Chapter 39

Liao Baifan continued, "Not only that, I have also discovered that someone is doing something bad to the second son of the King of Beichang!"

Li Chengqian was slightly surprised: "Speak."

Liao Baifan said: "Last night, Beichang Prince's son Yao Shaoan broke into Beizhen Fusi without permission. He was stopped in time and is temporarily detained in Beizhen Fusi. After interrogation, it was found that there were rumors that Beichang Prince was tortured into confessing in the imperial prison. He believed the rumors and intended to break into the imperial prison to cause trouble."

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment.

It could be considered a coincidence if one of them caused trouble in a brothel, but it was a bit strange when two of them did the same.

Could it be that the King of Beichang has offended someone?

"Report——"

At this time, a eunuch hurriedly came from the palace gate and ran up to the hall breathlessly: "Your Majesty! Someone is beating the drum to report!"

Lin Nan exclaimed, "Huh?" [Someone is beating the Dengwen drum?]

The civil and military officials were also shocked. It had been many years since the drum was struck. The last time it was struck was when Taizu was still alive! How could they see someone striking the drum in their lifetime?

Li Chengqian's eyes flashed with surprise: "What do you mean?"

The eunuch wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Sue...sue the Prince of Beichang!"

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a bomb dropped in the court, and the entire court was in an uproar.

Li Chengqian said in a deep voice: "Call him into the palace."

After a while, a man followed the eunuch and walked into the hall.

When Lin Nanjie saw Yao Ju'an, he was shocked and couldn't help but prick up his ears to listen carefully.

Yao Ju'an, dressed in white, walked up to the main hall, lifted up his skirt and knelt in the hall: "I, Yao Ju'an, sue the Prince of Beichang for collusion with the enemy and treason!"

Li Chengqian frowned slightly.

Yao Ju'an? Isn't this Yao Pei's third son?

Why would he file a complaint against his own father?

Dali Temple Minister Fang Wenjue took a deep breath and said, "What do you mean? The Prince of Beichang is your father. I have never heard of a son suing his father!"

Yao Ju'an's expression remained unchanged: "Yes, I am suing Yao Pei."

Lin Nanjie, who was standing guard in the corridor, said: [Oh! Love rivals meet.]

Li Chengqian: ???

Love rival? Li Chengqian thought it was ridiculous.

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows. It was the first time that the drum was struck since he ascended the throne. He really wanted to know what the man in front of him would say.

Li Chenghuan looked down at Yao Ju'an who was kneeling in the middle and said, "What do you want to sue? Tell me in detail."

Yao Ju'an knelt in the hall and said clearly:

"I am suing Yao Pei for being a general, colluding with the enemy, betraying the country, colluding with the Tatar royal family, and blaspheming war."

"Yao Pei, as a general, turned a blind eye to the suffering of the people, embezzled military supplies and resold them, putting the lives of the people and soldiers at risk."

"Yao Pei betrayed his friend, which led to the execution of Chen Jingyuan, the provincial governor ten years ago, and his family. More than a hundred people died in the fire."

Everyone was so shocked that it took them a while to realize that this old story really happened.

I just don't know how this old story is connected to the current case of Prince Beichang.

Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes dangerously: "You are Yao Pei's son, but you want to sue him?"

Yao Ju'an looked solemn, "I am not Yao Pei's biological son, but Chen Jingyuan's orphan. My father was ordered to supervise the construction of Changsheng Pavilion. Due to insufficient manpower, he asked Yao Pei to send more troops for support but was rejected. Later, Changsheng Pavilion collapsed, causing the people to suffer. My whole family died with hatred, and I am the only one left alive in the world."

People in the hall were whispering. It had been a long time since Chen Jingyuan's case, and all they knew was that everyone in his family was burned to death. They didn't expect that one of his sons was still alive?

He was also adopted by the King of Beichang, who changed his name and surname.

Could it be that the King of Beichang really committed suicide because of his many evil deeds? Even his adopted son couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to file a complaint?

This is simply shocking news.

Li Chengqian pondered and said, "I didn't even know about this. The Prince of Beichang has always claimed you as his own son, but you want to sue him. Do you really want to sue him even though he raised you?"

Yao Ju'an's eyes were firm: "Not bad."

"In that case," Li Chengqian signaled Liao Baifan, "bring the Prince of Beichang and his two sons to the palace. I and the officials will personally examine them."

After an incense stick of time, King Beichang and his two sons were brought to the main hall by Liao Baifan and Si Nanhao.

When Yao Pei saw Yao Ju'an kneeling on the ground, he looked surprised and asked, "Ju'an, why are you here?"

Li Chengqian raised his eyebrows and said, "It was him who just beat the drum to sue you."

Yao Pei was shocked, and Yao Zhenan and Yao Shaoan behind him widened their eyes.

"Third brother, you are crazy! You actually sued father!"

Li Chengqian asked Yao Pei: "Yao Ju'an accused you of treason and collusion with the Tatars through correspondence. Do you have anything to say?"

Yao Pei was silent for a while and said nothing.

Li Chengqian asked again: "He also accused you of embezzling military funds. Do you have anything to say?"

Yao Pei remained silent.

Yao Zhenan and Yao Shaoan became anxious.

"Father, please speak up! How could you possibly collude with the Tatars? You have been guarding the northern border for three years and have endured so many hardships. How could you possibly be a traitor to your country?"

"And the allegation of embezzling military funds is sheer nonsense! Dad, you have donated so much money that our house would be emptied out!"

Yao Pei had a stern face and said nothing.

Li Chengqian continued to ask, "He also accused you of betraying the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Chen Jingyuan, causing the tragic deaths of more than a hundred of his people. Do you have anything to say?"

Yao Pei's calm face finally showed a ripple, and he looked at Yao Ju'an: "Do you think I killed your father?"

Yao Ju'an looked at him coldly.

Yao Pei had an expression of disbelief on his face: "Your family was in trouble and the whole house was burned down. I rushed into the disaster and rescued you!"

Yao Ju'an was a little excited: "If you hadn't refused to send people to help father, our family wouldn't have died in the fire!"

Yao Pei was shocked: "Do you think it's because of me that more than a hundred people in your family died?"

Yao Ju'an said hurriedly, "Back then, my father was appointed as the crown prince and was in charge of the construction of the Changsheng Pavilion, but you repeatedly obstructed him and refused to lend a hand during the construction. Later, the Changsheng Pavilion collapsed and my father was convicted for it, but you just stood by and watched."

Yao Pei sighed, "Building the Changsheng Pavilion is a waste of money and labor. I have written to the emperor many times to ask him to revoke his order. At that time, I advised your father not to take on this difficult task, but he refused to listen and insisted on taking credit for it. The Changsheng Pavilion had to have 18 floors and be completed within three months. This was impossible!"

"Your father had no choice but to rush the construction in order to finish it as soon as possible. In the end, the Changsheng Pavilion collapsed, crushing the people to death. The late emperor then punished me. I pleaded with the late emperor many times, but later he simply refused me entry. What else could I do?"

Yao Ju'an: "You forced me to change my last name!"

Yao Pei looked at Yao Ju'an with disappointment on his face: "Do you know that the crime your father committed was punishable by the extermination of all nine generations of his clan? If I don't change your surname, and someone finds out, you will be imprisoned at best, or beheaded at worst. Do you still have a chance to survive?"

Yao Ju'an sneered: "I see you have clearly planned it all out. You knew long ago that the crown prince would be deposed, yet you still let my father build the Changsheng Pavilion. Aren't you watching him die?"

Yao Pei was so angry that his eyes turned red, and his aged face was covered with wrinkles: "I treat you as my own child, and I teach you even more than Zhenan and Shaoan. How could you, how could you say such a thing against your conscience!"

After hearing this, everyone felt that Yao Ju'an was a good-for-nothing. He should have repented by now, right?

Who knew that Yao Ju'an would sneer at the words and say, "You treat him like your own son?"

"For three years at the border, you never let me go into battle to kill the enemy. Yao Zhenan is as dumb as a pig, with only brute strength, but you always let him accompany you on the expedition. And Yao Shaoan, whose ability is mediocre, you also let him go into battle. And what about me? You kept me in the big tent, to put it nicely, to make plans, but every time I was rejected by you with just one word."

“Is this also called treating your own children?”

Yao Zhenan and Yao Shaoan beside him listened to Yao Ju'an's words in amazement.

Yao Zhenan: "Third... Third brother, how can you think like that? On the battlefield, swords have no eyes. I am thick-skinned and can withstand swords and guns. That's why father sent me to the battlefield."

Yao Shaoan: "That's right! Third brother, you like reading anyway, and father lets you be a staff officer, and you don't have to kill anyone, how great!"

Lin Nanqi almost covered his face: [The son of Prince Beichang has a good temper. ]

Yao Pei was speechless after being scolded by Yao Ju'an.

Yao Ju'an sneered, "You have nothing to say now?"

Yao Pei's face was covered with a layer of sadness. He did not immediately answer Yao Ju'an's words. He said in a sad tone: "I, Yao Pei, have served three generations of emperors and fought for Daqi hundreds of times. I have done my best for the country and the people. I never thought that at this age, I would be tricked by my own son."

Yao Ju'an said frantically: "I am not your son!"

Lin Nanjie: [……]

Lin Nanqi blinked and suddenly said, "But I heard that the Third Young Master has the best food, clothing and daily necessities in the Beichang Palace, and his courtyard is also the largest. The other two young masters live in simple houses, and they treat a stand that can practice martial arts as a treasure. Even the prince only has a courtyard with one entrance. But the Third Young Master lives in a courtyard with three entrances, and the courtyard is even more tidy, and he has many more maids than the other two young masters."

"Even at the border, the Third Young Master's family is the most generous in terms of food, clothing and daily expenses."

"When we were in the capital, the eldest and second sons followed the prince to practice martial arts every day, but you entered the best Imperial Academy."

"Third Master said he didn't recognize Prince Beichang as his father, but he was rude when he said it."

Lin Nanjie spoke in a leisurely tone, but all the ministers in the court looked at Yao Ju'an.

That's right! They would even tease each other that Yao Pei loved his youngest son the most. If it weren't for the fact that he was the third child, he would have passed the title of Crown Prince to him.

Is this really the case?

What an ungrateful person!

Chen Jingyuan's sentence was a bit too serious, but if you look into it, it was all his own fault. How can he blame the King of Beichang?

He neither appreciated the kindness of his father in raising him nor could he distinguish right from wrong. He was unworthy of the King of Beichang for being so kind to him.

Lin Nanqi said slowly, "Not only that, I heard that the Third Young Master was known as a child prodigy when he was young, and he had a very good handwriting."

"Not only does he write well, but he is also very good at imitating others."

"Those letters, were they left by you?"

“While handwriting is easy to imitate, some personal habits are hard to change.”

Si Nanhao said: "Yes, we compared it carefully and found that it is indeed somewhat similar to your previous handwriting."

Yao Ju'an's face changed and turned pale.

Yao Pei remained silent.

If it weren't for Yu Qian, Si Nanhao would have wanted to kick Yao Ju'an. He gritted his teeth and said, "The King of Beichang must have guessed it was you, but he refused to tell us. It was only after we checked your other letters that we determined it was you."

"Poor Beichang King would rather go to jail than save you."

"You are still arranging personnel in the Ministry of Justice, trying to bring down the Prince of Beichang so that you can insert your own people in!"

Yao Ju'an looked pale.

Yao Pei said, "I beg Your Majesty to spare his life. This is our Yao family's family affair. I beg Your Majesty to be lenient with him."

Yao Ju'an went berserk when he heard that: "Shut up! My last name is not Yao!"

"I don't need your plea!"

"I would rather die than have you beg for mercy!"

Li Chengqian looked at Yao Ju'an with disgust and said, "Then put him in prison and interrogate him strictly."

When Yao Ju'an was taken away, he refused to look back at Yao Pei, and Yao Pei seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.