Everyone in court dreaded witchcraft and sorcery, especially within the Imperial Family.

When this matter came to light, all the court officials were scared silent as cicadas in winter. Those officials who had accepted bribes from the Ye family and agreed to speak up for Xiao Changtai, requesting to restore his prince title and grant him a grand burial, were almost cursing out loud – such a major incident, yet they weren’t informed before accepting the bribes!

In court, Emperor Youning sat on the dragon throne, holding a needle-pierced doll dressed in imperial robes. Behind it was Xiao Changtai’s handwriting, clearly showing the Emperor’s birth date and time. His face was terrifyingly dark.

An emperor’s birth date and time were strictly taboo and known to very few. While the Imperial Astronomers certainly knew, only the Chief and Deputy Astronomers had this knowledge. In other words, including the Empress Dowager, fewer than five people in the entire world knew the Emperor’s exact birth time.

Now it had been leaked and used for witchcraft. Even though the Emperor was healthy, this was enough to incite imperial fury that could lead to countless deaths!

Ye Qi wanted to plead for his son-in-law, but the implications were too severe. If he spoke up now and failed to clear the charges, the entire Ye clan would face destruction.

According to current dynasty law: Family members – parents, wives, concubines, children, and grandchildren – who lived with someone involved in witchcraft would not be punished if they were unaware of the sorcery.

Those who didn’t know were innocent, but once someone spoke up, claiming ignorance afterward would be unbelievable.

In the court hall, everyone was silent as cicadas, heads bowed, not daring to make a sound.

Emperor Youning wanted them to hear clearly that the writing on the voodoo doll showed the Emperor’s birth time, but naturally wouldn’t pass it around for others to see. As soon as he received the doll, he had Liu Sanzhi investigate the Chief and Deputy Astronomers. One Deputy Astronomer was thrown onto the court floor by guards.

“To whom did you leak Our birth time?” Emperor Youning’s voice was ice-cold.

The Deputy’s eyes were filled with tears. He sobbed incoherently, full of grievances but not daring to speak more. In his mind were only the Twelfth Prince’s words from two days ago: “One death destroys an entire clan – Deputy, think carefully.”

He looked around tearfully, glancing past where the princes stood, choking with sobs, but not daring to linger.

Xiao Changgeng lowered his gaze – why look at him? He was merely following orders.

His eyes went blank, feeling that in this life he might never escape his elder brother’s control.

The Deputy Astronomer kowtowed deeply: “This criminal subject wrongly indulged in drink and shared wine with the Fourth Prince, who tricked the information from me.”

“Execute.” Emperor Youning spoke just this one word.

No need for imprisonment or autumn trials – immediate execution outside the palace gates.

With both witness and evidence complete, Emperor Youning coldly looked around: “Fourth Imperial Son has been unfilial as a son, disloyal as a subject, and improper as a person. Such an unfilial, disloyal, and improper person is unworthy to be part of the imperial family. Strip his clan status and name.”

Hearing this, Ye Qi closed his eyes deeply. He knew Xiao Changtai wasn’t dead – Xiao Changtai hadn’t hidden many major matters from him.

But what use was being alive now? With his clan status stripped and accused of witchcraft, appearing alive would only mean death.

They had lost. In this game of chess, Xiao Changtai was completely out, never again to compete for the throne.

With this witchcraft crime, His Majesty would surely resent the Ye family. Though nothing would happen immediately, within three years, His Majesty would surely seize every opportunity to quietly force the Ye family out of the capital, leaving them without standing.

Xiao Changgeng also closed his eyes. His Crown Prince brother could handle even such matters flawlessly – from the imperial tomb to the Astronomers’ Office, from physical evidence to witnesses, without a single flaw. This was the fate of those who opposed him!

The deaths of Chang Ling and Fourth Brother were terrifying. He could only be grateful that before he showed his claws, he was already being used by his brother – perhaps this was his blessing.

He deeply believed that in this world, including His Majesty, no one could match his Crown Prince brother.

The world would eventually be in his grasp. Could this be counted as merit in following the future dragon?

“Elder Brother, Fourth Brother… did he practice witchcraft?” Back at Prince Xin’s manor, Xiao Changying couldn’t help asking.

“Fourth Brother isn’t dead at all. He was forced by the Crown Prince to fake his death, thinking he could escape like a cicada shedding its shell without evidence. Later, he planned to find someone who died in a fire and claim it wasn’t him, then openly return as a prince to compete with the Crown Prince,” Xiao Changqin shook his head slightly, sighing, “Brother, we should be grateful we withdrew in time…”

The Crown Prince’s methods were truly chilling.

In all his years, Xiao Changqin had never feared someone like this. Just thinking about how Xiao Huayong could arrange such a watertight witchcraft case – this would be a deadly trap for anyone.

He even knew His Majesty’s birth time!

They considered themselves well-informed with people everywhere, but discovering His Majesty’s birth time was unthinkable.

“His Highness the Crown Prince…” Fear also appeared in Xiao Changying’s eyes.

“The Crown Prince has his intelligence network. He knows too many people’s secrets and holds too many people’s weaknesses,” Xiao Changqin finally understood this point completely. Xiao Huayong had held his weakness twice before.

The first time, he thought it was because he had just acted and hadn’t cleaned up loose ends, allowing the Crown Prince to discover it.

The second time, he suspected the Crown Prince had sent someone skilled to watch him, tracking him and evading his hidden guards to discover Gu Qingzhu’s whereabouts.

Seeing the Deputy Astronomer willingly die for him now, Xiao Changqin understood clearly that the Crown Prince held the weaknesses of all court officials. He was very curious how the Crown Prince had grown to be so fearsome over these twelve years.

A perfect witchcraft case without any gaps, feared by all.

When Xiao Changtai heard the news, he immediately coughed up blood and fainted.

Xiao Huayong’s move not only cut off his escape route but also scattered all his forces. Why did these people follow him? Wasn’t it for future glory and wealth?

Now that his clan status was stripped and he had completely lost the ability to compete, how could these people still follow him to death?

All his hard work and endurance of humiliation were shattered by Xiao Huayong in an instant.

Wrong, all wrong. He should have let Xiao Huayong discover his fake death rather than provoking him through Mu Nuha.

He had thought his strength wasn’t weak and could compete with Xiao Huayong, only now realizing his overconfidence, paying such a heavy price.

No one knew Xiao Changtai’s regrets.

After hearing about the court events, Shen Xihe fell into thought as she watched Xiao Huayong act as if nothing had happened when he came to see her.

“Why is Youyou looking at me like this?” Having dealt with someone, Xiao Huayong was very pleased.

“I’m reflecting,” Shen Xihe said sincerely. “I still underestimated Your Highness.”

“It’s all Fourth Brother’s fault for forcing me to get serious. I’ve scared Youyou,” Xiao Huayong gently consoled.

Shen Xihe: …

So you weren’t being serious before?