Chapter 144: Chapter 128: Prince Huai’an Returns to the Public Eye, Controversy in the Capital, Reactions from All Sides

Lu Mingyuan carefully examined the report in the Great Yan Mansion Report.

Although Lu Yunqing’s name was on it, the main source was listed as a joint publication by Prince Chongwen’s Mansion and the Drumming Institute.

In addition to his status as a Prince, Lu Yunqing was also a scholar.

This was because he had once taken the top spot in the metropolitan examinations of the Northern Seven States in the sixtieth year of Yong’an, based on his scores in policy essays, classical interpretations, and poetry. However, the chief examiner discovered his identity after checking the sealed names. Fearing the major repercussions of a Prince becoming the top scholar and the Holy Emperor’s wrath for their poor supervision, they reported the matter. Thus, he was barred from the final palace examination.

Some speculated that if the Eighth Prince had been allowed to continue to the palace examination, he might very well have become the top scholar. After all, his scores were first in all of the seven states.

That was how he earned the reputation of having the “talent of a top scholar.”

The first headline came from the Drumming Institute. The person crying for justice today was, shockingly, him. The headline itself was written to be sensational; he wondered who had instigated it.

One of the duties of the Drumming Institute was to seek justice for all people under heaven. Cases were to be reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and announced by the Ministry of Justice. The Drumming Institute’s own Confucian Scholars would preside, using the Dao of the Saint to re-examine the case and determine guilt or innocence.

If guilty, they were punished according to precedent. If innocent, it was reported to the Holy Emperor and they were declared not guilty.

Every so often, a major case of injustice would emerge and be reported in the Mansion Report.

It was just that today, the protagonist of this appeal for justice was him, Lu Mingyuan.

Lu Mingyuan believed this was Lu Yunqing’s handiwork.

The Drumming Institute first revisited the case of the Demoness of the Demon Country, pointing out its many questionable aspects. They thoroughly analyzed the Sixth Prince’s character and the Demoness’s cultivation and strength, concluding that it was impossible for the Sixth Prince to have committed the crime.

It also pointed out how numerous experts had fought in the Capital back then yet failed to capture the Demoness. The Bright Lamp Bureau and the Three Academy Cultivators were utterly useless. The conclusion was: This case is suspicious. Lu Mingyuan is likely innocent, and some other power was involved behind the scenes.

The scholars’ words were blunt, direct, and just, with every sentence striking a fatal blow to the heart.

The second headline was about the whereabouts of the Buddha’s Relics.

The Cabinet had originally wanted to downplay the matter, but Lu Yunqing’s report directly revealed the Relics’ whereabouts. In reality, the Relics had been stolen by a hidden force and their location was unknown.

He and the Seventh Prince both witnessed this and were subsequently targets of an assassination attempt.

Lu Mingyuan saw at a glance that Lu Yunqing was targeting Lu Guangjing and the Endless Pavilion.

He was pinning the blame for the loss of the Buddha’s Relics on Prince Jin’s Mansion, but without stating it outright, using terms like “mysterious force” and “hidden power” to generalize.

The Seventh Prince was the one who had actually taken the Relics. Now, Prince Jin’s Mansion was taking the fall for it.

If the first two headlines weren’t obvious enough, the third one definitely was.

“A Few Things You Didn’t Know About Prince Jin’s Mansion.”

It included a detailed account of the industries under Prince Jin’s Mansion, such as the Capital’s gangs, brothels, casinos, and other shady businesses like human trafficking.

Placing this report below the first two was undoubtedly meant to make people associate Prince Jin with the Infinite Faction.

In the end, the Mansion Report even offered a summary.

An evil force has appeared in the Capital, targeting Great Yan. It not only framed the Sixth Prince but also killed the Eldest Prince, the Fourth Prince, and others. The report stated that evidence was being gathered, only offering it as an unconfirmed possibility and leaving readers in suspense.

Looking over the three headlines, Lu Mingyuan summarized it in four words.

’Targeting Prince Jin’s Mansion.’

Lu Yunqing’s faction had already become aware of what Prince Jin, Lu Guangjing, had been doing, and they had begun a fierce counterattack.

The first time was during the conflict over the Relics, where they taught the Endless Pavilion a lesson and saved Prince Langya, Lu Yunwan, from disaster.

The second was today’s Great Yan Mansion Report.

They were attempting to push Prince Jin’s Mansion onto a high platform above an abyss, only to then throw it down hard.

’Doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, just slap the label on them first and deal with the rest later.’

The methods were brilliant, attracting the attention of the Imperial Capital’s common folk—a massive crowd of onlookers—and it would even draw the Court’s notice.

The chain reaction would be that the powers behind the Three Religions would all take notice and analyze the possibilities.

This undoubtedly stripped the quietly hiding Lu Guangjing bare and placed him on stage for all to see.

With this matter brought out into the open, the people of the Endless Pavilion would have nowhere to hide. Their operations would become more difficult, and they could no longer act as wantonly as before.

Simply put, Prince Jin and Prince Chongwen had already begun to clash.

There was just one thing Lu Mingyuan wasn’t happy about.

’Why is Lu Yunqing so determined to drag me into this?’

Staring at the Mansion Report in his hands, Lu Mingyuan fell into deep thought.

’The only explanation is that he wants me to join his faction, just like the Seventh Prince, to fight against the Second Prince together.’

’He’s saving me from this sea of suffering to repay a past favor, just like what happened with Lu Yunwan, who was ambushed while holding the Relics.’

But in Lu Mingyuan’s view, it was completely unnecessary.

He didn’t want to wade into these muddy waters.

And he didn’t want to get involved in the succession struggle between the Second Prince and the Eighth Prince.

“Your Highness doesn’t seem very happy?”

Zi Yun noticed that Lu Mingyuan’s expression was a little off.

She thought that the reversal of His Highness’s reputation was definitely a good thing.

His Highness regaining his freedom, leaving the palace exonerated, and once again being eligible to inherit the throne—what could be more uplifting than that?

“Why would you think that?”

Lu Mingyuan forced a smile.

In truth, that wasn’t what he was thinking at all.

He believed that leaving the palace was too dangerous. If he got involved in the struggle between the Second and Eighth Princes, a single misstep could lead to disaster.

The Eighth Prince had a Saint backing him, but didn’t the Second Prince have one as well?

Qi Xingyan had said that a Tenth Rank Go master, the Nan Zhou National Preceptor, was rumored to be backing him. He was a major figure as well.

’He’s not someone to be trifled with. I’m unwilling to get involved, and I don’t want to be involved.’

’Wouldn’t it be better to just quietly fill up my Fate Grids and break through to the Martial Arts Twelve Realms?’

’If I don’t stay in the Cold Palace, how can my “Trapped Dragon in the Abyss” evolve to its second stage?’

After reading the freshly printed Great Yan Mansion Report, a skeptical Yang Yingchan asked from the side:

“Brother-in-law, were you really framed?”

Lu Mingyuan smiled faintly. “What do you think, Sister-in-law?”

A thoughtful look appeared in Yang Yingchan’s eyes.

’If Lu Mingyuan was framed, then his future potential would also be limitless.’

’If Lu Mingyuan becomes the Emperor, would she no longer have to be a hostage in the Capital?’

“I believe you, Brother-in-law.”

Yang Yingchan’s impression of Lu Mingyuan was now more than twice as good as before. For a while now, the two of them had been meeting almost every night to read and chat. They had become very familiar with and understood each other, which made her evenings less boring.

Therefore, in her heart, Yang Yingchan still believed in Lu Mingyuan’s character.

Lu Mingyuan watched…

…

「Wang Family Royal Mansion.」

Some family servants were sweeping the streets.

On normal days, the vast mansion would seem somewhat desolate.

But at that moment, a figure appeared, moving at great speed.

“Hurry.”

“Hurry.”

“Report it quickly.”

“There’s something to report to the Prime Minister!”

The figure who appeared was an official from the Ministry of War and also a clansman of the Wang Family. He was galloping on a fast horse and charged into the Prince Mansion.

“What’s going on?”

The old butler heard the noise and immediately walked out, his eyes full of confusion.

“Prince Huai’an has a chance for a pardon!”

“The Court has accepted the Drumming Institute’s request for a retrial!”

The latter was out of breath, but he managed to finish his sentence.

“His Highness… a pardon?”

“A retrial?”

Hearing this, the old butler was completely stunned.

’This can’t be possible.’

But he quickly came to his senses and, without another word, led the man inside to find him.

「In the study.」

Wang He’fu was looking through some leftover memorials. They contained news from the border: the situation in the Northwest Three States was dire. The Demon Barrier was surging, causing heavy casualties among the border troops. They needed reinforcements from the reserve armies of various states and counties, which required complex and numerous dispatches from the Ministry of War.

He had said from the start that this war should not have been fought. Now, after a crushing defeat, they also had to face retaliation from the Holy Netherworld. It was a situation they couldn’t back out of.

He wearily rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Just then, a rush of hurried footsteps sounded. The old man couldn’t help but lift his head and look over.

The butler appeared, unable to contain his excitement. “Patriarch, great news!”

“His Highness has been pardoned! The Court has agreed to reinvestigate the case!”

the old butler exclaimed, offering his ecstatic congratulations.

THUD.

In that instant,

in the study, the memorial in Wang He’fu’s hand fell directly onto the desk.

He froze on the spot, his gaze somewhat dazed.

“What did you say?”

After a moment, Wang He’fu’s voice boomed as he asked again.

Seeing that his master couldn’t believe it, the old butler could only pull the Ministry of War official forward to explain.

“This subordinate pays his respects to Lord Minister!”

“This subordinate just received news from the Ministry of Justice! The Ministry of Justice has agreed to a retrial, supervised by the Drumming Institute, to reinvestigate the Demoness case! Lord Minister, there’s hope for His Highness to regain his freedom!”

As expected of an official from the central Court, the man from the Ministry of War wasted no words. His thoughts were clear, and he got to the point in a single sentence.

He handed over the Mansion Report he was holding.

“Good.”

“Excellent.”

“Extremely good!”

Upon hearing this news, Wang He’fu’s body couldn’t help but tremble, and he said “good” three times in a row.

He understood what this meant.

The Drumming Institute had the authority to hear appeals for justice, but the Court did not have to agree. Without the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Justice, such an appeal couldn’t proceed.

To unite so many officials required immense power.

As the Great Yan Prime Minister, he naturally had the power to pressure the Drumming Institute, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Justice.

But he could not, because Lu Mingyuan was his grandson.

“Promote the worthy, not your relatives.”

“Help the desperate, not your family.”

It was all to avoid suspicion.

So, who had given him this much face?

Wang He’fu took the Mansion Report and suddenly understood.

Prince Chongwen, Lu Yunqing.

It was the currently ascendant Eighth Prince helping from behind the scenes.

’No wonder.’

The “talent of a top scholar” from the past had grown into a Qilin Child. Now, he was beginning to show his ferocious dragon horns. Such a method of winning allies was befitting of an enlightened ruler.

Wang He’fu sighed with deep emotion.

’All in all, this is a good thing. Yuan’Er has no desire to fight for the throne. If he can leave the Cold Palace and just be a wealthy prince with a good relationship with Lu Yunqing, avoiding the suspicion of the future Prince Chongwen… that is already the greatest fantasy I could hope for.’

…

「As the events unfolded.」

Prince Huai’an, Lu Mingyuan, the Sixth Prince of Great Yan.

This identity had, through the Great Yan Mansion Report, once again entered the public eye in the Capital.

The theft of the Buddha’s Relics was not a huge deal on its own.

But a Prince being harmed and the Buddha’s Relics being stolen by the same group of people—that was a huge deal!

In the eyes of the common people, the Sixth Prince had originally been an ignorant and incompetent person.

But the news of a retrial truly made the common folk and scholars of the Capital surprised and doubtful.

All at once, the case of the Demoness of the Demon Country became even more confusing and mysterious.

Lu Mingyuan had a bad reputation, but that didn’t mean his maternal grandfather did. Just because the Wang Family was a weaker faction didn’t mean the Champion Marquis was a fool for wanting to marry his daughter to the Sixth Prince.

Because of this, various discussions cropped up again. Some of the common people began to think that Lu Mingyuan might have been framed.

This was public debate; it changed every day. It was also severely polarized—there were bound to be good words, and there were bound to be malicious ones.

Many people believed Lu Mingyuan got what he deserved and that there was no possibility of him being framed. They thought this news was just someone trying to confuse the public.

Even with a retrial, the result would be the same.

That scumbag Lu Mingyuan shouldn’t be pardoned. They hoped the Confucian Scholars of the Drum Institute would be reasonable and not cover for him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep