Emperor Zhou withdrew his gaze and then looked at Huangfu Xuan and Ma Ruyi.
Huangfu Xuan's gaze was sharp as he met the Zhou Emperor's eyes.
Looking at the coldness in his eyes, Emperor Zhou felt a slight sense of unease.
Have I been too lenient with this son? To the point that he no longer respects his father, the emperor?
Emperor Zhou began, "I'm sure everyone already knows the gist of what happened at midnight last night!"
Upon hearing Emperor Zhou's words, everyone stopped and looked towards him, not daring to move or speak.
"Today, at this very moment, at noon, execute 358 members of the Yao family! Empress Yao has already been executed for treason! And it has just been discovered that General Yao has colluded with outsiders, committing treason! His crimes are unforgivable!" Emperor Zhou waved his hand, "Summon them."
"Yes." The eunuch stepped forward and opened the imperial edict. "...Empress Yao Ningfeng is deposed, and the Second Prince Ting is demoted to a commoner and banished from the capital!...The entire Yao family, including nine generations, is exterminated! This is hereby proclaimed to the world, by imperial decree!"
Apart from Nan Xuzong and the other three who were present at the time, everyone in the hall was astonished!
"Today, I also wish to establish a crown prince!" Emperor Zhou said, waving the eunuch away.
Those around him listened, and they all left their seats and knelt on the ground.
Consort Ning also knelt on the ground to listen to Emperor Zhou speak.
Emperor Zhou looked at everyone and strode forward.
"After last night's events, I understand that I am truly old and need a crown prince capable of shouldering the great responsibilities of the world!" Emperor Zhou walked on the red carpet in the main hall. "Today, I have thought about many things, about my sons, my hopes, and my empire!"
"Perhaps I haven't done well enough in this life, but I hope that someone can carry on my great cause!" Emperor Zhou walked up to Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang.
Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang were kneeling together, with his hand still holding Ji Wushang's hand.
“Huangfu Zong,” Emperor Zhou said at this moment.
Nan Xuzong felt a sudden headache coming on. Was he being asked to become the crown prince? No, he didn't want to! All he wanted was to end everything here as soon as possible and then take Ji Wushang and fly away!
Huangfu Xuan is more suitable to be the crown prince than I am! He has such ambition and aspirations! He also promised me that he would not harm the people!
Ji Wushang was also startled. Was he still going to take that step? His future was immeasurable... He had the ability to do it, to pacify the world, but his heart... Ji Wushang looked up slightly at Nan Xuzong, who was hesitating.
"Huangfu Zong," Emperor Zhou called out a second time.
Nan Xuzong glanced at Huangfu Xuan out of the corner of his eye. Huangfu Xuan's face showed a hint of anger, but he was trying his best to suppress it.
Is he really that irritable and impatient?
Nan Xuzong closed his eyes. "Your subject is here."
"Zong'er! There are some things I don't want to blame you for, but I don't want you to be burdened with too many constraints." Emperor Zhou said calmly, without mentioning anything about whether the Crown Prince was the rightful heir or not.
"Yes." Nan Xuzong nodded. Ji Wushang released Nan Xuzong's hand at this moment, and Emperor Zhou's gaze was now on Ji Wushang, who lowered his eyes.
"Fourth Imperial Consort," Emperor Zhou called out.
"Your Majesty, I am here." Ji Wushang knelt on the ground.
"Now that you are the Fourth Imperial Consort, you should be more lenient in all things. I have no objection to you managing Zong'er, but you should also know how to be strict with him and lenient with him. Do you understand what I mean?"
Ji Wushang was stunned. He meant that he had restrained Nan Xuzong, monopolized Nan Xuzong, and prevented Nan Xuzong from taking concubines or marrying other women.
"Your Majesty, I understand," Ji Wushang said, kneeling.
"Zong'er is the only thing Consort Zhen left me, and I will make it up to you properly." Emperor Zhou looked at Nan Xuzong at this moment.
“Father, I feel that you have given me more than enough, and I am deeply happy,” Nan Xuzong said. “As for discipline, I only like the discipline of the Fourth Imperial Consort. I am not interested in other women for the time being. I hope you will understand me.”
Ji Wushang felt a warmth in his heart. Did he always take all the blame upon him?
"How dare you! What do you mean by 'temporarily not interested'?" Emperor Zhou sneered.
"Father, please calm your anger. It is indeed as I say. Please, Father, calm your anger!" Nan Xuzong's stance was firm!
Emperor Zhou snorted coldly. This was also one of the things he disapproved of: Huangfu Zong only wanted Ji Wushang and doted on her exclusively! He never thought of taking any other concubines! Look, half a year has passed, and Ji Wushang hasn't given birth to a single child. He had originally planned to give the position of Crown Prince to Huangfu Zong, but now, without a single child, and with Huangfu Zong not wanting to take any other concubines, wouldn't that create a problem for this old man?
That's enough!
Ji Wushang gritted her teeth. She didn't want to keep giving him difficult problems... Should she arrange for him to marry a concubine after today's palace banquet? If he didn't like it, would it just be a formality for outsiders to see?
Nan Xuzong did not show any extra expression.
Emperor Zhou sighed and turned to walk towards Huangfu Xuan.
The hearts of everyone around were in their throats. This time, Emperor Zhou didn't appoint Nan Xuzong as the crown prince! Instead, it was Huangfu Xuan? Huangfu Xuan has always been violent, wicked, and arrogant. If he becomes the crown prince, who knows what will become of the people of the world?
However, I heard that Huangfu Xuan has become much more restrained since returning to the capital, and I haven't heard of him doing anything out of line...
Emperor Zhou looked down at Huangfu Xuan, "Huangfu Xuan."
"Your subject is here." Huangfu Xuan stepped forward and knelt down.
"You are my proud son," Emperor Zhou said, looking at everyone. "I admire your methods and decisiveness in doing things."
"Thank you for your praise, Father Emperor!"
“Sometimes you act too ruthlessly, which is your shortcoming,” the Zhou Emperor said, looking at him. “But I hope you can change that.”
"Your subject will certainly obey Father's teachings!" Huangfu Xuan snorted coldly.
"I am deeply gratified to have Zong'er assisting you." Emperor Zhou looked at everyone and said, "I hereby give you the position of Crown Prince, Huangfu Xuan."
Everyone around was instantly astonished. They looked at Huangfu Xuan and Emperor Zhou, and in the next second, they all shouted three times, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince! Long live the Crown Prince!"
Emperor Zhou waved his hand and looked at Huangfu Xuan. "I know you have been working towards this goal, and I have seen your efforts. So today, it is as you wish!"
"Thank you, Father Emperor!" Huangfu Xuan felt an indescribable mix of emotions and kowtowed to Emperor Zhou.
"Ma Ruyi." Emperor Zhou's lips twitched as he looked at Ma Ruyi.
Ma Ruyi knelt forward, saying, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"You are my daughter-in-law, the youngest daughter of General Ma, and the Crown Prince's wise and capable wife! Today, as the Crown Princess, you must do your utmost to assist the Crown Prince. If you become Empress in the future, you must be tolerant and kind to the people and bring them blessings!"
"Your Majesty's will be faithful, and I will dedicate myself to assisting the Crown Prince," Ma Ruyi said, bowing her head. She hadn't expected that a Crown Prince would actually be appointed today… and moreover, she was being personally bestowed the title of Crown Princess by the Emperor himself!
Emperor Zhou smiled, but at that moment, a man's wild laughter came from outside the palace!
Everyone around was surprised and looked out of the palace.
It's actually Huangfu Ting!
"Surround them all." Huangfu Ting waved his hands, and all the guards he brought, dressed in black armor, surrounded the hall, three or four layers deep!
The surrounding ministers and others immediately panicked!
Emperor Zhou looked at Huangfu Ting and asked, "Huangfu Ting, what are you planning to do?"
"Your Majesty should know what I mean, so why ask such a question when you already know the answer?" Huangfu Ting stepped forward with a sneer. "I have come to this point entirely because of you. You have driven me to this dead end!"
"How dare you murder your father and seize the throne?" Emperor Zhou looked at Huangfu Ting.
Huangfu Ting's men immediately surrounded everyone in the hall! Nan Xuzong looked at Ji Wushang, then grasped Ji Wushang's hand, "Second brother, isn't it a bit too rash of you to attempt to usurp the throne with such a small number of people?"
"Indeed, my men have surrounded the capital! With just one order, everyone will become my prisoners!" Huangfu Ting sneered, his gaze turning to Nan Xuzong. "Huangfu Zong, don't you feel resentful? Your talent is no less than Huangfu Xuan's, yet you've always served him from behind, and in the end, he became the crown prince!"
"It's just that you're unwilling to accept it." Nan Xuzong sneered. He looked at Huangfu Ting, then at Huangfu Xuan. "To be honest, I never intended to be the crown prince, so what's the point of talking about being willing or unwilling?"
"Heh!" Huangfu Ting sneered, "I don't believe it!"
"Believe it or not, it's up to you. Just because you have such thoughts doesn't mean others do." Nan Xuzong smiled. "Second brother, it's not too late for you to turn back now. I advise you to kneel at Father's feet and repent."
"Repent? Hmph!" Huangfu Ting sneered. "Father, what do you say?" He looked at Emperor Zhou, who coldly snorted, "I have already established a crown prince. Even if I pass away, it will not be your turn to be emperor!"
"Father is truly ruthless." Huangfu Ting sneered, waving his hand, and the guards immediately raised their swords, ready to kill!
"Anyone who wants to follow me, stand on my side! I won't kill you, I'll give you wealth and honor! If you insist on dying with them, then don't blame me for being impolite!" Huangfu Ting didn't waste any words and walked to the side.
Emperor Zhou managed to remain calm. Were his Imperial Guards just sitting around doing nothing? How could they allow Huangfu Ting to act so recklessly?
At this moment, two people walked in from outside the hall, and everyone was shocked. These two people were General Yao and the deposed Empress Yao!
"Your Majesty, you seem quite surprised!" Empress Yao stepped forward with a smile.
"Those lowly maids actually disobeyed my orders!" Emperor Zhou exclaimed in shock.
"Heh, Your Majesty, you exterminated my Yao clan, but you never expected that my Yao army would still be here, did you?" General Yao sneered. He was covered in armor, and the soldiers he brought were all from the Yao family army!
The situation is really hard to predict!
Everyone around was worried for Emperor Zhou and his son, Xiao Ming, but only Nan Xuzong and Huangfu Xuan remained leisurely. There was another person who seemed completely detached from the situation: the Sixth Prince, Huangfu Yu.
"You have truly rebelled!" Emperor Zhou roared. "Guards, seize them! Get them out of here, and their entire families will be executed immediately!"
"Your Majesty, do you still think you can command them?" Empress Yao sneered. She glanced at Huangfu Xuan and Ma Ruyi, then looked at Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang.
Empress Yao drew another long sword from the waist of one of the guards and walked towards Ji Wushang.
At that moment, Nan Xuzong appeared in front of Ji Wushang with lightning speed, saying, "If you take another step forward, I, Huangfu Zong, will surely kill you!"
His tone was as cold as an ice cellar! His eyes were like those of the King of Hell, chilling and deadly!
Empress Yao's expression changed and she stepped back, but Huangfu Ting sneered, "Huangfu Zong, do you think you can still use your martial arts?"
Nan Xuzong was taken aback. He tried to gather some power in his hand, but unexpectedly, he was powerless to do so!
Ji Wushang's face turned pale upon seeing this. "Cong!" She stepped forward and immediately helped Nan Xucong up.
"I've already placed incense in this hall—it's bone-softening incense! Without my antidote, you'll all be poisoned! Haha, your thoughts of using force are wishful thinking!" Huangfu Ting sneered. "And my men have already taken the antidote! You should just surrender obediently!" Huangfu Ting snorted coldly.
Empress Yao's expression instantly brightened upon hearing this, "That would be excellent!"
She drew her sword again and stepped forward. "Ji Wushang, today is your death day. But I will torture you slowly until you die!"
At this moment, everyone had already sat down, all of them suffering from the effects of the Soft Bone Fragrance Poison!
Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong with a worried expression. "Cong, didn't you say you were immune to all poisons?" She looked at Nan Xuzong nervously, reaching out to his arm with one hand. Her fingernails were already digging into Nan Xuzong's arm as the medicinal powder slowly seeped in.
Nan Xuzong's face was somewhat pale. "I told you back then because I didn't want you to worry!"
Huangfu Ting and the others burst into laughter. At this moment, Empress Yao stepped forward with her sword drawn, the tip pointing at Ji Wushang's chin. Ji Wushang, with the sword pointed at him, had to support himself and stand up.
"Last night I meticulously listed your crimes. Now that you are dying by my sword, what are your last words?" Empress Yao sneered.
Ji Wushang stared at the tip of the sword, his gaze turning coldly to Empress Yao. "It's not necessarily my death, so why should I say any last words?"
"What a clever tongue you have!" Empress Yao sneered, moving the tip of her sword to Ji Wushang's face. "Your face is indeed beautiful! But, I feel utterly disgusted by it!"
"If you don't want to see it, just gouge out your own eyes, then there won't be any disgust or anything!" Ji Wushang sneered. "You use a sword, and I don't have one, so of course I'm at your disadvantage! Since that's the case, why bother pointing a sword at me? You could just kill me with one strike!"
"Killing you with one sword is too cheap!" Empress Yao sneered. "Since you say you have no sword, then I will bestow a sword upon you and let you fight me to the death. Let everyone see how you, Ji Wushang, will die by my sword!" As she spoke, Empress Yao immediately threw a long sword at Ji Wushang's feet.