Zhu Houzhao finally climbed out of the dry well.

Seeing the light of day again, he felt incredibly free and filled with wonderful longings; he had almost been suffocated by the fumes at the bottom of the dry well.

He didn't want to investigate which concubines had died; it was pointless.

It doesn't matter what grievances they had, or whether they were poisoned by the Empress or the Imperial Concubine.

The most urgent task is to take care of my own affairs.

That damned An Shigeng! He actually dared to plot against me, drugging me and throwing me into a dry well.

"An Shigeng, what a load of rubbish, the God of Wealth! I'm going to kill him."

Zhu Houzhao was furious and let out a dragon roar.

Cao Zhengchun quickly informed him that An Shigeng had died.

"Dead? How did he die?"

Zhu Houzhao felt unsatisfied and wanted to whip the corpse.

Cao Zhengchun said, "Lin the Great Demon..."

Halfway through her sentence, she remembered the scene of being brutally beaten by Lin Bufan and didn't want to experience it again.

He quickly changed his story: "Young Master Lin absorbed all of An Shigeng's internal energy, and the Divine Marquis killed him."

"You killed him?"

Zhu Houzhao frowned and said to Zhuge Zhengwo, "Divine Marquis, you were too impulsive. Look, I haven't even vented my anger yet and you've already killed him."

Zhuge Zhengwo, with an embarrassed expression as if it were none of his business, said, "Your Majesty, it wasn't me."

Cao Zhengchun quickly slapped his own face and apologized, "It's my fault for not making it clear. It was the Iron-Blooded Marquis who killed An Shigeng, not the Zhuge Marquis."

"Oh, so it's the Iron-Blooded Marquis. Where is he now?"

"This old servant sent men to imprison him. Your Majesty, has the Divine Marquis mistreated you?"

"You mean the Iron-Blooded Marquis colluded with An Shigeng? I know nothing about that."

Zhu Houzhao looked completely bewildered.

Clearly, the kidnapping and dumping of him in the dry well were all done by An Shigeng's men.

Butterfly and Smoke were the main force, Ji Yaohua didn't even participate, let alone Zhu Wushi.

Therefore, Zhu Houzhao had no idea what Zhu Wushi had done or what agreements he had made with An Shigeng.

Duan Tianya breathed a sigh of relief, having been waiting for Zhu Houzhao to say those words. He rebuked Cao Zhengchun, "I told you my godfather is innocent. Release him immediately."

Cao Zhengchun sneered as always: "Duan Tianya, you can't speak too soon. Young Master Lin said that Shenhou and An Shigeng were plotting treason, and it turns out that An Shigeng was indeed plotting treason. As for Shenhou, of course, we need to investigate him thoroughly. If he is released without a clear explanation, the Dragon Guard Manor will suffer more accusations and suspicions, won't it?"

Duan Tianya had nothing to say; it was indeed true.

However, the methods of the Eastern Depot are inhumane. My adoptive father has already lost his internal strength. If Cao Zhengchun targets him, wouldn't his life be in danger?

Zhu Houzhao suddenly spoke up: "What Eunuch Cao said makes sense. I stayed at the bottom of the dry well for more than an hour, surrounded by white bones. I felt disgusted to death. The treason must be thoroughly investigated. It is better to kill the innocent than to let the guilty go free. Eunuch Cao, this matter is entrusted to you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cao Zhengchun smiled broadly, feeling extremely pleased.

He had wanted to get rid of the Iron-Blooded Marquis for many years, and now, with the Emperor's permission, it was perfectly legitimate.

Oh, my divine lord, every cause has its effect, and your retribution is me, Cao Zhengchun.

Cao Zhengchun laughed inwardly.

Shangguan Haitang, Cheng Shifei, and Duan Tianya looked worried, as if they could see the day when the Dragon Guard Manor would fall into decline.

"Xiao Zhu, you've been rescued too. We should talk about our business. Besides settling scores with the Eastern Depot, I mainly came to the capital to have a chat with you."

Finally, Lin Bufan stood before Zhu Houzhao and said these words.

His tone was calm and collected, as if he were chatting with an old friend.

But he said something surprising that startled everyone.

Did I hear that right?

Is there something wrong with my ears?

What did the Great Demon Lord Lin call the Emperor, Little Zhu?

Who gave him the courage? He's utterly audacious, reckless, and does whatever he pleases!

We don't even dare to call the emperor by his name in private, yet he openly calls him by his name.

No, it's even more arrogant than calling him by his name; he calls him Xiao Zhu.

Zhu Houzhao was also taken aback when he heard the title "Little Zhu".

"Are you calling me 'I'?"

"Okay, is there a problem?"

Lin Bufan's expression was serious yet tinged with a playful smile. "I deserve the most credit for your rescue, and you're still complaining about me calling you Little Zhu?"

"I was saved entirely thanks to you?" Zhu Houzhao was skeptical.

However, looking around, whether it was Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, or Liu Bushen, Zhuge Zhengwo, Leng Lingqi, Wuqing, Shangguan Haitang, Duan Tianya...

Even the Imperial Guards, Imperial Guards, and nobles who followed all tacitly accepted the truthfulness of Lin Bufan's words.

They seem to be expressing the same meaning: Your Majesty, you were indeed rescued by the great demon Lin, and he even told us that you were in the dry well.

"Uh, okay."

Zhu Houzhao found it particularly absurd.

Before today, he regarded Lin Bufan as a great demon, a monstrous flood, and ordered the whole city to be on high alert to capture the great demon Lin.

Who would have thought that the person who would save him now would be the great demon Lin?

Meanwhile, An Shigeng, the God of Wealth and a great philanthropist in the capital who was on good terms with the court, and his close confidant, the Imperial Uncle Iron-Blooded Marquis, were ironically transformed into traitors or suspects.

Alas, life is unpredictable.

Zhu Houzhao said helplessly, "Young Master Lin has come all the way from Fuzhou, what justice do you want to seek?"

"I don't ask for much, it's very simple, just three things. First, you have to make Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, and everyone from the East and West Depots kneel down and kowtow to me nine times."

"What!!"

Zhu Houzhao was stunned for a moment.

Cao Zhengchun got angry again.

Yu Huatian was momentarily stunned.

Cao Zhengchun shouted, "Lin Bufan, you've gone too far! I knelt before you once at the Divine Marquis's Mansion, and you're still not satisfied?"

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