"The Imperial Physician just examined him. Although the Second Prince is physically weak, he can still complete the grand ceremony."

The Emperor’s face was ashen. Though he did not rebuke anyone, the impatience in his words made the officials in front shudder in their hearts.

Gu Chengyu, a Secondary Fifth Rank, could only stand in the back, far from the Danbi, so he heard only faintly.

He slightly raised his head, wanting to observe the Emperor’s expression with his extraordinary eyesight.

To his surprise, when he glanced around, he noticed that a few officials were missing from the front. He didn’t attend court often and wasn’t very familiar with the officials corresponding to each position.

Yet in the row of civil servants ahead, the seat of a third-rank official was vacant.

There weren’t many third-rank officials in the court, as he had reviewed the records of all Capital Officials above fourth rank.

Recalling the faces he just saw, he was shocked to find that Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Huo Huai Zhong, was missing.

Who was Huo Huai Zhong? Naturally, he was part of the Third Prince’s faction.

Gu Chengyu’s heart sank. It seemed that besides the matter of the grand ceremony for establishing the Crown Prince, an earth-shattering event was bound to happen in the Capital today, changing the structure of the court.

The ceremony music began, marking the official start of the ceremony to establish the Crown Prince.

Gu Chengyu looked up to see the Second Prince, supported by others, appearing outside Taihe Palace. The Second Prince bowed on the Danbi, facing north in front of the throne.

Then he bowed to the four directions before the Imperial Supervision Official petitioned the Emperor to bestow the headdress and robe for the Second Prince.

Due to the Crown Prince’s poor health, many rituals of the heir designation ceremony were overlooked, much to Gu Chengyu’s concern for the Crown Prince. It was too simplified.

This was, after all, the heir designation ceremony, a once-in-a-lifetime event!

However, Gu Chengyu was soon at ease. What was the heir designation ceremony compared to the future enthronement ceremony, which was indeed more critical?

When the time comes for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, won’t it all be done according to his wishes?

It seems that only after tomorrow’s court congratulations can the news be announced to the world.

Otherwise, if the people do not know a Crown Prince has been established, wouldn’t it be ridiculous?

Even so, because the Crown Prince kept kneeling and bowing, his body was already tottering, and his complexion paled even more than before.

After completing all etiquettes in Taihe Palace, he had to give thanks to the Central Palace, and also accept the homage of other Princes and officials, which no one knew if the Crown Prince could endure.

Once inside Taihe Palace, the Emperor personally inspected the golden certificate and treasure placed before the throne, before taking his seat to receive the three kneels and nine bows from the officials.

The Crown Prince knelt before the table to receive the certificate and treasure, performing the three kneels and nine bows ceremony before the imperial staff, thanking the Emperor.

Next came the Crown Prince giving thanks to the Central Palace, and finally, the various Princes and civil and military officials paying homage to the Eastern Palace.

Gu Chengyu mechanically followed the civil and military officials in performing the kneeling and bowing ritual; the heir designation ceremony tormented not only the Crown Prince but also the officials.

Seeing the Crown Prince whose face was already colorless, Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but grumble; even if not poisoned, just this much kneeling would almost cost a half-life.

These ancient rules truly were numerous, with rites so complex it left people tongue-tied.

Gu Chengyu glanced at where the Princes stood and found the Third Prince’s absence.

It seemed the Third Prince’s influence truly waned, as the Emperor didn’t even allow him to participate in the heir designation ceremony. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

All the civil and military officials exchanged glances, the atmosphere solemn and grave, with no one daring to speak up at this critical moment.

Some officials looked more dispirited and frail than the poisoned Crown Prince.

Gu Chengyu knew these officials surely had some connection with the Third Prince.

Now the reality was in front of them. The Third Prince was certainly doomed, and they didn’t know whether they would suffer great implications.

Seeing the empty seat beside them, those officials felt even more fearful and uneasy.

Prince Jing looked at the Crown Prince in front, whose face was pale yet bore a smile, with eyes showing discontent and mockery.

This Crown Prince, newly designated today, eagerly eliminated the Third Brother, truly displaying expert maneuvering.

However, this was just the beginning. Thinking he could ascend the Dragon Throne merely by becoming Crown Prince? Could he even allow that?

The Eldest Prince kept his head down, not casting his gaze toward the Crown Prince.

He could sense his father’s gaze, sweeping over him, filled with inquiry, suspicion, and a touch of disbelief.

Was his father shocked at the sudden move against the Third Brother, or was he astonished at his own inaction?

Ha! Father, truly terrifying!

In the eyes of the Father, there was no familial affection, only calculation!

As expected, the ancient saying holds true; there are no familial bonds in the Royal Family.

Sons, they are not only sons but also subjects!

This matter, the Third Brother couldn’t blame him. If he were to blame, he could only blame himself for being foolish! Who asked him to scheme against the Second Brother while plotting against himself?

Lacking the capability, one shouldn’t orchestrate such a grand scheme, thinking everyone to be as foolish as he was. If he didn’t fall on the sword, who would?

It’s just a pity that the You Family rebelled at the last moment; otherwise, how could the Second Brother have stood here?

What a great opportunity it was then! If the You Family had truly turned the tables and removed the Second Brother, he would be the one receiving the homage of the officials now.

In hindsight, he should have sent people to keep an eye on the You Family.

Women indeed can ruin things. In just five years, the You Family found it hard to sever the bond with the Second Brother.

How laughable, the You Family still thought that the Second Brother would be as merciful as them?

No! The Second Brother absolutely would not!

In the face of the nation’s fate, what does a woman count for?

The Eldest Prince rubbed the ring on his right hand, secretly rejoicing in his heart.

Luckily he made a swift decision, as they hadn’t heard back from the You Family, sending someone to infiltrate the Second Prince Mansion at night.

Although losing many skilled hands, the You Family was finally successfully disposed of.

Otherwise, if he foolishly waited for good news from the You Family, he would likely have ended up captured along with the Third Brother in a sweep by the Second Brother.

Those who achieve great things must be able to hold their patience. Let the Second Brother bask for now; eventually, the victor remains uncertain!

Suddenly thinking about the poisoned wine the Second Prince drank, a smirk flickered on the Eldest Prince’s lips.

Crane’s beak red? Even with the Second Brother’s prowess, he wouldn’t have expected the poison wasn’t crane’s beak red.

All his meticulous planning for the Second Brother’s poison wasn’t in vain; what could those Imperial Physicians do?

If so, after all these years, they wouldn’t have failed to discover whether the Fourth’s body had fully recovered.

Even a pinch of that poison, once ingested, would spread to the five organs and bone marrow, beyond the help of the Daluo Immortals.

For no antidote has been developed for that poison to date, even the one who concocted it dared not touch a trace.

Moreover, the poison showed no immediate effects, yet it was chronic. Over time, there would undoubtedly come a day when the Second Brother regretted.

As the ceremony neared its end, the Emperor, sitting on the Dragon Throne, customarily admonished and encouraged the Crown Prince with a few words, serving as a conclusion for today’s ceremony.

Gu Chengyu sighed in relief, finally it was over.

Just as Gu Chengyu’s stomach growled, yearning to return to fill his belly, the Emperor spoke again.