The Fourth Prince's sudden arrival at the Lu family estate caught everyone off guard. However, what shocked them even more were the Black Armored Guards behind him, whose heavy steps echoed ominously.
Faced with the imminent threat of swords and weapons, the doorman of the Lu family turned pale. Lu Chongyuan and the others who rushed to the front yard were also stunned.
Lu Qin glanced at the Black Armored Guards, who had surrounded almost the entire front yard, and suddenly recalled the day when Lu Zhao had been taken away.
It had been the same situation then, with the Black Armored Guards surrounding the mansion. Xiao Yan, that treacherous eunuch, had led the men into the house, and a sword had slashed at his leg.
Lu Qin had never experienced such humiliation in his life—losing control in front of everyone and having all the prominent families witness it. That sword strike, though not fatal, became his greatest psychological trauma. From that day on, he could no longer engage in intimate relations.
Whether with his favored concubine or his thoughtful wife, whenever it came time for intimacy, he could not perform. He would flee in embarrassment, unable to face his wife or his concubines, and would often hide in his study pretending to be busy.
Now, seeing the same situation unfold before him, Lu Qin shouted angrily, “Fourth Prince, what do you intend to do by storming the Lu family estate like this?!”
The Fourth Prince replied, “I have come by the Emperor's orders to investigate the matter of King Cheng's collusion with the Lu family.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Chongyuan was shocked and furious. He had never expected the Fourth Prince to return and investigate this matter, and even less so that he would bring Xiao Yan's people to storm the Lu family without mercy.
His face darkened, his eyes filled with coldness. “Your Highness, do you know what you’re saying? The Lu family has never been disloyal. As for King Cheng, His Majesty has not issued any orders. The Lu family is your mother's side of the family, Your Highness. How could you bring these men to investigate the Lu family?!”
Lu Chongyuan's voice was filled with anger, and it seemed as if he wanted to question whether the Fourth Prince had lost his mind.
The Fourth Prince shivered under his cold gaze, his fear evident. The authority of this grandfather had always been overwhelming in his heart.
Seeing this, Cang Lang could not help but scoff. So he’s scared of his grandfather but thinks he can take the throne?
Cang Lang stepped forward and stood beside the Fourth Prince. “There’s no need for Master Lu to use familial ties to pressure His Highness. He may carry the Lu family blood, but he is also a royal prince, a dragon’s descendant. Master Lu has served in the court for many years; surely you understand the distinction between a ruler and his subjects?”
Cang Lang continued, “Since His Highness has dared to bring people to the Lu family, it must be with the Emperor’s approval. King Cheng’s collusion with the Lu family in smuggling banned goods, bribing officials, and secretly stocking weapons for the military—each of these is a death sentence.”
Hearing Cang Lang’s words, the Fourth Prince recalled his father’s attitude toward the Lu family and all the things the Lu family had done to him. His confidence grew stronger.
“Grandfather, I don’t want to believe the Lu family is involved with King Cheng, but all the evidence points to them.”
He glanced at Lu Chongyuan’s angry face. “The Lu family assisted King Cheng in smuggling and stockpiling weapons, but worse still, someone in the Lu family dared to have an affair with King Cheng for years, switching the child of the King Cheng’s consort to confuse the royal bloodline.”
“Father was furious and ordered me to arrest and interrogate the culprit. I did not want to come, but the Lu family…”
He shook his head, his expression filled with difficulty.
The Fourth Prince’s words were like a splash of cold water thrown into hot oil, and everyone in the Lu family, previously furious, now had their minds stunned into silence. The female members of the Lu family, especially the unmarried girls and their mothers, all turned pale.
Affair?
Switching the child?!
“You’re talking nonsense!!”
A young man standing beside Lu Qin turned bright red in the face. He was Lu Chongyuan’s fourth son, the legitimate son of the second wife. Upon hearing the Fourth Prince’s words, he immediately shouted angrily, “Xie Guogzheng, what nonsense are you speaking?! The Lu family has always upheld strict moral conduct. The women in our household are virtuous, how could they do such shameless things?!”
A slightly older young man standing beside him, who was also a relative of the Lu family, spoke solemnly, “Fourth Prince, please refrain from making such reckless claims. The Lu family has been in existence for two hundred years. Although no family is perfect, the women of this household have always been pure and virtuous. There is no one who would engage in such behavior with King Cheng.”
He wasn’t the direct son of Lu Chongyuan, but a cousin. His father and mother had died young, and he was raised by his grandfather. While he had some grievances with Lu Chongyuan, he felt that the Fourth Prince’s words were a direct attack on the reputation of the Lu family women.
“Please, Your Highness, be careful with your words!” he implored.
The Fourth Prince replied, “Everything I’ve said is based on King Cheng’s own confession. Surely Grandfather and Uncle understand the methods of the Court of Justice. King Cheng himself confessed that Xie Yin is of Lu family blood. The Lu family concealed him and had a long-standing relationship with King Cheng. Not only that, but King Cheng even hid his true heir among the legitimate children of the Lu family…”
Though this was originally just a hypothesis, the Fourth Prince spoke with such certainty that Lu Chongyuan’s face changed color.
There were some things he could ignore, but the issue of the Lu family’s legitimate son…
“It’s impossible!” Lu Qin said coldly. “Father, don’t listen to his nonsense. How could the Lu family’s bloodline be so easily confused?!”
At this, Cang Lang laughed and mockingly said, “That’s not necessarily true. Babies don’t come out with their family name written on their foreheads. Young Master Lu, can you guarantee that, with a pile of babies in front of you, you could pick out your own son?”
His sarcastic remark made both Lu Qin and the young man beside him turn pale. The Lu family’s fourth son was so angry he nearly shouted back.
But Cang Lang ignored them and turned back to the Fourth Prince. “Your Highness, the Emperor is still waiting for your report in the palace. Since you’ve come to investigate, there’s no need to waste time talking to the Lu family.”
“King Cheng still has items from that woman he gave to her—things that prove their relationship. If it was indeed one of the Lu family women, there’s no way she could have gotten rid of everything in such a short time. If we find any personal items, letters, or tokens matching King Cheng’s gifts, the Lu family will have no excuse.”
The Lu family had not prepared for this sudden visit. They had no idea that King Cheng had already exposed one of their own. With items to compare, they could no longer deny their involvement.
Lu Chongyuan had thought that Xiao Yan had orchestrated this whole thing, but hearing Cang Lang’s words and seeing the Fourth Prince’s expression, his heart sank.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 400 (100+ extra chapters) here
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