Volume One, Chapter 15: Rebel Infiltrates the Mansion, Falsely Accused Again

The man was covered in blood, fiercely lunging at Ye Chen. Yet, just as he tried to move, his legs suddenly gave way, and he collapsed to the ground. Only then did Ye Chen notice that the man's tendons in both his hands and feet had been severed.

Shocked, Ye Chen’s first thought was: how did this person manage to sneak into the Yan Prince’s mansion? And worse, how did he get into his own bedroom?

“I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you... you ungrateful traitor!” The man was Ye Chen’s third maternal uncle, Zhao Chunfeng. Ye Chen raised his hand and knocked him unconscious.

Zhao Chunfeng was a martial cultivator; if not for his severe injuries, Ye Chen would have been unable to subdue him. Ye Chen also knew very well that no words would reach Zhao Chunfeng at this moment. His loud shouting would only attract the servants and maids of the Yan Prince’s mansion.

If Zhao Chunfeng were discovered, Ye Chen would surely be accused of treason. So, who was it that “delivered” Zhao Chunfeng into the mansion? What was their true intent? And how had they managed to sneak him in without anyone noticing?

“Capital Defense Army searching for traitors!” A harsh, thunderous voice echoed through the front courtyard of the Yan Prince’s mansion.

Ye Chen’s heart sank as he immediately understood the situation. It seemed someone was determined to solidify the accusation of treason against him, hence Zhao Chunfeng’s sudden appearance here.

Reluctantly, Ye Chen activated the power of “Words Become Law.”

“This person is in a place within the Yan Prince’s mansion where they cannot be found.”

As a small streak of white hair appeared on his head, Zhao Chunfeng vanished from the bedroom.

Almost simultaneously, a maid named Mingyue’s panicked voice came from outside.

“Your Highness, General He Chengye of the Capital Defense Army has arrived with troops, demanding to search for traitors.”

“Understood!” Ye Chen said, pushing open the door, his eyes filled with suspicion as he looked at Mingyue.

Among all the servants of the Yan Prince’s mansion, Mingyue was the only one Ye Chen did not recognize, which made him especially wary.

In truth, Mingyue, disguised as the falcon “Shun,” was also confused. How could the Capital Defense Army have the audacity to storm the Prince’s mansion? Though the Ninth Prince had been demoted, he was still a prince after all.

At that moment, a group of armored soldiers charged into the backyard like bandits, pushing open every door they came across.

Soon, the sound of clanging and banging echoed through the halls.

“Report, General, nothing found!”

“Nothing here either!”

As the soldiers emerged from the rooms, He Chengye sneered and walked over from the front courtyard.

“Your Highness, forgive me. I have received secret reports that traitors are hiding within the Yan Prince’s mansion, so I have come to conduct a search!”

Ye Chen looked at the stout middle-aged man before him, his confusion deepening.

Yesterday, He Chengye’s son, He Qianheng, had incited the Sixth Princess to send assassins against Ye Chen, attempting to seize his fortune, only for the plan to be thwarted by the overseer Ge Hong.

Could it be that He Qianheng wasn’t willing to give up and had his father deliberately frame Ye Chen?

If it were to frame him, there was no need to go through such trouble.

Though Shanhaiguan was only three hundred miles from the capital, capturing the missing third uncle Zhao Chunfeng and sneaking him into the Yan Prince’s mansion was an exhausting and unnecessary task.

Moreover, Ge Hong had only received the news early this morning; it was impossible that General He Chengye would have known about it.

So...

“Found him!”

At that moment, several soldiers dragged out another man from Ye Chen’s bedroom.

This man was filthy, emaciated to the point of being unrecognizable.

Sure enough, the person He Chengye sought was not Zhao Chunfeng; he had come merely to frame Ye Chen.

This so-called “traitor” was likely one of the soldiers—should not be part of the Capital Defense Army... a suicide operative!

“Bold traitor! How dare you hide in the Yan Prince’s mansion! Take him away for severe interrogation!”

He Chengye’s round face crept into a smile as he bowed to Ye Chen.

“Apologies for the disturbance, Your Highness. The traitor has been found; I shall take my leave!”

Suddenly, the “traitor” struggled fiercely.

“A foolish ruler plunges the world into chaos, only the Yan Prince has the people's hearts. We shall rise, overthrow the tyrant, and crown the rightful king! Long live the Yan Prince...”

With those words, the “traitor” suddenly bit down hard on his back molars, attempting to poison himself.

Everything happened so quickly that no one reacted in time; the man soon expired.

He Chengye stared in shock at Ye Chen.

“Does Your Highness recognize this man?”

Ye Chen shook his head. At that moment, He Chengye suddenly raised his voice.

“Then why did the rebellious poem he shouted before death mention Your Highness?”

“What, are you planning to take me away?” Ye Chen calmly retorted.

He Chengye laughed and shook his head.

“No, during this national mourning, all executions and imprisonments are suspended. But I will report the facts to His Majesty honestly and let the Emperor decide. After all, Your Highness is a first-rank Confucian scholar and just proved your innocence at court yesterday. I would hate to wrong you.”

Was one life merely a warning to intimidate him? Such a crude tactic!

Ye Chen regarded He Chengye with bewilderment. Moreover, since his third uncle had not been the one brought into the mansion, it meant another group was plotting to frame him.

“I who am pure remain pure. General He, report the facts as you see fit.”

Hearing Ye Chen’s composed reply, a flicker of surprise crossed He Chengye’s face.

Then, with a forced smile, he said, “I shall report truthfully. Farewell!”

But just as he turned to leave, he paused and looked back coldly.

“By the way, Miss Wang Nianwei of the Jinshan Wang family from the Taiyi Sect asked me to pass a message to Your Highness.”

At the mention of Wang Nianwei, Ye Chen was momentarily stunned.

Wang Nianwei was the fiancée bestowed upon the original owner by Emperor Qingli—the future prince consort.

“She said Your Highness should have some self-awareness and formally request to dissolve the engagement. Despite your first-rank Confucian status, you do not deserve her. If you refuse to end the engagement, then...” He Chengye glanced at the “traitor” being carried away and left with unspoken threats.

Watching them depart, Ye Chen felt oddly relieved.

So it was the Jinshan Wang family of the Taiyi Sect delivering a warning.

But what sort of background did the Jinshan Wang have to dare threaten a prince like this?

Ye Chen searched the original owner’s memories but found no impression of Wang Nianwei.

If he refused to break the engagement, they would accuse him of treason?

No matter.

With that thought, Ye Chen said to Mingyue, “Tell Uncle Fu that no one is allowed into the backyard.”

Mingyue, disguised as “Shun,” quickly agreed and hurried to the front courtyard.

On the way, she pondered how the Five Surnames and Seven Clans had grown so brazen as to threaten a prince.

But was the “traitor” just now the same person who had shouted in the Ninth Prince’s bedroom earlier?

She had heard Zhao Chunfeng’s cries but hadn’t reached in time before He Chengye’s men arrived.

Back in the bedroom, Ye Chen felt troubled.

According to his information, third uncle Zhao Chunfeng was undoubtedly a traitor.

Yet, Ye Chen trusted no one in the Yan Prince’s mansion.

Therefore, Zhao Chunfeng could not stay there—but where could he be safely sent?

At that moment, Ye Chen thought of his cousin Zhao Dongcheng, son of his eldest maternal uncle Zhao Chunshan, who lived at the capital’s Wu Wang Mansion.

Zhao Dongcheng was the “hostage” deliberately kept in the capital by Ye Chen’s grandfather Zhao Tai to ease Emperor Qingli’s suspicions.

After all, he was Grandfather Zhao Tai’s only grandson and legitimate eldest son.

With this in mind, Ye Chen summoned Uncle Fu to prepare the carriage.

Once aboard, as the carriage left the street where the Yan Prince’s mansion stood, Ye Chen again activated the “Words Become Law” power.

“My third uncle Zhao Chunfeng is right beside me!”

As he spoke, Zhao Chunfeng suddenly appeared beside Ye Chen, a streak of white hair appearing on his head.

At this moment, Ye Chen found himself somewhat baffled by the Confucian power of “Words Become Law.”

The effects he’d witnessed twice now seemed exaggerated.

Could it be that Confucian power was merely a matter of speaking and sacrificing some lifespan, making whatever was said instantly true?

If he proclaimed himself emperor, would Emperor Qingli immediately abdicate?

That was impossible!

There must be other limitations besides the lifespan cost.

He resolved to use the “Words Become Law” power cautiously in the future.

With these thoughts, the carriage wound through the alleys.

“Shun” followed silently, watching as Ye Chen’s carriage headed toward the Wu Wang Mansion.

This time, Uncle Fu personally drove and, upon arriving at the gates, got down and knocked.

After explaining their purpose, the mansion’s steward quickly went to report.

Soon, Zhao Dongcheng appeared, face filled with fury, brandishing a knife.

“Ye Chen, you bastard! How dare you come to my Wu Wang Mansion? I’ll split you in two alive!”