Zhang Tingyu, standing behind, kept his eyes lowered and remained silent. After all, how could a grand opera be complete without the Grand Council?

"Oh? Could it be that the Fifth Prince is plotting to seize the throne?" Another courtier stepped forward.

"Ha! Your humble brother is no match for Fourth Brother, who is suspected of murdering the emperor and seizing the throne!" Hongzhou sneered. "Fourth Brother has some tricks up his sleeve, forming cliques and colluding with court officials."

"Fifth Prince, be careful what you say! We have studied the classics diligently, seeking only to serve our country and honor our sovereign," an old minister with a magnificent beard said quietly.

"Oh? You study for wealth and status? What are you pretending for! The emperor is still alive and well and you're already plotting rebellion. You're all acting like prostitutes while pretending to be virtuous!"

"You, you, you are vulgar!" An old minister trembled with anger.

Hongzhou usually wandered around among the common people and had contact with friends from all walks of life.

This was only because he deliberately restrained himself.

This infuriated everyone, making their faces turn extremely pale!

"Fifth Brother, you must be careful what you say, what you can and cannot say!" Hongli's words were sinister, his tone full of threat!

"Hmph—If I remember correctly, Your Majesty has always sincerely hoped for Father's awakening. Could it be that the adults are forcing Your Majesty to be unfilial?"

Hongzhou was now unleashing his full power, attacking indiscriminately.

Hongli's face contorted with rage.

His last-minute attempt was thwarted; who is this jinx?

Hongli: He should have died on the way!

"Guards! The Fifth Prince has suffered a sudden episode of hysteria. He must return to his residence to rest!"

"Ha! Fourth Brother, you can make things up so easily. So, Father Emperor's illness was also your doing, wasn't it?!"

Hongzhou had no one to help him, but he was still dragged away. He only said a few words casually, but Hongli's expression changed.

Yunxiang and Zhang Tingyu looked at each other without saying a word.

Hongzhou looked at his thirteenth uncle, wanting to say something but was silenced!

The observant courtiers who witnessed this scene were also terrified and lowered their eyes in silence.

The air suddenly became quiet as Hongzhou was dragged down.

Of course, while some are cautious, others want to go further.

Representatives of the Niohuru clan stepped forward to implore the Fourth Prince to ascend the throne!

Hongli's expression softened.

Just as he was about to say something, the Empress arrived, supporting Mo Ran.

"His Majesty is recuperating; what are you all doing here?"

As the empress spoke, her eyes swept calmly over the crowd.

"Your Majesty the Empress, the Emperor has fallen into a coma. The imperial physicians have examined him and say that things are likely not good. A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. For the sake of the nation, we, your subjects, humbly request that the Fourth Prince ascend the throne!"

The adults of the Niohuru clan hesitated for a moment, but still bowed in greeting.

After all, no matter who ascends the throne, the empress is always the empress dowager.

Moreover, it is said that the Empress is in poor health, so it would be normal for her to follow the late Emperor one day.

Hongli thought so too.

"Oh? Which imperial physician treated him? What about Liu Yuduo?" The Empress remained expressionless.

"Imperial Physician Liu deliberately delayed Your Majesty's treatment and has been dismissed from his post by your son!" Hongli cupped his hands in greeting.

"Ha! Such a big matter? How could I, as the head of the palace, not know about it?" The Empress's reaction made Hongli's face even more unpleasant.

"Your Majesty, as the head of the six palaces, you have devoted yourself to the affairs of the state and the family for many years, which is a blessing to all the people and a good fortune to us ministers. However, time flies and seasons change. Your Majesty is also made of flesh and blood and needs to rest from time to time in order to maintain good health and long-lasting blessings."

Hongli was respectful and spoke very considerately.

However, the implication in her words caused all of Mo Ran's palace maids to change their expressions.

"Ha! My son, you've got quite the scheme!" The Empress sat down steadily, a half-smile on her face.

Hongli's expression grew increasingly grim.

Just as Fu Heng and Shuhede, his trusted confidants, glanced almost imperceptibly outside, about to say something...

The Empress mentioned it:

"His Majesty has suffered greatly from fratricide, and to prevent it from happening again, he has proposed a secret system for designating an heir. I presume that you gentlemen are already aware of this?"

Zhang Tingyu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "It is indeed true!"

Several ministers from the Niohuru clan also had their expressions change drastically in an instant!

Ortai's expression changed slightly, and he said nothing more.

They knew the Fourth Prince was outstanding, but in the last two years, the Emperor hadn't been favoring him!

"Your Majesty, it has been mentioned, but there shouldn't be any arrangements yet, right?!" Ortai asked tentatively.

"We'll find out soon enough. His Majesty has already made arrangements. He will personally write two edicts establishing the heir apparent. One will be sealed in a brocade box and placed behind the 'Upright and Bright' plaque in the Qianqing Palace as the official edict of succession; the other will be carried by His Majesty himself, just in case. Su Peisheng should know about the other one!"

The Empress was dignified and composed!

Hongli's expression shifted between light and dark.

He didn't dare to gamble, after all, the Emperor had promoted Hongzhou to fight against him quite a bit in the past two years.

just in case……

He dared not gamble, and looked at Fu Heng outside with a sinister gaze.

Just as Fu Heng was about to step back, Zhang Tingyu stepped forward.

"Then I'll trouble the Commander of the Guards to fetch it!"

The surrounding courtiers looked at each other in bewilderment!

Yunli stepped forward: "Your Majesty must have made arrangements in advance. We will obey Your Majesty's decree."

"Your Majesty's decree is hereby obeyed," the crowd said in unison.

Hongli was in a difficult position!

He just suddenly smiled.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, they moved to another location.

There was nothing behind the plaque that read "Upright and Bright".

However, Hongli's men managed to pry open Su Peisheng's mouth.

Fuheng hesitated for a moment before presenting it, which was none other than the imperial edict left by Emperor Yongzheng establishing an heir apparent.

[The fourth prince, Hongli] Clearly and plainly.

The court officials looked at the imperial edict and hesitated, as if they wanted to say something but couldn't.

Meanwhile, Shirley, who was spying on them, looked disgusted at the excessive praise, especially the comment that "the fourth prince, Hongli, has the qualities of the Holy Ancestor."

How shameless...

"This is not my brother's handwriting!" Yunxiang frowned and pondered for a moment before angrily shouting out.

"It is indeed fake!" The Empress glanced at it and let the imperial edict fall to the ground.

Hongli couldn't hold back any longer!

A dull knife is the most agonizing; he was just one step away from victory!

"Someone come here! Uncle Thirteen's eyesight is failing; he can retire now!"

"The Empress Dowager is overwhelmed with grief and is delirious, talking incoherently. She should be confined to the palace to recuperate!"

"Summon the imperial physician to examine His Majesty. If he requires rest, then we respectfully request that His Majesty move to Changchun Garden!"

"..."

Hongli issued orders with a solemn face.

The ministers of the Niohuru clan knelt and bowed, saying, "If Your Majesty remains unconscious, it may jeopardize the stability of the country! A nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day..."

"..." Some courtiers rolled their small eyes, not daring to express their opinions.

After all, this is an exposé of a suspected forgery of an imperial edict!

How many of them have the brains to get involved?

"Hehehe, what a boastful tone!" A burst of laughter rang out, full of vigor.

Hongli was horrified to discover that a person had emerged from the shadows; the person had a ruddy complexion and was none other than his imperial father.

But the way he looked at me was as if I were looking at a dead thing.

The "Emperor Father" on the bed suddenly opened his eyes, then rolled off the bed and knelt down on the ground.

"This servant greets Your Majesty!"