Forcing me to become a concubine? Remarrying the Ninth Prince, she'll be pregnant all over the

"There must be a reason for this, and there must be some hidden story. I hope Your Majesty will make a wise judgment and punish them leniently!"

Another person hurriedly added, "Elder Cui is absolutely right! Your Majesty, in my opinion, today's events are nothing but a misunderstanding. The people in the court and the public are in turmoil, and the western border is in dire need of attention. I hope Your Majesty will consider the overall situation and reconsider everything."

"Shut up!"

The emperor was furious and wouldn't listen to anyone's explanation. Instead, he became suspicious that these old ministers were so eager to support Shen Huai'an after he had only been ill for a few days. What would happen in the future?

"How dare you! Have you all lost your minds! As high-ranking officials of the court, instead of trying to correct the Crown Prince's mistakes, you're pleading for this rebellious beast! Do you even have any respect for me? Do you even respect the laws of this court?!"

Several senior officials bowed and exchanged glances discreetly. They knew that it was not the right time to plead for the crown prince, but they couldn't just let the emperor get away with it while he was still angry.

A ruler's word is law; once an imperial edict is issued, there is no going back.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. We did not mean to disobey you. We were only thinking of the country and its people. Your Majesty's health has been poor, and you have been bedridden for a long time. Your Majesty's condition is deteriorating. We are very anxious. Now the western border is in turmoil, the border people are displaced, and the court and the country are in shock. We urgently need a young and strong crown prince with good strategy to take charge of the situation."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is exceptionally intelligent and possesses the talent to govern a country. We humbly beseech Your Majesty to reconsider your actions, prioritizing the well-being of the people and the stability of our dynasty! Please refrain from such a foolish act that would please your enemies and cause pain to your own people!"

"Absurd? You call me absurd?" The emperor was so angry that his vision blurred, and he spat out another mouthful of blood, gritting his teeth as he tried to suppress his rage: "You... fine! So you're going to protect him no matter what?"

The emperor increasingly realized that these officials no longer respected him. Enraged, he ignored everything Shen Huai'an said and roared, "Hua Twenty-Three! Issue my decree!"

"Crown Prince Shen Huai'an is arrogant and rebellious, disregarding the natural order. His behavior is so vile that no subject can bear to speak of it, and his sins are so grave that even Heaven and Earth cannot tolerate them! He has failed the heavy trust placed in him by his ancestors and the hopes of the people below!"

Such a person, devoid of father, ruler, virtue, and conduct, is hereby stripped of his title as crown prince and reduced to a commoner! All his ranks, titles, and honors are to be revoked, and he is to be expelled from the clan genealogy! He shall be immediately arrested, taken to the Hanlu Palace, and placed under strict confinement!

"Furthermore..." the Emperor, his anger barely contained, managed to say, "all the eunuchs in Consort Yu's palace, along with all the eunuchs and maids of the Eastern Palace, shall be escorted to the Censorate and permanently enslaved!"

"Li Fuhai, behead him."

After the emperor issued his proclamation, all around fell silent.

The silence here is... eerie.

Lin Wantang felt a sense of relief upon hearing the emperor's decree to depose him, but the eerie silence that followed made her suspicious as she stepped out of the sedan chair and looked at the bridge from afar.

For some reason, a feeling of fear that something might go wrong welled up inside me!

On the bridge, only Hua Twenty-Three bowed and accepted the order, then turned and said, "Guards! Remove the Crown Prince's robes and jade crown, detain him, and send him to the Cold Dew Palace!"

Two guards stepped forward, bowed, and were about to accept the order when they were stopped by the sharp and sinister gazes of several old ministers.

The guards looked at Hua Niansan in confusion, while Hua Niansan angrily rebuked them: "How dare you! Lord Cui, Lord Xie, are you... defying the imperial decree?"

The senior officials completely ignored Hua Ershisan. Among them, Cui Lijian gave Shen Huai'an a complicated look and said in a low voice, "It's time, Your Highness."

Shen Huai'an remained silent, still kneeling, but raised his eyes to look at the emperor in the imperial carriage: "Father, your son is wholeheartedly obedient and filial. There must be some hidden reason behind tonight's events. Father, are you really going to disregard the bond between father and son and be so heartless? Father! Look at your son..."

Please don't force me, okay?

Unless absolutely necessary, how could Shen Huai'an possibly agree to this... This was his own father, the emperor who had taught him to write and paint since childhood, who had carried him on his shoulders, and who had instilled in him the principles of loyalty to the emperor, right and wrong, and the wisdom of the virtuous.

The emperor coughed repeatedly in anger, sensing something was wrong. His rage intensified, and he felt as if he wanted to cough up his lungs and entrails. He didn't even bother to look at Shen Huai'an again, repeatedly shouting, "You wicked creature! You beast!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Cui Lijian urged Shen Huai'an, "Your Highness!"

Shen Huai'an ignored him and solemnly bowed three times and kowtowed nine times to the imperial carriage: "Father, what happened today was not my intention, but I am concerned for the interests of the court and the people, so I had to make plans in advance. I hope Father will forgive me."

"Father, I am sorry."

As the last head slammed heavily to the ground, Shen Huai'an's gentle expression vanished, replaced by a ruthless and menacing look. He rose abruptly, drew his sword from the attendant beside him, and shouted, "Attack!"

As soon as the sound subsided, Cui Lijian immediately took out a signal flare from his sleeve, strode to the bridge railing, pulled the fuse towards the dark sky, and a rocket with burning gunpowder shot into the sky with a deafening explosion.

Upon receiving the signal, the seemingly tranquil streets were suddenly filled with a large army lying in ambush. The commander of the Imperial Guards, Xiao Renxiong, rode a tall horse and led his entourage at full speed toward Zhuque Bridge.

Whoosh!

A sharp sword, burning with flames, suddenly attacked the commander of the guards at the bridgehead!

The commander dodged, then glared angrily at the ambushing troops that had appeared around him, shouting in horror, "You! There's an ambush! Protect the emperor!"

Amidst shouts, all the guards formed a tight circle, surrounding the imperial carriage, and those who drew their swords charged directly at Shen Huai'an, Cui Lijian, and the others.

Hua Ershisan shielded the imperial carriage with his body, glaring angrily at Shen Huai'an and the others: "Are you trying to rebel?!"

"Outrageous!" The emperor, nearly dying of rage in his carriage, roared, "You traitors and rebels! Give the order to arrest them all, dead or alive!"

"yes!"

Hua Ershisan and the guard commander hurriedly obeyed the order, but they were outnumbered and were about to be surrounded by the army. The few dozen men were too timid to go forward.

Seeing Xiao Renxiong dismount, the commander swiftly fired a signal flare into the air, shouting, "The closest force is the Eastern Depot! Your Majesty, Consort Ning, please do not panic! This humble general will risk his life to protect Your Majesty and Consort Ning until Lord Wei's reinforcements arrive!"

Consort Ning was terrified and completely panicked. When she saw the emperor vomit blood again, she didn't cry out. Instead, she saw the emperor sway and faint.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, wake up!" Consort Ning cried out. "Eunuch Hua, His Majesty has fainted! Quickly, escort the imperial physician!"

Hua Niansan was extremely anxious. He never expected Shen Huai'an to rebel at this time. Everything was unexpected, and he was at a loss. Where could he go to summon the imperial physician?

Now, only Wei Wujiu, with his Eastern Depot and Embroidered Uniform Guard, might be able to solve this urgent problem.

But the mutiny came too suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, and the Eastern Depot...