Crowned by the Treacherous Big Shot

A hint of suspicion flashed in his eyes, followed by a touch of disbelief.

He examined the Peace Lock over and over, scrutinizing every detail.

Lu Yuan observed his expression, realizing that the item given by the Supreme Emperor was indeed related to the Prince Qin Mansion.

For a few moments, he had doubted the authenticity of the item.

He once thought the Supreme Emperor's aim should be to deal with the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

The bloodshed at the General Shang's Mansion and the Prince Chu Mansion were all linked to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

The Supreme Emperor's hatred for the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion was no less than his own and Meng Qianqian's.

To entice him to confront the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, the Supreme Emperor, that old fox, might actually fabricate a fake token and push him into the open.

After weighing the options, he had not presented an unverified token.

Now that the dust had settled and his vendetta was avenged, he was not worried about the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion finding a handle; he thought it wouldn't hurt to test it in front of the Supreme Emperor.

Is this probing result a true token, the Peace Lock?

Emperor Liang frowned and asked, "Where did you obtain this item?"

"It was given by the Supreme Emperor of Great Zhou."

Lu Yuan honestly replied, "He asked me to bring this item to visit an old friend of the Prince Qin Mansion."

"Old friend? Your great-grandfather perhaps?"

Emperor Liang muttered.

Although he and the Supreme Emperor of Great Zhou were of the same generation, they had no interaction; however, his father had traveled to Great Zhou in his youth.

"Did the Supreme Emperor of Great Zhou mention who this item is from?"

He asked.

Lu Yuan shook his head: "No, Imperial Grandfather, is it truly a Prince Qin Mansion item?"

Emperor Liang gripped the Peace Lock in his hand: "Yes."

-

After Hu Lie's defeat, calls to deal with the Hu family became increasingly rampant; in the court, there were those who defended the Hu family and others who impeached it, causing daily quarrels among the ministers.

In the past, Emperor Liang would have quieted the opposition, but this time, he closed the court for three days, giving full authority of the investigation and evidence gathering to the Crown Prince.

One would have thought the Crown Prince gentle and benevolent, unexpectedly his methods were incisive, his handling decisive, astonishing all the civil and military officials.

Eradicate the roots, no mercy at all, they seemed to see the young Emperor Liang.

Who said the Prince Jin was the son who most inherited Emperor Liang's legacy?

Clearly, it's the Crown Prince!

Though Hu Lie was dead, his and the Hu family's crimes were too numerous to record.

The Crown Prince presented the gathered evidence to the public court, a trial involving three judicial departments, aiming to thoroughly disintegrate the Hu family.

Hu Lie's head was severed by Han Qi of the Black Armor Army, a case of executing before reporting.

In the Hu family's hearts, Emperor Liang could not possibly be so ruthless toward them.

They hoped Your Majesty would reject the Crown Prince's memorial, but instead awaited the imperial edict of confiscation and clan extermination.

The Hu family was completely panic-stricken.

Diligent Governance Hall.

Emperor Liang was reviewing the memorial submitted by the Crown Prince when Little Dezi reported: the Hu family seeks an audience.

Emperor Liang casually opened a memorial: "No."

Little Dezi looked to Eunuch Yu for help.

Eunuch Yu's gaze moved slightly, lightly rebuking, "The Emperor already said not to see the Hu family, who lacks this discernment?"

Little Dezi quickly stated, "It's an elder of the Hu family, claiming... he changed Your Majesty's diapers when you were young."

The voice trailed off; such audacious words, dare Hu family utter, he dare not repeat.

Eunuch Yu subtly glanced at Emperor Liang.

Emperor Liang closed the memorial: "Announce."

The Hu family's elder was brought before the emperor.

He was slightly older than Emperor Liang, now at a senile age, walking unsteadily, needing the support of descendants.

If not for the life-and-death of the entire Hu family, he wouldn't engage in such efforts.

"Humble subject..."

He was about to salute Emperor Liang.

Emperor Liang glanced at the frail Hu family's elder, instructing his descendants: "You step back first."

The two dared not hesitate, obediently withdraw.

This elder was truly pitiable, long unable to care for himself, yet brought before the emperor attempting to turn the tide.

Eunuch Yu stood beside him.

He took two halting steps, eventually kneeling down with difficulty: "Your Majesty... the Hu family is guilty!"

Emperor Liang snorted coldly: "Since aware of guilt, then accept punishment."

The Hu family's elder listened to Emperor Liang's cold words, stunned.

"Your Majesty!"

Emperor Liang ignored him.

Eunuch Yu poured Emperor Liang a cup of hot tea.

The Hu family's elder asked painfully, "Does Your Majesty truly intend to act thus toward the Hu family? But the Hu family is the Empress Dowager's maternal clan! This way, how can the Empress Dowager rest peacefully beneath the nine springs!"

Emperor Liang coldly asked, "Is it my mother who cannot rest peacefully, or is it your Hu family greedy for life and fearing death?"

The Hu family's elder was stifled.

After an eternity, only did he find his voice: "Your Majesty, when the late emperor was alive, he left a legacy decree never to touch the Hu family. Does Your Majesty intend to defy the late emperor's order?"

Saying this, he seemed to recall something, self-mockingly laughed, "Since Your Majesty had the Imperial Grandson, your disposition has markedly changed, no longer as before; originally I didn't believe it, today's sight truly verifies the rumors. What spell did the Imperial Grandson cast on Your Majesty, actually making you ruthlessly act against your own grandfather's family!"

Emperor Liang looked steadily at him: "Is Hu Sheng truly my grandfather then?"

Hu Sheng, Hu Empress Dowager's father.

The Hu family elder met Emperor Liang's sharp gaze, his heart abruptly shaken.

Emperor Liang perused the memorial in his hand: "The Hu family, I will certainly confiscate it. As for whether a few heads can be saved, it depends on how much this elder knows."

The Hu family elder: "Is someone spreading false rumors before Your Majesty—"

His words unfinished, Emperor Liang produced the peace charm handed by Lu Yuan.

Eunuch Yu took over the peace charm, presented it before the Hu family elder.

The Hu family elder was puzzled.

Then Eunuch Yu produced a second one.

The Hu family elder's complexion changed.

Eunuch Yu advised meaningfully, "Elder, best confess, suffer less hardship."

The Hu family sunk powerlessly to the ground.

His thoughts drifted back many years, when he was merely a child of less than ten.

Logically, at his age he should not remember childhood events, yet he hadn't thought of them for years.

But mentioned suddenly, he realized the scenes were vividly fresh in memory.

His first time following his father to Prince Qin Mansion, witnessing the Princely Heir returning on horseback, with a plainly clad woman riding behind.

"Mother, a fairy!"

He pointed at the woman and said.

His mother covered his mouth, "Shh, don't speak nonsense."

Later, he learned from his parents' conversation, the Princely Heir settled a rebellion in the Southwest and married a wife from the people.

However, Prince Qin disagreed with the marriage.

Simply because he had long promised an alliance with the Hu family.

A woman from the common folk far less valuable than a Hu family's legitimate daughter.

Again later, he went several times to Prince Qin Mansion, but never saw the woman again.

Rumors spread that she disappeared.

Rumors also said the Princely Heir fought with his father seeking her, estranged, and left the Southwest, gone for two years.