While Xiao Huayong was appreciating the painting, someone came from Mingzheng Hall saying His Majesty requested Xiao Huayong’s presence.

When Xiao Huayong arrived at Mingzheng Hall, he found Emperor Youning wasn’t there. The palace servant said His Majesty was on his way with some officials.

Xiao Huayong had barely sat down and hadn’t even touched his tea when a dog burst in. The large dog seemed to be being chased and charged straight at Xiao Huayong. It would have been easy for him to dodge, but if he did, he would expose his martial arts abilities.

While Tian Yuan and others waited outside, the palace servants inside saw this and rushed forward, but they were a step too late. Xiao Huayong reacted slowly like an ordinary person. Fortunately, the dog leaped past his side, knocking over the teacup and spilling tea all over him.

At this moment, Tian Yuan rushed in with others toward Xiao Huayong. Liu Sanzhi also entered with three-year-old Xiao Honghong. Xiao Honghong walked to the dog, tugged its ears, and stood before Xiao Huayong with his head hanging low: “Royal Brother…”

This dog belonged to Xiao Honghong, who was born after Emperor Youning had been childless for ten years. As Emperor Youning’s late-born son, he was particularly favored and often summoned to share meals with his father.

“It’s fine,” Xiao Huayong smiled gently at Xiao Honghong.

“Your Highness, His Majesty, and the officials will arrive soon. Perhaps you should follow me inside to change clothes. His Majesty recently had the Imperial Wardrobe make two sets for Your Highness and was considering when to send them to you,” Liu Sanzhi said.

Xiao Huayong nodded in agreement and told Tian Yuan and others to wait outside. The inner chamber was His Majesty’s resting place, where ordinary people couldn’t enter casually.

Liu Sanzhi brought out a round-collared robe and personally helped Xiao Huayong dress. Xiao Huayong held his arms out the entire time. At this moment, he could only see everything in black, white, and gray, occasionally catching glimpses of color that vanished instantly.

Just as Liu Sanzhi finished arranging Xiao Huayong’s hem, they heard Emperor Youning arriving with the officials.

When Xiao Huayong walked out, several officials’ expressions changed drastically upon seeing his imperial yellow robe.

“Your Highness, how dare you show such disrespect to your sovereign!” the Minister of Rites immediately accused.

Xiao Huayong frowned. Their reactions told him something must be wrong with his attire. The patterns couldn’t be the issue, so it must be the color he couldn’t see – he guessed it must be imperial yellow, the color reserved exclusively for the emperor.

When the dog charged at him, Xiao Huayong initially thought it was testing his martial arts skills, which he had resisted showing. Later, when the dog knocked over the teacup and Xiao Honghong appeared, he hadn’t been overly suspicious or assumed it was all planned – perhaps Xiao Honghong had simply failed to restrain his dog.

When Liu Sanzhi invited him to change clothes in the inner chamber, he knew something was amiss. However, His Majesty could have been testing many things, and he couldn’t determine exactly what, so he played along. Now he realized His Majesty doubted whether he truly couldn’t distinguish colors.

If he had been pretending, he would never have dared to wear imperial yellow so casually and walk out before the officials.

If Emperor Youning wasn’t on his side, this outfit alone could condemn him for harboring treasonous thoughts.

However, Xiao Huayong knew Emperor Youning would protect him – though if they ever turned against each other in the future, this could become one more charge against him.

“How have I shown disrespect to my sovereign?” Xiao Huayong asked in confusion.

“Your Highness, you have overstepped by wearing imperial yellow robes – these are reserved for the Son of Heaven,” the Minister of Rites who had condemned him explained.

Xiao Huayong lifted his robe and knelt before Emperor Youning: “Your Majesty, please forgive my breach of protocol.”

Emperor Youning bent down to help Xiao Huayong up personally: “This was specially made for the Crown Prince by my order.”

The officials’ expressions shifted slightly. The Minister of Rites spoke again: “Your Majesty, heaven’s laws and earth’s protocols cannot be transgressed. Disorder in ceremonial rules could brew great disaster.”

“Seven Brother is the heir apparent, and an heir is also a ruler – why can’t he wear imperial yellow?” Emperor Youning declared, “What I say is possible becomes possible!”

The matter was thus concluded – faced with such an assertive emperor, the officials dared not advise further. On a small scale, this was merely a sign of imperial favor. An emperor showing preference for his crown prince, a father doting on his son – what right did they as subordinates have to comment?

However, one robe wasn’t enough for Emperor Youning to conclusively determine whether Xiao Huayong truly couldn’t distinguish colors. Next, Emperor Youning led several officials in a sand table exercise, recreating a past battle with the Turks, with the two sides marked by red and blue flags on the sand table.

As they discussed, all flags appeared black to Xiao Huayong’s eyes. Emperor Youning subtly observed Xiao Huayong’s reactions.

During the officials’ heated discussion, as they shared their views, several small flags were knocked over, landing right in front of Xiao Huayong.

Xiao Huayong picked them up, and Emperor Youning suddenly said: “Seven Brother, hand me the two red flags.”

Among the flags in Xiao Huayong’s hand, he couldn’t tell which were red. He handed them all to Emperor Youning.

Emperor Youning took two red ones and placed them back in their original positions.

At this point, Emperor Youning was convinced that Xiao Huayong truly couldn’t distinguish colors. After the officials had left, Xiao Huayong suddenly knelt: “Your Majesty, your son can no longer distinguish colors and is thus disabled. I am unworthy to be heir apparent. I beg Your Majesty to remove me from this position.”

“Seven Brother, are you upset that your father tested you?” Emperor Youning personally helped Xiao Huayong up.

“I wouldn’t dare…” Xiao Huayong coughed for a moment before continuing, “Thanks to Mother’s blessings, I unworthily serve as heir apparent, but I was weak since childhood and cannot live long. I burden Your Majesty… and now being unable to distinguish colors makes me even more unfit to be heir apparent.”

“I know you feel wronged. If not for you back then, it would be I whose life would be short now,” Emperor Youning said with emotion. “Regarding the polo incident, Wang Zheng insisted you framed him. I had to make him sincerely convinced, which led to today’s test.”

“You cannot distinguish colors – only you and I know this. Master Xu Qing won’t tell others, and it doesn’t affect your ability to recognize people or review memorials.”

“Since coming of age, you’ve worked tirelessly to assist me. The Three Departments and Six Ministries praise you endlessly. You are the most qualified heir apparent in my heart.”

“I am ashamed… *cough cough cough*… I dare not accept such praise from Your Majesty…” Xiao Huayong bowed his head, “I… don’t have many years left. I wish to marry early and spend my remaining days with my wife… I hope Your Majesty will grant this.”

He spoke with genuine feeling. Emperor Youning patted his shoulder: “Seven Brother, you’ve done nothing wrong. How could I depose you? Moreover, deposing a crown prince concerns the foundation of the state and cannot be done casually. Don’t be angry with your father. The Eastern Palace belongs to you forever, and can only belong to you.”

After Xiao Huayong’s plea to be removed as crown prince was rejected by Emperor Youning and he left Mingzheng Hall, Wang Zheng, who had been waiting respectfully, was summoned inside.

“Was Wang Family’s Second Son’s death suicide or murder?” Emperor Youning asked as soon as he saw Wang Zheng.