Meanwhile, those ministers who had been cautiously observing the situation felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
They used to fawn over the Imperial Concubine and curry favor with the Second Prince, but now they're all dumbfounded.
Hmph, one must remain calm in times of great importance; prudence is the only way to survive in the court.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Liu Zhiheng took advantage of the chaos to sidle up to Li Lao Er and exclaimed in a low voice, "So today... they're planning to wipe them all out in one fell swoop!"
Li Lao Er's expression was somewhat complicated. He replied in a low voice, "Just wait and see, the real big thing is yet to come. Remember, no matter what happens later, don't say anything carelessly. Be sure to keep your mouth shut!"
Liu Zhiheng listened with trepidation, wanting to ask more questions, but was pushed by Li Lao Er, and could only return to his seat.
It's unclear whether the Emperor was afraid of another unforeseen event, or whether the concubine, despite her favor, was no longer a significant figure to be valued.
He spoke without much hesitation and condemned the imperial concubine.
Not only will he be banished to the cold palace, but he will never be pardoned.
This surprised the court officials, and some veteran officials even stepped forward to plead for the emperor in order to maintain the stability of the court.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider. This matter needs to be carefully investigated, after all, the Imperial Concubine is the Second Prince's birth mother."
"The Second Prince is your only son who has grown up, and he may inherit the throne of Tianwu in the future. He cannot have a mother who has made a mistake and been banished to the cold palace, otherwise it will be recorded in history books and criticized by future generations."
But the emperor was unusually resolute, and no matter how the old ministers tried to persuade him, he issued an edict to punish the guilty.
One of the veteran officials was so concerned for Tianwu that he almost fell ill from worry.
"Your Majesty, you only have this one prince, and he is the best candidate for Crown Prince. This cannot be allowed!"
The emperor laughed, straightened his back, and his smugness was almost overflowing.
"Who says I only have one prince? Who says the second prince is the best choice?"
After saying that, he suddenly stood up and looked towards the entrance to the rear hall.
Manager Yi understood and immediately went over, leading a young man over.
The man was under twenty years old, with a full forehead, thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose, thin lips, and a three-dimensional facial structure, making him both heroic and handsome.
He wore a black robe embroidered with dragons, a golden crown on his head, and was tall and slender. His every step exuded an air of nobility, both unrestrained and flamboyant...
Who is this?
Everyone was so shocked that their mouths were agape, but they couldn't utter a sound.
Mr. Wen and Liu Zhiheng, in particular, were so nervous that their eyes seemed to pop out of their sockets. They had to use all their strength to calm their wildly beating hearts.
The two looked at Li Lao Er, only to find that he was just as surprised as everyone else.
But they were so familiar with him that they could easily spot the traces of Li Lao Er's performance.
That old fox, he must have known all along!
must!
Li Lao Er opened his mouth, trying his best to be a good actor.
He caught a glimpse of their expressions out of the corner of his eye, and inwardly he could only manage a bitter smile.
Can he say that he's not entirely sure either?
Even if I were sure, I wouldn't have the guts to say it!
The Emperor has kept a huge secret for many years; anyone who gets involved will die!
He didn't think his neck was made of iron and that he was immune to being cut!
Moreover, and most importantly, he said that the manager of his family's shop would eventually take control of the Tianwu Kingdom, which probably made people think he was crazy!
The emperor on the dragon throne was extremely pleased with the reaction of his courtiers.
After years of patience and preparation, we've finally reached the moment to shine!
"My beloved ministers, this is my eldest prince! He did not die unexpectedly back then, but a highly virtuous monk said that he was destined to suffer a calamity and had to live alone outside the palace. It would be better to bring him back after he turned eighteen."
"Over the years, although he grew up among the common people, I arranged for him to be taught by many great Confucian scholars and he has also witnessed the hardships of the people."
"I believe he will be the most outstanding successor and will lead Tianwu to a golden age!"
"The Imperial Observatory has calculated that the weather will be exceptionally favorable in half a month. I will personally bestow the title of Crown Prince upon the First Prince! I hope that all my beloved ministers will continue to support the Crown Prince as they have been loyal to me, and dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the Tianwu Emperor!"
The courtiers understood each word individually, but when put together, they still couldn't comprehend it.
The Empress Dowager committed suicide, the Imperial Concubine was sent to the Cold Palace, and the Second Prince has no hope of ascending the throne!
The eldest prince is not dead; he has made a powerful comeback!
The eldest prince is about to be named crown prince!
This is simply a matter of turning one's hand to make clouds and rain; the emperor is playing the entire world and the imperial court with incredible skill!
Everyone's heart was like it was on a roller coaster, going up and down, and they couldn't calm down at all.
At this moment, Li Lao Er gave Wen Yushi and Liu Zhiheng a wink, then knelt down first and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise! Congratulations on the Crown Prince's return to the palace!"
Imperial Censor Wen and Liu Zhiheng also quickly knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty is wise! Congratulations on the Crown Prince's return to the palace!"
The two shouts snapped everyone back to reality. Seeing the Emperor and Crown Prince smiling in front of the dragon throne, they all secretly regretted their actions.
How come we were a step too slow and Li Lao Er got the credit?
In the blink of an eye, everyone in the court knelt down, their faces beaming with surprise, whether genuine or feigned.
"Your Majesty is wise! Congratulations on the Crown Prince's return to the palace!"
"Having such an outstanding crown prince is truly a blessing for Tianwu!"
"The Tianwu Era is in full swing, and the future is promising!"
Marquis Dingbei shouted especially loudly, and even glared fiercely at Li Lao Er a few times.
He defected to the emperor and became the sharp blade by which the emperor eliminated the empress dowager and the imperial concubine.
I thought he had made the greatest contribution and would surely be the emperor's most trusted advisor in the future.
Who would have thought that Li Lao Er would steal the spotlight in the end!
Li Lao Er kept his head down, humble and respectful, as if he was completely unaware of the gazes, whether open or hidden, from the crowd.
But soon, no one paid any attention to him anymore.
After wielding his stick all morning, the emperor finally remembered to offer everyone a treat.
"My esteemed ministers, the Crown Prince has been away from home for some time and is still unmarried. I plan to select a consort for him after the Crown Prince's investiture ceremony."
"If any of you ministers have dignified and beautiful young ladies in your families, would you be willing to part with them?"
Everyone had been in a daze all morning, but this unexpected windfall woke them up.
Unlike currying favor with the Second Prince, which involves risks and requires secrecy and cover-up, this method is different.
Now that the emperor has established a crown prince and is publicly selecting a consort for him, it's as if he's built a direct road to heaven for everyone.
As long as the daughter in the family is capable enough to become the Crown Princess, she will definitely become the Empress in the future.
The Mother of the Nation!
The courtiers who had daughters of marriageable age were so happy they almost jumped for joy.
Even families without daughters quickly began planning to adopt one from within their clan, or simply buy a few beautiful women outside to become ready-made fathers...
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. It is an honor for us."
"Yes, His Majesty is farsighted. If the Crown Prince marries soon and has children, the Tianwu Empire will surely be more stable!"
Immediately, another round of praise and adulation erupted in the imperial court.
The crown prince stood to one side of the dragon throne, listening quietly with a perfectly measured smile on his face. He neither spoke much nor readily believed anything, perfectly playing the role of a composed heir apparent.
This actually earned him some favor from some of the veteran officials.
Although he grew up among commoners, this prince is quite remarkable.
Soon, the emperor adjourned the court session and then kept several important officials in the imperial study for a talk.
Besides the six ministers, there were also the Marquis of Dingbei and Li Lao Er.
Although the Marquis of Dingbei was not well-liked, everyone had witnessed his fighting prowess just now.
But Li Lao Er's presence in the middle seemed rather out of place.
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