The guard collapsed weakly to the ground, his blood flowing rapidly and soon staining the floor beneath him red. Within a short time, he breathed his last, but as he turned his head to look at Prince Su, his eyes were wide with shock and resentment, seemingly unwilling to close in death.

Everything happened so quickly that the Emperor and the others were stunned.

Aside from Doctor Lv, Sun Chuanmao, and the four guards, the Emperor and his three companions, all of exceptional intellect, quickly regained their composure.

The Emperor slowly swirled the teacup in his hand, his majestic face expressionless, his gaze on Prince Su as deep and fathomless as the ocean.

Under such circumstances, Prince Su was still able to shoot the guard with a dagger. Long Xuanmo and the other two exchanged looks, with shock lingering in their eyes.

Although the guard was dead, Prince Su's hatred was not appeased. He was thinking about killing everyone present to keep the secret when Dr. Lv, who had come to his senses, saw the malicious light flickering in Prince Su's bloodshot eyes and felt a sudden jump in his heart: "Prince Su, you are unwell, remember not to get angry!" He glanced over at the Emperor.

Seeing Doctor Lv's reminder, Prince Su, in the midst of his fury, instantly regained his wits. Enduring the severe pain, he got off the bed and knelt on the floor, hastily defending himself, "Father Emperor, your son has been framed. Please discern the truth!" His whole being seemed weak and feeble, nothing of his former ruthlessness.

The Emperor stared straight at Prince Su without a word for a long time.

Facing the Emperor's calm yet profound gaze, Prince Su felt a chill in his heart and hastily lowered his head, his back clearly soaked with cold sweat.

After a long while, the Emperor waved his hand, signaling Sun Chuanmao and Doctor Lv to help Prince Su back to bed, before he casually spoke, "So who is it that has framed you?"

"It was..." Prince Su first looked at Prince Chen, then seeming to recall something, he withdrew his gaze, "Your son has always maintained a clean reputation, never engaging in such absurd acts. Someone must have drugged your son, causing him to lose his wits. Please, Father Emperor, see the truth!"

He wanted to accuse Prince Chen, but unfortunately, he had no evidence, and it seemed Prince Chen had likely been with the Emperor and the Grand Prince and Prince Ning all the time. He couldn't shift the blame to Prince Chen.

It was even less possible to blame the inn's people, since they had only appeared to introduce the amenities on the day he checked in. Duke of Anguo and Nangong Lingfei had told the Emperor to avoid disturbing or neglecting him, and after giving their instructions, everyone else had left except for the kitchen staff, who had never appeared in their presence.

He could not blame the inn without simultaneously offending both Duke Anguo Mansion and Nangong Mansion, and the consequences of that were clear.

"Is that so?" There was a sardonic smile at the corner of the Emperor's mouth, "Doctor Lv, you just took Prince Su's pulse. Has he indeed been drugged as he claims?"

Doctor Lv glanced at Prince Su, who had a foreboding feeling, and indeed, Doctor Lv said, "Reporting to the Emperor, there are no signs that Prince Su has been drugged."

"Check once more for anything amiss in the room."

"At your command!" After a thorough inspection, Doctor Lv replied, "Reporting to the Emperor, there is nothing amiss in the room."

The Emperor stared directly at Prince Su: "Did you hear that clearly?"

Prince Su's face turned ashen, and cold sweat poured out. He wanted to defend himself but had no idea what to say. Doctor Lv was his man; naturally, he would not harm him. But he was clearly drugged, so why hadn't Doctor Lv found it?

The Emperor's gaze held a blend of authority and iciness: "You said you were unwell and came back to rest. Is this how you rest?"

"Father, your son has indeed been resting in his room since returning. Please, Your Majesty, discern the truth!" Prince Su dared not mention having gone out at all, for such an admission would constitute the crime of deceiving the emperor.

The Emperor glanced at Sun Chuanmao, who immediately went out. A moment later, he returned and whispered something in the Emperor's ear. The Emperor then looked at Prince Su: "According to the guards on duty, it was you who ordered them to leave. When they refused, you and your guards injured them. Is this true?"

"Your son did not, your son..."

With a wave of his hand to interrupt Prince Su's excuses, the Emperor said in an icy tone, "Prince Su has conducted himself recklessly and has lost the majesty of the royal family. He shall be taken back to the Prince Mansion immediately to reflect behind closed doors! As for these four guards, drag them out and kill them!"

Seeing his grand ambition within reach, Prince Su felt both panic and unwillingness as the Emperor placed him under house arrest.

Before Prince Su could say anything, the four guards suddenly turned to look at him together, their faces and eyes filled with deep affection and tenderness: "To have loved and stood by Your Highness in this life, we die without regrets! My Prince, until the next life!" Having said this, the four men hurled themselves violently against the wall, dying with smiles on their faces.

"Damn slaves!" Normally graceful and composed, Prince Su looked like a madman at this moment, his face contorted in rage as he ignored the intense pain in his body and rushed to the side of the four guards. He picked up a chair and started hitting them furiously: "Damn slaves, how dare you frame me! I shall see to it that you never rest in peace!"

"Enough!" The Emperor shouted angrily, hurling his teacup onto the floor, where it shattered instantaneously, and the faint aroma of tea lingered in the room.

Long Xuanmo and others knelt on the ground: "Father, calm your anger!"

Frightened, Prince Su dropped the chair he was holding and hurriedly knelt before the Emperor, silent as if chilled to the bone, his body trembling uncontrollably.

The Emperor's face was gloomy, and his expression frosty as if it were the heavy sky before a snowfall, a bone-chilling coldness that reached to one's heart: "Prince Su is incorrigible and shows no remorse for his wrongdoings. His title as Prince Su is hereby revoked and he is demoted to a commoner, to be imprisoned in Zongren Mansion, forbidden to leave without imperial decree!

Take him, and escort him directly back to the capital!"

All these years, although the Emperor's favor towards Prince Su was not as great as towards Prince Chen, he had asked himself if he had not been generous. Just before, he still considered their blood relation and had allowed Prince Su to reflect behind closed doors.

He did not expect that Prince Su, usually so graceful and refined, could be so brutally violent at his core, which greatly disappointed him.

The guards quickly came in and took Prince Su away. To prevent him from causing a commotion, they discreetly and swiftly pressed his mute acupoint.

Just as Long Xuanmo was about to plead for mercy, he caught the Emperor's cold glance and, adding the fact that both Grand Prince and Prince Ning shook their heads, he decided not to speak any further.

"Doctor Lv, Long Yisi (Prince Su) trusts you the most. You will go with him to Zongren Mansion to offer your medical services." The Emperor's lips curled into a slight, cold smile. Long Yisi and Doctor Lv thought that their actions were clandestine, but anyone who needed to know about their relationship was well aware.

Inside Doctor Lv's heart, a storm raged, yet he still had to respectfully bow and take the order before going back to his room to pack his belongings and follow Long Yisi back to the capital.

On the rooftop opposite, Yang Mengchen spoke indifferently: "Let's go back."

Hai Tang immediately carried her down from the rooftop, and as they walked back, Hai Tang asked curiously, "Miss, what kind of powder did Birdy spread on Prince Su and the five guards? It not only knocked them out but also had such an extraordinary effect?"

"A powder that can confuse the mind," Hai Tang replied. Indeed, the powder could confuse one's mind, but just now, Yang Mengchen had used subtle suggestions to induce the four guards to say those words.

At midnight, Long Xuanmo came to Yang Mengchen's room.

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