The next day.

The palace, the main hall.

The civil and military officials below the main hall began to whisper among themselves when they heard the emperor propose making Song Binyu the crown prince.

Yesterday, after returning from the Empress Dowager's palace, the Emperor tossed and turned until late at night, and then decided to establish his grandson as the Crown Prince, to inherit the throne after his death.

The second prince colluded with the enemy and betrayed the country, harmed the eldest prince and his wife, and even plundered the people's wealth.

The emperor issued an edict ordering the second prince, along with his female relatives and children, to guard the imperial tombs as atonement for his sins, and all the servants in the palace were confiscated and sold.

As for the third, fourth, and fifth princes, they did not engage in any fratricidal conflict.

However, those who bribe officials appointed by the court and accept silver from subordinates will be punished for multiple offenses and immediately exiled to their fiefdoms. If they do not repent, they will be severely punished.

With several princes to compare him to, even though Song Binyu was still young at the time, the ministers had high expectations for him, thinking that the eldest prince had once been full of vigor.

Minister of Personnel Chen Zirong was the first to step forward. Holding his official tablet, he bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Now that the Left and Right Chancellors have been abolished, the Ministry of Personnel is now the head of the Six Ministries, and Chen Zirong's prestige and competence in the court are evident to all civil and military officials.

The others couldn't think of a better candidate, so they all agreed to the emperor's decree.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Seeing the reactions of the civil and military officials, the emperor turned his gaze to Song Yanqing, whose eyes were piercing and seemed to hold some kind of expectation.

...

The news that Song Binyu had become the crown prince was quickly announced to the world.

Lu Qiqi received the news that same day, when she was sweltering in the heat. "Why hasn't Yuqing brought back the ice yet?"

Qingdai, holding a fan, stood beside her and laughed, "Miss, you're too impatient. Yuqing has only been out of the manor for a short time!"

In this era, buying ice requires ice starter. The share allocated to Lu Qiqi by the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion was simply not enough to withstand her non-stop use during the day.

Fortunately, Song Yanqing had thought of this in advance and had someone deliver it to the Marquis of Lin'an's residence on time every day.

The sun was so scorching today that the ice delivered early in the morning melted into water before it even reached midnight.

Lu Qiqi originally wanted to hide in the space to escape the heat, but when she saw that Lu Yao's face was flushed from the heat, she urged her to quickly find some more ice.

If it weren't for the fact that the origin of this ice was inexplicable, she would have liked to store more in her space so that she wouldn't fall into her current predicament again.

Before Yuqing returned to the manor, Shijiu hurriedly rushed back to the Lin'an Marquis's residence.

The first thing he did upon returning to the manor was to go to Lu Qiqi's courtyard and tell her the news he had received.

"Princess, His Majesty has ordered the Second Prince and his female relatives and children to guard the imperial mausoleum, while the other princes have been enfeoffed as kings and moved to their fiefdoms."

Upon hearing this news, Lu Qiqi was stunned for a moment. "The princes have all left the capital, so who will inherit the throne? It can't be..."

That's actually quite possible!

Based on her understanding of the Emperor of Jin, the throne would certainly not be passed to Song Yanqing; now there is only one person left.

Song Binyu.

Nineteen said, "No one expected that His Majesty would appoint the Imperial Grandson as Crown Prince."

This was indeed unexpected, but also quite reasonable.

The current emperor's sons are all incompetent and lack any talent for governing the country.

Now that Song Binyu has been chosen as the crown prince, with careful nurturing, he may become a wise and virtuous emperor.

Lu Qiqi asked, "What was the reaction of the civil and military officials?"

Nineteen thought for a moment, “The civil and military officials have witnessed the decline of aristocratic families, and most of the princes have aristocratic families helping them behind the scenes.”

Now that the princes no longer have powerful families to rely on, the civil and military officials have seen through their lack of virtue and inability to shoulder great responsibilities.

Naturally, everyone praised His Majesty's wise decision.

For the emperor, establishing Song Binyu as crown prince would be entirely beneficial.

The emperor was getting old and was wary of his sons; otherwise, the eldest prince would not have ended up dying.

Song Binyu is young, and even if the emperor suddenly dies, as long as Song Binyu has capable people to assist him, he will surely be able to secure the throne of the Great Jin Dynasty.

Lu Qiqi guessed that this might be a crucial part of why the emperor made Song Binyu the crown prince.

After Shijiu left, Yuqing took Bing back to the manor.

Lu Qiqi finally felt like she had come back to life.

...

The Heavenly Prison.

"Come out, Second Prince."

The jailer opened the prison gates, and the Second Prince was escorted out of the prison by the officials who were 'escorting' him to the imperial mausoleum.

Once the Second Prince saw the light of day again, his eyes adjusted to the bright light, and his mood returned to calm.

Officials escorted him back to his residence, and after a quick wash, he took the women of the household to the imperial mausoleum on the outskirts of Beijing.

Chen Siyi held her belly and looked at everything in the mansion, which had all been seized.

Startled, she felt abdominal pain even before getting into the carriage.

But as soon as she opened her mouth, she was sternly rebuked by the Second Prince's wife, who then tenderly wiped the sweat from the Second Prince's forehead.

The second prince glanced at her protruding belly indifferently and said calmly, "Once we get to the imperial mausoleum, I'll find a doctor to take a look at you."

Chen Siyi's face turned pale, but she had no other choice at the moment.

Her marriage to the Second Prince was something she had planned all along.

Now that the Second Prince is in trouble, even if he writes a letter of divorce, it will be of no use. She can no longer return to the Marquis of Lin'an's residence.

Chen Siyi was filled with remorse. If she had stayed unmarried like her sister, she wouldn't have had to suffer this punishment.

But once the arrow is released, there's no turning back; it's all too late.

...

Doctor Luo cooperated in a play, but his fame grew so much that he couldn't bear the harassment any longer, so he took Doctor Huang to stay at the Tianlang Escort Agency.

It would also be a good opportunity to treat Biaozi's headache.

Biaozi is still afraid of acupuncture.

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