Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

After hearing the report, Emperor Cangxuan remained silent for a moment.

His expression was inscrutable.

After a moment, Emperor Cangxuan said, "Then you shall continue to kneel."

Upon hearing Emperor Cangxuan's words, the empress, who was kneeling outside, swayed, and a look of panic spread across her eyes.

His Majesty wouldn't even see her.

At this point, she had no choice but to kneel.

Soon, news of the Empress's punishment spread throughout the palace and beyond.

In the Second Prince's residence, Cang Mingze lay on the bed, his eyes red and his breathing labored.

The imperial physician has just announced that his leg is completely ruined.

Unless a miracle occurs, he will remain crippled.

Cang Mingze had no choice but to accept that he was truly ruined.

"I may be crippled, but I still have a son. Where is Concubine Duan? Someone, bring Concubine Duan here!"

The second prince lay on the bed shouting.

His two personal guard commanders exchanged a glance and sent someone to summon Duan Linglong.

During this time, Ying Hengzhi was imprisoned in the East Palace dungeon, and Duan Linglong was the only mistress in the Second Prince's residence, so she lived a relatively comfortable life.

However, her mind was no longer on Cang Mingze, but on the heir of the Duke of Lin.

Duan Linglong was very unhappy when she heard that Cang Mingze had summoned her.

But she didn't dare to openly break ties with Cang Mingze, so she still went.

In the past, it was extremely difficult for her to enter Cang Mingze's courtyard. If she insisted on getting close, she would inevitably be scolded.

But now, he actually invited her in.

As soon as Duan Linglong entered, she saw Cang Mingze lying half-reclined on the bed, with one of his legs bound to a wooden board.

He was no longer as spirited as he had been before he left; instead, he looked sickly and pale.

Perhaps the torment of his leg injury prevented him from resting properly, as there were dark circles under his eyes.

He looked disheveled and haggard.

A sense of pleasure flashed through Duan Linglong's heart.

From the moment Cang Mingze forbade her to see her father and family one last time, she lost all affection for him.

There was only hatred.

"Concubine Duan, you've arrived. In the month I was away, did you check the baby's pulse? How is the child?"

Cang Mingze stared intently at Duan Linglong's belly.

Duan Linglong thought he had called her over to say something, but it turned out he was asking about the child.

Her gaze swept over his broken leg, and she immediately understood his thoughts.

A cold smile flashed in Duan Linglong's eyes, and her voice trembled with tears, "Your Highness, I'm sorry, it's my body that failed me, and I couldn't keep this child."

Cang Mingze was stunned.

He slowly widened his eyes, his expression turning ferocious, and said, "What did you say?"

Duan Linglong lowered her head, pretending to cry, and said, "Perhaps it's because I've always missed my father and family, and I wasn't able to see them one last time..."

The imperial physician said, "I was suffering from emotional distress, my pregnancy was unstable, and I had been contemplating suicide, so... so the child is gone."

"The child... is gone?" The scene before Cang Mingze's eyes shattered, and his last shred of hope and reliance vanished.

His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Duan Linglong. "What do you mean by not being able to see your family one last time and feeling resentful? You..."

Cang Mingze suddenly paused, remembering that Duan Linglong had once begged him to see Duan Yuqing one last time.

He didn't agree.

"You did this on purpose? You deliberately retaliated against me?" Cang Mingze stared at Duan Linglong with a ferocious look in his eyes.

"What are you saying, Your Highness? How could I deliberately miscarry?" Duan Linglong's face showed great injustice.

Cang Mingze completely collapsed; his last glimmer of hope was gone.

"It's gone, the baby is gone..."

Cang Mingze's expression turned crazed. "Guards, drag this vile woman away and execute her. Doesn't she want to die? This prince will grant her wish!"

Duan Linglong's eyes widened suddenly. "Your Highness, you can't treat me like this. I haven't done anything wrong. What will His Majesty think of you if you treat me like this?"

"The Empress has just been forced to kneel by His Majesty. If you were to execute me, what do you think His Majesty would think?"

Cang Mingze was stunned. His mother had been forced to kneel as punishment?

Upon seeing this, Duan Linglong quickly turned and left.

She didn't want to be executed by Cang Mingze; she wanted to live, to live well. The heir of the Duke of Lin was still waiting for her.

Cang Mingze chased everyone out. He lay on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his heart filled with despair.

It seems that everything changed the moment he decided to make Ying Yufu his concubine.

Things started going wrong for him.

My heart is filled with regret, but regret is the most useless thing.

A dark shadow loomed overhead. Without blinking, he said, "Get out! Didn't I tell you all to get out? What, now that I'm a cripple, you don't take my words seriously anymore?"

He turned his head and looked at them with a ferocious expression.

But when he saw who it was, he suddenly froze.

"It's...you."

He was utterly shocked.

Jin Zishi stood on his bed, looking at him with a face full of disappointment. "You've been defeated just like that?"

"I've become a cripple; my legs will never be able to support me again," Cang Mingze said.

Jin Zishi stared at him and said, "So what if your legs are crippled? Your manhood is still intact."

Cang Mingze thought he was joking.

Jin Zishi coldly replied, "Emperor Cangxuan won't live much longer. Once he dies, I will pin the blame for his death on the Crown Prince. After the Crown Prince dies, I will return to the throne and become regent."

"As long as you give birth to a son, I will make your son emperor, and you will become the retired emperor."

Cang Mingze's eyes widened in shock. "What did you say? Father Emperor won't live much longer?"

Jin Zishi said, "That's right, he won't live much longer."

"You want to hurt him?"

Cang Mingze questioned him subconsciously, but he quickly calmed down.

He couldn't help but think that if Jin Zishi's plan succeeded, he would definitely become the youngest retired emperor.

Although he was called the retired emperor, he was actually the emperor.

He was emperor until his son came of age.

"Your most urgent task is to have a son and take care of your health. Leave everything else to me," Jin Zishi said.

Cang Mingze gradually calmed down.

Jin Zishi said, "I will send women to your residence. Don't you have a fiancée? Her surname is Cheng?"

The Cheng family is quite powerful, and Cheng Yunjin is very influential in Yunzhou. This marriage is truly a good match.

Of course, they are far inferior to Ying Yufu, but for now, the Cheng family is the most suitable candidate.

After saying that, without waiting for Cang Mingze's reaction, Jin Zishi turned and left.

Cang Mingze lay in bed, a faint sense of unease rising in his heart.

He looks like a boar.

He is awaiting the duties he must fulfill.

Cang Mingze closed his eyes, his leg injury throbbing slightly.

He thought, things will be fine soon. As long as his father dies and the crown prince is condemned for patricide, he can get Cheng Zhier pregnant and become the retired emperor.

His son became the new emperor of Beixuan.

Cheng family.

The Cheng family members were sitting together, discussing Cheng Zhier's marriage.