The emperor woke up this morning with his eyelid twitching uncontrollably, a sign that something significant was about to happen.

Now, standing in court, his eyelid twitched even more intensely.

“Rise, all of you,” he commanded.

The ministers stood up one by one, except for one man who remained kneeling. The emperor instinctively knew—something was coming.

“Jiang Fengyuan, I told you to rise,” the emperor said.

Jiang Fengyuan remained firm. “Your Majesty, I have a matter to report.”

“What is it?”

Jiang Fengyuan’s gaze was unwavering. “I accuse Duke An of harming loyal officials and disregarding human life.”

Duke An’s pupils dilated in shock.

“Your Majesty, this is slander!”

The emperor’s sharp gaze fell on both men.

“Harming loyal officials? Disregarding human life?”

“Explain yourself!”

Jiang Fengyuan stood. “Your Majesty, there was more to the Chen family case from years ago. I have now uncovered the truth—it was a conspiracy between Duke An and Duke Li. They framed the Chen family for embezzlement, which led to their exile from the capital.”

The court erupted in murmurs.

A son accusing his father? This was unheard of.

And over an old case, no less.

Several ministers immediately voiced their displeasure.

Minister of Works, Rong Dazhan, stepped forward first.

“General Zhengyuan, accusing your own father is against the principles of filial piety. Besides, at the time, there was concrete evidence. Reopening the case now—don’t you think it’s too late?”

“Indeed. If a son can accuse his own father, how can we be sure his claims are true?”

Many ministers hesitated.

After all, a son turning against his father was a serious matter.

And they had heard that Jiang Fengyuan had been expelled from his family by Duke An.

If this was personal revenge, then taking sides recklessly would be unwise.

Duke An steadied himself, forcing calm.

“Your Majesty, the Ministry of Justice still holds records of the case. The Chen family was found guilty of embezzling 300,000 taels of silver. Does he mean to say I forced them to take bribes and steal disaster relief funds?”

He turned to Jiang Fengyuan. “I know you resent me for expelling you, but you cannot twist the facts to settle a grudge. It was Your Majesty who issued the decree to exile the Chen family.”

Jiang Fengyuan’s eyes burned with hatred.

At that moment, Jiang Yuancheng, who had been standing at the back of the court, stepped forward.

He was calm, as if the affairs of the world were nothing but fleeting clouds to him.

Seeing him, Duke An froze.

This young man, as steady as the moon and as upright as a pine, was once the pride of the noble house.

“Your Majesty,” Jiang Yuancheng bowed and retrieved a thick memorial from his sleeve. “This document details the entire truth of the Chen family case. Please review it.”

Eunuch Cao personally took the memorial and presented it to the emperor.

The emperor’s expression grew heavier as he read.

“Jiang Fengyuan, do you understand what it means if this is true? Do you have proof?”

Jiang Fengyuan knew.

The emperor himself had decreed the Chen family’s exile.

Overturning that ruling now would be a challenge to imperial authority—questioning the emperor’s judgment.

“I understand, but I am determined to clear the Chen family’s name.”

His own family had wronged them too deeply.

The emperor’s expression darkened, and a suffocating tension spread through the court.

Duke An felt relieved—fortunately, he had personally sought the emperor’s approval back then.

Since the exile order had come from the emperor himself, reversing it would be difficult.

Jiang Fengyuan was throwing himself against a wall.

The emperor would never allow his decisions to be questioned.

And since Duke Li was already dead, a single witness’s testimony would not be enough to convince His Majesty.

“Your Majesty, Jiang Fengyuan is my son, and he is openly defying Your decree. I beg for Your Majesty’s punishment on his behalf.”

Duke Han, standing to the side, was so furious his beard trembled.

He was about to speak when Jiang Fengyuan firmly stopped him.

Jiang Yuancheng produced another document.

“Your Majesty, this is a confession from Li Ping, one of the men involved, along with testimonies from assassins Duke An sent to Liangzhou.”

The emperor’s face turned serious.

“Summon Li Ping.”

Li Ping entered, glaring at Duke An.

“Your Majesty, years ago, I followed my senior brothers in carrying out Duke An’s orders. He commanded us to plant 300,000 taels of silver in the Chen family’s warehouse. Afterwards, he tried to kill us all. I barely escaped with my life.”

He had only survived thanks to his brothers’ protection.

Imperial Censor Zheng Guang stepped forward. “Your Majesty, Li Ping was one of Duke An’s subordinates. With both his son and his former servant accusing him, there must be more to this story. I urge Your Majesty to launch a full investigation.”

The emperor was deep in thought when Eunuch Cao whispered to him, “Your Majesty, Jiang Yuanxi has arrived.”

The emperor was momentarily stunned.

At the entrance, the Crown prince walked in, holding a chubby little girl by the hand.

The little girl was chewing on an arm-length meat jerky, completely absorbed in her snack.

“Greetings, Royal Father,” the Crown prince said.

Jiang Yuanxi attempted to kneel but, due to her plumpness, flopped onto her back instead, staring at the ceiling.

The crown prince stifled his laughter and picked her up.

“Royal Father, I support reopening the Chen family case.”

“I agree! I agree!” Jiang Yuanxi raised her meat jerky in support.

Jiang Fengyuan and Jiang Yuancheng were bewildered—how did Yuanxi end up here?

And why was the crown prince holding her hand?

“Ridiculous!” Minister Rong Dazhan fumed. “A child has no place in the imperial court!”

He recognized this girl—she was the one who had caused his disgrace and expulsion from his family.

Jiang Yuanxi noticed the various expressions around her—curiosity, resentment, gratitude.

Especially the man standing in the front.

His eyes looked like they were about to pop out.

Seeing the familiar patterns on his hat, Jiang Yuanxi walked up to him.

“So you’re the descendant of the ancestor who had an affair?”

She asked curiously, “Is your ancestor’s memorial tablet still in the family shrine?”

Rong Dazhan’s chest heaved violently, his eyes red with fury.

His hands trembled as he pointed at Jiang Yuanxi. “Your Majesty, the imperial court is no place for childish nonsense!”

The crown prince stepped forward. “I brought Yuanxi here. Do you have a problem with that, Minister Rong?”

“I dare not!” Rong Dazhan immediately backed down.

He glanced around. As expected, the other ministers were just waiting for a spectacle.

“What is happening?” Minister Zhou murmured, intrigued.

Duke Han subtly moved a few steps back and whispered, “It all started when Yuanxi visited my house…”

Several ministers shuffled closer to listen.

The emperor was intrigued—he was the emperor! What could they possibly be discussing that he wasn’t allowed to hear?

“Speak up! What ancestor? What shrine?”

Jiang Yuanxi, seeing no answer, repeated her question, “It’s rude not to answer. Does your grandmother’s memorial tablet still exist?”

Rong Dazhan’s face turned pale.

“It does,” he gritted his teeth.

It was still there—just in a different shrine.

“Oh, good. Otherwise, you’d be like me—without an ancestor!”

Rong Dazhan felt as though he had been slapped across the face.

It stung—deeply.

Duke An’s face darkened.

“Yuanxi, this is no place for your nonsense!”