Volume One, Chapter Two: Falsely Accused of Rebellion, Proving One's Innocence

Ling Aoxue was overjoyed. With the Emperor’s words, Ye Chen would never have a chance to become the Crown Prince in this lifetime.

Kneeling on the ground, Ling Aoxue thought this to herself, a triumphant smile blooming on her face, which was turned toward the floor.

At this moment, Du Lingfu trembled as he stepped forward, bowed, and pleaded on Ye Chen’s behalf.

"Your Majesty, as the Ninth Prince’s mentor, I am willing to stake my life and reputation that the Ninth Prince is absolutely incapable of treason."

"Furthermore, if the Ninth Prince were to rebel, why would he be foolish enough to hide the imperial dragon robe in his own residence?"

"It must be a frame-up. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

After speaking, Du Lingfu looked toward the court officials, hoping someone would step forward to speak a word of justice.

Alas, though the officials were well aware of the truth, not one dared to step forward.

Everyone understood that if the origins of the dragon robe were truly investigated, it would inevitably lead back to Emperor Qingli himself. No one was foolish enough to stick their neck out.

Emperor Qingli waved his hand impatiently and said, "Enough! The facts are clear. This rebellious son’s life is not worth saving. Grand Tutor Du, you would do well to save your breath!"

Seeing the Emperor’s reaction, the officials became even more certain that this was a plot orchestrated by Emperor Qingli himself. One by one, they lowered their heads in cold indifference.

"Hahaha..."

Abruptly, Ye Chen let out a self-deprecating laugh.

The memories of the original owner were replaying incessantly in Ye Chen’s mind.

The death of his mother, Empress Chunyuan; Ling Aoxue’s betrayal and abandonment; and now, being framed for treason and the attempted murder of the Noble Consort.

It was true—good people never had a good ending!

Watching Ye Chen laugh in his madness, Emperor Qingli clenched his fists.

"Rebellious son, what are you laughing at?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen’s smile grew even brighter.

"This son is laughing at you, Father Emperor. What a debauched, incompetent, and foolish tyrant you are!"

He had not yet fully integrated the memories of the original owner, but he already felt that Emperor Qingli was an out-and-out tyrant.

The officials’ vision went black at these words; they all felt Ye Chen was courting death.

"Rebellious child, you seek death!"

Emperor Qingli was incensed, his martial aura pressing down ruthlessly.

Ye Chen’s bones creaked as he bled from his seven orifices, looking as though he might drop dead on the spot.

Du Lingfu, gripped by panic, unleashed his own First-Rank Confucian aura to block the Emperor’s martial pressure.

Emperor Qingli looked at Du Lingfu in shock and rage. "Grand Tutor Du, are you going to defy me?"

Du Lingfu knelt immediately. "I beg Your Majesty to investigate—the Ninth Prince would never commit treason..."

"Enough. Grand Tutor Du, you are advanced in years. I grant you leave to retire to your hometown and spend your remaining years at the Longchang Academy in Yuzhou."

The officials shook their heads, feeling that the Grand Tutor’s efforts were in vain.

Du Lingfu gave a miserable smile and said with deep unwillingness, "This old minister thanks you for your grace! However..."

The tone of his voice shifted. Du Lingfu rose shakily, his Confucian aura of righteous energy surging forth.

The crowd was stunned, not understanding what the Grand Tutor intended to do.

"I fear... I fear I will not be able to return."

Du Lingfu spoke as if he had made a final decision. "Unable to clear my student’s name, I am filled with shame. So be it..."

Hearing this, the civil officials immediately understood what the Grand Tutor was about to do.

Someone quickly stepped out: "Mentor, do not be impulsive. You are of advanced age; you must not use the power of 'Word Manifesting' again."

Yet, a mountain-like pressure descended as Du Lingfu used his own cultivation to pin the officials to the floor so they could not lift their heads.

"My mind is made up. I am willing to use the power of 'Word Manifesting' to swear an oath to the heavens and prove the Ninth Prince’s innocence!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Qingli’s expression turned terrifyingly dark.

*This stubborn old fool. I cannot let him succeed and ruin my plan to weaken the feudal lords.*

He glanced quietly toward a dark corner of the hall, where the leader of the shadow guards, "Falcon," was hidden.

With just a single look, "Falcon" understood the Emperor’s intent.

However, just as "Falcon" was about to strike, Ye Chen spoke up.

"Teacher, there is no need. The power of 'Word Manifesting' consumes your lifespan; you will lose your life!"

Du Lingfu offered a helpless, bitter smile. "If this old minister’s life can clear your name, Your Highness, what does death matter?"

"Student thanks his mentor, but I shall prove my own innocence. I will swear this oath to the heavens myself!"

Hearing these words, Emperor Qingli signaled "Falcon" to stop with a look, then looked at Ye Chen with contempt.

"The Confucian power of 'Word Manifesting' requires at least Third-Rank cultivation. You have no cultivation at all—how will you prove your innocence?"

"How my cultivation was lost, Father Emperor, you probably know better than anyone!"

Unexpectedly, Ye Chen suddenly questioned Emperor Qingli loudly, leaving him stunned on the spot.

At this moment, Ye Chen had completely integrated the original owner’s memories and was filled with extreme fury.

He never imagined that the original owner had been literally angered to death.

In his memories, just last night, Ling Aoxue had volunteered to go to the prison to persuade Ye Chen to confess.

After dismissing the jailers, Ling Aoxue revealed the full details of how Ye Chen had been framed.

"To tell you the truth, I hid the dragon robe in your mansion while I was delivering your medicine."

"The rumors in the harem are also true; I poisoned your mother to death..."

"Do you remember that strange illness you had five years ago?"

"Actually, you weren't sick at all. You were poisoned by the Heavenly Physician Sect’s gu-worms, specifically to destroy your cultivation."

"Do you know who ordered this? It was your father, the current Emperor!"

"So you can't blame me. Who told your grandfather to be Zhao Tai, the King of Wu in Longxi, whose power was so great it threatened the throne?"

In his memories, Ling Aoxue’s triumphant look as she spoke these words remained vivid.

Upon learning the truth, the original owner could only rage impotently in his cell.

He eventually suffered a mental breakdown, grabbed Ling Aoxue by the throat, and was beaten severely by the guards who rushed in.

At this morning’s court, the bruised and battered original owner was dragged to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The moment he saw Emperor Qingli, he succumbed to his rage, coughed up blood, and died.

"Hahaha..."

Looking at the stunned Emperor Qingli, Ye Chen laughed manically.

And Ye Chen’s next words shocked everyone present.

"Don't you want to know how I will prove my innocence? Then I will tell you..."

"I will achieve enlightenment through Confucian mantras to regain my cultivation, and then use the power of 'Word Manifesting' to swear an oath to the heavens and prove my innocence!"

As he spoke, Ye Chen propped up his severely injured body and walked toward the exit of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

*You foolish sycophant, today I will give you a taste of reality!*

*Let me use this body to stage a magnificent comeback!*

Thinking this to himself, Ye Chen looked at his mentor, Du Lingfu.

"Please, Teacher, protect me. Today, I shall achieve enlightenment through Confucian mantras to reach the Third Rank and prove my innocence!"

Ye Chen’s words stunned everyone in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At this moment, he also fully understood this world.

The Canglan Realm was home to a hundred schools of thought, with no fewer than a hundred ways to cultivate.

Cultivation levels were judged by nine ranks and nine heavens.

Ninth Rank was the lowest, First Rank the highest. Breaking through to the Ninth Rank made one a practitioner.

Each rank was divided into nine small stages, known as the nine heavens.

In the path of cultivation, martial arts focused on tempering the body, Taoism on nourishing qi, medicine on cultivating the heart, and Confucianism on accumulating virtue to achieve enlightenment and enter the ranks.

Thus, Confucianism was the easiest to practice, yet the most difficult to master!

Some exhausted their entire lives without ever achieving enlightenment.

Some accumulated virtue for decades without even reaching the Ninth Rank.

Others, however, could achieve enlightenment overnight and break through multiple levels.

But for Ye Chen to achieve enlightenment and reach the First Rank with such a body was more absurd than a fool’s dream!

After their initial shock, the officials shook their heads and smiled bitterly, all thinking Ye Chen had gone mad and was spouting nonsense.

"Grand Tutor Du achieved enlightenment at Longchang back in the day, leaping from the Fifth Rank to the First Rank overnight—a miracle not seen in a thousand years!"

"Indeed! The Ninth Prince wants to enter the ranks by contemplating the mantras of the Confucian sages; he is being far too presumptuous!"

Du Lingfu smiled helplessly. "Your Highness, do not joke. Enlightenment is so difficult, let alone reaching the Third Rank..."

Unexpectedly, Ye Chen smiled arrogantly. "Nothing is impossible. Perhaps today, I might even reach the First Rank!"

Hearing Ye Chen utter such arrogant and ignorant words, the crowd could only smile with amusement, already prepared to watch a joke unfold.

Yet, Ye Chen was immensely excited. As he stepped out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, he looked up at the sky and muttered to himself triumphantly.

"Great! There are no Confucian classics from China here; perhaps this is my golden finger in this world!"