Noble Consort Xiao received the news and hurried over.

“Your Majesty, are you all right?”

Emperor Yong’an appeared much calmer. He glanced at Noble Consort Xiao’s slightly protruding abdomen and frowned. “Beloved consort, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Noble Consort Xiao’s shock had barely settled, her heart still racing. “How could such a thing happen? When I heard, I was nearly frightened to death.”

Everything she had was bestowed by His Majesty, and now that she was with child, she dared not even imagine the consequences if something happened to His Majesty…

Emperor Yong’an reached out and pulled Noble Consort Xiao to sit beside him, consoling her. “I truly am fine. Beloved consort, you are with child—don’t worry about such matters.”

Noble Consort Xiao’s worried expression didn’t diminish. “To dare attempt assassination before the throne—where did those entertainers find such audacity—”

Emperor Yong’an patted the back of Noble Consort Xiao’s hand. “I will have people thoroughly investigate. If beloved consort takes good care of herself, that will be my greatest comfort.”

“I understand.” Noble Consort Xiao stroked her abdomen and revealed a smile. “Your Majesty, the child kicked me today.”

“Is that so?” Emperor Yong’an’s face showed delight. He placed his hand on Noble Consort Xiao’s abdomen, but his thoughts drifted far away.

Since the Noble Consort announced her pregnancy, he had spent more time in the rear palace, yet the other consorts still showed no signs.

Perhaps it was time to fill the rear palace…

“Your Majesty?”

Emperor Yong’an collected his thoughts and smiled. “What is it, beloved consort?”

“Now that Your Majesty is safe, I’m relieved. I’m feeling a bit tired and wish to return to my quarters.”

“Beloved consort, go rest.”

After Noble Consort Xiao left, Emperor Yong’an’s face returned to calm. “Zhou Shan, what of those princes’ sons?”

Zhou Shan quickly reported on the princes’ sons’ behavior. “Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Dingdong’s eldest son dove under the table, Prince Jingbei’s eldest son raised his food table defensively, Prince Pingxi’s eldest son rose and fled…”

Emperor Yong’an listened quietly, then suddenly asked, “What of Prince Zhennan?”

Zhou Shan froze, then quickly said, “Prince Zhennan seemed to have been frightened to tears.”

“Frightened to tears?” Emperor Yong’an’s eyes flickered, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Shan kept his head lowered. “Prince Zhennan is young and grew up among commoners, having seen few such scenes…”

Emperor Yong’an nodded slightly. “Children indeed can’t withstand such frights. Send some gifts to Prince Zhennan later to help calm his nerves.”

That child’s performance showed he had been overly suspicious. It was just that the title “Prince Zhennan” itself was an existence that made him wary.

Fortunately, he was merely a child raised among commoners, possessing nothing but a guard, unable to stir up any waves.

Emperor Yong’an smiled and began instructing Zhou Shan on other matters.

That His Majesty still showed concern for Prince Zhennan after the assassination attempt made the officials and nobles, while still anxious, quietly adjust their attitudes toward Prince Zhennan.

Regardless of the reality, since His Majesty gave face to the young Prince Zhennan, they too had to maintain appearances.

An assassination attempt on His Majesty was no small matter. This caused suffering for the princes’ sons—these young princes who had been living comfortably in various regions could not return.

Though the capital was prosperous and dazzling with its myriad attractions, and several of the princes’ sons seemed quite content to linger there, the news reaching their princely manors was like a thunderbolt from clear skies.

Those granted the title of eldest son were all the legitimate firstborn sons of the princes, the future heirs of their manors. Now detained in the capital, it was like having their throats gripped—how could it not inspire dread?

Prince Dingdong’s Manor.

Unlike his brothers who became frantic upon receiving the news, Prince Dingdong slammed his fist on the table, his eyes sinister. “I knew having the princes’ sons lead delegations to the capital for the Longevity Festival would cause trouble.”

When things turned abnormal, there must be something wrong. Given that treacherous second brother’s vicious nature, this throne room assassination was likely staged by himself to legitimately detain the princes’ sons.

How long it would take to uncover the mastermind behind the assassination depended entirely on the second brother’s will—he could keep the princes’ sons as long as he wished.

This intolerant creature clearly wanted to make the princely manors wary of acting rashly, to live with their tails between their legs from now on.

Thinking of the tragic fate of Prince Zhennan’s manor back then, then thinking of Prince Pingnan’s manor’s current misery, combined with the princes’ sons detained in the capital, Prince Dingdong’s wavering heart became firm in this moment.

Noble Consort Xiao was pregnant. If she bore a prince, he would surely be established as Crown Prince. With the Crown Prince young, sooner or later the second brother would move against them, these princes entrenched in various regions, to pave the way for his son.

If Noble Consort Xiao bore a daughter, with Prince Pingnan’s manor as precedent, the second brother would be even more unwilling to select an heir from among the princely manors and would wait for some consort to bear a prince. If this time dragged on too long, ministers would inevitably raise the matter of adoption again for the sake of the realm’s stability.

To resolve this hidden danger, the second brother would still move against the princely manors.

Thinking it over, they would face the blade sooner or later. The fates of Prince Zhennan’s manor and Prince Pingnan’s manor were warnings of what was to come.

What else could be done? Rebel!

After making this decision, Prince Dingdong considered the possibility of joining with other manors, but after thinking for several days, he dismissed the idea.

Not every manor could accept the loss of their legitimate eldest son. If even one was unwilling to cooperate or prepared to inform on them, it would be disastrous.

Prince Dingdong stood and walked into the courtyard, gazing in the direction of the capital.

Naturally, he too was reluctant to sacrifice his legitimate eldest son, which was why he had sent his second son from the beginning.

The second son was born of a concubine, only one year younger than the legitimate eldest son. The two brothers already bore some resemblance, and since they were far from the capital and had never been there, the substitution wasn’t difficult.

An incompetent illegitimate son—some sacrifice for the great imperial enterprise was unavoidable.

Prince Dingdong rebelled.

Because it was so sudden, Prince Dingdong’s army, though not numerous, was like a sharp blade that occupied several cities with devastating force, cut off river routes, and quickly expanded their ranks.

When the urgent report reached the capital, Emperor Yong’an flew into a rage.

Prince Dingdong’s eldest son was still in his hands, yet Prince Dingdong dared to rebel!

“Bring Prince Dingdong’s eldest son here!”

Soon, the Prince Dingdong’s eldest son who had hidden under the table when Emperor Yong’an was attacked was brought before Emperor Yong’an.

Looking at Prince Dingdong’s eldest son kneeling on the golden bricks and trembling, Emperor Yong’an asked coldly, “Do you know why I summoned you?”

Prince Dingdong’s eldest son dared not raise his head, saying with a tearful voice, “Nephew, nephew doesn’t know…”

Could it be that the investigation into the throne room assassination had traced back to him?

He knew nothing! If it really traced back to him, someone must be framing him!

Emperor Yong’an stared at the young man, saying word by word, “Your father has rebelled.”

“What?” Prince Dingdong’s eldest son suddenly raised his head, his face ashen.

Emperor Yong’an gritted his teeth. “Someone, take Prince Dingdong’s eldest son away and execute him by death of a thousand cuts.”

As two inner attendants came forward to seize Prince Dingdong’s eldest son by the arms, he screamed, “Imperial Uncle, spare my life! Imperial Uncle, spare my life! Nephew is not the eldest son—”

Emperor Yong’an signaled the attendants to stop and asked coldly, “Speak clearly.”

After hearing the already paralyzed fake eldest son’s account, Emperor Yong’an waved his hand. “Take him away. Death of a thousand cuts!”

The fake eldest son was quickly dragged away, leaving only the echo of desperate wails reverberating in the hall.

Emperor Yong’an grew angrier the more he thought about it. With an iron-blue face, he instructed Zhou Shan, “Summon Prince Kaiyang to the palace for an audience.”

Wei Han received the summons, changed into crimson robes, and followed the attendant into the palace.