TFWYH – Chapter 520 Court Turmoil

In the court, the emperor brought up the matter of the arson.

Gu Hengcang was extremely uneasy, constantly glancing at the Second Prince.

Huangfu Yi could only feel helpless and returned a reassuring look.

What Gu Chengwen had done was indeed despicable—but there was nothing he could do. After all, Prime Minister Gu belonged to his faction.

And sure enough, those who wanted to kick him out of the struggle for the heir apparent began to stir.

The Marquis of Yong’an was the first to step forward, speaking harshly about punishing the arsonist. As he spoke, he kept glancing at Prime Minister Gu.

His meaning was already very clear.

There might be no concrete evidence—but who didn’t have informants?

Gu Chengwen’s targeting of the top scholar of the “Little Three Primaries” couldn’t be hidden, and right after that, the exam archive burned down. Did anyone really need to ask who set the fire?

He thought his move was clever, but Gu Hengcang was no easy opponent. Not only did he show no guilt, he instead countered, “Marquis Yong’an, why do you keep looking at me? Are you suggesting that I set the fire?”

The Marquis sneered. “I never said that. I was merely concerned, seeing that the Prime Minister doesn’t look too well.”

Gu Hengcang snorted lightly. “No need for your concern. I am perfectly fine.”

“Is that so?” The Marquis chuckled. “But I heard that your young master Wen hasn’t been doing so well lately. Otherwise, why would he go out of his way to trouble a mere scholar? Tell me—could the one who set the fire be…”

“Marquis Yong’an!” Gu Hengcang snapped angrily. “Mind your words. Don’t make baseless accusations!”

Before the Marquis could respond, the Third Prince, Huangfu Que, spoke up. “Prime Minister Gu, why so angry? The Marquis was only making a guess.”

Then he looked at the Eldest Prince, Huangfu Xiao, with a knowing glance. “Elder Brother, what do you think?”

The Eldest Prince cast a sideways glance at Gu Hengcang and said meaningfully, “Who knows? After all, there’s no evidence. Some people needn’t worry too much.”

Gu Hengcang had expected this situation, but now that it had come, he was still filled with anger.

With a dark expression, he looked at Huangfu Que, then at Huangfu Xiao. Suddenly, he stepped forward, knelt before the emperor, and put on a sorrowful expression of being wronged. “Your Majesty, I have served as an official for many years, always loyal and devoted. Your Majesty knows my character best. Yet now, in my old age, I must suffer such unjust accusations. I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for me!”

Huangfu Que muttered quietly, “Here we go—playing the age card.”

“Third Prince!” Gu Hengcang glared at him angrily. “Must I die here today to prove my innocence?”

Huangfu Que was just about to say, Then go ahead and die so I can see, but before he could speak, Huangfu Yi stepped forward.

He cupped his hands toward the emperor and said, “Father Emperor, you know Prime Minister Gu best. Not only would he disdain taking revenge on a mere commoner without rank or title, but even if he did, he would never choose such a foolish method.”

Huangfu Yi swore he really didn’t want to speak up for that idiot Gu Chengwen—and he was furious about the burning of the exam archive.

But he still needed Prime Minister Gu’s support and couldn’t abandon the Gu family yet.

Without the Gu family, it would be like losing an arm.

Everyone present was intelligent—they all understood these underlying currents.

Huangfu Xiao smiled faintly and asked a pointed question, “Prime Minister Gu may not be so foolish—but others might be. Second Brother… don’t you agree?”