The whole family is obsessed with love? The princess woke them up one after another.

Marquis Weiyuan was devastated.

If he had known this would happen, he would have definitely made Tang Jingrou admit to the public that she was spreading rumors.

Even a fool could tell which was more important, the Crown Prince or Tang Jingrou!

Qi Zhiyu clapped her hands repeatedly: "Indeed, power moves people's hearts. The throne... is even more so."

The ministers were so frightened they almost wet themselves.

They all wished they could cover Qi Zhiyu's mouth.

Ancestors, please stop talking.

If this continues, not only will the Crown Prince suffer, but those who hear it will also be in trouble.

When princes vie for the throne, no matter what methods they use behind the scenes, they must maintain a calm and peaceful facade on the surface.

To break off relations...that's absolutely out of the question.

Even royalty has its pride!

Qi Jingxi was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped.

He couldn't understand how things had gone from Qi Pingle being driven out to revealing the Crown Prince's wolfish ambition for the throne.

This is quite a leap...

Princess Rui felt a lump in her throat from excitement.

Her daughter!

This is her daughter!

They've only been back for a few days, and they're already trying to wash away the bad reputation they've carried for so many years!

She hasn't done anything for the children yet, but Yu'er has done so much for them.

Her child... is too soft-hearted, too kind.

Emperor Kangwu smiled, but the meaning behind his smile was ambiguous: "In that case, I shall ask the Crown Prince."

"Go and summon the Crown Prince."

Marquis Weiyuan's heart skipped a beat. "Call?"

His Majesty is truly enraged.

A short while later, the Crown Prince entered and paid his respects to Emperor Kangwu.

Marquis Weiyuan was secretly watching when he suddenly realized something was wrong.

The prince's movements... clearly indicate that he has an injury on his buttocks.

An absurd and terrifying thought flashed through Marquis Weiyuan's mind—the Crown Prince had been flogged!

What mistake did the Crown Prince make that led His Majesty to punish him with a rod?

Marquis Weiyuan's heart was in his throat.

He felt that things had completely slipped out of their control and were hurtling headlong in the direction he least wanted to see and feared.

He tried hard to recall everything that had happened.

They've suppressed Prince Rui in the same way before, and it's never caused any problems.

Why is the situation completely different this time?

Marquis Weiyuan's heart skipped a beat!

correct!

The only difference this time is that there's an extra Qi Zhiyu!

Qi Zhiyu is that variable!

Damn it!

"Crown Prince," Emperor Kangwu's voice betrayed no anger, sounding more like that of an ordinary father and son chatting casually.

But the crown prince visibly trembled; he was frightened.

"It seems you've been plotting for my throne for a long time, and lately... you've become impatient?" Emperor Kangwu asked with a smile.

He was smiling, but none of the people in the hall felt that Emperor Kangwu was in a good mood.

Everyone instinctively lowered their heads, because the murderous aura that was about to solidify was like a mountain pressing down on their hearts, making it difficult for them to breathe, causing their hearts to race, and their hands and feet to turn cold.

"Father, I am filled with fear and trepidation!" The Crown Prince kowtowed deeply.

That one blow drew blood.

Marquis Weiyuan glanced sideways and saw the bloodstains on the ground, which made him feel even more that something was very wrong.

It seems... there's something else happening that he doesn't know about.

"No wonder... the Crown Prince's good daughter questioned my conferment of the title of Princess on Chen'an." Emperor Kangwu seemed to have just realized this.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall felt a chill run down their spines.

So that's what happened?

His Majesty bestowed the title of Princess Chen'an upon Qi Zhiyu, but the Crown Prince's daughter went to question it.

Is this just a case of a young girl being immature, or has she been raised to be ambitious, believing that everything should belong to their Eastern Palace?

It may seem like just young girls arguing over a man, but... this is royalty!

How could Your Majesty not think this through?

The Crown Prince... is he going crazy?

Don't you usually discipline your children?

The ministers who had always supported the crown prince felt a pang of regret.

Emperor Kangwu chuckled and said, "So... the Crown Prince had already made all the arrangements. It was I who was tactless and didn't abdicate in favor of a worthy successor sooner, thus delaying my good Crown Prince!"

"Father, I know my crime!" The Crown Prince wished he could kowtow to death.

What exactly happened?

It was just a childish remark from his daughter.

Father has already beaten and scolded him, so why is he suddenly being dragged in front of the ministers to be reprimanded?

After entering the hall, Qi Zhiyu, who had only curtsied, suddenly knelt down.

Her words surprised Emperor Kangwu: "Chen'an, what is it?"

"Grandfather, my father has been wronged!" Qi Zhiyu said, suppressing his grief and resentment.

"My father was kind-hearted and loved his brothers. For the sake of his family, he repeatedly yielded, even helping his own brother ascend the throne, yet in the end, he was still relentlessly pressured!"

"Grandfather, my father was tortured to death, his bones were crushed and his marrow was eaten. How cruel is that?"

Qi Zhiyu's words were filled with anguish and tears, causing Emperor Kangwu's eyes to redden.

Princess Rui pulled Qi Jingxi down to kneel on the ground, pleading, "Your Majesty, please make the decision!"

Still in a daze, Qi Jingxi also shouted, "Grandfather!"

The crown prince was dumbfounded.

I was completely dumbfounded.

Can someone tell him what happened?

Just two days ago, he was punished by his father because of Qi Rongyao.

What's going on today?

How did he become a sinner who plotted to usurp the throne, kill his father, and murder the emperor?

He's innocent!

Emperor Kangwu laughed, a truly hearty laugh: "Excellent, excellent!"

"It seems that being promoted to the position of Crown Prince has made you arrogant and ignorant."

"Guards!" Emperor Kangwu said in a deep voice, "Draft an imperial edict."

The senior officials in the court immediately realized what His Majesty was about to do and hurriedly crawled forward on their knees, pleading, "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

With all forces now in a stable position, the crown prince's succession to the throne is a foregone conclusion.

If something were to happen to the Crown Prince at this time, the power dynamics in the court would be thrown into turmoil once again.

Emperor Kangwu smiled and praised, "The Crown Prince... seems to be the one everyone wants."

The old minister who had just offered his advice was terrified, sweating profusely: "Your Majesty, I am guilty!"

Emperor Kangwu spoke, and someone immediately drafted an imperial edict.

In the oppressive atmosphere that made everyone feel suffocated, the eunuch read out the imperial edict.

Upon hearing this, the crown prince felt as if his bones had been removed, and he collapsed to the ground.

The eunuch closed the imperial edict and walked over: "King Wu, receive the edict."

The King of Wu... who was just now the Crown Prince, used all his strength to catch the imperial edict, which felt like a huge boulder.

"Your subject... thanks you." King Wu held the imperial edict in both hands, kowtowed to the ground, feeling cold to the bone from head to toe.

"Marquis Weiyuan... you should really take better care of your family. Don't let your father die with regrets." Emperor Kangwu said calmly.

Marquis Weiyuan hurriedly kowtowed: "Your subject obeys the decree."

Emperor Kangwu glanced at the kneeling crowd and left.

Qi Zhiyu helped Princess Rui to her feet, ignoring the complex and probing gazes of the crowd, and left the main hall with her second brother.

Emperor Kangwu returned to his palace, drank a cup of tea, and couldn't help but laugh.

"You brat."

"I have truly underestimated her."

"I thought she was trying to clear the boss's name, but I never expected..."

"Sword pointed at the Crown Prince!"

"Ruthless! Terrible!"

"As expected of someone from the Qi family!"

"It's just a pity it's not a boy... otherwise..."

Emperor Kangwu sighed with regret, but his eyes clearly showed excited approval.