The reason there had been no word about the autumn hunt was naturally because Noble Consort Xiao was with child.

At such a critical time, Emperor Yong’an neither felt comfortable leaving Noble Consort Xiao alone in the capital, nor did he feel at ease having her undertake a long journey.

The best choice was naturally to cancel the autumn hunt—no one would go.

Of course, they could not reveal Noble Consort Xiao’s pregnancy to the public. Instead, a random excuse was given: this year’s flooding had been severe, and the Emperor, worried about the country and its people, was in low spirits and thus cancelled such activities as the autumn hunt.

As for whether the court officials and nobles believed this, Emperor Yong’an did not care.

For people like Minister Zhao, canceling the autumn hunt was cause for celebration.

Miss Luo would not need to go to the autumn hunt, which meant the tavern would not have to close!

Yes, even if the tavern was open every day, they could not possibly go every day—their purses would not allow it. But when they particularly wanted to go and found the doors closed, that feeling was truly unbearable.

Wei Han, however, detected something unusual in Emperor Yong’an’s decision to cancel the autumn hunt and quietly mobilized his connections to investigate.

On this day, when the sunlight was just right, Shi Huo walked quickly to Wei Han and reported in a low voice, “Master, I have discovered it.”

Wei Han quietly waited for what would follow.

“Noble Consort Xiao… is with child.”

Wei Han’s eyebrows moved slightly, though his expression remained calm: “When did this happen?”

“It was discovered a month ago.”

Wei Han remained silent for a moment, then set down his teacup and stood up.

With Noble Consort Xiao pregnant, the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

In the Imperial Study, Emperor Yong’an appeared to be reviewing memorials, but in reality his mind had long wandered elsewhere.

The thought that Noble Consort Xiao was pregnant and that he would likely have a biological son in the near future made this emperor who had reached the age of knowing heaven’s mandate feel like withered wood meeting spring—his heart was renewed with radiance.

Yet this joy could not be revealed for the time being.

The Crown Prince remained a hidden danger.

In this moment, Emperor Yong’an regretted his decision from eight years ago.

To say it had been a wrong decision would not be quite accurate.

With such a vast empire still lacking an heir apparent, the ministers had been anxious and unsettled, foreign nations had grown restless, and after exhausting all efforts he had been forced to despairingly admit he could father no more children.

Who could have anticipated that eight years later, Noble Consort would be with child!

Looking through history, there had been other emperors in similar circumstances—childless, they adopted nephews as sons, but when biological sons were later born, the nephews were returned.

What others could do, he naturally could do as well.

Emperor Yong’an secretly made up his mind: if Noble Consort bore a prince, he would find some pretext to depose the Crown Prince and return his nephew to Prince Pingnan’s manor.

For now, he would endure.

“Your Majesty, Prince Kaiyang requests an audience.” Zhou Shan approached, interrupting Emperor Yong’an’s reverie.

“Admit him.”

Before long, a young man in crimson robes walked in.

“Your subject-brother pays respects to Imperial Elder Brother.”

Looking at the young man bowing in salutation, Emperor Yong’an smiled: “Does Eleventh Brother have business entering the palace at this time?”

Wei Han lowered his eyes and said, “The case of the assassination attempt on the Magistrate of Liuqing outside Lande Guild Hall has made new progress. This is a ledger your subject-brother just obtained from those assassins…”

After Wei Han finished explaining the situation, Emperor Yong’an impassively instructed Zhou Shan, “Present it.”

Zhou Shan walked before Wei Han, received the ledger, and presented it to Emperor Yong’an.

Emperor Yong’an opened the ledger. His gaze suddenly stopped upon reaching a certain line of small characters. After finishing the ledger, he forcefully threw it onto the desk.

“That scoundrel!”

“Imperial Elder Brother, please calm your anger.” Wei Han offered a word of counsel.

Emperor Yong’an’s face was livid, appearing quite enraged: “The Crown Prince has truly disappointed me!”

In reality, however, Emperor Yong’an felt little disappointment. Rather, he saw an opportunity.

He had originally planned to wait until Noble Consort gave birth to a prince before deposing the Crown Prince, but doing so would inevitably invite criticism. Even if the civil and military officials dared not speak out, history would record it unfavorably.

Now was different.

The Crown Prince had directed officials to frame important court ministers and was entangled with assassin organizations—such moral failings gave him sufficient reason to depose the Crown Prince.

Once the Crown Prince was deposed and news of Noble Consort’s pregnancy was released, which minister would be so blind as to cause trouble over establishing an heir at such a time?

“Summon the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers to the Imperial Study for discussion!”

Wei Han lowered his eyes and listened, not moving even an eyebrow from beginning to end.

The important court ministers, receiving the summons, hurried to the Imperial Study with confused and apprehensive hearts.

Why had they suddenly been called to the palace on such a hot day? Had flooding broken out somewhere again?

“Your Majesty, the officials have arrived.”

Emperor Yong’an opened his eyes and said coldly, “Admit them.”

The doors of the Imperial Study opened. After the ministers walked in, they closed gently again.

This closing lasted until the stars filled the sky without reopening.

The next day at morning court, everything appeared as ordinary as any other court session. The only unusual thing was that those important ministers all sported dark circles under their eyes, as if they had not slept all night.

This made some astute individuals sense something amiss.

Even so, when the edict deposing the Crown Prince was issued, all the uninformed officials were thunderstruck, unable to recover their wits for a long time.

Depose the Crown Prince?

So sudden—was His Majesty trying to frighten these old fellows to death so the newly-appointed scholars could take their places?

After hearing the reasons for deposing the Crown Prince, the assembled ministers looked silently toward those important ministers, realizing one thing: these old foxes had known all along!

For such a momentous matter as deposing and establishing heirs, if the court’s important ministers said nothing, what room was there for others to speak? One must know that saying the wrong thing now could cost one’s head later.

The assembled ministers sensibly accepted this earth-shattering news.

For Wei Qiang, however, it was an earth-shattering blow.

“Imperial Father, your son is wronged!”

Emperor Yong’an looked at Wei Qiang kneeling below and said indifferently, “My knees are bare. In consideration of your companionship these years, the crimes you committed will not be separately punished. Henceforth, you should return to Prince Pingnan’s manor and properly serve your parents.”

“Imperial Father—”

Emperor Yong’an’s tone grew colder: “Henceforth, remember to address me as Imperial Uncle.”

Wei Qiang collapsed to the floor, looking blankly toward those ministers.

He had never imagined why heaven and earth had changed in just one night, without even a whisper of warning.

The assembled ministers silently avoided the deposed Crown Prince’s gaze.

Among these ministers were naturally some close to Wei Qiang. After all, His Majesty was old—pledging loyalty to the Crown Prince would make it easier to secure one’s position in the future.

Moreover, there was a whole class of Eastern Palace officials whose honor and future prospects were all tied to the Crown Prince.

But these ministers who had known in advance had been detained by His Majesty for discussion all night and had only just been released at morning court!

Emperor Yong’an, seated upon the dragon throne, took in the ministers’ reactions completely and raised the corners of his lips slightly.

When one should act decisively but hesitates, disorder follows. Wei Qiang’s wings were gradually growing. If the matter of deposing the heir had been brought to court for endless discussion, it might well have discussed its way into catastrophe.

This was better. First send Wei Qiang back to Prince Pingnan’s manor. If he still would not behave himself, dealing with Prince Pingnan’s manor would be much easier than deposing a Crown Prince.

In this moment, Emperor Yong’an could not help but feel secretly pleased with himself for having spared the youngest son of Prince Zhennan.

As long as Prince Zhennan’s youngest son lived, he would be the best pretext for dealing with Prince Pingnan’s manor.

“Take him away.” Emperor Yong’an waved his hand expressionlessly.

Wei Qiang’s face was ashen as he was pushed out.

As court was dismissed, the edict deposing the Crown Prince was transmitted to Prince Pingnan’s manor.