Chapter 467 He Dares Not, But I Do

The mere mention of confiscating his property and exterminating his clan caused the Marquis of Anding to collapse to the ground, his face ashen.

"Your Majesty, minister..."

"Shut up! Do you still dare to deny it now? Wasn't it you who secretly reported that the Lu family army was plotting a rebellion?"

Marquis An Ding's cheek muscles twitched repeatedly as he felt a bloody taste rising in his throat, and fear permeated his entire body.

So this is what it feels like to be dealing with a tiger for its skin.

His family background was not prominent; his father was a minor official in the Ministry of War.

He had served in the Lu family army for two years and learned a great deal about military strategy from the Duke of Zhenguo.

Later, his sister and Consort Yu were both selected to enter the harem. She even gave birth to the fourth prince first and asked the emperor for a favor.

He was transferred from the Lu family army to serve as the commander of the Yizhou Guard.

Later, his younger sister often wrote to him, saying that the fourth prince was clearly the most intelligent of all the princes, but he just didn't have a strong maternal family to support him.

The Crown Prince was born to Empress Feng and had an uncle who served as the Grand Secretary.

The sixth prince was born to Consort Yu and had the support of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and tens of thousands of Lu family soldiers.

The fourth prince was caught in the middle, neither good enough for the high position nor good enough for the low, and was not favored by the emperor.

My sister said that the fourth prince is intelligent and studious, and is the most like His Majesty among all the princes.

After hearing this, his mind was filled with a whirlwind of thoughts, one after another popping up in his head.

If the Fourth Prince were to assume that position in the future, the Zhou family would instantly become the most prestigious aristocratic family in the Great Wei Dynasty.

At that time, no one will dare to underestimate the Zhou family.

Once this thought arises, it grows wildly in the mind like weeds.

He couldn't help but mention it to His Majesty, saying that the Duke of Zhenguo had been expanding the Lu family army and might have rebellious intentions.

Emperor Longqing then hinted to him to investigate, just then the Feng family plotted to frame the Ning'an Marquis's mansion, which led to the Northern Rong people besieging the city.

The Duke of Zhenguo sent the Lu family army to ask him for help.

That crazy idea popped into his head again: he intended to delay the rescue and let the Duke of Zhenguo die at the hands of the Northern Rong.

At this time, he received a secret order from the emperor, instructing him to eliminate the Duke of Zhenguo and the Lu family army.

He was overjoyed upon receiving the secret order and rushed there at full speed, just as the Lu family army had repelled the Northern Rong people.

So, taking advantage of the Lu family army's exhaustion, he did not hesitate to wield the butcher's knife.

Fearing that the emperor might abandon him afterward, he did not conceal his actions and told all the Yizhou troops that he was acting on a secret order.

Now that everyone knows about this, it's hard to silence everyone, and His Majesty won't kill him.

As expected, he was subsequently granted the title of Marquis of Anding, his sister was granted the title of Imperial Concubine, and his fourth son was granted the title of Prince Heng.

The Zhou family ousted the Lu family and rose to become a powerful family that could rival the Feng family and the Crown Prince.

More than a decade has passed, but his worst fears have come true.

Once the truth came out, His Majesty, as expected, did not hesitate to push him out as a scapegoat.

Marquis An Ding's lips trembled incessantly as he heard Prince Heng's pleading voice.

"Father, please calm down. Uncle must have been wronged."

“Shut up. The evidence is conclusive. He committed such a heinous crime. What injustice could he possibly have committed?”

"Perhaps even your mother is involved, and you still dare to defend him."

These words struck Marquis Anding like a thunderbolt, instantly waking him up.

His Majesty is threatening him with his sister and Prince Heng.

He was ice-cold all over, and lay on the ground, gritting his teeth as he confessed to all his sins.

“It is all my fault. I was greedy and thus falsely conveyed His Majesty’s secret order to kill the Duke of Zhenguo and the Lu family army.”

All of this had nothing to do with Prince Heng and the Imperial Concubine; they were completely kept in the dark.

I beg Your Majesty, in consideration of my many years of loyalty and the military achievements I have made, to forgive my family.

Marquis Anding made a quick decision at this moment, determined not to involve Prince Heng and the Imperial Concubine.

As long as Prince Heng and Consort Gui are alive, the Zhou family still has a chance to turn things around.

When Emperor Longqing heard Marquis Anding confess his guilt, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Since you have confessed to your crimes, guards, immediately take Zhou Qi to the prison. After your property is confiscated, you will be sentenced and executed."

Marquis An Ding collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

Prince Heng cried out anxiously, "Father."

"Your Highness," Marquis An Ding said urgently, shaking his head at him to indicate that he should not plead for him any longer.

Emperor Longqing waved his hand impatiently, dismissing Prince Heng.

"I will not hold a grudge against you for your uncle's matter for now. Why don't you leave and reflect on your actions behind closed doors?"

Prince Heng's face turned pale, and he could only watch helplessly as the Imperial Guards dragged Marquis Anding away, before retreating in a state of panic.

The hall finally quieted down.

The Longqing Emperor looked at the densely packed people kneeling in the hall, a look of grievance on his face.

"Back then, I was also deceived by a villain like Marquis Anding. Now that I have confiscated the Zhou family's property and exterminated their clan, are you satisfied?"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment.

Emperor Longqing then looked at Pei Yuan.

"Is Prince Lu satisfied now? I was also deceived. Do you expect me to kneel down and apologize to you?"

Pei Yuan looked over expressionlessly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Is His Majesty truly being deceived?"

The Longqing Emperor was furious.

"How dare you question me!"

"He wouldn't dare, but I would!"

An aged yet powerful voice rang out from outside the hall.

Shen Chu helped the Grand Princess of Chengyang appear at the entrance of the main hall.

Pei Yuan's pupils contracted slightly when he saw Shen Chu.

Shen Chu winked at him, indicating that he could rest assured that everything was arranged.

Pei Yuan's tense lips relaxed slightly.

When Emperor Longqing saw Princess Chengyang, he was slightly taken aback, and then a deeper sense of panic rose in his heart.

"Aunt, what brings you here?"

The Grand Princess of Chengyang slammed her dragon-headed cane heavily on the ground, then handed it to Chen Chu and took out a palm-sized piece of iron from her bosom.

She held the metal sheet in her hands, knelt down with difficulty, and offered it with both hands.

"Your Majesty, please withdraw the imperial edict and iron certificate from my Duke of Protectorate."

Emperor Longqing frowned. "The Duke of Protectorate has rendered meritorious service to our Great Wei. This is a certificate of merit bestowed by Emperor Taizu."

Now that you have not committed any crime, how can I take back the imperial edict?"

Princess Chengyang looked sorrowful, but her voice suddenly rose in a high-pitched and shrill tone.

"So Your Majesty knew that my Duke of Protectorate had never committed any crimes? If that's the case, why did Your Majesty send people to poison my husband, my son, and my grandsons on the southern frontier battlefield?"

If they commit a crime, Your Majesty may revoke our imperial edicts and punish them according to the laws of the Great Wei.

Why let them kill the enemy and then poison them, causing them to suffer the torment of poisoning and die far from home?

Why must my Duke Huguo's mansion be reduced to a widow and a young child?

"Your Majesty, do you dare answer me? Why? Why?"

Princess Chengyang trembled all over, her words dripping with tears, her face a mixture of anger and sorrow.

The hall erupted in excitement once again.

All eyes were on the Longqing Emperor.

Yet another Duke's mansion that was murdered after defeating the enemy?

These are the only two Duke's mansions in the Great Wei Dynasty.

If the Duke of Huguo's family was poisoned to death after defeating the enemy...

What about the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?

Is it really acceptable to just say that you were deceived?

What kind of monarch were they truly loyal to?

Emperor Longqing, sitting at the head of the table, felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the gazes of the crowd, and slumped down on the dragon throne.

He stared intently at Pei Yuan, who sat below him.

Throughout, Pei Yuan stood there expressionless, his peach blossom eyes half-closed, as if nothing concerned him.

But he knew that all of this was arranged by Pei Yuan.

He raised eagles, but one day one of them pecked his eye out.