Chapter 115 - 95: Prince Qi’s Downfall, Dad is Awesome!!

Chapter 115: Chapter 95: Prince Qi’s Downfall, Dad is Awesome!!

The Attendant was utterly bewildered. He knelt on the ground, not daring to make a single sound.

BANG!

An incredibly sudden and abrupt noise rang out.

"By royal decree, apprehend the suspect!"

The voice was shrill and incredibly familiar. Hearing this voice, Prince Qi blanked for a moment before hurriedly rising from his seat, his previous insufferably arrogant demeanor vanishing entirely. He stepped outside, only to see a figure in a red robe walking slowly toward him.

"Eunuch Si." Seeing the newcomer, Prince Qi took a deep breath. A simple, honest-looking smile appeared on his dark face as he hurried forward. "What brings you to the Imperial City Department today?"

Si Zhongxiao’s expression remained unchanged. He looked at him plainly and said, "I am here to apprehend a major criminal."

A hint of confusion flashed across Prince Qi’s dark face. He looked at Si Zhongxiao, bewildered. "Do you need to extract a prisoner from the Imperial Prison? Please, follow me." He turned, ready to lead Si Zhongxiao away.

"There is no need," Si Zhongxiao said, watching him expressionlessly. "The criminal I am here for is you, Prince Qi." With that, he gently waved a hand at the two young eunuchs behind him. "Take him down!"

"Yes, sir!"

Prince Qi’s dark face was filled with dumbfoundment. He stared at Si Zhongxiao. "Eunuch Si, could there be... a mistake?!"

Prince Qi had framed the loyal and good, perverted the law for bribes, and committed heinous crimes. Seven years ago, he framed Count Zhongyuan. Six years ago, he embezzled over a hundred thousand taels of Official Silver. Three years ago, he allowed his lackeys to commit murder in broad daylight. Two years ago, he colluded with the Demon Race.

All his crimes were thoroughly documented. However, "secretly contacting a disciple of the Profound Array Department" was the only charge missing from the list. Yet, ironically, this was the true reason for his downfall!

"The crimes committed by Prince Qi are too numerous to count. Considering his status as a member of the imperial family, he is stripped of his official titles, reduced to a commoner, and his entire family is to be exiled to the West River."

Every single charge was backed by ironclad evidence! When these proofs were laid out before Prince Qi, he still tried to argue. He even relied on his martial prowess right there in the great hall, refusing to plead guilty. Consequently, the current Chief Eunuch, Si Zhongxiao, slapped him with such force that it crippled the Martial Arts Aura within his Sea of Consciousness. Even the Martial Pill in his abdomen was shattered into dust. Coughing up blood, he lay on the ground, hovering between life and death. Just like that, the high and mighty Prince Qi was inexplicably thrown into prison.

In the great hall, after the blood-soaked Prince Qi was dragged out, there was pin-drop silence among the officials. Only Imperial Censor Wang Lang stood proudly in the court. But everyone knew that he was not the main character today.

Instead... they all looked in unison at a single figure.

The figure appeared thin and frail, yet possessed a robust resilience. He was the Third Grade Firewood Carrying Realm Great Confucian Scholar, Grand Scholar of the Martial Hero Hall, and Minister of the Ministry of War—Zeng Shilin!

He had been at court for less than a month. Yet, the Northern Commander of the Imperial City Department, who held immense power, and the royal relative, Prince Qi, had been utterly brought down... and was now even hovering between life and death! A chill rose in everyone’s hearts, and Zeng Shilin’s stature seemed to grow infinitely taller in their eyes.

Zeng Shilin naturally felt the crowd’s gaze. Expressionless, he slowly stepped forward, emerging from the ranks of officials. Facing Emperor Jianhong on the dragon throne, he bowed deeply. "Your Majesty’s boundless wisdom is witnessed by heaven and earth! Having such a wise ruler is the great fortune of the common people!"

His voice was loud and resonant. Emperor Jianhong remained expressionless. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Zeng Shilin for a moment before simply waving his hand dismissively. He stepped down calmly from the dragon throne and declared, "Court is dismissed!"

"Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty!"

Zeng Shilin stood up with a blank face and indifferently swept his gaze over the officials. A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his face. Without saying a word, he strode out of the hall. Everyone’s eyes followed his figure until his back vanished from sight.

At the Imperial College.

"Huge news! Huge news!" a student hurried through the door into the classroom. "Count Zhongyuan was actually framed! The one who framed him was Prince Qi! He has already been brought to justice! Furthermore, he was personally arrested by the head of the Eunuch Faction, Si Zhongxiao, who destroyed his martial arts foundation right in front of all the court officials! First thing tomorrow morning, he will be escorted to the West River!"

The newcomer spoke extremely fast, his voice laced with unparalleled fervor.

Hearing this, the classroom fell silent for a second before erupting into a violent uproar.

"Is the Eunuch Faction turning on each other now?!"

"Hahaha! What a stroke of luck!"

"The one who impeached Prince Qi was none other than Imperial Censor Wang Lang!"

"Lord Wang is mighty!"

"Your Majesty is truly wise!"

Discussions rang out endlessly.

Listening to all this, Zeng Anmin remained silent. On the surface, he was flipping through a book, but inwardly, he secretly pondered, "Now that Prince Qi has fallen and the verdict on Count Zhongyuan’s estate has been overturned, the next step—barring any surprises—will be the Imperial City Department confiscating the property of Prince Qi’s Mansion. I must figure out a way to sneak into the raid team and locate Emperor Xi’s Map, the one they acquired from Count Zhongyuan’s estate all those years ago."

"Quan Fu, this is a great fortune for the royal court. Why don’t you look happy?" Even as a woman, Qin Wanyue couldn’t help but feel eager after hearing such exciting news. Having been educated by her father since childhood, she had never had the slightest bit of goodwill toward anyone from the Eunuch Faction. Thus, she looked curiously at the calm Zeng Anmin, blinking her autumn-water-like eyes.

"Oh, I’m happy. I’m happy," Zeng Anmin said, snapping back to reality. He grinned and added, "That bastard Prince Qi’s son even played a dirty trick on me once. How could I not be happy?"

"Huh?" Qin Wanyue was taken aback, then asked in confusion, "You’ve crossed paths with him before?"

Zeng Anmin thought, "Not only have we crossed paths, but I am the one who single-handedly orchestrated his father’s current predicament." Naturally, he kept this to himself.

"Ms. Qin, there is something you don’t know," Zeng Anmin explained. "Back in the Crown Prince’s Palace, Prince Qi’s son, Wang Qianzhi, actually brought out Agarwood specially made by the Profound Array Department in an attempt to secretly harm me..."