Just as Xu Yunrong was about to turn around, she saw Meng Dashan following her. She said with some disdain, "I'll go with Xiaochuan. Why are you joining in? Youzhi is still a guest at the mansion. Shouldn't you stay home and keep him company?"

Hearing this from inside the room, Xiao Youzhi raised an eyebrow, turned around and walked out of the room. "Auntie, you're being too polite with me. I feel perfectly comfortable in your home. Why would I need Uncle to keep me company?"

Meng Dashan rubbed his hands together and laughed, "That's right, isn't Youzhi one of our own? I happen to be at home with nothing to do, so why don't I drive you there?"

Xu Yunrong glanced back and forth between Xiao Youzhi and the study, then nodded, "Alright then, Youzhi, do as you please. Just let Aunt Li know if you need anything."

"Don't worry, Auntie," Xiao Youzhi replied with a smile, watching the two elders leave before standing still.

He grew up in a wealthy family and was used to seeing all sorts of ways couples got along in high society. Those who appeared to be respectful to each other probably didn't even know each other's nicknames in private. Those who seemed very loving were actually wives who were submissive and always followed their husbands' orders. It was just a facade to put on a good show for outsiders.

Even worse are his parents, one of whom is naturally promiscuous, spending his days flirting and never restraining himself, while the other is tightly bound by worldly etiquette and always says "a woman must obey her husband" and, even though she is secretly aggrieved, she still has to put on a smiling face and say things like "her husband is her heaven".

Over the years, he has coldly observed these so-called ways of husband and wife, feeling extremely disgusted. Does this mean that all couples in this world have to live such a distorted life?

That's why he especially liked coming to the Meng residence. Here, he saw not the respectability put on for outsiders, but genuine affection. Even just a few casual words made him feel comforted and hoped that one day he could live such a simple and peaceful life with his beloved.

Therefore, he would never agree to Meng Zhao's statement against marriage, otherwise he would end up like the women his father kept outside. When they came to his door, his father would simply say "I can't remember" and send them away, leaving them without any status or even a place to cry and complain.

Meng Zhao couldn't figure out what was wrong with Xiao Youzhi today. He sat in her study all morning without saying a word. While she was looking at the account book, he picked up a book and quietly flipped through it. Since he didn't make a sound to disturb her, Meng Zhao let him be. It wasn't until lunchtime, when someone from the Xiao family came looking for him, that this gentleman reluctantly got up to say goodbye.

By the time Meng Zhao finished reading the last account book, it was already afternoon. After rubbing his sore neck, he remembered the misunderstanding he had with Shen Qinghe the night before, so he got up and headed to the Shen family. However, as soon as he arrived at the gate of the Shen residence, he encountered Afu, who was rushing out.

"Madam Meng, your timing is unfortunate. My master has already set off for Huainan this morning."

"Huainan?" A sudden sense of foreboding swept through Meng Zhao's heart. "Did he say what kind of errand he was going to run?"

Afu replied, "I heard that the autumn imperial examinations are approaching, and His Majesty has specially dispatched an official to inspect the preparations for the examinations in various regions."

Meng Zhao silently calculated the timeline in her mind. A major event would happen in Huainan this year. When she read that book before, she learned about the past from the perspective of the male protagonist, Shen Qinghe. In the book, Shen Qinghe became the top scholar in the imperial examination, but due to factional infighting in the court, he failed to enter the Hanlin Academy. Instead, he was transferred to the Ministry of Justice, where he was responsible for dirty and tiring work such as investigation and interrogation. His career was bleak.

Two years later, a turning point came when a group of special prisoners were suddenly brought into the Ministry of Justice prison. The leader of them was none other than the famous Prince Jingnan, Chu Zheng, who was charged with more than ten major crimes, including seizing farmland and embezzling disaster relief funds.

Logically, such a major case involving members of the royal family should be handed over to the three judicial departments for joint trial. However, the ministers appointed by the emperor either claimed illness to shirk their responsibilities or simply resigned and retired, and none of them dared to take on this hot potato. Therefore, the person was temporarily sent to the Ministry of Justice prison.

The reason for this was clear to everyone in the court and among the people. The Prince of Jingnan's identity was too special. He was not only the current emperor's uncle, but also a war god who made outstanding contributions during the founding of the country. On the battlefield, he even risked his life to save the current emperor. His kindness was as heavy as a mountain.

The turning point came after the late emperor's death. His Majesty was young, and the Prince of Jingnan had made great military achievements. Gradually, undercurrents of support for a new emperor emerged in the court. If it weren't for the current Princess taking on a critical mission and working with the Weiguo Gong to stabilize the situation with swift and decisive measures, the throne would probably already belong to someone else.

No matter how deep the friendship, it will eventually change its flavor once it involves a struggle for interests, let alone the struggle for the throne of the emperor.

On the surface, the emperor treated his uncle, who had made outstanding contributions and saved his life, with exceptional courtesy, bestowing generous rewards on him during festivals, granting him a seat at court assemblies, and even allowing him to carry a sword into the palace. However, in secret, the emperor stripped him of his military power, planted spies in his service, and employed various means of suppression, which were known to almost the entire court.

What's even more troublesome is that this case hides a fatal dead end: when the late emperor ascended the throne, he was impressed by the achievements of the Prince of Jingnan and his initiative to back down from the throne. He had bestowed upon him a certificate of merit, stating that as long as the Prince of Jingnan held the certificate, he would be spared death no matter what crime he committed, unless he was guilty of treason.

Therefore, even if His Majesty uses many means of suppression after ascending the throne, as long as there is the imperial edict and those upright officials, he will not be able to truly kill the Prince of Jingnan.

If Your Majesty were determined to kill Prince Jingnan, there would naturally be loyal ministers to advise him. However, when the case was reported to the Emperor, Your Majesty threw the book to the ground and angrily denounced it as "absolutely impossible," and ordered that justice must be served for Prince Jingnan.

At this point, anyone with a modicum of sense understood that His Majesty needed someone to give him a reason to kill the Prince of Jingnan. This reason had to be airtight, bypassing the imperial edict and ensuring that His Majesty wouldn't be branded as ungrateful.

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!