A nimble figure rushed into the Prajna Hall as fast as lightning, and then grabbed Xue Yuanchu's arm tightly with decisive and powerful movements.

Everyone looked closely and found that it was the second son Xue Zhongfu.

In this urgent situation, Xue Zhongfu completely ignored the etiquette between brothers. He used great strength and forcibly pulled Xue Yuanchu away from Guan Yan.

His voice was low and firm, as he tried to persuade her: "Brother, please calm down! This is the Prajna Hall where Mother practices meditation, and you are beating a servant here. Isn't this an act against filial piety?"

Under Xue Zhongfu's strong drag and persuasion, Xue Yuanchu's anger gradually subsided and rationality slowly returned to his heart.

But when he suddenly looked up and his eyes unexpectedly met Hong Yingrong and Jiang Shuxiu's eyes full of anger and disappointment, the anger in his heart seemed to have found an outlet and poured out all at once towards the innocent Guan Yan.

He struggled to break free from Xue Zhongfu's grip, his finger pointed at Guan Yan like a sharp sword, and his voice was deafening: "You lowly creature! I paid for you to come back, not to be an eyesore here! How can you be qualified to serve my mother?"

Hong Yingrong witnessed her eldest son's misconduct and rudeness, and her heart was filled with disappointment. She shook her head slowly. What she saw today was beyond her imagination and ability to bear as a mother.

Jiang Shuxiu was also stunned, and the expression on her face instantly dimmed. The husband in front of her made her feel so strange and scary, as if he had become another person in an instant.

Xue Zhongfu hurried back from the farm and took a day off from the Ministry of Works. He was still wearing his official robe embroidered with a white pheasant patch, which indicated his status as a fifth-rank official of the Ministry of Works. The sleeves of his robe swayed gently with his hurried steps.

Xue Yuanchu's gaze fell on his second brother, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Now that you are working in the Ministry of Works, you seem to be becoming more and more capable. Are you thinking of dethroning me, the prince, so that you can inherit the title naturally?"

Xue Zhongfu never expected that his elder brother would say such slanderous words. In addition, he had stayed at the farm with his mother all night last night and was already exhausted. At this moment, he was furious and refused to give in.

"Brother, how can you be so arrogant and unreasonable? Why don't you ask why Mother wasn't at the manor last night? What happened at the farm? And that Shopkeeper Zhou from Zhenbaozhai is also involved. What exactly do you want? Will you be satisfied only when the whole mansion is in turmoil and the whole place is turned upside down?"

His voice was full of questions and dissatisfaction, and he was obviously in disbelief and anger at his elder brother's actions.

"Manager Zhou... were you at the farm last night?" Xue Yuanchu's face was full of shock and confusion. He simply couldn't believe the information he heard.

"How did you know?" There was a hint of anxiety in his tone.

"There's no such thing as an impenetrable wall. Once the news gets out, it's hard to conceal," Xue Zhongfu said in a heavy voice. "When my mother learned about the incident at the farm, she was extremely worried. She and I rushed over last night. After some trouble, we apprehended the suspicious grain smuggling group this morning."

Xue Yuanchu's expression suddenly became complicated when he heard this.

There are soldiers from Feng Shaoying's military camp in the grain transport team. If they are discovered, the consequences will be unimaginable.

At this critical moment, Mother Han hurried into the Prajna Hall and reported nervously, "Second Young Master, the person you sent to Dacheng Rice Shop to inquire about the situation has returned. The situation seems very urgent, and he requires to see you immediately."

When Xue Zhongfu heard this, a trace of solemnity flashed across his brows. Every minute and every second at this moment was crucial.

So he nodded to Mother Han, indicating that she should bring the person in immediately.

A moment later, a servant with slightly disheveled clothes and a hurried look was led in.

As soon as he saw Xue Zhongfu, he took a few steps forward impatiently, and said anxiously with a hint of panic in his voice: "Second Young Master, something terrible has happened!"

"As soon as the city gates opened in the morning, we went in and asked around. We found only one rice shop, Dacheng, in the West Market. But when we got there, it was too late. The Jingzhao prefect and his officers had surrounded the rice shop, and everyone in the shop was taken to the prefectural prison."

"In the early morning, the streets were sparsely populated, and we dared not get too close. We could only peek from a distance. Finally, we saw the yamen runners lock the rice shop door tightly and seal it."

"It's rumored that the Dacheng Rice Shop is suspected of stealing government grain and suppressing rice prices for personal gain..."

Xue Zhongfu's face turned pale upon hearing this, and he thought to himself: How could this Dacheng Rice Shop incident happen by such a coincidence, erupting at this critical juncture? Could it be that someone was deliberately doing this to divert attention or shift the blame?

Xue Yuanchu, who was standing beside him, listened to the servant's report and seemed to be talking to himself or making excuses: "Impossible, Feng Shaoying clearly said that he had made all the arrangements, so how could it be sealed off by the government..."

Upon hearing this, Hong Yingrong's expression instantly became as solemn as iron. She glared at Xue Yuanchu sternly, "Yuanchu, at this point, you still don't intend to explain the whole story? Do you really have to wait until the Jingzhao Yin comes to summon you and interrogate you in the hall of the prefecture before you're willing to speak?"

Her words were filled with deep worry, but more of a warning to Xue Yuanchu, "Don't think that just because you're the heir of a marquisate you can stay out of this. Once you violate the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty, even Your Majesty will have to handle it impartially and will never show favoritism due to personal feelings!"

Xue Yuanchu still had a glimmer of hope in his heart. He turned to look at Xue Zhongfu, trying to find a flaw. "Second brother, where did you find this servant from? Did you make up some lie to deceive me?"

When the servant heard this, his face turned pale. He kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling, "How dare I lie? This news has probably spread all over the streets by now, and everyone knows it!"

"Brother!" Xue Zhongfu's voice resounded throughout the Prajna Hall, the helplessness and anxiety contained in it almost overflowing, "What time is it now? Are you still avoiding the important issues?"

He stared at Xue Yuanchu, his eyes as sharp as a torch, trying to find the answer from his eyes, "How did this matter involve Feng Shaoying again? What on earth are you doing with the grain from the farm?"

Xue Zhongfu's words were full of questions and dissatisfaction. He couldn't understand why his elder brother, as the eldest son of a marquisate, had everything going his way, so why did he need to plan so painstakingly?

He even had an affair with Feng Shaoying in the military camp. If this matter were to be exposed, not only would the reputation of the Xingyuan Marquisate be damaged, but it might also lead to severe punishment from the court.

Xue Yuanchu also realized the seriousness of the matter. Everyone in the room looked at him seriously. He hesitated, trying to find a reasonable explanation, "I... I just... wanted to gain more benefits for the Marquis' Mansion. I didn't expect it to turn out like this..."

However, such an explanation obviously could not satisfy Hong Yingrong and Xue Zhongfu.

When Hong Yingrong wanted to continue asking, Jiang Shuxiu beside her asked tentatively, "Dacheng Rice Shop?"