Dou Qisheng knelt on the ground, lifted his head and gave Emperor Tai’an a fawning smile: “Brother-in-law, he was just momentarily possessed. In the future, younger brother will strictly supervise the clan members and not let them commit illegal acts again—”

“Get out!” Emperor Tai’an spat out a single word.

Dou Qisheng’s expression froze: “Brother-in-law—”

Emperor Tai’an suddenly stood up, his face iron-blue: “I told you to get out. Didn’t you hear?”

Seeing the Emperor like this, Dou Qisheng didn’t even dare mention that Dou San had been taken away by the Jinlin Guard. He left the palace in disgrace.

Outside, the sun blazed like fire, but his heart was shrouded in thick fog, utterly perplexed: why had His Majesty flown into such a rage?

After pondering deeply for a long while, he could only conclude it was because the Crown Prince’s disgrace had put him in a foul mood.

So be it. He’d wait a couple days until His Majesty was in better spirits before speaking again.

He didn’t have to wait two days—Cheng Maoming met with Grand Eunuch Liu Chuan, and together they went to report to Emperor Tai’an.

Liu Chuan spoke first about the palace investigation: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the body of Crown Prince’s personal attendant Wang Fu was discovered by the West Garden lakeside. According to the coroner’s examination, there were no signs of struggle or external injuries, thus the greatest likelihood is suicide by drowning. After interrogating others in the Eastern Palace, Wang Fu caught the Crown Prince’s eye after Wang Gui’s death, and the reason he became increasingly favored was because he presented Five-Color Powder to the Crown Prince…”

“Bastard!” Emperor Tai’an slapped the table.

Liu Chuan closed his mouth and silently retreated a step.

Emperor Tai’an looked toward Cheng Maoming: “What about your side? Did you discover the source of the Five-Color Powder?”

“I found it—” Cheng Maoming paused, then continued with lowered eyes. “The Five-Color Powder the Crown Prince consumed was obtained by Wang Fu from a medicine shop assistant. That medicine shop assistant’s supply came from Dou San—”

“Wait!” Emperor Tai’an raised his hand, interrupting Cheng Maoming’s words, his gaze fixed tightly on him. “Which Dou San?”

Cheng Maoming couldn’t withstand the Emperor’s penetrating stare and slightly lowered his eyes: “The Late Empress’s cousin, ranked third in the clan…”

A vein bulged at Emperor Tai’an’s temple. He grabbed a jade pixiu ornament from the desk and smashed it to the floor.

Cheng Maoming and Liu Chuan immediately knelt down. Neither dared make a sound.

They hadn’t seen His Majesty this furious in a very long time.

The two exchanged glances, thinking in unison: the Dou family was finished.

Emperor Tai’an paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, trying to rein in his emotions that were nearly running wild. As he walked, he stumbled, frightening Liu Chuan who rushed forward: “Your Majesty, be careful!”

Emperor Tai’an slowly lowered his head and lifted his foot, seeing the fragment embedded in his shoe sole.

His forcibly controlled emotions completely erupted. The entire study echoed with the Emperor’s furious roars.

After a long while, the storm subsided into calm. Emperor Tai’an continued questioning about Dou San’s affairs.

Cheng Maoming reported everything he’d discovered, but didn’t mention the friend Dou San had spoken of.

He admitted that everyone had selfish motives.

Whether by luck or fate, regardless of his willingness, circumstances had ultimately pushed him to stand opposite the Crown Prince and the Dou family. Since that was the case, for the sake of his own life, he had no choice but to be ruthless.

Emperor Tai’an leaned back against the chair and waved his hand: “Withdraw.”

Cheng Maoming bowed and retreated backward out the door.

The room fell quiet. Emperor Tai’an sat rigidly without moving. Liu Chuan didn’t dare offer advice, standing silently to the side.

After an unknown length of time, Emperor Tai’an asked hoarsely: “Have there been any memorials mentioning the Crown Prince’s public breach of propriety?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, there have not.”

Emperor Tai’an began to laugh coldly.

Yes, the civil and military officials had all decided that the Crown Prince would be the future emperor—who would be so blind as to impeach the Crown Prince?

Even if the Crown Prince had run naked in public, making the Great Zhou the laughingstock of other nations!

In this moment, Emperor Tai’an completely made up his mind to depose the heir.

“Liu Chuan, summon the Six Ministries, Nine Ministers, and the princes for an audience.”

Liu Chuan’s entire body trembled. He quickly lowered his head in acknowledgment: “Yes.”

The high officials from each ministry arrived at the palace one after another. Those who met on the way exchanged glances, each harboring their own thoughts.

These past few days, they’d kept memorials impeaching the Crown Prince tucked in their sleeves, waiting for others to make a move. They never imagined that not a single person would selflessly step forward!

Emperor Tai’an sat with closed eyes, conserving his energy. When everyone had gathered, he slowly opened his eyes.

“Regarding the Crown Prince’s actions on the Dragon Boat Festival, what are your lords’ thoughts?”

The officials looked at each other. For a moment no one spoke, though inwardly they felt rather anxious.

The Crown Prince had run naked in public—how was it that not a single person had stood up to denounce him? Didn’t this make them seem too lacking in righteousness, too cowardly?

Among them, Prince Jing was the calmest.

He hid at the very back of the crowd, hands tucked in his sleeves, eyes lowered, playing the wooden statue.

It wasn’t his son who’d run naked—he had no thoughts whatsoever.

In truth, Prince Jing found it extremely strange that Emperor Tai’an had summoned him to the palace.

What was there to discuss? His own son had done something wrong, so just punish him—could it be he wanted others to punish him in his stead?

Too lazy to worry about someone else’s son, Prince Jing silently calculated: the weather was getting hot—should he find a day to discuss the two children’s wedding date with Old Madam Lin? He’d heard that Shuo’er particularly loved running to the garden. Based on his own past experience, the boy probably scaled the wall quite often, right? If one day he was caught red-handed by the General’s Mansion’s people, that wouldn’t be good…

Emperor Tai’an coldly watched the officials exchange meaningful glances, all waiting for someone else to take the lead. He only wanted to laugh coldly.

“It seems all you lords feel this isn’t any great matter.”

Hearing Emperor Tai’an say this, the officials knew His Majesty was displeased with their sealed lips. At this moment, if someone were first to step forward and thoroughly criticize the Crown Prince, they would surely win His Majesty’s favor.

A quick-thinking minister stepped forward from the crowd and declared loudly: “This subject has something to say.”

The one who stepped forward was the Minister of Rites.

“Minister Chen, speak.” Emperor Tai’an said flatly.

Minister Chen immediately launched into a righteous denunciation of the Crown Prince: “…The Crown Prince’s actions are truly absurd. I implore Your Majesty to severely punish him!”

Seeing Emperor Tai’an’s expression remain relatively calm, several more people stepped forward to echo this sentiment.

Compared to the Crown Prince, the Emperor was definitely more important. Scolding the Crown Prince now to please His Majesty—by the time the Crown Prince sat on this throne in the future, he’d probably have long forgotten.

With someone taking the lead, more and more people voiced their agreement. They had no choice—not speaking up made them appear subservient to imperial authority, which was rather shameful.

As for Prince Jing, he remained perfectly at ease, not uttering a word.

Emperor Tai’an’s gaze was cold and indifferent as water, sweeping one by one across the faces of the officials who had spoken.

Those he looked at uncomfortably twitched their eyelids.

His Majesty’s manner seemed as if he were memorizing them—how strange.

After a long while, Emperor Tai’an slowly spoke: “Since you lords say this, I know what must be done.”

The officials couldn’t help but raise their eyes, curious how His Majesty would punish the Crown Prince.

Confinement was certain. He might even replace everyone in the Eastern Palace, or even implicate the Crown Prince’s maternal clan.

Emperor Tai’an fell silent for a moment, then pronounced word by word: “I have decided to depose the Crown Prince.”

As soon as these words came out, all the officials were shocked. Especially those who had just spoken—each one felt as if struck by thunderbolts, swaying unsteadily.

What? His Majesty had dumped the shit pot of advocating for deposing the Crown Prince on their heads?

Thinking of this point, the officials’ blood rushed to their heads. In the blink of an eye, people knelt all over the floor.

“Your Majesty, this absolutely must not happen!”