"This is the ledger of the transactions between Xue Huai'an and Yuehai Kingdom." Yu Shuo stepped forward, his wide black sleeves brushing against the documents on the table, slightly bumping the hanging brush.

During the morning court session, Imperial Censor Li indeed gave Xue Huai'an a thorough dressing-down, repeatedly saying that Xue Huai'an, as a subject of the Great An, was highly valued by His Majesty, yet he had now broken the law by opening a casino.

Officials in Da'an have explicitly prohibited the opening of casinos, as the saying goes, "a little gambling is harmless, but excessive gambling is harmful." Once you get hooked on gambling, it's hard to shake it off. During the decadent reign of the previous dynasty, gambling was not prohibited, and even members of the royal family actively opened casinos, causing many people to become addicted, leading to broken families and even death.

As a result, after the establishment of Da'an, they deeply resented this and resolutely resisted the opening of large casinos.

Xue Huai'an not only ran casinos, but also engaged in underground boxing matches. Which of these activities didn't involve bloodshed?

Even setting aside his alliance with Consort Rong, the casino alone would be enough to give Xue Huai'an a hard time, enough to demote him back to a commoner.

After the morning court session, Xue Huai'an personally handed the account book to Emperor Mingyang, even bypassing Deng Quan.

Logically, Deng Quan should have taken over, but he didn't.

Emperor Mingyang opened the account book, where the transactions of the Third Prince of Yuehai Kingdom were clearly recorded. Horses were always considered military supplies, and only a small number of ordinary horses would flow into the hands of the common people.

What did Xue Huai'an mean by sending a large number of ponies to Yuehai Kingdom? He could easily be accused of treason.

Emperor Mingyang was furious, but he suppressed his anger. Perhaps his anger had already been unleashed as soon as he learned that his bedmate was arranged by Xue Huai'an.

He is no longer a betrayed man, but a clear-headed and serious emperor.

"So many horses were sent out of the country; there must have been someone helping him." Otherwise, how could it have been kept secret for so long? Those ledgers weren't something that could be kept overnight.

"They have all been captured."

Emperor Mingyang nodded, "Alright, I'll leave this matter to you." He didn't mention Rong Zhaoyi's affair, but these crimes alone were enough to warrant the confiscation of Xue Huai'an's property and the extermination of his entire family.

Yu Shuo nodded in agreement.

He left the palace and went to the imperial prison, where Xue Huai'an is now being held.

Having changed out of his fine clothes, he now wears plain prison clothes. Even without his jade crown and waist ornaments, he still exudes an outstanding aura, as if even being in the prison has not diminished his spirit in the slightest.

Hearing a commotion outside, Xue Huai'an got up to look. The newcomer was backlit, dressed in a magnificent black robe with gold embroidery on the cuffs and hem. The clothes looked familiar to him. He couldn't see the person's face, but he guessed who he was.

The visitor was Yu Shuo.

"Your Highness Prince Chen, you have some impressive skills." He gripped the dark brown bars, trying his best to appear strong even in the cage, at least not to lose to this person.

Even in the game, he had already lost.

"Without evidence, how long can Your Highness Prince Chen imprison me?" he continued, his gaze following the movements of the newcomer. Soon, he saw Yu Shuo's handsome face, which was almost flawless.

This person has been suppressing him for too long.

In the capital, people only knew of the God of War Yu Shuo, but they were unaware that among his peers there was also a person of exceptional talent and elegance like Xue Huai'an.

Xue Huai'an disliked Yu Shuo, not just because of Qin Su; he had disliked him for a long time.

Such dislike often stems from jealousy.

He was jealous of Yu Shuo's brilliance and believed that Yu Shuo's great achievements were due to being born into the right family.

Otherwise, Yu Shuo, born into the Duke of Cheng's mansion, would certainly not be as good as him.

"You opened a casino and traded with the Yuehai Kingdom, exchanging horses and money. The evidence is irrefutable."

Xue Huai'an's heart skipped a beat, but when he remembered that the ledger was still in the hidden compartment and no one would know where it was, his panic disappeared immediately.

He said, "At most, the Crown Prince was just lax in his discipline at the casino. As for the horse trading across the sea? That's pure nonsense."

"The casino manager insisted it was you. Do you think your denials will work? As for the horse trade, the ledger has already been submitted to His Majesty, and His Majesty will make his own judgment." Yu Shuo's dark and deep eyes were calm yet oppressive, not necessarily sharp, but always inspiring fear.

Xue Huai'an gritted his teeth, his heart starting to race again.

The ledger is clearly still in the hidden compartment; he's just talking nonsense!

I must not lose my composure.

Perhaps sensing Xue Huai'an's thoughts, Yu Shuo said, "Are you thinking that the ledger is in the hidden compartment, and you just checked it?"

"You!" Xue Huai'an's eyes widened, his hands gripping the railing tightly, his knuckles turning a ghastly white from the force.

The questions almost burst from his throat, and the turmoil in his chest surged like a wild beast. But reason held these emotions firmly back, imprisoning them all, making it difficult to break free.

"Unfortunately, we switched the ledger. You were too confident, so you didn't check the other ledger, right?" Although Yu Shuo asked, his tone was undeniably certain.

If Xue Huai'an had examined it, it certainly wouldn't be like this now.

It's quite laughable.

"What are you so smug about?!" Reason almost crumbled at this moment. He really hadn't checked it. If it had really been switched, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Yu Shuo, what's there to be so smug about? If you already have the evidence, why did you come here? Why didn't you just convict me?"

He was so anxious that he didn't even use the title "this young master," which shows that he was actually in a state of utter confusion.

Yu Shuo sat down on the chair that Chongyang had dragged over, his wide robes trailing on the ground, seemingly blending into the dark prison.

He was as majestic as a mountain, and as insurmountable as a giant beast. This was the kind of person who had been suppressing him ever since he returned to the capital, suppressing him relentlessly.

I'm so outstanding and excellent, why should I let him overshadow me?!

Xue Huai'an couldn't understand it, and he was unwilling to accept it.

"I am here not because I cannot convict you, but simply to see what makes you superior to me."

Even though the matter was in the past, Yu Shuo was still petty, so petty that he couldn't understand why Qin Su chose him instead of him back then.

Xue Huai'an's agitated emotions suddenly calmed down, as if he were stunned.

He quickly understood what Yu Shuo meant.

He was trying to say why Qin Su chose him instead of him.

Once he understood, Xue Huai'an laughed heartily, feeling extremely pleased with himself.

I thought I would be suppressed by him for the rest of my life and would never be able to turn the tables.

Now it turns out that Yu Shuo had already lost, lost to Qin Su.

The dignified Prince Chen has fallen to such a state because of a woman!

It's ridiculous!

"What? Am I inferior to you?" Yu Shuo was being a bit stubborn. He knew very well that his behavior was inappropriate, but he just couldn't let it go. But he would never let Qin Su know about this; he would act very magnanimous.

After all, Xue Huai'an possessed her past, while he possessed the future—the future that belonged to their family of three.