Your Son Has Been Crippled!

Tingfeng Pavilion.

Zhu Zhanjun sat leisurely in a private room on the second floor, looking down at the chaotic scene below through the window.

Princess Channing had already sat opposite him at some point, personally pouring him a cup of hot tea.

"You brat, you really went all out."

Princess Channing looked at the wailing servants below and shook her head, but there was no blame in her tone. Instead, there was a hint of admiration.

"You can't be soft-hearted when dealing with people like this."

"Aunt, I'm helping you establish your authority."

Zhu Zhanjun took a sip of tea and said with a grin.

"From now on, let's see who dares to cause trouble at your Tingfeng Pavilion."

"You, always so glib."

Princess Channing rolled her eyes at him, then her expression turned serious again.

"But with this stunt you pulled, you've completely offended Fang Bin."

"That old fox is vengeful; he definitely won't let this go."

"I want him to not let this go."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Zhanjun's eyes.

"Enemies hiding in the dark are always difficult to deal with. Only by forcing him out can we strike a decisive blow."

He placed the "confession" obtained from the assassin, filled with Fang Bin's trivial matters, on the table.

"Aunt, could you help me 'accidentally' deliver this to those censors at the Censorate?"

"I believe they'll be very interested."

Princess Channing picked up the "confession" and glanced at it, immediately understanding Zhu Zhanjun's intention.

"You want to start a fire in his backyard so he's too busy to deal with other things?"

"This is just the beginning."

Zhu Zhanjun smiled.

"The real feast is yet to come."

He looked at Fang Cheng below, who was already scared stiff like mud, with no pity in his eyes.

A spoiled brat couldn't make much of a splash.

But through him, Fang Bin, and the Prince Han and Prince Zhao behind Fang Bin, could all be dragged down.

This game had only just begun.

Meanwhile.

Minister of War's Residence.

The brazier in the study was burning brightly, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Fang Bin, the Minister of War, had his eyes closed, leaning back in a grand armchair with thick cushions, enjoying a massage from two beautiful maids.

He had been in a very good mood lately.

The northern expeditionary army was trapped, the emperor was ill, and the Crown Prince had been assassinated.

The entire court of the Great Ming Dynasty seemed to be in turmoil, but in his eyes, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Prince Han and Prince Zhao had promised him that if things succeeded, he, Fang Bin, would become the Grand Secretary of the new dynasty, holding supreme power.

As for the suddenly appearing Prince Zheng Zhu Zhanjun, in his eyes, he was just a child with a little too much cleverness.

Although the assassination attempt on the Crown Prince and the subsequent framing had failed, it had successfully muddied the waters, focusing everyone's attention on the internal struggles of the Eastern Palace, causing them to overlook the real crisis in the north.

Everything was proceeding according to his plan.

"Sir, is the pressure alright?"

A maid asked softly.

"Mmm, good."

Fang Bin hummed comfortably.

The only thing giving him a headache was his unpromising son, Fang Cheng.

He only knew how to indulge in cockfighting and dog fighting, causing trouble every day, never giving him a moment's peace.

"Speaking of which, where did Cheng'er go today?"

Fang Bin asked casually.

The butler standing nearby quickly bowed and replied, "To answer your question, Sir, the young master left early this morning with his men, saying... he was going to Tingfeng Pavilion to meet friends."

"Tingfeng Pavilion?"

Fang Bin's brows furrowed slightly.

That place was a den of iniquity, not a good place to go.

Moreover, he vaguely knew that behind Tingfeng Pavilion stood Princess Channing.

"This unfilial son!"

Fang Bin cursed in displeasure.

He was thinking that once this busy period was over, he would definitely lock Fang Cheng at home and discipline him properly.

Just then, the study door was slammed open with a "bang."

A servant scrambled in, his face a mask of extreme terror and panic.

"Mas... Master! It's bad! Something terrible has happened!"

Fang Bin's mood was ruined, and a surge of anger immediately rose within him.

He suddenly opened his eyes and sternly shouted, "What's all this rushing about? What kind of decorum is this!"

"What is it? Speak slowly!"

The servant trembled at his shout but still stammered with a choked sob, "Master! It's... it's the young master! The young master... he was at Tingfeng Pavilion, and someone... someone crippled him!"

"What?!"

Fang Bin shot up from his armchair, his leisurely and smug expression vanishing without a trace, replaced by shock and disbelief.

"What did you say? Say it again!"

"The young master... he took people to Tingfeng Pavilion and got into a conflict with someone. All of his more than a dozen servants had their hands and feet broken!"

"The young master himself was also held at Tingfeng Pavilion. The other party... the other party said they wanted five million taels of silver for his ransom before they would release him!"

"Otherwise... otherwise, they would break the young master's legs!"

The servant's words exploded in Fang Bin's mind.

He felt his vision go black, his body swayed, and he almost fell to the ground.

"Outrageous! Outrageous!"

Fang Bin's face turned the color of a pig's liver, and a monstrous rage surged to the top of his head.

"Who? Who did this?!"

"Who has the guts to dare touch my Fang Bin's son!"