The hall doors slowly closed.

Eunuch Gao stood at the entrance, saying softly: “His Majesty is very fond of Princess Consort Zhuang. With Princess Consort Zhuang staying to attend to his illness, His Majesty will recover faster. The Crown Prince need not worry.”

Chu Yi nodded: “I trouble Eunuch Gao to keep a closer watch. If anything happens, come inform this palace immediately.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Walking out of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Wu Yun spoke: “Just now, did Your Highness develop murderous intent?”

Chu Yi didn’t hide it: “She lives in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and can freely enter and exit Father Emperor’s sleeping quarters. There’s too much she can do. She must die.”

“There’s an offspring gu inside her body. If the host dies first while His Majesty still has feelings for her, the gu insect inside His Majesty’s body will go berserk, and the dragon body will be damaged. The gu insects must be killed first.” Wu Yun’s voice was calm. “In about seven days, I’ll be able to develop the antidote. Your Highness, please be patient.”

Chu Yi’s gaze was heavy.

He was Father Emperor’s third son. Although he hadn’t received much favor from Father Emperor growing up, Father Emperor had never mistreated him either.

Whether from the perspective of father and son or from the perspective of ruler and subject, he didn’t want Father Emperor to die unexpectedly.

After sending Wu Yun off, Chu Yi summoned his subordinate advisors.

The current Junior Guardian, Junior Tutor, and Junior Preceptor of the Crown Prince were all people from before. After Chu Yi was appointed Crown Prince, he had never met privately with these people.

“Greetings to the Crown Prince!”

The notable members of the Crown Prince’s faction numbered as many as fifty or sixty people, all officials with positions, specially appointed to advise the Crown Prince.

But among them, the vast majority were people promoted by the former Empress, and there were also some members of the Gongsun family clan among them.

Chu Yi sat in his seat, looking at that group of people, his lips curving into a smile: “Junior Guardian Li, yesterday you wrote a letter to my elder brother. What did you write in the letter?”

Junior Guardian Li was instantly stunned.

He had secretly written to the former Crown Prince, who was now Prince Ren. He had done this extremely carefully. How could the current Crown Prince know?

Caught off guard, he stammered: “In… in reply to Your Highness, this humble subject only wrote to Prince Ren to send greetings, nothing more.”

“Is that so!”

Chu Yi coldly slammed a letter onto the table.

Junior Guardian Li was so frightened his eyes widened, and his knees went soft as he fell to the ground.

“Telling Prince Ren to return to the capital, persuading Prince Ren to become Crown Prince again—this is what you call sending greetings?” Chu Yi lifted his foot and coldly kicked Junior Guardian Li over. “Inciting conflict between this palace and Prince Ren, plotting rebellion—what crime do you deserve!”

“Your Highness, please calm your anger, calm your anger!”

Junior Guardian Li knelt on the ground begging for mercy.

He had followed the former Crown Prince for over ten years. Everything about the former Crown Prince had been arranged by him. After the former Crown Prince was deposed, he wished he could have followed him.

In his view, military men had no brains and simply couldn’t possibly govern a country well. Although the former Crown Prince was mediocre, he was still much better than a military man.

Most crucially, the former Crown Prince had been supported by his own hand—it was impossible for him to pledge loyalty to anyone else…

So he kept writing letters, wanting the former Crown Prince to return to the capital and gradually work toward restoration…

Unexpectedly, he was caught in the act by the current Crown Prince.

“Since you have no intention of serving this palace, then there’s no need for us to force each other.” Chu Yi’s voice was very light. “This palace will send you to Prince Ren’s fief, letting you continue as Prince Ren’s advisor. Along with your family members, all will be sent together.”

Junior Guardian Li suddenly raised his head.

He looked at Chu Yi. That indifferent expression wasn’t a threat—he truly intended to do this.

It wasn’t a discussion with him, but a notification of the result.

He wanted to say something.

But he heard Chu Yi continue: “This palace knows that among you, some are still corresponding with Prince Ren, some are still loyal to Prince Gongxi, and even this palace’s long-deceased fourth brother still has loyal subjects supporting him. If you step forward now and tell this palace you don’t wish to be loyal to the Eastern Palace, this palace will respect your honesty and send you to your true master’s side.”

“But if you continue to hide—” his voice gradually grew colder, like icicles, “this palace can only send your entire clans to meet the King of Hell.”

“Crack!”

As he spoke, the writing brush in his hand was directly snapped in two by him.

This sound also shattered many people’s fragile defenses.

“This palace gives you twelve hours. Once the time passes, the opportunity is gone!”

He stood up and walked away with a flick of his sleeves.

He didn’t return to the prince’s manor, but personally went to see several court officials.

These few were people he was about to promote to his side, and they were trustworthy loyal subjects.

Under Chu Yi’s swift and decisive measures, disloyal people in the Eastern Palace were kicked out, and then some pillar ministers were promoted for his own use.

At the same time, the antidote for the Nine Black Gu was also developed.

“Crown Prince, Crown Princess, there are two types of this antidote.” Wu Yun brought over two porcelain bottles. “The white pills suppress the mature gu, preventing the gu insects from further eroding His Majesty’s body. They should be taken in nine doses. Each time one is taken, one black spot on His Majesty’s chest will automatically disappear until they completely vanish. The black pills are used to kill the offspring gu. They only need to be given to those who have been planted with offspring gu—just one pill, and the offspring gu will die in their body, automatically severing the connection with His Majesty.”

Chu Yi quickly expressed thanks: “Thank you for your hard work, Doctor Wu. I’ll take the white antidote into the palace now.”

What he was most worried about was still Father Emperor’s health.

Just as he was about to go out, he heard Chengxu hurrying over: “Your Highness, Eunuch Gao has brought His Majesty’s imperial edict to proclaim it.”

Chu Yi and Yun Chu couldn’t help but exchange glances.

They both saw surprise in each other’s eyes. At this time, why would there be an imperial edict?

The two changed their clothes and immediately went to the front courtyard to receive the edict.

“By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Now the Dongling Kingdom brazenly covets our Great Jin’s territory, abducted our Great Jin’s princess, and threatens the safety of our Great Jin’s people. I have thought about this day and night and truly cannot sleep. Crown Prince Chu Yi is brave and skilled in battle, using military tactics like a god. I specially appoint the Crown Prince as Vanguard General, with General Weiwu as Deputy General, to lead eighty thousand elite troops to the eastern coast to punish the Dongling Kingdom and raise our nation’s prestige! By this decree!”

Yun Chu was extremely astonished.

Since ancient times, emperors and crown princes basically didn’t go to the battlefield. If it reached the moment when the sovereign and heir apparent had to go to the battlefield, it meant the two sides were locked in stalemate on the battlefield, with one’s own country at a disadvantage, requiring the sovereign to personally appear to boost morale.

But now, before the war had even begun, they wanted the Crown Prince to go to the front lines. This didn’t follow logic.

And! Most importantly, there weren’t many imperial princes remaining in the capital. No matter how one considered it, His Majesty couldn’t possibly let Chu Yi lead troops to the Dongling Kingdom.

“Yes, your son receives the edict. Long live Father Emperor, long live, long live!”

Chu Yi raised his hand and received the imperial edict.

“His Majesty’s oral decree: The Crown Prince shall depart in three days!” Eunuch Gao helped Chu Yi up. “His Majesty is seriously ill and won’t personally see you off.”

Chu Yi’s voice was very light: “Farewell, Eunuch Gao. We won’t see you out.”

The manor’s gates slowly closed.

Yun Chu spoke: “The offspring gu must be killed immediately to reverse the situation.”

The person behind this used the gu insects to make His Majesty issue the imperial edict. Their wolfish ambitions were very obvious. Because Chu Yi knew about the gu poison’s existence, they wanted something to happen to Chu Yi so His Majesty would appoint a new Crown Prince.

“The offspring gu must be killed, and the Dongling Kingdom must also be punished.” Chu Yi touched Yun Chu’s hair. “If the Dongling Kingdom isn’t eliminated for a day, the children won’t be safe for a day. I must accept this imperial edict.”