Huangfu Hanyu thought he had wiped everything clean, but as long as someone did it, traces would always be left, not to mention there was a living person like Yang Kuan involved.

Huangfu Yuxuan had been plotting for so long and would not give him a chance to turn things around. If he wasn’t sure of a direct hit, he wouldn’t have chosen to launch his attack at this time.

First, Prince Liang’s cries for injustice, then the evidence found by the Capital Governor pointed directly at the Crown Prince, followed by Yang Kuan falling into the hands of the Capital Governor...

He had calculated every step.

As for the evidence, some were found by his subordinates, some were obtained by enlisting the help of Jianghu people, specifically those from Haotian Village, and some were fabricated as plausible false evidence based on the situation at the time.

Those false pieces of evidence were false after all, and couldn’t do any good if taken alone, but within the chain of evidence, amid numerous hard proofs, they were enough to serve as supporting evidence, becoming the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Yang Kuan didn’t confess under Huangfu Yuxuan’s torture, but after confessing, he held nothing back. He not only revealed how he had dealings with Huangfu Hanyu in the past, but also retained evidence of their interactions.

When the Crown Prince realized something was wrong and wanted to refute, the mountain of evidence was thrown at him.

The evidence came from various places: some from the Capital Governor, some provided by Prince Liang, some by Prince Li. From all directions, of all types, overwhelming and mutually corroborative, like an inescapable net enclosing around Huangfu Hanyu.

Huangfu Hanyu’s face changed dramatically. Even if he gritted his teeth and refused to admit it, his defense was weak and ineffectual.

Sending spies near the Crown Prince to entice him to err!

Killing the excellent son of a Vassal King!

Assassinating a Vassal King’s heir on the street, creating a bloody case, causing unrest in the Capital City, and unsettling the people!

As the Crown Prince, he lacks the capacity to tolerate others!

...

Indeed, Huangfu Jinglun and Huangfu Taihe’s deaths were all successfully pinned on the Crown Prince by Huangfu Yuxuan. Actually, when he first acted, he had directed the traces towards Huangfu Hanyu. He originally intended to point them towards Prince Li as well, but Prince Li’s son had caught Grandfather’s attention at that time.

With such an outstanding son, how could Prince Li possibly eliminate him for a ruse of self-injury?

Therefore, upon investigation, it pointed directly at Huangfu Hanyu, didn’t it?

In fact, the Emperor’s Hidden Guard also reached the same conclusion at the time, but still felt there were doubts. When they wanted to continue investigating, the Emperor stopped them.

Although such actions are vile, in the end, they are all different methods for the throne; since he permitted their contests, should he act to remove them now?

Thus, the Emperor’s lack of deep investigation resulted in him not finding the true mastermind, and based on the existing doubts, he also suspected Huangfu Hanyu, but kept it to himself.

If Huangfu Hanyu hadn’t acted against Huangfu Jingchen, Huangfu Yuxuan wouldn’t have been able to accuse him. After all, he had also lost an illegitimate son. But why did he act against Huangfu Jingchen? Now, he’s beyond defense!

The Emperor was so enraged that he spat out a mouthful of blood, pointing at him with fury: "Beast!"

The present officials exclaimed in shock, "Your Majesty, take care of your dragon body!"

King Kang quickly said, "Quick, summon the Imperial Physician!"

Amidst the chaos, the Emperor waved his hand, saying, "No need!" It was merely a moment of anger attacking his heart; he was entirely furious. How could he summon an Imperial Physician before settling matters here?

Prince Li said anxiously, "Father, health is paramount; let other matters wait for later."

The Emperor said in a deep voice, "It’s come to this; what later are we waiting for? I know exactly what you’re all plotting, let them speak! No leaving until it’s all made clear!"

Prince Liang seized the opportunity to cry out, "Father, I am wronged, the Third Brother has been scheming against me like this, it breaks my heart!"

Huangfu Hanyu’s face was ashen, kneeling on the ground, knowing that although the situation was grim, he had to make a last-ditch struggle: "Father, I absolutely did not attack Old Nine’s son; regarding Old Fifth’s son, it was merely a momentary angry misdirect over Jing’er’s death, not to mention my men arrived when Old Fifth’s son was already gravely injured and near death. As for Eldest Brother, I admit to employing some schemes. However, it’s not entirely my fault; had Eldest Brother been righteous, could he be tempted? Even if tempted, wasn’t it he who forcibly drafted the peasant woman? Wasn’t it he who ordered the extermination of an entire family? I merely exposed Eldest Brother’s true nature. Father, please judge wisely!"

The Emperor was so angry he almost spat blood again. Having just spat blood, only Old Nine had shown some concern for his health, yet these two rebellious sons only cared for themselves!

With indignation, he pointed at them, "Get out of my sight!"

Prince Liang wanted to cry more, but Huangfu Yuxuan tugged at his sleeve, and he immediately ceased his tears and left.

Prince Li wished to stay, but knowing full well that his father was in a state of fury and that he had been complicit in fueling the fire, his father surely didn’t want to see him; staying would only attract more of his father’s wrath. So, he left too.

The Crown Prince felt he should struggle a bit more, but raising his eyes, before speaking, he was frightened by the Emperor’s almost devouring gaze, and hastily retreated.

The Emperor’s gaze fell on the remaining ministers. Although only those involved were supposed to remain, besides the likes of King Kang from the imperial family, the Emperor also retained seven or eight key ministers such as the Left and Right Ministers, Grandmaster Bao, and Grand Tutor Zhao.

After all, though it is a family affair, the matter of the Crown Prince concerns the nation’s system, and these key ministers can be involved.

The Emperor said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, as Emperor, I have unworthy sons. Prince Liang disregards the law and has made grave mistakes. Now the Crown Prince, seeing his eldest son wrongly dead, has acted against the equally innocent Princely Heir of Prince Cheng, making them similar in their crimes!"

The ministers looked at each other, though the Emperor was filled with anger and fury, these were all his children, and while he could scold them as brutes, others dared not do the same.

The Emperor directly looked at Grandmaster Bao, "Grandmaster Bao, do you have something to say?"

Grandmaster Bao, having been named, had no choice but to muster his courage and say, "Prince Liang committed errors while he was Crown Prince, and was demoted and confined, causing an uproar in the Capital, with citizens discussing it in every corner, severely impacting the perception of the Court. It took over a year for Your Majesty to mitigate this influence and regain the people’s respect. Now the Crown Prince, due to the wrongful death of his eldest son, acts similarly against the Princely Heir of Prince Cheng—this indeed parallels Prince Liang’s offenses!"

He owed Huangfu Yuxuan a favor, and though his words were veiled, the Emperor understood.

While Prince Liang was Crown Prince, he erred and was demoted and confined.

The Crown Prince now repeats a mistake, albeit not as impactful, but merely over his own son’s wrongful death, to transfer his anger and kill his own nephew. From small actions, greater ones are seen, yet his temperament seems far too narrow.

Even in ordinary people, narrow-mindedness is undesirable, let alone in the Crown Prince of a nation!