Xiao Huaijin sat on the floor, staring at the bright yellow figure fading from sight, his eyes cold.

He knew this would be the outcome.

From childhood, he never truly regarded the emperor as his father. To him, the emperor was merely a monarch, and he was always a subject.

But blood is thicker than water, and he didn't want things to come to the point where father and son turned against each other.

Unfortunately, Emperor Zhaowu pressed him time and time again.

Now, he has nowhere else to go.

Xiao Linzi was trembling and crying uncontrollably. "Your Highness, the Emperor is so cruel. He actually wants to sever your father-son relationship and remove you from your position as Crown Prince."

Xiao Linzi wondered if the Emperor wanted to leave the position of Crown Prince vacant because Consort Shu was pregnant.

Xiao Huaijin gave a bitter smile, rubbed his forehead, and said, "He has always been ruthless and selfish; I saw through him long ago."

Half an hour later, Eunuch Gao arrived at Feihua Palace with the drafted imperial edict, accompanied by a young eunuch carrying a silver tray.

"Your Highness, kneel to receive the imperial decree."

He waved his whisk and loudly proclaimed, "Hereinafter, Crown Prince Xiao Huaijin, having held the position for six years, has accomplished nothing. His intelligence is dull and unfit to be a pillar of the state. Furthermore, he plots rebellion, colluding with the Empress Dowager's relatives in an attempt to usurp the throne. This is a grave crime, and I deeply regret it. Therefore, I hereby depose him from the position of Crown Prince..."

While Grandpa Gao was still reciting, Xiao Linzi had already collapsed to the ground.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!" a loud announcement rang out from outside the hall.

Empress Dowager Xiao stormed into Feihua Palace in a rage, followed by a group of palace maids. She snatched the scroll from the eunuch Gao's hand, glanced at it, and then pounded her chest, shouting, "The Emperor is muddle-headed! How can he depose the Crown Prince so easily?"

"Your Majesty, His Majesty's will has been made, the edict has been issued, and it has been proclaimed to the world," Eunuch Gao said calmly to Empress Dowager Xiao, as he stepped forward and gently took the edict from her hand.

In the past, Eunuch Gao was most adept at being subservient, but now he is not afraid of the Empress Dowager.

Who was Empress Xiao? She was just a powerless empress dowager who only knew how to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist prayers.

She was not the emperor's biological mother, had a lukewarm relationship with Emperor Zhaowu, and was closer to the crown prince.

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Xiao became even more furious. Just as she was about to lash out at Eunuch Gao, Xiao Huaijin spoke up, "Grandmother, since Father Emperor has issued the edict, it proves that his mind is made up. There is no need to say anything more."

He swept his hands up, slowly kowtowed, and said, word by word, "Your subject accepts the decree and thanks you. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

He then untied the dragon-patterned jade belt from his waist and presented it with both hands.

Six years as the crown prince, six years of carrying a heavy burden, six years of father-son relationship—today it is finally over.

Xiao Huaijin suddenly felt relieved.

The eunuch Gao ordered a young eunuch to take a tray, which he then accepted as the jade belt with dragon patterns symbolizing the Crown Prince's status. After giving a light hum, he said, "Your Highness has committed such a grave crime and should have been punished even more severely. However, His Majesty is merciful and has granted you permission to reside in the Eastern Palace. You should be grateful. Now that I have finished reading the decree, I must return to the palace to report to the Emperor. I will take my leave now."

After speaking, Eunuch Gao gave Empress Dowager Xiao a perfunctory bow before striding away.

Empress Dowager Xiao looked at her grandson with tears in her eyes, and said with grief, "Grandmother is incompetent and could not protect you. Emperor Zhaowu's thoughts are becoming increasingly unpredictable. I fear that your uncle, who is far away beyond the Great Wall, will also be implicated. In that case, will our Xiao family come to an end?"

The late Emperor Xiao Yunping was originally a minor official in Xiao County, Yongjun. After becoming the son-in-law of the Prince of Yongjun, he took over the military power from him and made great strides into the Central Plains to become emperor.

As relatives of the emperor, the Xiao family should have been extremely prestigious.

However, Emperor Zhaowu was suspicious by nature and wary of the Xiao family, so he naturally treated them coldly.

He seized power from the Xiao family members and reduced their fiefdoms, leaving only the Prince of Runan to guard the border. The Prince of Runan escaped this calamity because he changed his surname to Yan after his adoptive father and was not strictly considered a member of the Xiao family.

If Xiao Huaijin is deposed, Emperor Zhaowu's next target will be Yan Zhen, the Prince of Runan.

Empress Xiao's brow was furrowed with worry, and she suddenly felt hopeless about life and that her family was on the verge of collapse.

But then Xiao Huaijin's voice came from beside him. He said in his usual calm tone, "Grandmother, don't be afraid. Your son has the ability to handle this."

Empress Dowager Xiao was taken aback and sighed deeply. "In this situation, I'm afraid the Emperor might be momentarily confused and take drastic measures against you. Jin'er, we must make plans as soon as possible."

Xiao Huaijin knew that Emperor Zhaowu's decision to keep him in the Eastern Palace was not without its uncertainties.

As expected, the next morning, Emperor Zhaowu suddenly experienced chest tightness and pain and was unable to breathe.

Eunuch Gao immediately summoned the imperial physician, but the physician could not diagnose any problem and could only say that it was caused by evil fire.

Emperor Zhaowu became suspicious and summoned the Taoist priest Zhenheng to perform divination, and even called in the Imperial Observatory.

The Taoist priest cast an ominous divination, the hexagram indicating danger and foreshadowing the stirring of something malevolent.

The Imperial Astronomical Bureau official bowed to Emperor Zhaowu and said, "Last night, I observed the celestial phenomena. The sky was shrouded in smoke and mist, and things seemed to lose their color. It was also said that an ominous star lingered over the capital for a long time, disturbing Your Majesty's health and peace."

"Your Majesty, I dare to speak frankly: a harbinger of misfortune is lurking opposite the northwest side of Chongwu Hall, which is also the Crown Prince's Feihua Hall. The Crown Prince has already caused the death of his mother, and now he is about to cause the death of his father. I hope Your Majesty will make a decision as soon as possible."

Emperor Zhaowu's heart instantly turned as cold as an ice cellar. He recalled the scene when the Empress gave birth, with blood flowing like a mountain, his hands and robes stained with blood.

The empress died tragically, bleeding from all seven orifices.

Why? Why did I give birth to such a devil?

He could even vaguely see the scene where Xiao Huaijin, holding a silver sword, pierced his chest and gave him a strange and indifferent smile.

Can't!

He cannot let the crown prince live.

If he lives, he will come and take my life!

Emperor Zhaowu was suddenly filled with fear, and his hands and feet went numb.

He called out to the outside of the palace, his voice trembling, "Someone, quickly summon the Imperial Concubine!"

Emperor Zhaowu knew that Consort Gui was well-versed in pharmacology, and once gave Xiao Huaijin a medicine that caused him to suffer from recurring headaches.

Now, he wants the Imperial Concubine to give the Crown Prince another kind of medicine, so that the Crown Prince will die silently and suddenly.

In this way, he can secure his throne, and the Crown Prince, this jinx, will be unable to take his life.

Xiao Huaijin, don't blame your father for being cold.

Emperors are inherently ruthless.