Looking at the direction his father left, Gu Tingchen recalled what happened in his stepmother's room just now, and his eyes were filled with resentment again.
Over the years, he has always respected his stepmother as his own mother, and loved her two children as his own brothers and sisters. Whether as a son or an elder brother, he believes that he is no worse than an elder brother. He never thought that this woman would be so partial.
She had tried her best to arrange a marriage between her brother and Wanwan, but now it was her turn, she would rather let her cousin marry into the Yongning Palace than fulfill her wish. It was obvious that she had never loved her as her own flesh and blood.
"Since you are heartless, don't blame me for being ungrateful."
Gu Tingchen clenched his fists in anger, and suddenly saw Liu Zhang walking towards him with a sullen face.
"Is everything cleaned up?" Gu Tingchen asked coldly.
"The group of old slaves around the Duke's wife have all been beaten to death."
Liu Zhang frowned and said, "It's the Third Young Master who was injured. I sent a doctor over, but he refused to let the doctor bandage him. I was worried..."
"If he doesn't want to see his mother in trouble, he should just behave himself," Gu Tingchen said angrily.
Liu Zhang nodded hesitantly, then added, "There's one more thing. His Royal Highness Prince Yan is outside seeking an audience with the Duke. I've heard rumors in the palace that Prince Yan is colluding with the Yuzhou Pacification Commissioner to commit crimes of robbery and murder. It's said there's quite a bit of evidence. I'm afraid Prince Yan is here because of this. Do you wish to see His Royal Highness?"
"Is Guan Qing just here to eat and do nothing?" Gu Tingchen's brows darkened. "How did the news about the Pacification Commissioner's Office reach Lin'an?"
"Guan Qing is not Xue Jiu after all, how can he defeat those people in Yongning Palace?"
Liu Zhang reported cautiously, "It is said that Yu Bai, who served as an advisor to Prince Yongning, uncovered evidence of Guan Qing's corruption and abuse of power. Guan Qing committed suicide out of fear of punishment. Yu Bai followed the clues, sealed off the Pacification Commissioner's Office, and collected a large amount of evidence. Right now, everyone in the Yuezhou Pacification Commissioner's Office is in danger."
Looking at Gu Tingchen, Liu Zhang warned, "I'm worried that Prince Yan has learned that we acquiesced to Xue Jiu's abandonment of the city, and will use this to threaten you, young master."
"No problem, let's go meet him first."
After Gu Tingchen finished speaking, he took Liu Zhang out of the house to greet him personally. As soon as they arrived at Langfang in the outer courtyard, they saw Prince Yan walking up with a frown on his face.
"Tingchen, the Queen Mother and His Majesty urgently summoned me to the palace. Now the palace is surrounded by Yulin Guards. You and the Duke must save me." Prince Yan pleaded bluntly with a bitter face.
Gu Tingchen rubbed his brows with a headache: "I wonder how many things His Royal Highness Prince Yan has hidden from me over the years?"
Prince Yan was slightly stunned, and could only confess the truth: "It was all because of Xue Jiu's stupidity. He was responsible for some murders in Yuezhou. I covered up some of his crimes because of his loyalty and because he was my brother-in-law. Who knew he would be caught by someone?"
"Your Highness Prince Yan is so easy to say." Liu Zhang snorted coldly, "Since you were able to alert the Imperial Guards, I'm afraid your Highness played a significant role in this."
King Yan was suddenly choked.
Gu Tingchen's eyes turned fierce and he glared at him viciously.
Prince Yan pondered for a moment, not daring to conceal anything, and began to explain in detail, "Xue Jiu has been in Yuzhou for over ten years, and has indeed been amassing wealth for me, approximately twelve million taels. Tingchen, you should understand my difficulties. Over the years, Prince Qi and I have been trying to win over court officials, and we've been spending money everywhere. After all, I'm not as wealthy as the Yongning Palace, and the small amount of food and fief I have each year is nowhere near enough to cover my expenses. I had no choice but to allow Xue Jiu to act for me in Yuezhou."
"What a way to take advantage of others." Gu Tingchen laughed out loud. "Your Highness Prince Yan is really good at this. I had no idea that there was such a big profit to be made in the Pacification Commissioner's Office. No wonder the Yongning Palace has been keeping a close eye on Xue Jiu."
Although he has been living with his cousin in Tongyang over the years, he has also heard a lot about Yuezhou.
Looking at the uneasy Prince Yan, Gu Tingchen smiled coldly: "So the several imperial envoys sent to Yuzhou to conduct a thorough investigation a few years ago were all silenced by Xue Jiu."
"yes."
Prince Yan gritted his teeth and nodded: "Tingchen, you must help me this time no matter what."
"How do you expect me to help you, Your Highness?" Gu Tingchen said angrily, "Now the evidence has been brought before His Majesty and the Queen Mother. Your Highness, knowing full well that His Majesty harbors a grudge against you, is still so careless."
After he finished speaking, he immediately signaled to Liu Zhang, "Show him away."
"Tingchen, if I fall, do you want to watch Prince Yongning being welcomed into Lin'an?"
Stopping Liu Zhang who was coming forward, Prince Yan's eyes darkened and he said with a cold smile, "As for the fall of Qizhou, I have also heard some news. It is said that you, Tingchen, are closely related to it."
"Want to threaten me?" Gu Tingchen curled his lips in disdain. "I'm afraid I'll disappoint Your Highness. There's solid evidence that Xue Jiu is colluding with pirates. Your Highness should think about how to distance yourself from him."
Prince Yan's heart tightened, and he was about to argue with him again when Zhou Fuhai rushed in with the Yulin Guards.
Clasping his fists towards the two of them, Zhou Fuhai smiled faintly and said, "Young Master, we are here to capture Prince Yan on the orders of the Queen Mother and His Majesty. Please help us."
"Please go ahead, Eunuch Zhou." Gu Tingchen immediately made way.
Prince Yan was startled and shouted, "Tingchen, think carefully. You killed Prince Qi's two daughters. Even if Prince Yongning cannot enter Lin'an, he will not let you go once Prince Qi is crowned as the crown prince."
Gu Tingchen sighed silently, and waved to the Yulin Guards as if he saw nothing: "Take them away."
After Prince Yan was escorted out of the Duke's Mansion, Zhou Fuhai approached him and whispered, "Young Master, His Majesty and the Queen Mother urgently summoned you and the Duke to the palace. The situation in the northern border is currently unstable, and Prince Yan's conviction is inevitable. Young Master and the Duke must make plans early."
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