March in Beijing should have been a time of vibrant spring, but instead, it was shrouded in gloom.

In the streets and alleys, in teahouses and taverns, people whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with fear and suspicion.

"Have you heard? Prince Qi didn't rebel willingly; he was forced into it by the Emperor and Prince Jing!"

"Shh—keep your voice down! Are you out of your mind?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Who in the capital doesn't know that the Emperor is even eliminating his own uncle to implement his new policies? Next, he'll probably target us powerful families!"

Such rumors spread like a plague in the capital, causing a great uproar in just three days.

In the imperial court, the ministers from powerful families looked at the emperor with more wariness and suspicion.

Inside the imperial study, Lu Nancheng slammed his hand on the desk, making the teacups clink.

"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly for me! Where did these rumors come from!" The young emperor's eyes burned with rage, and veins bulged on his forehead.

Lu Jingze stood aside, his expression solemn: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This rumor is suspicious and the timing is so precise. Someone must have deliberately tried to confuse the public. The most important thing now is to stabilize people's hearts."

Lu Nancheng implemented new policies, intending to dismiss aristocratic families and promote those from humble backgrounds, thus injecting fresh blood into the court.

No matter how carefully he did it, his actions were bound to be noticed.

The person who spreads the rumors is extremely malicious.

The powerful families were already wary of the new policies, so when this rumor came out, it was inevitable that people would suspect that Lu Nancheng was eliminating dissidents.

The new policies have just begun to show results, and everything is at a critical juncture, so we really can't afford to take any risks.

Lu Nancheng took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He pushed open the window and looked at the gloomy sky in the distance: "The new policies have just begun to show results, and these people can't contain themselves anymore."

He turned to look at Lu Jingze, "Jingze, you're right, but what should we do now?"

"Now that things have come to this, we can only let the old imperial uncle show himself to dispel the rumors from the outside world about the persecution of loyal officials."

"I know that, but wasn't the old imperial uncle poisoned..."

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I have found a highly skilled physician who has helped our late uncle cure the poison," Lu Jingze said in a low voice. "However..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that the poison is too potent. Although the old imperial uncle survived, his body was severely damaged, and I'm afraid..." Lu Jingze didn't finish his sentence.

"Is the old imperial uncle awake yet?"

Lu Jingze nodded.

Lu Nancheng closed his eyes, his chest heaving violently.

When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with unwavering resolve: "By imperial decree, in three days at the Dali Temple, I will personally preside over this trial! Let all the people of the capital witness who is plotting rebellion and who is framing loyal officials!"

---

Three days later, at the Dali Temple.

As dawn broke, the area in front of the Dali Temple was already crowded with people who had come to watch the spectacle.

The Imperial Guards, wielding long halberds, maintained order, but could not silence the murmurs rising and falling among the crowd.

"I heard the Emperor intends to personally preside over the trial?"

"Isn't that right? It's said that Old Prince Qi isn't dead at all, and he's going to be confronted in court today!"

"Hmph, who knows if they just had someone impersonate him..."

As a drumbeat sounded, the crowd suddenly fell silent.

The main hall of the Dali Temple opened wide, and civil and military officials entered in turn.

Finally, under the protection of the Imperial Guards, Emperor Lu Nancheng, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, solemnly entered the courtroom.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" The crowd knelt and bowed.

Lu Nancheng raised his hand to signal everyone to rise, his gaze swept over the officials below the hall, lingered briefly on the faces of several important officials from prominent families, and finally landed on Lu Jingze standing to the side.

The two exchanged a knowing glance.

"Bring Prince Qi to the court!" Lu Nancheng commanded in a deep voice.

A moment later, two guards helped a emaciated old man slowly walk into the courtroom.

The old man was dressed in plain white prison clothes, his hair was disheveled, and his face was ashen, but his former dignity could still be vaguely discerned.

The audience erupted in uproar.

"It really is Prince Qi!"

"Oh my god, how did it turn out like this?"

Prince Qi, Lu Mingde, trembled as he raised his head, his cloudy eyes looking at the emperor sitting high in the hall. His lips trembled, but he could not utter a word.

Upon seeing this, a flicker of pain crossed Lu Nancheng's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: "Uncle Qi, today I am personally presiding over your treason case. Do you have anything to say?"

King Qi suddenly broke free from his guards' support and knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty! This old minister is innocent! This old minister never intended to rebel! Someone...someone poisoned this old minister, controlled his mind, and forced him to raise an army!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

The ministers from the powerful families looked at each other, their faces filled with shock.

Lu Nancheng leaned forward slightly: "Who dares to be so bold? Uncle Qi, please speak freely, I will avenge you!"

The King of Qi, his hand trembling, raised his arm and pointed to the man standing at the very front of the civil officials' ranks: "It's him! The Grand Preceptor, Xuanjizi!"

All eyes immediately focused on the middle-aged Taoist priest with a slender face, dressed in a purple robe.

Xuanjizi's expression remained unchanged, only slightly raising an eyebrow: "Your Highness, you are mistaken. This humble Taoist is devoted to the country; how could I commit such a treasonous act? Is Your Highness perhaps poisoned to the bone and has lost your mind?"

"You!" King Qi trembled with rage. "That day you sent a Taoist priest with a 'Heart-Nourishing Pill,' claiming it was a gift from His Majesty. After taking it, I became delirious and did many irrational things. Later I learned that the pill contained a deadly poison that not only controlled the mind but also gradually eroded the internal organs!"

Xuanjizi chuckled lightly: "Does Your Highness have any evidence? If not, this constitutes slander against an official of the imperial court, a crime punishable by double the severity."

At that moment, Prince Jing, Lu Jingze, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I have evidence to present."

He took out several account books and secret letters from his sleeve: "These are account books seized from the Imperial Preceptor's residence, recording the amount of gold and silver sent by the Imperial Preceptor's residence through Taoist priests over the past six months. These secret letters are correspondence between the Imperial Preceptor and the Taoist priest in the Prince of Qi's residence, which clearly mention the efficacy and usage of the 'Heart-Nourishing Pill'."

Xuanjizi's expression finally changed: "This...this is a frame-up! Your Highness Prince Jing, I have no grudge against you, why would you frame me?"

Lu Jingze sneered: "Your Excellency, these handwritings have been authenticated by several scholars from the Hanlin Academy, and are undoubtedly yours. Furthermore..." He turned towards the outside of the hall, "Bring witnesses!"

Two guards escorted a disheveled Taoist priest into the courtroom.

Upon seeing Xuanjizi, the Taoist priest immediately knelt down and wailed, "Grand Preceptor, save me! I was only following your orders, and you gave me the poison. I know nothing!"

Xuanjizi's face was ashen. Suddenly, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and a dagger slid out from his sleeve. With lightning speed, he pounced on the emperor!

"Die, you tyrant!"

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Lu Jingze reacted quickly, stepping forward to block the emperor's path.

With a "thud," the dagger pierced Lu Jingze's shoulder, and blood instantly stained the prince's python robe.

The Imperial Guards rushed forward and pinned Xuanjizi to the ground.

A sharp pain shot through Lu Jingze's shoulder. He frowned, but before he could think further, everything went black.

"Jingze!" Lu Nancheng caught his swaying younger brother and saw that the blood seeping from the wound on Lu Jingze's shoulder was an abnormal dark red.

"The dagger is poisoned! Quickly summon the imperial physician!" Lu Nancheng's voice was filled with unprecedented panic.

The people below the hall watched this scene, each with their own thoughts.

Those powerful ministers who were originally dissatisfied with the new policies now had to re-examine their positions.

The Emperor and Prince Jing share a deep brotherly bond, and the Emperor has been so decisive. Furthermore, with the truth revealed in today's public trial and the support of the people, going against him now would likely end badly.

"Xuanjizi! How dare you attempt an assassination in court!"

Xuanjizi, pinned to the ground, sneered, "Lu Nancheng! You think getting rid of me is the end of it? The powerful clans won't let you go! Your new policies are doomed to fail! The great empire will eventually perish in the hands of your own people!"

"Drag him away!" Lu Nancheng roared. "Interrogate him thoroughly and make sure to find all accomplices!"

After Xuanjizi was dragged away, Lu Nancheng turned to the assembled officials, his voice firm and resounding: "My esteemed ministers have all witnessed it; the Imperial Preceptor Xuanjizi is the true mastermind behind this rebellion! He not only poisoned and controlled Uncle Qi, but also spread rumors to sow discord between me and all my ministers. His intentions are utterly despicable!"

He surveyed the crowd, his gaze lingering on the faces of several prominent officials from powerful families: "The implementation of these new policies is solely for the selection of truly talented individuals, not for suppressing powerful families. I hope that you will all work together with me to create a prosperous and glorious era!"

The powerful ministers exchanged bewildered glances, then knelt in unison: "Your Majesty, we humbly obey your decree!"

Lu Nancheng nodded, then looked at the weakened Prince Qi: "Although Prince Qi was controlled by others, his rebellion is indeed true. Considering your advanced age and frail health, and the great contributions you have made to the Great Cause, I will spare your life, strip you of your princely title, and confine you to your residence to live out your remaining years in peace."

King Qi, tears streaming down his face, kowtowed repeatedly: "This old minister...thanks to Your Majesty's great kindness!"