It was precisely a troubled time. Prince Jing’s instinct told him nothing good was coming. When he entered Yangxin Hall and saw Emperor Tai’an lying sickly against the bed, he felt even more uneasy.

Fourth Brother looked like he was about to die. Could it be he wanted to entrust his succession?

But he shouldn’t entrust it to him—he’d always kept such a low profile and never competed for anything.

Prince Jing’s heart panicked, but his face remained properly respectful as he performed his greeting. “Has Imperial Brother’s health improved?”

“Much better.” Emperor Tai’an’s face showed complete amiability. “Fifth Brother, sit and talk.”

Liu Chuan immediately moved a small stool next to Prince Jing.

Prince Jing carefully sat on the small stool, his heart even more anxious.

“Fifth Brother’s whole family came to the capital—it’s been ten years now, hasn’t it?”

Prince Jing laughed dryly. “It has been ten years.”

“Time really flies.” Emperor Tai’an’s face showed a sighing expression.

Prince Jing woodenly added, “Doesn’t it? Ten years passed just like that.”

This is bad, this is bad. Once one starts reminiscing about the past, things are serious.

Emperor Tai’an looked at Prince Jing with gentle eyes. “When we brothers were all together in our youth, I didn’t think much of it. I never expected that at this age, the one I’m most compatible with is Fifth Brother.”

Prince Jing couldn’t sit still anymore. He quickly rose to express thanks. “Imperial Brother’s kindness—this brother dare not accept such praise.”

“I speak from the heart.”

Prince Jing: “…” If I believe you, can you let me go?

Not only did Emperor Tai’an not let him go, he even reached out and grasped Prince Jing’s hand. In that instant, Prince Jing nearly couldn’t resist jumping up and running away.

“Fifth Brother and Shuo’er went north and achieved great merit. I’ve never properly rewarded you. I truly feel ashamed.”

Prince Jing hurriedly said, “Imperial Brother must never say such things. Sharing Imperial Brother’s burdens is our father and son’s duty.”

“Cough, cough.” Emperor Tai’an coughed twice, looking very weak. “Fifth Brother also knows that my illness has lingered without improvement. I haven’t held court for some time. Not only are government affairs piling up, but if this continues, I fear Northern Qi will start stirring restlessly again…”

“Yes, so Imperial Brother should rest well and recover quickly.”

“I’m old.” Emperor Tai’an sighed. “The position of heir apparent is also vacant. The reason Prince Ping developed treasonous thoughts and launched a palace coup stems from this. I think it’s better to settle the matter of adopting an heir as soon as possible.”

Prince Jing’s heart sank. “But there’s still the young prince. When the young prince comes of age, you won’t even be seventy yet. This brother thinks there’s no need to adopt from the imperial clan.”

Hearing Prince Jing mention the young prince, Emperor Tai’an’s expression darkened. Then hearing the consolation about “not even seventy,” his face grew even darker.

Prince Jing tactfully closed his mouth.

After an awkward silence, Emperor Tai’an spoke. “The young prince was born with a weak constitution. I don’t feel assured entrusting the realm and state to him. It’s better to select someone from the imperial clan whose age, health, character, and abilities are all suitable—that’s being responsible to our Qi family’s realm. What does Fifth Brother say?”

“Imperial Brother is right.”

Emperor Tai’an looked deeply at the uneasy Prince Jing. The words he’d been building up to finally came out. “I think Shuo’er is excellent. Let Shuo’er be this Great Zhou’s Crown Prince. Consider it a reward for his great achievements.”

“Imperial Brother, absolutely not!” Prince Jing directly threw himself from the small stool onto the ground.

Just look at the fates of the previous three crown princes! Was this a reward? This was clearly repaying kindness with enmity!

“What?” Emperor Tai’an’s tone turned cold.

Prince Jing raised his head, not retreating because of the Emperor’s displeased expression. “Shuo’er lacks grand ambitions, and his health isn’t great either. This brother thinks he’s unsuitable. Why don’t you reconsider?”

“I’ve set my mind on Shuo’er.” Emperor Tai’an said flatly.

Seeing that reasoning didn’t work, Prince Jing directly began wiping tears. “Imperial Brother, this brother only has this one eldest son!”

For someone of his age to cry just like that—Emperor Tai’an found it truly painful to watch. His eye twitching, he reminded, “There’s still Huan’er.”

Prince Jing paused, wiping his tears. “Huan’er is the younger son. Shuo’er is this brother’s legitimate eldest son!”

Hearing this, Emperor Tai’an grew even angrier.

He didn’t have a single decent son, yet Fifth Brother had two!

“Adopt Shuo’er to me, and Huan’er will become the legitimate eldest son.”

Prince Jing was shocked. “Imperial Brother, it can’t be calculated that way, can it?”

Emperor Tai’an’s face darkened. “I haven’t finished. Among so many imperial clansmen, selecting Shuo’er was done after the National Teacher’s calculations. Shuo’er has an imperial star fate. Oh, right, I recall there’s also a rumor that when Shuo’er was first born, there was a celestial omen—”

Prince Jing’s mouth fell slightly open, dumbstruck.

Emperor Tai’an asked meaningfully, “Fifth Brother, do you think selecting someone else would be appropriate?”

Prince Jing shuddered and hurriedly said, “Imperial Brother is wise. Shuo’er is still most suitable.”

If today’s conversation spread, if anyone other than Shuo’er became the heir apparent, Prince Jing’s estate would not fare well. What emperor would tolerate an imperial clansman with an imperial fate remaining lively and active?

“Cough, cough. I lack energy. With Shuo’er here in the future, I can rest easy.”

Prince Jing wanted to cry but had no tears.

Fourth Brother could rest easy, but what about him?

He had been about to enjoy a leisurely life playing with grandchildren, leaving the estate’s affairs to his steady and reliable eldest son. Now the eldest son had become someone else’s, and the younger son who only knew how to tease cats and play with dogs would inherit the family business. Just thinking about it made life seem dark.

Prince Jing rode his sedan chair back to Prince Jing’s estate. When he reached the main courtyard, he still looked like his soul had flown away.

“What’s wrong with the Prince? What did the Emperor want?” Seeing Prince Jing’s appearance, Princess Consort Jing couldn’t help feeling worried.

“Shuo’er became someone else’s…”

Princess Consort Jing didn’t immediately understand. “What nonsense is the Prince saying?”

Prince Jing shed two streams of hot tears. “The Emperor has decided on Shuo’er as his heir.”

Clang! The cup in Princess Consort Jing’s hand fell to the ground.

She raised her hand to support her forehead. After quite a while, she recovered. “Then… the estate can only be entrusted to Huan’er in the future?”

Prince Jing: “…” This old wife of mine, bringing up exactly the wrong topic!

The couple accepted the reality and called their children over.

“Father, why did you call us here at this time?” Qi Huan asked, puzzled.

The palace had just experienced upheaval. He could only stay cooped up at home—he hadn’t caused any trouble.

Prince Jing looked at Qi Shuo with a complex expression. “We called you here to announce something. The Emperor plans to adopt Shuo’er as his heir.”

“Eldest Brother?” Qi Huan and Qi Qiong looked at Qi Shuo in shock.

Lin Hao was also stunned.

If the Emperor adopted A’Shuo, wouldn’t A’Shuo become the Crown Prince?

Which meant in this lifetime’s eleventh year of Tai’an, when the Emperor recovered from illness, the one supervising the state would be Crown Prince… Qi Shuo.

This felt like a dream—an unimaginable dream.

Lin Hao quietly reached out and pinched Qi Shuo.

Qi Shuo had been relatively calm after hearing this shocking news, but this pinch made his face contort.

Prince Jing was immediately moved.

Look how distressed Shuo’er is!

He reached out to pat his eldest son’s shoulder and sighed. “Father knows you’re having trouble accepting this for now. Unfortunately, the Emperor’s command cannot be disobeyed…”

Qi Huan blinked and couldn’t help saying, “If I understand correctly, Eldest Brother is going to become Crown Prince, right? Isn’t this a wonderful thing?”

Why did the whole family have such strange expressions?