The following day, the sky over the capital was overcast, a sign that a storm was brewing.

The morning court session was quite lively today because of the rumors spread by the storyteller at Shang Rui's behest.

Shang Changze, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat high on the dragon throne, while the civil and military officials below, who had differing opinions on the matter, were exchanging views amicably.

"How can you believe rumors? This is a frame-up, it must be a frame-up..."

"Exactly, this is clearly a distortion of the truth..."

"We have all seen the Emperor's character..."

The current emperor is Shang Changze, and the ministers who choose to believe in Shang Changze and stand on his side are very firm and loud.

Ministers who held opposing views were less vocal and less assertive, and their questioning was more subtle.

"But the storyteller said that the Third Prince has the late emperor's handwritten edict of succession and a list of his crimes..."

"Yes, forcing the emperor to abdicate, plotting rebellion, and murdering one's father are heinous crimes that cannot be tolerated by heaven and earth. What if, what if..."

Murong Yu gave a heavy, cold snort and strode out from the ranks of civil officials, standing up to confront the few ministers who were whispering and grumbling:

"Didn't you all see the late emperor's handwritten edict of succession? If you had doubts about its authenticity, you should have raised them back then."

The fact that you didn't utter a single word back then means you all believed that the imperial edict of succession in the emperor's hand was genuine. If you believed it, you should have believed it to the end!

To question someone's intentions based on a few rumors from a storyteller? Could it be that you've always harbored rebellious thoughts?

The old man's aura as a veteran of three dynasties was no joke; he launched into a tirade and then slapped a serious accusation of treason on him.

The few officials who had been whispering and grumbling instantly fell silent, but one voice, neither too loud nor too soft, still managed to escape through the Hall of Diligent Governance.

"But that book of crimes..."

Before he could finish speaking, Murong Yu cut him off, the old man puffing out his beard and glaring, his voice booming like a bell, hurling insults with seemingly logical reasoning.

"What crime report? It's ridiculous and absurd! The incident happened so suddenly that night, how could the late emperor have had time to write a crime report?"

The late emperor was indeed wise and powerful, but he did not have the ability to foresee the future. His accusations and charges are baseless and fabricated!

The Hall of Diligent Governance was utterly silent, but some people, unwilling to give up, still wanted to utter a few more words.

The old man glared at him, and he instinctively shrank back and shut his mouth.

There are those who fear Murong Yu and those who don't. Murong Yu is not the only veteran of three dynasties in such a large court as Qingyan.

"Your Majesty, this matter..."

The one who spoke was the Vice Minister of War, who was also the maternal grandfather of Shang Xuanzhi, the father of Consort De.

The Vice Minister of War is an upright and incorruptible man, and it was expected that he would step forward now.

The moment the Vice Minister of War stepped forward, all the timid, whining, and whining ceased.

All eyes were fixed on the Vice Minister of War, and all ears were perked up and focused on the emperor on his high position.

For a moment, the Hall of Diligent Governance became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Shang Changze's refined and handsome face showed no displeasure at being questioned by his minister; instead, a calm smile appeared on his face.

Because he was waiting for the Vice Minister of War to step forward, his voice authoritative yet calm:

"My beloved ministers, please be patient. I will grant you an audience with someone. You may ask him questions."

The civil and military officials exchanged bewildered glances, wondering who the Emperor wanted them to see, and why asking about this person...

"hiss--"

When the man appeared in the Hall of Diligent Governance, all the civil and military officials gasped in astonishment.

This person was none other than Li Fuhai, the eunuch who had served the late emperor.

The Princess's Residence.

I was woken up in the middle of the night last night, so Shang Changge got up very late today.

When he got up, the morning court session had already ended quite some time ago. Similarly, the rumors that Shang Rui had spread had also been resolved.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock..."

The light rain fell, making a pleasant sound as it landed on the glazed tiles, the sound gradually increasing in speed.

Shang Changge sat in front of the pear wood dressing table, while Zhuque did her hair and makeup.

Nearby, the people sent by Shang Changze were telling Shang Changge about how they had perfectly resolved the rumors using Li Fuhai during the morning court session.

"Pfft—"

Shang Changge burst out laughing after hearing this; she genuinely wanted to laugh and couldn't hold it in.

As for who is laughing, it is naturally the old emperor who has already passed away.

It's not that the old emperor is mocking the betrayal of his trusted confidant Li Fuhai even after his death, but rather that he's mocking the 'filial piety' relationship he maintained with his concubine's younger brother all along.

Without this facade of 'filial piety and parental love' presented to the world, they wouldn't have been able to dispel the rumors so easily by using Li Fuhai.

Li Fuhai not only debunked the rumors spread by Shang Rui, but also refuted the claim that Emperor Mingde's heavy reliance on Shang Ye stemmed from dissatisfaction with Shang Changze, who was then the crown prince.

Don't ask, the answer is Li Fuhai said that Emperor Mingde did all that to test Shang Changze.

In order to put some pressure on the crown prince, Shang Changze, so that he would be more motivated to improve.

It was all thanks to the late emperor's good intentions!

As for why Li Fuhai was so obedient, and why he didn't take the opportunity to tell the truth in front of all the civil and military officials?

Two reasons:

First, Emperor Mingde is dead, and the person sitting on the dragon throne now is Shang Changze;

Secondly, after Emperor Mingde passed away, Shang Changze did not kill Li Fuhai but allowed Li Fuhai to continue to stay in the palace and eat and drink well.

Not only do they no longer have to do the job of serving the emperor with their lives on the line, but they are also served well with good food, drink and lodging.

Li Fuhai is such a shrewd person; only a fool or a madman would reveal the truth.

Even if the new emperor has used him and he is no longer of any use, he might still lose his head, but if he speaks out, he will lose his head immediately.

For someone like him, it's better to live a miserable life than to die a good death; every extra moment of life is a moment more, isn't it?

Furthermore, the new emperor was extremely kind to people when he was still the crown prince, so what's wrong with him taking this gamble?

Shang Changge laughed in the capital city, while Shang Rui jumped around outside the capital city, furious and jumping up and down.

"That castrated dog, Li Fuhai!"

Shang Rui slammed his fist heavily against a tree, staring at the direction of the capital city, veins bulging on his forehead, clenching his teeth in hatred:

"My father gave him so many benefits during his lifetime, and this old eunuch not only doesn't appreciate it but also turns around and bites my father. He's a shameless scoundrel, despicable!"

At this moment, Yunluo and Baiyun Xiangrong, the brother and sister, appeared out of nowhere.

The latter came to Shang Rui's side and examined Shang Rui's hand with heartache, then turned and ordered someone to bring some medicinal wine.

As for the former...

Yun Luobai now harbors a great deal of resentment towards Shang Rui, ever since they fled the capital.

The longer Yun Luobai stayed by Shang Rui's side, the more resentful she became of him.

Previously, it was always my father who secretly plotted with the late emperor to support Shang Rui. With the late emperor and my father involved,

He still felt that it was only a matter of time before Shang Rui ascended to a high position, and that it wouldn't hurt for him to help him and later gain merit for supporting the emperor.

He knew before that Shang Rui was no match for the Crown Prince, but he never imagined that Shang Rui could be this stupid.

If you have strong opinions, you'll be sharp-tongued.

Listen, Yun Luobai came to Shang Rui's side and slowly corrected him:

"Your Highness, Li Fuhai wasn't biting the late Emperor, he was biting you."

Shang Rui's forehead veins throbbed, but he hesitated because he still needed Yun Luobai's advice and out of consideration for Yun Xiangrong.

He managed to restrain himself from attacking Yun Luobai, and instead, his face darkened, and he coldly warned:

"Yun Luobai, if you can't speak, then don't speak. If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Yun Luobai wasn't angry; he respectfully bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

"Your Highness is right."