Baili Chengyou walked forward step by step and came to Shen Yongning's side. He reached out with trembling hands and took the obituary that Shen Yongning was holding high.

When he saw the eye-catching words "Shen Gaolang" on it, he took several steps back and couldn't stand at all.

Seeing this, Meng Guxue hurried forward to support him, whispering, "Baili!"

Baili Chengyou turned his head and looked at Meng Guxue. His eyes were red and his heart was broken.

He leaned forward and asked in a trembling voice: "Uncle, tell Youer, how did grandpa... grandpa leave?"

Shen Yongning felt an unbearable pain in his heart, but he still said, "Your son, your grandfather suddenly fell ill and was not treated in time, so he fell on the bed--"

"uncle!"

Baili Chengyou suddenly cried out, interrupting Shen Yongning's words. He slowly knelt down beside Shen Yongning and said in a crying voice:

"Is it because of me? Uncle, is it because of You'er? Obviously... obviously there's no need to go to this extent, You'er has already accomplished it!"

After saying these words, Baili Chengyou almost collapsed. He was extremely intelligent, so how could he not know what Shen Gaolang's death at such a sensitive moment meant.

Shen Yongning felt Baili Chengyou's tight grip on his shoulders, and he couldn't hold back his tears.

He slowly raised his head and looked at the arrogant king in the hall, and his eyes couldn't help but burst out with strong hatred.

"Uncle, please tell me, please tell You'er——"

When Shen Yongning heard Baili Chengyou's mournful voice, the hatred in his eyes slowly faded away, turning into inextricable bitterness and despair.

Back then...back then he won the first place in the military examination. He was obviously full of ambition and wanted to serve his country. He could also go to Beiling to defend his country.

But because of the emperor's fear, he could not join the army, and his father simply detained him at home. He has been extremely depressed all his life!

And his younger brother, his knowledgeable and talented younger brother...

Thinking of this, Shen Yongning's eyes turned red. He looked up at Baili Chengyou and spoke in a trembling voice:

"Hanging himself—You'er, your grandfather hanged himself!"

The guess in his mind was confirmed, and Baili Chengyou felt as if he had been struck by lightning. At this moment, he was truly heartbroken and regretful!

He shouldn't have gone to his grandfather's...

Now it seems that my grandfather was determined to die from the moment he planned to kill him.

And with every step that followed, my grandfather was pushing himself into the abyss of death!

When Shen Ningyun heard that Shen Gaolang had committed suicide by hanging, he suddenly froze in place, his eyes filled with despair.

Now that he had started talking, Shen Yongning stared at the king who was still in shock in the hall, unwilling to endure it any longer, and shouted loudly:

"My Lord! My Shen family is full of loyal people. We have been with Emperor Taizong since the founding of the country. In the founding battle, all the men in my Shen family died or were injured. We were the ones who protected Emperor Taizong from the chaos of soldiers!"

"For three dynasties, the Shen family has always abided by the duties of a subject, and has been worthy of the monarch and the people. Why is it that when it comes to you, my Shen family has become a thief who wants to steal the country and is unforgivable?"

"Dad... my father wanted to die to show his loyalty to the Lord when he was facing all kinds of suspicion from the Lord. But he didn't dare to do so because after his death, the entire Shen family would be left without anyone to protect them and would be hunted down and killed by the Lord!"

"Now that my father has hanged himself, no one in my family is an official in the court. The family has become a mess and there is no need to worry about us anymore!"

"This... This is what His Majesty wants!"

Shen Yongning had too many grievances in his heart. If possible, he even hoped that he would be born in an ordinary family, so that he would not have to worry day and night and walk on thin ice like he does now due to the monarch's suspicion!

"My Lord, my father has been in government for more than 30 years. He has been loyal to the Lord and has never had any second thoughts. He has helped the Lord with his worries, built bridges and roads for the people, and resolved cases and redressed grievances. He has devoted all his energy to this!"

"That day, after he resigned from his position as Prime Minister, my father sat in his study and his hair turned white overnight! The world only saw the glory of our Shen family, but did not pity the injustices we suffered, and our loyalty to the emperor was discarded like a worn-out shoe!"

After hearing Shen Yongning's heartfelt words, the king looked confused and a little dazed.

Shen Gaolang is three years older than him and was his study partner when he was young.

At that time, Shen Gaolang was outstanding in every aspect, and even his father always said to him: "The sons of the Shen family are truly impeccable."

He was young at that time, and inevitably arrogant, always secretly competing with Shen Gaolang. Shen Gaolang always let him win, and always said with a smile:

"Your Highness is destined to be a king in the future. All the skills I am good at will be used by Your Highness in the future. Thinking of this, does Your Highness feel much more comfortable?"

Later, he became the king, and Shen Gaolang naturally became his loyal minister. He married Shen Gaolang's sister, a woman as impeccable as his brother.

When did the suspicion begin?

Perhaps memorials were delivered to his desk like snowflakes, all of which expressed respect and praise for Shen Gaolang. The public opinion that reached his ears was also full of praise and respect.

He suddenly discovered that Shen Gaolang was more popular than he, the monarch. Countless followers rushed to Shen Gaolang's side and were impressed by him.

He was afraid. How could there be such an excellent and impeccable person in the world? How could there be a minister who was more popular than him, the monarch?

Step by step to this day, he used all means and used all his heart to finally force Shen Gaolang to death, but why is he not happy at all?

Did Shen Gaolang die just like that?

He doesn't believe it!

"A plan! Third brother, this is another plan of yours, right? You want me to pass the throne to you, so you teamed up with Shen Gaolang to deceive me, hoping that I would let down my guard!"

Baili Chengyou turned his head abruptly upon hearing that. He took a few steps closer to the king. His eyes were bloodshot at this moment. He didn't look like he was looking at his father, but at his enemy!

"Father, do you think I still need to come up with some tricks? The entire imperial study is full of my and my second brother's people. Even if you don't pass on the throne today, I still have thousands of ways to get the imperial edict and become the new ruler!"

"It's Grandfather. Grandfather is using his life to make his intentions known to you! The Shen family is full of loyalty and righteousness, and has never had the intention of usurping the throne. For thousands of years, the Nanli Kingdom will belong to the Baili family, and the Shen family will never get involved in it!"

At this point, Baili Chengyou's tears really flowed down.

He knew that his grandfather did this for him.

The power of the Shen family had been weakened beyond recognition long ago, but they were still feared to this extent. My grandfather was the backbone and pillar of the Shen family. Now that my grandfather was dead, the Shen family was really nothing to be feared.

My grandfather wanted to do this to persuade my father to pass the throne to him, and also to allow the rest of the Shen family to enter the government and realize their ambitions after he ascended the throne.

Over the years, my grandfather has always felt indebted to his ex-wife, his two uncles, his mother, and the clan members who suffered because of him.

He sacrificed himself to help all of them...