Yuan Ruan yawned:

[Hungry. Want to eat fried chicken but can’t bite into it. Even the gossip doesn’t seem interesting anymore.]

System: [My poor Ruan! When you’re three, I’ll get you fried chicken every day!]

The officials leaned back, wishing they could shout: Don’t! It’s so unbearable to only hear half the gossip!

Wen Langzhong let out a sigh of relief and continued, “Your Majesty, the second prince once cleverly used an ancient method to help a family recover their lost ox. I believe the second prince is kind and wise, and it would truly be a pity for him to remain idle at home…”

System: [It turns out that unjust case was actually led by the second Prince! Ah Ruan, are you interested in hearing about it?]

What?!

As soon as these words were spoken, Wen’ Langzhong’s remaining words got stuck in his throat.

The officials perked up their ears again: Please, little goddess, show some interest!

Yuan Ruan suddenly felt a chill down her spine and instinctively said:

[Tell me.]

System: [There was once a time when the second prince went out to stage a show to gain a reputation for wisdom. He happened to encounter two families fighting over an ox, each claiming it had gone missing from their home. The second prince thought of a story from a folk tale. He tied a rope around the ox, gave each family one end of the rope, and told them to pull. The wealthy-looking family on the left quickly let go of the rope, crying that they couldn’t bear to hurt the ox, so the second prince awarded the ox to them.]

When the story came out, most people thought there was nothing wrong with it.

The crown prince, however, frowned slightly, lost in thought.

The emperor chuckled lightly and shook his head.

Yuan Ruan frowned slightly:

[Something feels off. Couldn’t the wealthy family have also read that folk tale?]

Everyone suddenly realized:

Right!

If the story was so well-known, then it was highly likely that the wealthy family had read it and preemptively acted accordingly.

System: [Hahaha! Ah Ruan, you’re truly clever. The wealthy family had indeed read the tale. In fact, the ox belonged to the poor family, but because the judge was the second prince, other officials who knew the truth dared not overturn the case. The poor family lost their ox, and within six months, the man of the house died of depression, leading to the tragic demise of the entire family.]

Yuan Ruan: […Hiss. When the upper beam isn’t straight, the lower beams can only follow suit and tilt.]

Everyone: …

The emperor and the crown prince both furrowed their brows tightly.

The crown prince, being kind-hearted, immediately and secretly arranged for his trusted aides to go to the Ministry of Justice to pull out all cases judged by the second prince. He ordered a review of the cases, and if there were any wrongful convictions, they were to be corrected, and compensation provided.

Wen Langzhong took a deep breath. It seemed that praising the second prince’s wisdom wouldn’t work, so he decided to praise his kindness instead.

Wen Langzhong cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, I recall there was a flood in Da Xia three years ago, the people were filled with resentment. The second prince personally donated fifty thousand taels of silver. When he left the disaster area, the disaster victims even presented him with ten thousand umbrellas as a token of gratitude.”

The emperor’s expression showed a hint of emotion.

He still remembered three years ago when the second prince returned from outside the palace, looking utterly exhausted, crying, and saying he felt guilty toward his mother but couldn’t bear to see Da Xia suffer from disasters. The second prince had sold much of his birth mother’s dowry, scraping together fifty thousand taels to donate to the disaster area.

The crown prince also remembered the second prince’s compassionate actions, and his heart softened: Although my second brother’s personal conduct has flaws, he has indeed contributed to the country and its people. Public matters and private matters should perhaps be viewed separately.

The officials also showed approving expressions.

At that moment, a surprised voice suddenly came:

[What?! It’s this scandal! Who would’ve thought that the second prince is not only a bad person but also exceptionally greedy!]

Everyone: !!!

A sense of foreboding rose in Wen Langzhong’s heart.

System: **[They have no idea how that fifty thousand taels of silver came about. Three years ago, 200,000 taels of disaster relief silver transported by Da Xia vanished without a trace. The investigating official went to the disaster area to investigate and discovered that the local magistrate, Wang, had embezzled the relief funds. Magistrate Wang, fearing exposure, attempted to bribe the official, but the official stood firm.

Magistrate Wang, in desperation, conspired with his servant to poison and murder the investigating official. After the official was poisoned, the matter was immediately reported to the second prince. The second prince could have saved the official, but he didn’t. He waited until the official died, then sent soldiers to coerce a confession from Magistrate Wang and swallowed the 200,000 taels himself. Out of that, he donated fifty thousand taels to the court and kept the remaining for himself.]**

The emperor and the crown prince: !!!

Both of them clenched their teeth in fury. This disgraceful, treacherous scoundrel! To harm loyal officials—he was undermining the very foundation of Da Xia!

The officials: …

So infuriating! What kind of wretched prince is this? Fortunately, they hadn’t been quick to come forward and support the second prince’s retention.

Wen Langzhong felt a chill run down his spine. Looking at the emperor and crown prince’s furious expressions, he suddenly regretted bringing up the second prince. He had implicated the second prince!

Wen Langzhong kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty, I believe the second prince’s nature is not bad. He is devoted to Da Xia. If there is anything improper, it is likely due to unscrupulous servants misleading him.”

System: [Truly a touching brotherly bond! Wiping tears.]

Wen Langzhong: ?

Wait, what? He wasn’t that close to the second prince! Where did this so-called brotherly bond come from?

Everyone else turned to look at Wen Langzhong in unison. Impressive! You’re already considered brother by the prince. No wonder you’re working so hard to save him.

Yuan Ruan was also curious:

[What?]

System: [Wen Langzhong grew up in a poor family. He had a childhood sweetheart who was sold to the second prince’s residence as a maid. Wen Langzhong and his sweetheart kept in touch, and their correspondence became increasingly passionate over the past year. But what he doesn’t know is that his sweetheart has long since died. The second prince discovered their letters, happened to need someone in the Ministry of Justice, and decided Wen Langzhong was obedient and useful. So, he impersonated the sweetheart and directed Wen Langzhong to do various things!]

Wen Langzhong: !!!

What?!

His childhood sweetheart was already dead?

Then who had been addressing him as “brother,” writing love songs with him, and pouring out their feelings over the past year?

Wen Langzhong’s face turned pale green, and he suddenly vomited.

Yuan Ruan was startled and looked back in surprise:

[Wen Langzhong’s health doesn’t seem great. This second prince, isn’t this outright emotional deception?]

System: [Exactly! And very skilled at it. That’s why Wen Langzhong couldn’t hold back and ended up forcing himself on someone.]

What?!

Forcing himself on someone?!

The officials gasped.

Yuan Ruan’s pupils shook:

[But something still doesn’t add up, System. It says here that Wen Langzhong, as the most cruel official under the second prince, worked diligently for five or six years, confiscating property, exterminating families, and killing countless people. How could he not realize the “sweetheart” he was sleeping with was a man?]

The officials: !!!

What? Wen Langzhong is a cruel official?!

Wait, let’s set that revelation aside for now. The previous gossip about “brotherly bond” and “forcing oneself on someone” hasn’t even been fully unpacked yet!

Could it be that Wen Langzhong forced himself on the second prince?!

But that doesn’t make sense! No matter what, he should have been able to tell the difference between a man and a woman.

Or… could it be that he was truly turned gay?

For a moment, the officials standing close to Wen Langzhong subtly stepped back.

Wen Langzhong, feeling ashamed and angry under the intense scrutiny, trembled all over and clenched his fists, wishing he could storm into the second prince’s residence for a fight!

The emperor and the crown prince’s faces turned green. They suddenly wondered: Is it too late to remove the second prince from the royal lineage now?

[Hiss. The second prince has sacrificed so much?!]

Everyone: !!!

Sacrificed so much? What kind of sacrifice is this?!