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Mingli was gone the following morning. Yan Gen didn't even get a glimpse of him before he had set off, his maids told him that he's investigating the Wei clan's matters regarding the imperial court's accusations. The Emperor had given him a chance to prove the Wei clan's innocence after he kneeled in front of the imperial court hall for almost twenty-four hours.

This is an obvious sign of favoring the fifth prince among all the other princes. Zhu Mingli may still have the Emperor's favor but he was disappointed in him and he also lost his supporters, his ascension to the dragon throne will not go smoothly. That is if he has plan to become the Emperor.

Knowing the male lead, Yan Gen thought that he'll become an emperor regardless if he wants to or not.

For many days, Yan Gen was confined in the Wangfu, he can't send out any of his personal maidservants anymore to gather information outside. It seems that Zhu Mingli caught the news of him sending out Meigui.

He is determined not to let his wife know anything else, he can handle it by himself, there's no need for her to worry and by the time he arrived at the Wangfu, he'll deliver her the good news.

Contrary to his original intention, Yan Gen became more worried, being ignorant of his clan's matters. He doesn't know if none of those accusations are true, the Wei clan is said to be the lair of the devils. Living with them for a while proved that they were ruthless, though he is considered a female in this world thus wasn't allowed to be informed about the clan's political matter, he knew some things about the Wei. Such as using female clan members who possess a beauty that can topple cities and empire to raise above all other noble clans and increase their influence. It can be seen right on the surface yet what can the people say against them if the rulers were indulgent of beauties?

The clan must have raise the price of rice during famine with an excuse of harvesting a few crops and has to pay the farmers working for them or maybe they raise the price under a nonexistent name. He was aware that the Wei clan is full of officials that no one will call righteous, however he doesn't want the innocents to be involved in this. If the execution continue, not only the Wei officials will be killed, their wives, children, parents, grandparents and even those servants under them along with their families will also be killed.

As for him, he may escape death using his status as a Wangfei, unless Zhu Mingli divorced him.

“Wangfei, how about playing mahjong?” Meigui offered and he turned his head to the other side to decline, staring at the falling tree leaves outside his window.

His days in the Wangfu were boring. Eating and sleeping in a cycle, yet his mind cannot stopped speculating about the things happening outside. What will become of his future? Does Zhu Mingli's investigation made a process?

The next day an old maidservant came rushing in his courtyard, calling him in a high pitched voice “Wangfei, Wangfei! The prince...” she heaved, although her action was rude, no one tried to stopped her since it looks like she is going to deliver an important news. Yan Gen stood there, he can't make up if it she is carrying a good or bad news “His highness is going to arrive soon and he has successfully defended the Wei clan in the imperial court”

His knees weaken and he almost collapsed on the ground if not for Baihe's immediate support. He released a sigh of relief, containing his worry from all those days.

Damn! I'm as weak as a little chick now.

Yan Gen feels like someone has lifted a heavy stone from his heart. He tried to smile and rewarded the old maidservant who reported to him as well as the rest of the servants in the Wangfu. He definitely doesn't like spending money that much, he was a cheapskate but this day was an exception. Finally, he can now sleep peacefully.

Despite of the Good news that arrived in the Wangfu, the old maidservant's expression doesn't seem right “Is there anything else?” she immediately shook her head, bowed and retreated.

“Meigui, order the servants in the kitchen to prepare all the prince's favorite dish. Baihe, help me bath and dress up” he wasn't a big fan of Zhu Mingli, nonetheless he wants to give him a warm welcome for his hard work, the arrogant prince did well.

“Wangfei, you look like you've seen the rain after a drought” Baihe teased while doing his hair. Yan Gen declined to comment, he can sense the underlying reason of her sentence.

When everything was prepared, Yan Gen walked at the entrance of the Wangfu's gate along with the other servants to welcome Zhu Mingli.

He was a bit late for Zhu Mingli had already entered the estate before Yan Gen reached the gate.

A handome young man came out of the luxurious carriage, wearing a black robe.

At the sight of him, Yan Gen immediately flashed the sincerest smile he had ever shown him.

What Yan Gen didn't expect was for Zhu Mingli to look so crestfallen, sensing his mood, Yan Gen's smile dropped in an instant. “What's wrong?” he asked when he reached him.

Zhu Mingli look at him for a moment then sighed, his arms sneaked past his wasp waist, pulling his petite figure in his arms. His head burrowed at the crook of his slender neck, inhaling deeply as if to imprint his wife's smell in mind forever. “I've disappointed you”

Yan Gen's eyebrows furrowed “Didn't your old maidservant said that my clan was spared?” Zhu Mingli raised his head from his neck and said in a low voice “It's true that they were spared but... they're stripped off their titles and they will never enter the imperial court again. In addition, they're going to pay a large sum of money for compensation”

“Unless of course, the next emperor retain them” He quickly added seeing his wife's blank expression.

“That's okay, you've done more than enough”

This can serve as their retribution for all the bad deeds they've done. I only hope that the Wei clan learned their lesson, being too greedy isn't a good thing. At the very least, the innocents were spared.

Besides, if the timeline is right, it won't be long before the emperor died.

They still have Wei Yuu, he has a great talent, the next emperor won't waste a talented man like him and Yan Gen is sure his cousing has his own connection among the influential aristocrats.

Out of habit, Yan Gen clapped Zhu Mingli's shoulder, it was what he usually do with his bros to give comfort in his previous lifetime.