When Zhou Huaichuan received the message from Eunuch Su, he was playing chess with Chu Xinxin in Qiluan Pavilion.

Chu Xinxin is not good at chess. Even with Zhou Huaichuan releasing water to cause floods, Chu Xinxin still couldn't win even one game.

"I'm not playing anymore."

Zhou Huaichuan threw the Go pieces into the Go container, stood up, and was about to leave.

Chu Xinxin grabbed his sleeve: "What's the rush? Let's play another game. If you go too early, even Emperor Zhou won't know what good things the Second Prince has been up to these days."

Zhou Huaichuan affectionately rubbed her cheek: "Yun Zheng has already sent someone to deliver it to Eunuch Su, so you can rest assured."

"Oh, we're thinking the same thing." Chu Xinxin let go of him. "That's what you call being on the same wavelength."

......

The Imperial Palace, Taiji Palace.

Zhou Xian sat grandly on the throne of Emperor Zhou and discussed with several ministers the matter of going to Mount Tai to worship Heaven and Earth next month.

The ceremony of offering sacrifices to Heaven and Earth at Mount Tai is a ritual known as the Fengshan ceremony.

Throughout history, only emperors have been able to shoulder this great responsibility.

When the second prince said he was going to perform the Fengshan ceremony, Duke Su hesitated for a moment before asking, "Your Highness, is His Majesty returning to the capital?"

"Oh? What makes you say that, Duke?" the Second Prince asked gently.

Duke Su said, "Only His Majesty can perform the Fengshan ceremony. Otherwise, it would be illegitimate and not only would we not be able to obtain favorable weather and peace for the country, but the people would also not be convinced!"

The ministers exchanged bewildered glances. Was Duke Su truly ignorant or feigning ignorance? Anyone with eyes could see what the Second Prince was thinking, yet he still came here to cause trouble.

The second prince remained silent, but picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Before Duke Su could say anything more, two strong and burly guards suddenly appeared beside him and dragged him away without saying a word.

"Second Prince, what are you doing?"

Duke Su struggled.

The Second Prince said calmly, "The Duke of Su has committed an act of insubordination, which is extremely disrespectful. He shall be given one hundred strokes of the cane."

One hundred boards?

Duke Su is quite old; he'd probably die before the fight was even halfway over.

“Zhou Xian! I am a Duke personally appointed by the late Emperor! With His Majesty absent, what right do you, a prince who is not even a Prince of the County, have to punish me…”

After the Duke of Su's voice faded and disappeared, the Second Prince spoke up in a low voice: "My dear ministers, do you also think, like the Duke of Su, that I am nothing more than a prince who is not even a county prince?"

The ministers hurriedly bowed and pledged their loyalty: "The Second Prince is a man of great talent and ambition; we admire him greatly!"

The hall was quiet; the Second Prince did not tell them to get up.

The ministers exchanged glances for a few seconds, and then one of them took the lead and knelt down: "Your subject is willing to serve the Second Prince like a dog or a horse, and fully support the Second Prince in ascending the throne!"

"Why are you still calling me Second Prince? You should call me Master!"

The eunuch beside Zhou Xian reminded him.

"master!"

The Second Prince finally smiled: "My beloved ministers, rise. In a few days, you will know how correct today's choice was!"

"Yeah?"

This "Is that so?" was like a thunderclap in the middle of nowhere for the Second Prince and the others.

Emperor Zhou entered from outside with a grim expression.

The second prince's pupils constricted, and he murmured, "Father... how could this be..."

"How could that be?" Emperor Zhou sneered. "Are you asking why I'm still standing here?"

The second prince was still sitting on the Zhou emperor's throne when the assembled officials, who had just risen, all knelt down again, their bodies drenched in cold sweat.

"Zhou Xian, you're really great!"

The second prince was imprisoned in the imperial prison on charges of disrupting the court and attempting to assassinate the emperor, crimes that were unforgivable.

Consort Shu was given a white silk ribbon to hang herself.

Before leaving, the second prince attempted to implicate Chunyang, claiming that the peach powder that Emperor Zhou consumed was mixed into his elixir by Chunyang.

All the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy were summoned for a consultation, but they all said that Emperor Zhou was fine.

What else do you have to say?

Emperor Zhou looked at the Second Prince with a gloomy expression.

"This is impossible, I clearly..."

"Second Prince, please be careful with your words. The elixirs that were presented to His Majesty were all tested by me and the imperial physicians before being offered to him. There is absolutely no peach powder as you claim!"

"Take him away!"

However, Emperor Zhou came to his senses and realized that he had trusted Chunyang too much. So he asked the Empress to bring in a doctor from outside the palace. After the doctor checked and found that Chunyang was alright, he dispelled his suspicions about Chunyang.

However, Emperor Zhou became much more restrained in his pursuit of women, dealing with all those beauties and returning to the administration of the court.

The Duke of Su's spirit of risking his life to defend his cause deeply moved Emperor Zhou, and the Second Prince transferred a portion of his power to the Su family.

Others were given back to Zhou Huaichuan.

Those who knelt and called out to their master in the palace that day were all dismissed from their posts and sent to other places.

Chu Xuan was also among them.

However, this person was adept at flattery and sophistry, and claimed that he had only just discovered the Second Prince's disloyal intentions that day, and that he was protecting himself so that someone could inform the Zhou Emperor.

Emperor Zhou was skeptical, so he simply dismissed him from his post and sent him home to reflect on his actions.

Chu Xuan couldn't bear the loss of power, so on his way home, he passed by Qiluan Courtyard and decided to bring Chu Xinxin into the palace.

Upon entering, he found Zhou Huaichuan sitting in the courtyard, looking at him indifferently, so he retreated dejectedly.

Once outside, he realized that this seemed to be his residence, and even if Zhou Huaichuan was a prince, he couldn't just barge in.

When Chu Xuan went back in, the entire courtyard was deserted.

"Prime Minister, what are you thinking? Even if that woman from Qiluanting really enters the palace, will she care about the Prime Minister's residence?"

Madam Liu advised, "It's still Yun'er who has been raised by my side since childhood. We have a deep bond. I am still in the Prime Minister's residence, and she will definitely put the Prime Minister's residence first in everything."

Chu Xuan was persuaded.

After having a nanny instruct him on the rules of Chu Yun Palace, he couldn't wait to sell his daughter for personal gain.

However, he designed it quite cleverly.

Chu Yun has a chance encounter with Emperor Zhou at Lingshan Temple.

Chu Yun pretended to be a woman who was so worried about her father that she couldn't sleep at night, and knelt in the main hall to pray for her father's well-being.

"...And my elder sister, Chu Xinxin. Although she doesn't like me, we are still family. I wish her all the best, and that she may have all her wishes fulfilled..."

Emperor Zhou hadn't paid much attention to her at first, but upon hearing the name Chu Xinxin, he began to scrutinize Chu Yun carefully.

Chu Yun had been starving for some time and looked frail and pitiful.

After a period of abstinence, Emperor Zhou's heart began to stir again.

That very night, he secretly instructed Chu Xuan to have someone send him to the palace.

The next day, Chu Yun was granted the title of Consort, and Chu Xuan was reinstated to his original position.

"The Chu couple are really willing to spend money."

The daughter, who was raised with utmost pampering, was then sent to the palace to become an old man's concubine.

Chu Xinxin shook her head. Sigh, it's quite tragic for Chu Yun to have such parents.

When things are going well, she's naturally my precious darling; when trouble comes, she's the first person I sell.

Sister, it's time to close the net.

"Yes, tonight, throw the purse that Chu Yun gave to the Second Prince into Liu's courtyard."

Hehe, sis, I love watching you be naughty.

"What does this have to do with me? It's their own choice."