Qiu Fu believed that as the chief judge of the Dali Temple, he should bring the truth to light. So after organizing Hongshi's confession and collecting all the evidence against him, Qiu Fu went to the palace to meet the Fourth Prince, handed the confession to the Fourth Prince for review, and reported the whole story of the case to the Fourth Prince for his decision.
"Your Majesty, this is the entire account of the case. I have reported everything, big and small. All the evidence is here. According to the law, the Second Prince's crimes warrant execution! I beseech Your Majesty to decide on the appropriate punishment." Niohuru Qiufu, without any personal bias, reported Hongshi's crimes one by one. The offenses were grave; even according to the law, the circumstances warranted execution multiple times. However, no matter how impartial Qiufu was, Hongshi was still a prince, and the final decision rested with the Fourth Prince.
After hearing Qiu Fu's report and reviewing the confession, the Fourth Prince knew that Niu Hulu Qiu Fu had been thoroughly exonerated. He was impressed by the Chief Judge of the Court of Judicial Review for his righteousness, which prevented him from making any further accusations against Hong Shi.
Qiu Fu had lived up to his expectations and was indeed a rare talent in the court. Thinking of this, the Fourth Prince couldn't help but feel even more admiration for Qiu Fu. But after all, the criminal was his own son, and the Fourth Prince had to personally convict him. The thought of personally convicting his own son still left the Fourth Prince with a lingering sense of unease.
The Fourth Prince was unsure how to deal with Hongshi, so he thought of going to Changchun Palace to see Lanqin, hoping that he would find the answer. He often went to Changchun Palace to sit when he was indecisive, and it seemed to clear his mind.
Thinking about it, the Fourth Prince walked to the front of Changchun Palace.
Upon arriving at Changchun Palace, the Fourth Prince wanted to chat with Lanqin about everyday matters. He began by mentioning Qiu Fu, saying, "Qin'er, the Niohuru family is truly my benefactor. First, there's you, always by my side, rain or shine. Then there's your younger brother, Qiu Fu, who is also a rare talent. During the trial of Hongshi, he was able to remain impartial and free from personal grudges. When I initially entrusted him with the case, I did have some concerns, given how Ulanara treated you and how arrogant Hongshi was. But Qiu Fu has not disappointed me." The Fourth Prince said, holding Lanqin's hand.
Lanqin sighed, acknowledging that although her younger brother was not her biological brother, he was indeed very talented. It was thanks to the Emperor's cultivation that he had achieved his current position. So she said to the Fourth Prince, "Your Majesty, what are you saying? As a concubine in the harem, it is my duty to serve the Emperor. As a minister in the court, it is my duty to help the Emperor solve his problems. These are the responsibilities that my brother and I should fulfill." Lanqin paused, "Moreover, Your Majesty's kindness is as heavy as a mountain. He owes his current position entirely to Your Majesty's promotion. He would certainly not dare to let Your Majesty down."
When the Fourth Prince heard Lanqin say this, he thought of himself, the emperor with countless blessings, but now he had to kill his own son, otherwise it would be against the law. His expression darkened. "I am just making the best use of resources and talents. In the end, wealth is the foundation of the nation."
Lanqin noticed that the Fourth Prince looked rather gloomy and knew that he was upset about Hongshi's matter, so she asked, "Has Your Majesty thought about the Second Prince's matter?"
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