de Su Jinpa instantly furious."Please be mindful of yourself!"Li Chen chuckled softly, taking out a jade pendant from his bosom and saying, "Your father said that this could be used as a betrothal gif...Chapter 343: What the Imperial Scholar Said, Was Just Bull**.

Political strategy is not the same as political maneuvering.

Deep scheming, nor politics.

Someone who is very manipulative and cunning might be well-suited for a career in politics. However, that doesn't necessarily mean they would make a good politician.

> Political acumen and guile are essential qualities for a competent politician, but they are not everything.

Li Yinhu lacked political experience. He knew how to plan things on his own and had the courage to make decisive moves, even ruthless ones. He was also a master of disguise, able to smile while hiding his true intentions. But standing on that grand Taihe Hall, beside the glittering dragon throne in his scarlet prince's robe, he felt suffocated by the weight of it all.

Seeing the situation was about to go south, Zhao Xuanji, who had always been a bystander, finally spoke up.

"Your Highness, I have a question."

Zhao Xuanji bowed respectfully, looked at Zhao Heshan and asked: “Since the Long family colluded with the rebels, why was there evidence left behind in their home for such a capital crime of exterminating the clan What's more, this report was made during a time when both the head of the family, Long Tiande, and the young master, Long Huaisheng, were not at home”

Have those pieces of evidence been verified And where are Long Tiande and Long Huaiyu now Who is the person who made the report, and what is their background

"Has everything, Master Zhao, become clear"

Zhao Heshan frowned slightly, then replied: "The evidence is true, and we had confronted each other on the spot."

Shaking his head, Zhao Xuanji said, "Now that everyone in the Dragon family is dead, there's no one left to refute this claim. This statement is unreliable."

Then, he clasped his hands together and addressed Li Chen: “Your Highness, administering justice requires utmost care and meticulousness. Every detail must be scrutinized to ensure there are no loopholes. Only when evidence is irrefutable can a conviction be made. Although Zhao was the Chief Secretary of Xishan Province, such a major case clearly exceeded his jurisdiction. Yet, he directly ordered the eradication of the Long family. Could there be something amiss here”

Zhaoxuanji was incisive.

He doesn't bother getting tangled up in the relationship between Li Yinhu and the Long family at all. Instead, he directly overturns the fundamental logic of this issue: are the Long family guilty or not

If there's guilt, where's the evidence This case is riddled with doubts and loopholes. After all, it was hastily planned, and Zhao Xuanji, with his seasoned experience, reviewed it. With just a few words, he could leave Zhao Heshan speechless.

If Li Yinhǔ is innocent, not only will he be fine, but Zhao Heshan, who destroyed the Long family, will be in trouble.

Zhao Xuanji bowed again and said, "It's not that I have doubts, but this case itself is full of suspicions. Zhang University Scholar, the old man was joking and presumptuous to ask a question. If you colluded with the rebels, would you leave behind letters as ironclad evidence at home"

Zhang Biwu burst into laughter and said, "My loyalty to the court is as clear as day. But since I'm being used as an example, I might as well be bold and answer. If I were that Dragon family member, with even a little bit of intelligence, I wouldn't have left behind letters like this as evidence for others to use against me. After all, once discovered, it would be a capital crime leading to the destruction of the entire clan. Someone daring enough to commit such a crime wouldn't be so foolish."

Zhang Biwu and Zhao Xuanji, one leading and the other following, orchestrated the narrative to suit their own agenda.

Li Chen stood at the top, expressionless.

At this point, he couldn't personally step in. If he did, he would have no way out and no room to maneuver; he could only let Zhao He Shan answer.

Zha He Shan obviously realized the current situation was beyond his control. After a brief pause, he first bowed to Li Chen and then said: "Your Highness, I believe that what the Chief Minister and Zhang University Scholar have said... is just nonsense."he heir apparent.The Emperor is now mentally incapacitated, and he is the legitimate heir to this empire.The crimson dragon robe shouldn't have transformed into a bright yellow one.This was the feudal...