the hall—"
