"Father, Mother said this is the perfect opportunity to remove Gu Qingling from the position of Crown Prince."
Gu Qingyan looked at Gu Lin, "What does Father think?"
Gu Lin reached out and gently pinched Gu Qingyan's nose. Gu Qingyan took a few steps back shyly, which made Gu Lin chuckle.
“Little one, your mother is always right.”
This time, not only will we be able to bring Gu Qingling down, but we can also get you a prince position.
Gu Lin curled the corners of his lips. From the moment Gu Qingling left the capital, the ending was already destined.
......
"Your son has a request to see Your Majesty."
Outside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Gu Qingyan knelt on the ground and spoke loudly.
Inside the palace, high-ranking officials were in a state of great anxiety over Gu Qingling's arrest. The fact that Da Ning had not sent anyone to negotiate Gu Qingling's release conditions left the Da Qing officials feeling uncertain.
"Why is the Third Prince outside?"
Gu Heng frowned. The matter at the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence had made Gu Heng quite resentful of both Jiang Yu and Gu Qingyan.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince says he has important matters to report."
"What's he doing causing trouble at a time like this!" Gu Heng was about to have Cen Hai dismiss Gu Qingyan when He Yu, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, spoke softly:
"Your Majesty, why not listen to what the Third Prince has to say?"
He Yu has recently become a valuable asset in Gu Heng's eyes. Seeing He Yu speak up, Gu Heng's expression softened considerably. "Then let him in."
Upon hearing this, He Yu lowered his head, concealing the gloom in his eyes.
Gu Qingyan, dressed in a prince's robe with a white jade sachet tied at his waist, stung Gu Heng's eyes with his dashing figure.
His son is suffering in Daning, while that man's son is enjoying happiness right in front of him!
What do you have to say?
Gu Heng's words were tinged with displeasure.
“Father, I am willing to go to Heng County alone to bring my elder brother back.”
These words shocked everyone in the room.
"You're willing to go and bring Ling'er back?" Gu Heng asked incredulously, looking at Gu Qingyan as if he were a fool.
“Father, my elder brother is the crown prince. Staying in Da Ning will only disrupt the morale of our Da Qing army. But I am just a prince. Whether I live or die will not affect the overall situation.”
"I'm just worried that Da Ning won't agree to exchange me for my elder brother."
Gu Heng slowly got up and walked to Gu Qingyan, personally helping him up. "You are a good child, I am very pleased."
The surrounding high-ranking officials also realized what was happening, and their eyes lit up as they looked at Gu Qingyan. The Third Prince had provided them with an excellent solution to their current problem.
"Ayan, go back and rest first. I will think about it carefully."
As Gu Qingyan walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, he let out a heavy sigh. The murmurs of discussion behind him began to rise, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Gu Qingling, you were always the one hitting me before.
This time, I'm the one who initiated the fight.
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the crowd argued heatedly, their faces flushed. The main point of contention was that Da Ning was no fool; how could he possibly be willing to exchange a stepson for the crown prince?
"They've been arguing for so long, and they haven't even come to a conclusion!"
Gu Heng slammed his fist on the table, and the hall immediately fell silent.
"Your Majesty, in my opinion, only by deposing the Crown Prince can this situation be resolved."
As soon as He Yu finished speaking, the pupils of all the ministers contracted in unison. They all knew that only the deposed crown prince could break the deadlock, but none of them dared to say it.
Once these words were spoken, He Yu had completely offended His Highness the Crown Prince.
If the Emperor still favors the Crown Prince in the future, then He Yu's actions... are simply digging his own grave.
"The deposed crown prince? How dare you!"
Gu Heng grabbed a paperweight and smashed it at He Yu, causing blood to flow from He Yu's forehead.
“Your Majesty is wise. Only by deposing the Crown Prince and granting the Third Prince the title of King can Da Ning possibly bring back His Highness the Crown Prince.” He Yu knelt on the ground. “Once the Crown Prince returns to the capital, Your Majesty can bestow the title upon him again.”
"The only solution now is to prevent His Highness the Crown Prince from remaining in the hands of Da Ning."
After a long while, Gu Heng's somewhat weary voice finally rang out, "All of you, step back. Let me think about it some more."
......
"Mother, will Father come looking for me?"
Because Gu Qingfeng had been staying indoors, his skin was fair and translucent, and his eyes were extremely gloomy.
Whether Gu Qingling becomes the Crown Prince or the deposed Crown Prince depends on you.
Jiang Yu took a sip of tea, feeling exceptionally happy.
"If Gu Qingling becomes a cripple, Mother, please don't treat me as an enemy." Gu Qingfeng said with a bitter smile, "I will do whatever Mother asks me to do, and I will never go against Mother."
He was afraid, afraid that his mother would treat him the same way she treated Gu Qingling.
Having said that, Gu Qingfeng didn't even dare to hope for a response from Jiang Yu, and quickly left Zhaoning Palace.
Why has Gu Qingfeng become so withdrawn?
Jiang Yu's doubts lasted only a few seconds before she turned her attention back to Gu Qingling.
This time, we must remove Gu Qingling from his position as crown prince.
As Jiang Yu had predicted, Gu Heng went to the Dragon and Phoenix Palace alone in the evening.
Inside the room, Gu Qingfeng was lying on the bed reading a book. When Gu Heng arrived, he struggled to get out of bed to greet him.
"There are no outsiders here, so there's no need to stand on ceremony."
After hesitating for a moment, Gu Heng told Gu Qingfeng what had happened in the Taihe Hall during the day.
"If Father asks me what I think, I support Lord He's method."
"You also support crippling Ling'er?"
Gu Heng's eyes flickered slightly; at this moment, Gu Heng displayed the emperor's suspicion to the extreme.
"Father, all I want is for my elder brother to return safely."
For a moment, Gu Qingfeng found it laughable that his mother had accurately predicted every reaction of his father, while he... only needed to repeat what his mother had taught him.
“If my elder brother dies in Daning, then no amount of honor will matter.”
Gu Qingfeng looked at Gu Heng, "Father, please save my elder brother."
Gu Heng's breath hitched. Feng'er was right. If one didn't even have a life, the position of Crown Prince would be meaningless.
“It’s not just that.” Gu Heng’s face showed a troubled expression. “I also need to grant Yan’er the title of king. Only by raising Yan’er’s status will Da Ning agree to exchange Yan’er for Ling’er.”
"I understand, Father, you need not worry about me."
Gu Qingfeng was extremely obedient. "These are all temporary measures, but will Father and Mother agree to let my third brother go to Da Ning?"
In Gu Qingfeng's mind, going to Daning was no different from sending himself to his death.
He couldn't understand why his mother wanted his third brother to switch with Gu Qingling.
"I will speak with your mother."
That very night, Gu Heng wrote the edict to depose the crown prince.
The imperial edict lay quietly on the table, about to unleash a bloody storm.
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