Emperor Tai’an observed Cheng Maoming’s expression and spoke indifferently: “Minister Cheng, you know what to say to the General’s Manor, don’t you?”

Cheng Maoming immediately clasped his hands: “This subject knows.”

“Good that you know.” The taut muscles of Emperor Tai’an’s face relaxed slightly, revealing a trace of a smile. “Then go attend to it and handle this case as quickly as possible.”

“This subject takes his leave.”

As soon as Cheng Maoming left, Emperor Tai’an’s expression immediately darkened. That trace of a smile that had hung at the corner of his mouth vanished like a passing breeze, leaving not half a trace behind.

In the brightly lit hall, he remained silent for a long time. That brightness couldn’t illuminate even slightly into his dark and heavy heart.

Liu Chuan didn’t dare disturb him, silently pouring a cup of tea at the proper temperature and placing it at Emperor Tai’an’s side.

After an unknown length of time, Emperor Tai’an finally spoke: “Summon the Crown Prince.”

Compared to the Emperor who controlled the Jinlin Guard, the Crown Prince’s information was far more delayed. Until now, he only knew that Zhao Helin had failed in his task, but didn’t know the man had already been sent off with a cup of poisoned wine.

Upon receiving the eunuch’s summons, the Crown Prince’s heart began to pound with anxiety.

His uncle had sent word that the Jinlin Guard had investigated all the way to the Xuanwu Battalion. Could Father Emperor have found out?

The Crown Prince went apprehensively to see Emperor Tai’an.

“Your son greets Father Emperor. I wonder what matter Father Emperor has summoned your son for?”

Emperor Tai’an looked at the Crown Prince with an indifferent expression, though his heart surged with turbulent waves.

This was his legitimate eldest son, the unquestioned heir all along, yet he hadn’t expected him to become increasingly outrageous as he grew older, to the point where he now felt shaken.

But if not the Crown Prince, then it would be the fourth son.

The image of Prince Wei’s round face flashed through Emperor Tai’an’s mind, making his mood even heavier.

Compared to discovering one’s heir lacked virtue and capability, this either-or choice left him even more helpless. This passivity was harder to bear than when he first ascended the throne amidst internal troubles and external threats.

“Yuan’er, do you know what Father Emperor cares about most?”

The Crown Prince was stunned.

He had thought Father Emperor summoned him to scold him. How did this sound like heart-to-heart talk instead?

After thinking it over, the Crown Prince replied: “Father Emperor cares most about Great Zhou’s stability and the people’s harmony and happiness.”

Emperor Tai’an smiled slightly: “As a nation’s ruler, that is indeed what I care about most. But as a father, what I care about most is that you and your fourth brother have deep brotherly affection and support each other.”

“Your son understands. Your son will look after Fourth Brother.”

“As long as you remember today’s words, you may go.”

“Your son takes his leave.” Though the Crown Prince was thoroughly confused, he felt considerably relieved.

He hadn’t expected to get through it so easily.

After the Crown Prince left, Emperor Tai’an maintained his posture holding the teacup without moving, his entire person appearing to have aged several years.

Liu Chuan felt uneasy and gently called out: “Your Majesty—”

Emperor Tai’an waved his hand: “Let me be quiet.”

He also wanted to angrily demand the Crown Prince’s purpose in doing this, to thoroughly scold this rebellious son. But before he had any intention of changing heirs, he couldn’t pierce through that paper window.

He had to leave the fourth son a way to survive.

Depose the Crown Prince and establish the fourth son?

Emperor Tai’an’s first reaction was to shake his head.

Because he had never considered the fourth son, and the fourth son had been obese since childhood, he had almost no expectations for this son. It was hard to believe the fourth son had the ability to manage the realm well. Beyond this, the fourth son’s birth mother came from humble origins, which was also something he disliked.

Emperor Tai’an rubbed his aching temples, suddenly thinking of the late Emperor.

If Father Emperor had fathered fewer sons, he wouldn’t have to keep so many brothers confined in the capital and still have to guard against them with care. And despite clearly having so many sons, instead of choosing the best to establish, he passed the throne to his weak and incompetent eldest son.

If only he had many sons— Emperor Tai’an sighed regretfully.

In the end, he was dissatisfied with this heir.

Very dissatisfied!

But what could dissatisfaction accomplish? There were only these two crooked melons and split dates for sons—

Emperor Tai’an controlled himself from thinking this way and instructed Liu Chuan: “Summon Prince Wei to the palace.”

News of Zhao Helin’s death would spread quickly. When the time came, they’d push the case onto Zhao Helin and close it. He had to console the fourth son properly.

Before long, Prince Wei arrived.

“Your son greets Father Emperor.”

Emperor Tai’an looked carefully at his son bowing in salutation.

The fourth son truly grew thinner by the day—it actually made him appear refined and handsome.

Emperor Tai’an’s prolonged silence puzzled Prince Wei considerably.

Summoning him at this time—wasn’t it about Miss Lin being abducted? Why did Father Emperor keep staring at him?

“The mastermind behind Miss Lin’s abduction has been discovered.”

“Who is it?” Prince Wei immediately asked.

“Jinlin Guard Assistant Regional Commander Zhao Helin.”

Prince Wei was stunned: “Why did he do this?”

He had barely any dealings with this Assistant Commander Zhao.

Emperor Tai’an’s expression was complex: “According to his confession, he harbored dissatisfaction about your selection of a consort.”

“Huh?” Prince Wei thought he’d heard wrong.

Dissatisfaction about his selection of a consort—what kind of nonsense was that?

“Father Emperor, isn’t this reason too absurd? What could he be dissatisfied about? Was he upset your son didn’t choose him?”

The corner of Emperor Tai’an’s mouth twitched.

As he’d said—the Crown Prince was a scoundrel, and the fourth son was unreliable too.

“His daughter also attended that chrysanthemum viewing banquet, and after returning home couldn’t stop thinking about you…”

Prince Wei pointed at himself, his mouth gaping wide: “Couldn’t stop thinking about… me?”

Wasn’t this mocking him!

“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” Prince Wei shook his head repeatedly.

He remembered the circumstances of that day crystal clear. Setting aside those noble ladies who couldn’t conceal their disdain, even those noble ladies who smiled at him for the sake of the Princess Consort position—he could tell at a glance it was fake. Otherwise he wouldn’t have chosen Miss Lin.

If there was a noble lady who was smitten with him, he’d eat his own eyeballs.

“This is the result of the Jinlin Guard’s careful investigation. How could it be impossible?”

“Father Emperor, your son was still fat during the chrysanthemum viewing banquet. Was his daughter perhaps blind?”

Prince Wei spoke casually, but Emperor Tai’an suddenly felt somewhat pained.

This was his son, and just because he’d been obese since childhood, he thought so little of himself.

And hadn’t he himself neglected the fourth son greatly? Even now, he was still deceiving him to cover up for the Crown Prince.

Carrying this guilt, Emperor Tai’an straightened his expression: “How can you say such things? You have your strengths. What’s strange about someone being infatuated with you? Do all the women under heaven only look at appearances?”

Prince Wei’s mouth twitched.

He didn’t believe it at all!

However, this was his imperial father—even if he didn’t believe it, he could only listen.

“Even if that’s so, would Zhao Helin abduct Miss Lin over it? Even if he successfully abducted Miss Lin, your son still wouldn’t have chosen his daughter.”

“Not necessarily. What did you say when you initially chose Miss Lin? You said she looked at you as an ordinary person. You were willing to choose her even for that. If Miss Zhao had come forward saying she was smitten with you, could you have remained unmoved?” Emperor Tai’an grew more certain as he spoke. “For the Zhao family, this was at least one additional opportunity.”

“That’s not necessarily true—your son has lost weight now.”

Recently when he walked around the Prince’s Manor, the maidservants looked at him with different eyes.

“So it was even more worth gambling on.”

Prince Wei completely shut his mouth.

Emperor Tai’an offered considerable consolation and sent many treasures to Prince Wei’s Manor, then turned to instruct Liu Chuan: “That Wang Gui at the Crown Prince’s side—quietly dispose of him.”