"Then let's listen to Mother!"

Upon hearing the emperor's words, the Duke of Ji's heart sank, and he turned his gaze to the empress. The empress gave him a reassuring look, but the worry on the Duke of Ji's face did not lessen.

The emperor's gaze fell on the crown prince of the Western Jin Dynasty, and he smiled, "Crown Prince of the Western Jin Dynasty, how about my third prince marrying your country's second princess?"

Murong Yun stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "I leave it to Your Majesty to decide!"

"Okay, okay~"

The emperor laughed heartily a few times. Murong Yun's lips curled up. As long as his goal was achieved, that was enough. As for Ning'er... he would ensure her safety.

Upon hearing that the marriage alliance had been settled, Murong Ning was filled with sorrow. "Brother, why did you have to marry Ning'er to that defeated and morally flawed Third Prince? And that Third Prince has been married twice already..."

Murong Ning's heart sank at the thought. How could she, a princess of a nation, be willing to become someone else's concubine!

"Ning'er, the Third Prince's previous two wives are no longer alive. If you marry him, you will become his principal wife."

Murong Yun comforted her, saying that he also didn't want his younger sister to marry Jun Linyu. After all, Jun Linyu was too sinister and ruthless. For the sake of interests or to achieve his goals, he could sacrifice everyone around him, such as his two women and his unborn child. Ning'er's marriage to him was just a temporary measure, a nominal Third Prince's consort.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the whispering crowd below and spoke softly.

"Now that the marriage is settled, Your Majesty, why don't you establish a crown prince now?"

Consort Qing's heart skipped a beat, and her gaze unconsciously fell on the ministers below.

"This...Mother, isn't the matter of the Crown Prince being handled too hastily?"

The emperor had barely finished speaking when the empress dowager glared at him. "If not now, when?"

The Emperor's gaze fell on the Empress, who nodded. The Empress Dowager's intentions were clear: firstly, to dispel Jun Linyu's thoughts, and secondly, to have someone keep him in check. As for who this person was, everyone knew perfectly well.

"Eunuch Min, bring me the imperial edict that I have prepared."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Eunuch Min quickly disappeared from everyone's sight. Who could this Crown Prince be?

The emperor just spoke of a draft imperial edict. So, excluding Jun Linyu who was to be sent back, only the adult second prince Jun Lintian and the nine-year-old sixth prince Jun Linqi remain.

Consort Qing was extremely excited. Her Qi'er would definitely be the Crown Prince. As for that good-for-nothing Second Prince, she had her own ways to prevent him from becoming the Crown Prince.

Even Jun Luoli unconsciously straightened her posture and glanced arrogantly at Jun Lintian and Jun Buhui.

Ji Jiuying was only focused on drinking tea. Although she tried to keep a low profile, many eyes still fell on her at the banquet, with the most intense gazes coming from directly opposite her.

[Little Jiu, the reason I couldn't come to the academy to help you that time was because my father... he was sick... so...]

Murong Zheng's voice echoed in her mind. Ji Jiuying's eyes flickered slightly. Murong Zheng was speaking much more fluently now, which meant he was willing to communicate with others.

You don't need to blame yourself; I won't blame you.

Ji Jiuying said.

Hearing him say that, Murong Zheng breathed a sigh of relief; he thought she would blame him.

What happened to your father?

He's fallen ill, and it's very serious.

Ji Jiuying recalled the appearance of the Western Jin emperor she had last met. He did not seem to be ill. However, the palace was full of intrigue and deceit. She thought that this matter was related to Murong Yun. She expected that Murong Yun would become the new emperor of Western Jin soon.

【Then why did you come to Cangyue?】

My father told me to go out more with my elder brother, but I didn't want to. I just wanted to see you.

Ji Jiuying's gaze fell on Murong Yun. This man was so scheming and ambitious. Wasn't the Emperor of Western Jin afraid that he would kill Murong Zheng?

However, Murong Zheng poses no threat to him. He is strong and easy to manipulate. Murong Yun probably won't make a move against Murong Zheng. Another important reason is the Western Jin Emperor. He dotes on Murong Zheng so much that he must have thought of this long ago and made all the necessary plans. Otherwise, the first person Murong Yun would kill would be Murong Zheng as soon as he takes the throne.

Ji Jiuying ignored Murong Zheng, simply because she saw Eunuch Min walking towards her not far away.

"Sister Jiu, guess who will be the Crown Prince? I know!" Jun Buhui tugged at Ji Jiuying's sleeve and whispered.

Ji Jiuying was a little surprised and smiled, "Is it your imperial brother?"

"Sister Xiao Jiu, you're so smart! You guessed right!"

Jun Buhui smiled happily. Ji Jiuying twitched the corners of her mouth. It wasn't that she was smart; it was that her answer was written all over her face.

Upon seeing Eunuch Min's arrival, everyone was incredibly excited. Some of the court officials supported the Second Prince Jun Lintian, while others supported the Sixth Prince Jun Linqi.

Although Jun Linqi is still young, he is clever and has recently won the emperor's favor. Jun Lintian, on the other hand, although born to the empress and enrolled in the Star Academy, has been idle and traveling around for the past ten years. People say he is a good-for-nothing prince and that he and Ji Jiuying are a perfect match. However, Ji Jiuying has already shed her reputation as a good-for-nothing and become a big figure in the Cangming Continent, while Jun Lintian remains the same. Just surviving is his greatest achievement; he has no ability to govern a country.

"Eunuch Min, please read the imperial edict!"

The emperor spoke.

"yes."

Eunuch Min coughed lightly and opened the imperial edict.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: A prince has ascended to the throne, possessing both wisdom and virtue, and is destined to inherit the great lineage. I, by Your Majesty's benevolent decree, hereby appoint him as Crown Prince to demonstrate the Emperor's boundless grace. So be it."

The entire room was silent; some were happy, some were sad!

Consort Qing sat weakly in her chair, staring at the imperial edict with resentment.

Jun Luoli, no longer arrogant, stared intently at the imperial edict. How could this be? The position of Crown Prince should belong to her younger brother.

"Tian'er, why aren't you going to receive the imperial edict?"

Although he already knew the answer, and although he had no desire for the throne, he had no choice but to accept reality. After realizing this, Jun Lintian came to the center of the hall, bowed, and knelt down.

"Thank you, Father Emperor, Mother Empress, and Grandmother Empress!"

Jun Lintian accepted the imperial edict and returned to his seat.

"Do any of my beloved ministers have anything else to say?"

The emperor smiled and said, clearly in a good mood! But there's always someone who will break this joy.

"Your Majesty, I believe the Second Prince is unlikely to be competent for the position of Crown Prince..." Minister He of the Ministry of Revenue hesitated before speaking.

“Your Majesty, the Second Prince is a dissolute young man who does nothing but waste his time and has never been involved in court affairs. He is certainly not the best candidate for Crown Prince.”

"Your Majesty, I second that proposal!"

With the bird at the forefront, those court officials who supported the sixth prince jumped out one after another.