In the two days since Bodell and Hongyan left, the rebels have launched several more attacks. They know very well that time is of the essence now.

If it takes too long and reinforcements arrive, their great undertaking will be in vain.

However, Suo'etu was already seriously ill, and now he was desperately trying to create a bloody path for the crown prince. He was painstakingly planning, but his body couldn't keep up. On the way to deliver the message, he fainted and never got up again.

Upon learning of Songgotu's death, Kangxi was overjoyed and declared that he would never lose.

With Songgotu dead, what does the Eighth Prince have to fear?

Even with the ninth and tenth princes following him, along with the Guoluo and Niohuru clans, they were insignificant.

Thinking of this, Kangxi ordered preparations to be made, as he was going to see his good son.

Yinreng has been confined to the stables for four or five days.

This place is so filthy, it seems, that's what befits his status, his image in his father's eyes, and his wolfish ambition.

When Emperor Kangxi spoke, he wanted to see the Crown Prince. The eunuchs below dared not move. Liang Jiugong felt sorry for him and wanted to give him some face by cleaning up. But the Crown Prince, who had grown up on his back, was still so gentle and polite. He smiled, but he was obviously out of place in the dilapidated and smelly stable.

"You've gone to so much trouble, but it's no need. Father's summons is urgent, so go now."

Yinreng had been kneeling for a long time, and his knees were already somewhat injured. He was being helped up and was staggering. His clothes were tattered and worn, and even his original color was no longer visible. His hair was also disheveled, and he had no trace of his former noble appearance.

Liang Jiugong's eyes reddened, and he dared not look any longer, fearing that his compassion would harm him instead.

Having not seen his father for a long time, Yinreng knelt down after being led to the main hall of the temporary palace. His voice was a little hoarse, and his expression was respectful: "Your subject Yinreng pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

Looking at his son below, Kangxi's gaze was somewhat complicated. Seeing his son in such a disheveled state, he felt not much relief, but rather a tightness in his chest and shortness of breath.

"Get up."

Yinreng then respectfully kowtowed: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Kangxi did not question why he addressed him as "Your Majesty" instead of "Father Emperor," but looked at him inquiringly and then said in a leisurely tone, "Song'etu has passed away."

He stared intently at Yinreng's face, not daring to miss a single change in his expression.

Unfortunately, Yinreng remained expressionless, and one could not sense his thoughts at all.

Kangxi suddenly smiled. This was the son he had personally promoted, his proudest son. How could he forget? The first lesson he taught the crown prince was that a ruler must restrain his emotions and not allow others to spy on him.

It seems he has learned very well.

“Yinreng, before Suo'etu died, he was still calling your name and saying that he would be loyal to you.”

Yinreng's face finally changed, but it was a smile that couldn't be more faint: "Your subject is not talented, but Suo'etu should be loyal to you and to the Great Qing."

Kangxi laughed in anger: "Loyalty to me? He mobilized ten thousand soldiers to kill me here and overthrow my throne. You call that loyalty to me? Yinreng, you really are my good son."

Yinreng remained expressionless: "You are also my good father."

"Hahaha! Well said! Someone, bring the wine!" Kangxi sat upright at the head of the table and ordered Liang Jiugong to bring the wine.

Liang Jiugong bent down and poured a glass of wine, placing it beside Yinreng. Yinreng picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Emperor Kangxi was pleased; his son was capable and had the right to challenge him.

After a long silence, Kangxi slowly said, "Song'etu told you about it, didn't he? He wanted to emulate Emperor Taizong of Tang."

Yinreng did not hide anything: "Yes."

"What was your answer?"

Kangxi still asked the question he wanted to know.

Yinreng recalled that day when he heard his uncle, frail and thin with illness, earnestly telling him to take care of himself. He said that the emperor had no intention of being suspicious and had long since lost his tolerance for him. Only by taking a gamble could he have a chance of survival.

What did he say again?

“Your Majesty is my father, and my mother has passed away. I must fulfill my filial duty. If the emperor commands me to die, I cannot refuse.”

He is the son of Empress Renxiao, and would never betray the Qing Dynasty or his father, the Emperor.

He will never forget how his father, the Emperor, held him in his arms when he was a child and said, "Baocheng is my most beloved son, and I will protect you."

Yinreng knelt down again, his voice firm and pleading: "If Father Emperor dislikes me, I will die. I only hope that Father Emperor will give the Hesheli family a way out for the sake of Mother."

Kangxi closed his eyes.

There is no other choice now that things have come to this.

"Crown Prince Yinreng, being the eldest son of the legitimate line, is estranged from upright officials and has failed in his duties, making his record difficult to maintain. I am concerned about his potential deposition, and how can I possibly retain the throne and continue the lineage? Bearing the weight of the seven ancestral temples, it is appropriate to strip him of his title as Crown Prince and demote him to commoner status."

As Kangxi recited the edict to depose the crown prince word by word, Yinreng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. The vigilance, oppression, and suspicion he had endured for many years finally came to an end, and he was finally able to have some breathing room.

"Yinreng, a commoner, accepts the imperial decree."

Emperor Kangxi, unwilling to watch any longer, waved his hand, signaling Liang Jiugong to take him away.

With his help, Yinreng slowly stood up, his posture gradually becoming more upright, his temperament becoming more refined. Even though he was no longer the crown prince, he was still the gentleman as steadfast as a pine or cypress.

"Your Majesty, when you were seriously ill, I tested the medicine on myself. I never thought of using it to seize power. I was just worried about my father. That's all."

Before Kangxi could react, Yinreng strode out.

The news of the deposed crown prince spread like wildfire.

No one was surprised. With Suo'etu plotting a rebellion, the Emperor's deposition of the Crown Prince was a foregone conclusion.

Changning felt that there would be no more crown princes being appointed and deposed twice. The matter of treason was of great importance, and it was impossible for a crown prince to have such a stain on his record.

Currently, people's minds are no longer focused on establishing a new crown prince.

Let's focus on staying alive first.

If the emperor were to die, then the rebels outside would seize power, and the Eighth Prince would don the yellow robe and become the emperor.

Yinzhi seemed to have heard the news and quickly ordered his men to attack the city.

He was surrounded by the ninth and tenth brothers.

"Eighth Brother, they must have sent people to find reinforcements. They should arrive in the next couple of days. We need to hurry!" Ninth Brother said anxiously, as he didn't want to wait any longer.

The tenth brother chimed in, "Yes, Eighth Brother, we don't have many troops left. Compared to the Imperial Guard, we're not strong in combat. Our only advantage is our numbers. We can't wait any longer."

The Eighth Prince calmed his emotions. Soetu was dead, and the Crown Prince had been deposed. He had originally followed Soetu, intending to pave the way for the Crown Prince.

But now, he's all alone.

Can he really beat the Emperor?

The Eighth Prince was filled with despair.