Zhen Shicheng stayed in the hall and felt that something was wrong.

The Emperor wanted to summon Concubine Yang to question her. Why did Pan Hai behave so miserably when he returned? And after hearing Pan Hai's whisper, the Emperor left directly and took away the commander of the Jinlin Guard and the leader of the Jinwu Guard?

Han Ran, commander of the Jinlin Guard, Wang Hai, commander of the Jinwu Guard, and Pan Hai, governor of the Dongchang Guard, are the three key people who help the emperor control the palace both inside and outside.

Something more extreme must have happened, something more extreme than a concubine having an affair with a guard.

Zhen Shicheng's speculative brain started to work quickly.

Pan Hai went to call Concubine Yang, what could be more extreme?

Zhen Shicheng suddenly thought of something: the banquet in the palace was halfway through, and the prince left due to illness...

This thought flashed through his mind, giving him a sudden shock and leading him to a terrible guess.

Compared to Zhen Shicheng's rational analysis and speculation, Han Ran and Wang Hai were dumbfounded.

Emperor Jingming glanced at them and said in a deep voice, "Go to the front first. Pan Hai, you take care of Concubine Yang first."

Soon Zhen Shicheng waited for Emperor Jingming to return.

"Your Majesty..." Zhen Shicheng walked up to him and greeted him calmly.

Emperor Jingming sat down with a sullen face, and Jinlin Guard Commander Han Ran immediately served him a cup of tea.

This used to be Pan Hai's job, but now that Pan Hai was not around, Han had no choice but to do it anyway.

Emperor Jingming took the teacup and threw it to the ground.

The valuable teacup was smashed to pieces in an instant, and the steaming tea flowed on the cold floor tiles.

Han Ran, commander of Jinlin Guard, and Wang Hai, commander of Jinwu Guard, were immediately silent.

Zhen Shicheng pretended to be surprised: "Your Majesty?"

Emperor Jingming looked at Zhen Shicheng deeply and said, "The Crown Prince and Concubine Yang are having an affair—"

On the way back, Emperor Jingming thought over and over again whether to let Zhen Shicheng know the truth, but finally decided to tell him the truth.

His face is important, but how this matter ends is more important.

Zhen Shicheng's knowledge of the incident only meant that one more person knew about it. If the matter was not handled properly and spread, he would become a laughing stock in the world, and the prince would be nailed to the pillar of shame and recorded in history.

He couldn't bear the consequences.

After hearing what Emperor Jingming said, Zhen Shicheng bowed deeply and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down and take care of your health."

Han Ran and Wang Hai immediately admired Zhen Shicheng.

They were almost scared to death when they heard the news that the Crown Prince and Concubine Yang were having an affair, but Lord Zhen was able to persuade the Emperor not to be angry. No one could match his calmness.

The room was empty. Apart from Emperor Jingming, there were only Zhen Shicheng, Han Ran and Wang Hai.

Emperor Jingming recovered from his rage, and his gloomy eyes slowly swept across everyone's face, saying word by word: "I want to depose the crown prince!"

Zhen Shicheng and the other two immediately knelt down, but they were unable to utter any words of persuasion.

How to persuade him? The prince even dared to sleep with the emperor's concubine. If it were their son, he would have been hacked to death with a kitchen knife. What's the point of persuading him?

Of course, it is impossible to ask them to agree with Emperor Jingming.

If you can't wait to agree with the emperor now, what if he changes his mind in the future?

The room fell silent for a moment.

When Emperor Jingming said this, he had no intention of seeking the opinions of the three people.

He knew very well that Han Ran and Wang Hai were in charge of the two most important guards in the imperial guards, and his words must be carried out without compromise. This was the meaning of their existence, not that they had to bargain with him like the civil and military officials.

As for Zhen Shicheng, he is a very simple and wonderful person, much more likable than those censors who only know how to spout nonsense.

Seeing that the three of them were silent, Emperor Jingming continued, "But I don't want anyone to know that the Crown Prince's dethronement was related to Concubine Yang."

This is a bit difficult.

The crown prince is the heir apparent, the foundation of the country, and cannot be easily shaken. Even if it is the emperor, if he wants to depose the crown prince, he must give a tenable reason, otherwise he will have to wait for a long tug-of-war with the civil and military officials.

When Emperor Jingming thought of the Crown Prince, his heart felt like it was burning with fire, and he could not tolerate this tug-of-war at all.

For Emperor Jingming in this situation, he wanted to depose the crown prince, and would kill anyone who dared to say so.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Emperor Jingming glanced at Zhen Shicheng, who lowered his eyes and pretended not to hear.

He is a pure official. Apart from being interested in solving cases, don't ask him for anything else.

You dare to interfere in the affairs of the deposed prince. If the vicious woman at home finds out, she will hold you on her knees.

Emperor Jingming was not surprised by Zhen Shicheng's reaction, and his eyes then swept over Han Ran and Wang Hai.

Under tremendous pressure, Han Ran said, "Your Majesty, I have an idea."

It’s not that the emperor can’t think of some ideas, but it’s inconvenient for him to say them. At this time, others must say them out.

As the emperor's spy and lackey, and the commander of the feared Jin Scale Guard, he had to play that role. Even if he was punished later and was infamous for eternity, he could not escape.

"Speak." Emperor Jingming uttered a word.

"If the person who instigated the Jinwu Guards to kill Prince An was the Crown Prince—"

Emperor Jingming glanced at Han Ran and fell silent.

This is undoubtedly a good idea.

The case of Prince An is currently being investigated, and all the civil and military officials are still waiting for the outcome in the front hall. It is obviously not possible to get by without any explanation.

But the truth is that Concubine Yang was in collusion with the guards, which led to the revelation of her affair with the prince.

No matter which of these two rumors gets out, he will lose all face.

By putting the blame of Prince An's death on the crown prince, there was sufficient reason to depose the crown prince, and the matter of Concubine Yang was also covered up.

This is the best of both worlds.

Emperor Jingming thought of this silently and secretly cursed himself.

He has the best of both worlds. There has never been a more pathetic emperor than him.

The only son left to him by Empress Yuan, the crown prince who carried his high hopes, actually did such an immoral thing.

The crown prince must be deposed.

Emperor Jingming sighed deeply and said to Zhen Shicheng, "My dear Zhen, you are the one who is in charge of Prince An's case, so I'll leave it to you."

This is to ask Zhen Shicheng to help cover up the lie.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I know what to do." Zhen Shicheng is a sensible man. Although he is keen on solving cases, he is obsessed with the process of peeling off the clues to find the murderer. He does not have the hobby of letting the world witness the truth at the risk of angering the emperor to death.

The emperor finally gave up on the useless prince...

Emperor Jingming stood up, in a disinterested mood: "That's it, I'll go back to the palace when the snow stops. Han Ran, Wang Hai, the stability during this period is in your hands."

Han Ran and Wang Hai immediately clasped their fists and said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured."

Zhen Shicheng endured it again and again, but still couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, there is still one thing I can't figure out."

Emperor Jingming looked at him solemnly and asked, "What is it that you don't understand, Lord Zhen?"

"Concubine Yang instigated Zhang Hu of the Jinwu Guard to assassinate Prince An, but how did they know that a sudden snowstorm would come today and the palace would suddenly fall into darkness?"