Chapter 394

First Volume_Chapter 394 Qin Family's Reverse Scale

The spotlight now centered on the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince.

Cases involving the imperial family must be handled by the imperial family itself.

Especially the Second Prince.

When Gao Ming fell, Qin Feng was instrumental in his downfall; the grudge between the Qin Family and the Second Prince had long been deep-rooted. At this moment, the Second Prince would surely defend the Eleventh Prince fiercely, using the opportunity to suppress Qin Feng.

But the scene that followed left every official present utterly stunned.

The Second Prince sat in his chair, expression unreadable, and said calmly: "With the National War looming, His Majesty himself treats scholars with respect. Calming public sentiment is paramount. Yet the Eleventh Prince disregards the state and the people, speaks recklessly, openly insults meritorious officials, and incites others to harass the Supervisor of War's daughter on the street."

"Merely sentencing him to copy the Imperial Ancestral Precedent is already an act of mercy, extending grace due to his imperial bloodline!"

"I believe Qin Monitor's ruling is entirely appropriate."

Saying this, the Second Prince glanced at the Seventh Prince and asked casually: "What do you think, Seventh Brother?"

The Seventh Prince smiled. Though he felt sympathy for the Eleventh Prince's plight, sympathy was one thing—intervening to save him was another.

The situation was now clear: the Eleventh Prince had become a sacrifice to imperial power. Sacrificing one man to secure imperial stability was an unavoidable choice.

"Your Highness speaks truly. As princes, we must guard our words and conduct. The Eleventh Prince's reckless speech has brought him to this fate—he brought it upon himself."

With that, the Second Prince turned directly to the Minister of Dali Temple: "What is your opinion?"

Since both princes had spoken thus, the Minister of Dali Temple naturally took the cue and said gravely: "The Dali Temple fully supports Qin Monitor's ruling."

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guard and Palace Guards immediately turned and left DaTang to detain the Eleventh Prince and escort him to Zongzheng Temple for final review, after which he would be placed under soft detention in the Hou Gong.

Shen Qingci's emotions were deeply complex; she had never imagined that because of her, Qin Feng had truly brought down the Eleventh Prince.

It was less shock than it was profound emotion.

For the Qin Family to have such a son is a blessing to all.

At this moment, Shen Qingci felt strongly that someone was protecting her with fierce determination, warm currents flowing through her heart.

On the very day the Eleventh Prince was taken back to the palace, the news spread throughout Jingdu.

The people of Jingdu were either stunned or applauded in admiration.

"I never thought Qin Young Master actually succeeded in bringing down the Eleventh Prince! It's unbelievable."

"It's not just bringing him down—they say Qin Young Master presided over the trial himself, directly banished the Eleventh Prince back to the Hou Gong, and sentenced him to copy the Imperial Ancestral Precedent."

"It's said… even the Second Prince and Seventh Prince showed up, fully supporting Qin Young Master's ruling. The Ministers of Dali Temple, Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Ministry of Personnel were all present."

"Heh, the Eleventh Prince was foolish—now everyone in Heaven knows Qin Feng's reverse scale is his family. He once caused chaos over a maidservant; how much more so over Qin Feng's elder sister?"

"This time, the Eleventh Prince has kicked an iron plate—he'll never dare touch Qin Young Master's family again."

Compared to the fierce public debate,

the officials' reaction was entirely different.

Inside the Lin Residence, Lin Taibao sat in the seat of honor, his eyes gleaming with deep calculation: "Hmph, the Eleventh Prince is being sidelined? Perfect! Qin Feng's crime of overshadowing the sovereign is now confirmed. Even if public opinion favors him, it cannot change the Imperial Examination Candidates' rejection of Qin Feng. How dare a mere Qin Feng judge a prince? Where is the rule of law!"

"His Majesty is still masterfully cunning—using a fallen prince as a pawn to make Qin Feng despised by all Imperial Examination Candidates. Only His Majesty could wield such Hedging Art."

"Now that Qin Feng's power is growing, how could His Majesty allow him to rise further?"

The Steward beside him mused: "Master, if this is true, won't His Majesty now gradually strip Qin Feng of his special privileges?"

Lin Taibao lifted his tea cup, blowing gently on the steam, his expression calm—as if he already held the entire situation in his grasp.

"Though Qin Feng is eccentric, he remains a useful dagger. How could His Majesty discard him so easily?"

"His Majesty is playing a grand game: using Qin Feng to balance all factions, while he himself focuses solely on balancing Qin Feng. The feud between the Qin Family and my Lin Family was secretly fanned by His Majesty—he delights in seeing the Qin and Lin clans destroy each other. Was the DaxiangPrinceDeath really an accident? Ridiculous!"

"When His Majesty turns ruthless, even his own flesh and blood can be betrayed. Had the First Prince still lived and sat on the Eastern Palace throne, wouldn't my Lin Family have ruled supreme?"

At these words, the Steward was left speechless with shock.

Had Lin Taibao not pointed it out, he would never have dreamed—even in his wildest imaginings—that the First Prince's death had been orchestrated by His Majesty?!

And Qin Cheng Clan had merely taken the blame for His Majesty??

With a Noble Pin in the Hou Gong and a Taibao in the court, if the First Prince had still occupied the Eastern Palace, the Lin Family's power could never have been contained.

The sovereign, still in his prime, established this trap to secure his throne and ensure the Liang dynasty would forever remain under the Li surname. No wonder… despite Liang's internal decay and external threats, it still stands unshaken under His Majesty's rule.

Such Hedging Art is truly chilling…

…………

Meanwhile, the Hou Gong had also turned upside down.

With the Eleventh Prince under soft detention, Lady Li had resorted to desperate measures, pleading endlessly to Chang Princess and the Noble Pin, exhausting every resource to reverse her fate.

Alas…

Since the Eleventh Prince was sent to Zongzheng Temple, Lady Li had been unable to meet Chang Princess or the Noble Pin—even the Proper Consort avoided her.

But as Nightfall descended, the Imperial Edict arrived in the Hou Gong.

Zhang Xiuye held the Imperial Edict and read aloud: "Due to Lady Li's failure in educating her son, nearly causing great disaster, her title of Imperial Consort is revoked, demoted to Granted-Character Pin, and relocated to Qinghua Garden."

Lady Li collapsed in shock, slumping into her chair, her eyes vacant and dazed.

The Imperial Harem Ranking was strictly hierarchical: the Empress, followed by the four Proper Consorts—Noble, Virtuous, Pure, and Chaste—then Lady Li's rank of Granted-Character Consort, below which came Noble Pin, Proper Pin, and Granted-Character Pin.

With this single decree, His Majesty demoted Lady Li by three ranks!

Her branch of the family would never rise again.

Lady Li let out a bitter laugh: "Eleventh, how could you be so foolish to provoke Qin Feng, that mad dog…"

Zhang Xiuye rolled up the Imperial Edict, his usual sharpness gone; he sighed: "Lady Li, this is not the Eleventh Prince's fault—he was young and naive, manipulated by various factions. The waters of this palace run deep; one misstep leads to ruin. Perhaps becoming a Carefree Prince is not such a bad fate for him now."

Hearing this, Lady Li let out a long sigh: "We are both princes, yet how great the difference? Just yesterday, Chang Princess urged me to be patient—yet now, I cannot even see her face…"