Just the next day.

Jing Yi never imagined that it was precisely because of Jing Xian’s scheme that he would gradually be pushed onto a path of no return.

A bloody storm was also approaching the capital.

In the early morning, the Office of Transmission delivered dozens of memorials to the Emperor, nearly all of them discussing the selection of the new Crown Prince.

Memorial after memorial recommended Jing Yi as Crown Prince.

Now, Jing Yi’s power was like a tornado, growing larger and larger. To put it kindly, it was called “supported by the officials,” but to put it bluntly, it was called “officials causing chaos.”

Emperor Qizhen was still alive!

The Crown Prince had been dead for less than half a year, and these court officials were already pressuring him to establish a new heir. Did they even have any regard for him as Emperor anymore?

Anger rose in his heart.

He swept all the memorials on the table to the floor.

Zhang Quan didn’t dare to pick them up.

Thud!

A fist slammed heavily onto the hard table.

“Crown Prince, Crown Prince—they all talk to me about the Crown Prince. How did I end up raising these pack of dogs!”

“Your Majesty, please calm down.”

“Every single official in court is pressuring me to establish Jing Yi as Crown Prince.”

“Thud!”

Another fist slammed down hard.

Right now, he was like a tyrant.

Zhang Quan opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a single word.

Emperor Qizhen said, “First the marriage, then the position of Crown Prince. My empire will be his sooner or later—can’t he wait until I’m dead?”

After speaking, he began coughing.

Almost coughing up blood.

Seeing this, Zhang Quan immediately poured a cup of tea and placed it by his hand. “Your Majesty, please take care of your health.”

“That beast!”

Emperor Qizhen waved his hand!

The cup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

At this moment, a eunuch entered, holding an imperial edict in his hands.

“Your Majesty, this is the imperial edict to be sent to Prince Rong at the Imperial Bureau. It awaits Your Majesty’s seal.”

Emperor Qizhen’s eyes suddenly fixed. “Bring it here.”

The eunuch presented it to him.

The imperial edict was spread open on the desk, containing what he had verbally decreed at court yesterday.

But—

He hesitated to affix his seal. Instead, he crumpled the imperial edict in his hand, creating wrinkles.

Zhang Quan beside him sensed something and bowed, saying, “Your Majesty, you wouldn’t be thinking of…”

Ah!

Emperor Qizhen narrowed his eyes and uttered, “The realm is not yet settled. No one can force me.”

The imperial edict in his hand was torn to shreds and tossed aside.

Zhang Quan understood his meaning and immediately brought new paper, spread it flat on the desk, ground ink, and offered a brush.

Emperor Qizhen rewrote an imperial edict and finally stamped it with the imperial seal.

Finally, he placed the edict into a yellow bamboo tube and handed it to the eunuch. “Deliver this to the Imperial Bureau immediately. Do not delay, and do not reveal to anyone that the edict has been altered.”

“Yes!”

The eunuch took the sealed imperial edict and left the hall.

As for what was actually written in the edict sent to Jing Rong, only Emperor Qizhen and Zhang Quan knew.

Soon, Prince Yi’s manor received news that officials had submitted memorials proposing him as Crown Prince!

Rather than being happy about this, he was extremely shocked.

On the surface, this seemed advantageous to him, but in reality, it was identical to when the Ministry of Personnel submitted a memorial about Jing Rong. Not only would it bring him no benefit, but it would place him in dire straits, making the already suspicious and jealous Emperor Qizhen think he was overstepping his authority.

Overstepping authority—what a grave charge!

When all was said and done, he was currently just a prince. What did it matter how many people supported him? What he faced was the Emperor—an old schemer who had sat on the throne for twenty years. Whether in shrewdness or calculation, the Emperor was far stronger than him.

Moreover, that was still his father.

What he didn’t understand was—

“Why did the officials submit memorials so suddenly?”

Yes, why so suddenly?

Yesterday, His Majesty had just ordered Jing Rong to remain at the Imperial Bureau to continue investigating the case, and today the officials started submitting memorials, asking His Majesty to establish him as Crown Prince. Wasn’t this too coincidental?

He summoned Dou Quan and asked, “Who initiated this matter?”

Dou Quan shook his head. “It’s unclear. Perhaps those officials believe Prince Rong has no chance of returning to the capital, so they’ve decided to support Your Highness as Crown Prince.”

“I’m afraid it’s not that simple.”

“Why does Your Highness have such concerns?”

“It’s not concern—it’s worry. Father Emperor is suspicious by nature. For officials to submit memorials at this time is extremely unfavorable to my situation.”

“Then what should we do now?” Dou Quan asked.

Jing Yi seemed to think of something, his eyes widening as he asked, “The edict Father Emperor ordered sent to the Imperial Bureau for Jing Rong—has it already left the capital?”

“It just left the capital.”

“Immediately send someone to examine that edict. I need to know what it actually says.”

Dou Quan didn’t quite understand. “Shouldn’t the edict contain exactly what His Majesty decreed verbally at court? Could it be that Your Highness is worried…”

Jing Yi’s eyes narrowed ominously as he nodded.

Dou Quan suddenly understood and immediately went to handle it!

Jing Yi clenched his fist and placed it on his knee, his heart burning like fire.

“Father Emperor, I truly hope… you won’t treat your son this way.”

…

The imperial edict was being delivered by a courier official. The man rode his horse forward, not daring to delay. After traveling for half a day, he was truly exhausted and stopped to rest briefly at a tea stall in the woods.

“What would the customer like?”

“Give me a pot of tea.”

“Coming right up.”

The server brought him a pot of tea. After drinking a large bowl, he felt dizzy and disoriented. He shook his head hard, his brain feeling as if it were being struck by a hammer.

It buzzed for a long time.

With a “thud,” his head fell heavily onto the table.

He had fainted!

Dou Quan emerged from hiding and took the imperial edict from the courier’s person.

He opened it!

Upon seeing its contents, he was greatly shocked.

His palm tightened.

He returned the edict to its place, leaped up, and disappeared into the woods.

The server quickly pulled out something and waved it under the courier’s nose. Smelling that scent, the man immediately woke up.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he pulled out his sword and thrust it at the server, demanding, “Who are you?”

“Customer… please don’t act rashly! This humble one has done nothing!”

“You put something in the tea. Tell me—who sent you?”

The server immediately knelt on the ground, hands raised high, saying with a tearful expression, “This is a grave injustice, customer! This humble one just brought you a pot of tea. You only drank one sip before collapsing. I called to you several times before you woke. This humble one truly did nothing!”

The courier was skeptical.

He sheathed his sword and checked the imperial edict on his person. Fortunately, it was still there.

If the edict had been lost, his life would be forfeit.

Looking at the server, he didn’t seem to be lying.

He thought perhaps he really was just too tired.

“Fine, get up.”

With that, he pulled out money for a cup of tea, tossed it on the table, and quickly mounted his horse and left with his cargo.

This person was, after all, just a courier official with limited vigilance. How could he know he had just been played?

Behind him, the server rose and let out a cold laugh in the direction of the courier.

He picked up the few copper coins from the table and tucked them into his waist.