After returning to the Imperial Study, the Qi Emperor fell into deep thought. When had he, the dignified ruler of the Qi Kingdom, the supreme emperor, actually fallen into such a state?
It had all started with the Princes' Succession Struggle. His third son had lost the treasured jade and been defeated in the succession struggle, while his eldest son had emerged victorious and begun taking action in Donghe Commandery, launching the purge of Guo Rongshan.
It had been the assembled officials supporting his eldest son who, in order to wipe out the Tianmu Cult in Donghe Commandery, build up achievements and momentum for the First Prince, and prepare for his ascension to the position of Crown Prince, had set everything in motion.
The root of it all had been the search of Xu Yan's residence...
The more the Qi Emperor thought about it, the angrier and more aggrieved he became. They had not even searched the residence yet! Besides, he was the emperor. Why would he care about a mere merchant?
He had not even known about the matter!
And yet, he had ended up carrying the blame for the search.
"Deliver my decree. The First Prince has lost his virtue. Give him thirty strokes of the rod. Hit him hard!"
The Qi Emperor ground his teeth as he issued the decree.
Unable to vent his anger on Xu Yan, he could only vent it on his own son!
The First Prince was dumbfounded. He had done nothing at all, yet he had been given thirty strokes of the rod. It was an injustice from the heavens!
He cursed his own father inwardly: That old bastard! After suffering someone else's anger, all he knows is how to take it out on his own son!
At the Prince of Qi's