"Son!"
Maid Yin's chest was filled with joy. She subconsciously rushed over and hugged the little boy.
"Mother, you're here too … Mother, I saw father."
The little boy happily snuggled into Maid Yin's arms.
His first sentence was related to his parents.
But in the main hall, laughter could be clearly heard.
Although no one said anything, the meaning was clear. Is the word 'father' something you can call?
Maid Yin didn't care much about it.
The moment she saw her son, there was no longer any nervousness or fear in her heart. She hugged her son tightly in her arms. The only thought in her mind right now was to protect her son at all costs.
"Don't be noisy, stand to the side."
The eunuch scolded.
The little boy shut his mouth tightly.
He was stupid and inexperienced, but that didn't mean he couldn't understand the situation in front of him.
From a very young age, his mother had always taught him not to speak when he shouldn't, not to open his mouth when he shouldn't, not to take what he shouldn't, and not to look at what he shouldn't.
He didn't want to drag his mother into this.
So he behaved very obediently.
Even since he entered the palace yesterday, he was absolutely obedient. He didn't speak, ask, or look.
This little guy's talent was average, but in some aspects, he matured much earlier than his peers.
"Grant him a seat."
A slightly tired voice sounded from the high and mighty Dragon Throne.
Today, the emperor's complexion was even worse.
He couldn't hide the paleness on his face. His eye sockets were sunken, and there were dark circles around him. An aura of death and lethargy surrounded this person's body. Even the dumbest person could see that this supreme ruler of the Extreme King Cliff was seriously ill. Medicine couldn't cure him.
"He's just an unidentified servant. He can just stand, why grant him a seat?"
A slightly harsh and crisp female voice sounded.
Empress Zheng, who was sitting beside the emperor, had a beautiful face. She had phoenix eyes and willow eyebrows. Her facial features were noble, but her eyes were unusually sharp, giving people a feeling that she wasn't easy to get along with.
Normally, the Empress wouldn't dare to go against the will of the emperor.
But the current emperor … He didn't seem to have the energy to argue with the Empress.
So the eunuch really didn't give Maid Yin and Prince Son a seat.
The officials in the hall all had different expressions, and it was worth pondering over.
Yesterday, the Emperor had decreed that today's morning court would only discuss the matter of the Crown Prince. Many people had caught wind of this and there were people who purposely spread the news that the Emperor did not have much time left. Today, when she arrived at the hall, she saw that even the Empress was present. She realized that things were even more unusual.
Beside the Empress stood a youth of about fifteen or sixteen years old.
This young man had a handsome face, and there was a hint of spirit between his brows. At such a young age, his cultivation aura was already quite good. However, there was a hint of malice between his brows, and his hooked nose was high. On the surface, he looked humble, but his disguise was too immature. In reality, he was full of arrogance.
This young man was the adopted son of the Empress, Prince Zhen.
Prince Zhen was the second brother of the Emperor who had died at an early age. He was also the orphan of the Second Prince. The Second Prince and the Emperor had the same father but different mothers. The Second Prince died at an early age and only left behind a son. He was adopted by the Empress less than a month after he was born. The blood of the royal family flowed in his body.
The goal of the Empress' faction today was to push this young man to the position of Crown Prince.
The officials in the hall had all arrived.
"Your Majesty, it's about time. We can start the court meeting."
The leader of the officials, Zheng Yuan, stepped forward and spoke slowly.
The Emperor panted slightly, his eyes half-closed. He said slowly, "There's no rush. We'll start when Prince Mu arrives."
The expressions of the Empress and the officials all changed slightly.
Prince Mu was coming as well?
Normally, Prince Mu would never attend the court meetings.
He never spoke on matters of the court.
Everyone knew that this peerless figure, whose name shook the world, spent most of his time on cultivation. He never cared about such trifling matters of the court.
Why was he an exception today?
Only then did everyone realize that the empty silver-inlaid throne on the steps to the left of the throne was left by Prince Mu.
"Prince Mu is actually late for the court meeting. Isn't he a little too arrogant?" Gao Shengwei commented in a voice that was just loud enough for everyone to hear.
That was true.
How could an official be late when the Emperor called for a court meeting?
That would be disrespectful.
Although Prince Mu had made a great contribution, he couldn't let it get to his head.
He was trying to weaken Prince Mu's image in the court.
But at that moment, a voice sounded from the side of the silver throne. "I'm here. Your Majesty, the court meeting can begin."
Everyone felt their vision blur.
Before they knew it, a man was already standing before the silver throne.
He was dressed in white, had short black hair, and looked handsome.
Who else could it be but the world-famous and peerless Prince Mu?
The entire hall fell into a dead silence.
Gao Shengwei's expression changed drastically. He quickly lowered his head.
"Greetings, Prince Mu."
Zheng Yuan, on the other hand, smiled and saluted to Li Mu.
However, Li Mu's eyes did not fall on him at all. He did not even cast a glance at him.
Zheng Yuan didn't show any reaction, but a vicious resentment flashed in the depths of his eyes. He hid it well.
Li Mu's appearance suddenly changed the atmosphere in the entire Imperial Palace.
An indescribable pressure spread out in all the ministers' hearts. That white figure was like a mountain that weighed down on everyone's hearts.
The Empress was no exception.
Li Mu used to be the commander of the imperial guards. When he was on duty in the palace, he had met the empress several times. But at that time, the empress did not take Li Mu, who was in the Genuine Immortal Realm, seriously. She just regarded him as an ordinary guard.
She still couldn't figure out why Mu Mu's strength suddenly became so terrifying after a trip to the Howling Cliff.
A glimmer of light suddenly flashed in the Emperor's dim eyes.
Li Mu's appearance injected a stream of spiritual power into his already sick body, which made him feel relaxed all of a sudden.
He didn't know when it started, but he couldn't get rid of his dependence on Li Mu. Most of the time, no matter what decision he made, he would feel more confident and at ease with Li Mu around.
"Brother Mu, sit."
The Emperor raised his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Li Mu saluted and then sat on the silver throne.
"I believe all of you already know why I've gathered all of you here today. Today, I'm going to appoint a Crown Prince. However, my bloodline has withered and I only have one son named Chen. I intend to appoint Prince Chen as the Crown Prince, what do you all think?"
In the hall, there was a sudden burst of discussion.
Although they knew that today's court meeting was held to determine the Crown Prince and the existence of Prince Chen, many officials were still a little surprised that the Emperor put forward his own candidate so directly.
Prince Son is nothing but a bastard born from a lowly maid.
In the past nine years, everyone had forgotten about his existence.
Even the Emperor himself did not care about this prince at all. Whether he was dead or alive, he had never asked about it, seeing it as a stain on his reputation. Why did his position in the Emperor's heart suddenly change, and he was going to be made the Crown Prince?
The Empress's eyebrows were tightly knitted.
The little prince beside her is also looking at Prince Son who is hiding in his mother's arms like a frightened chickadee.
That was a kind of fierce look that shouldn't belong to a young man.
Maid Yin was stunned on the spot.
Holding her son in her arms, she was shocked by the Emperor's words and almost lost consciousness.
This news was tantamount to a thunderclap.
His Majesty was going to appoint his son as the Crown Prince?
At first, she was happy.
Happy because the father of her son seemed to finally be willing to recognize this son?
But the next moment, great fear struck again.
Even if his Majesty was willing to appoint Chen as the Crown Prince, would those ministers agree? The four major families, the generals in the army, and the Empress and imperial concubines in the harem … Would they spare Chen?
His Chen 'er had no one to rely on, weak and slow-witted. He was like a weed growing in an imperial garden, barely surviving by relying on the natural wind and rain. He only needed a little bit of sunlight, and that was enough.
If all the sunshine was given to Chen at once, not only would he not grow into a towering tree, but he would also be burnt to death.
Maid Yin looked at the Emperor with eyes full of fear.
The Emperor's eyes were looking at Li Mu.
In last night's letter, he had made it very clear.
At this time, he needed Li Mu's attitude.
The eyes of the ministers in the hall also looked at Li Mu.
Before Li Mu said anything, no one dared to speak.
Because everyone knew that as long as the Emperor's will and Prince Mu's approval, this matter was set in stone. No matter how others objected, it would be useless.
"Brother Mu, what do you think?"
Asked the Emperor.
Sitting on the silver throne, Li Mu heard the question and said calmly, "This is Your Majesty's family matter, and it is not convenient for me to comment. Your Majesty, you can be at ease and dictate."
A trace of disappointment suddenly appeared on the Emperor's face.
He had thought that Mu Mu would support Prince Chen.
But the Empress and the other ministers were overjoyed as if relieved of a heavy burden.
"Mu Qing is indeed a loyal minister of Your Majesty. What he said is right."
Said the Empress with a smile. She looked at Li Mu with more appreciation in her eyes. She suddenly felt that this Prince Mu was actually quite sensible.
The atmosphere in the imperial hall suddenly seemed to be alive.
"Your Majesty, the Empress's son, Prince Zhen, is also of the royal bloodline. His bloodline is pure, he is intelligent, talented, filial, diligent, and thrifty. His age is also suitable. May I be so bold as to suggest making Prince Zhen the crown prince?"
Zheng Yuan stepped forward and said.
"I second it."
"I agree."
"Your Honor Zheng's words make sense."
About a dozen important ministers unanimously stood up and supported Zheng Yuan's proposal.
Zheng Yuan smiled faintly, and then his expression changed. His tone became sharp as he said, "Your Majesty, I have also discovered something important that I have to report to Your Majesty. It turns out that Prince Chen is not Your Majesty's biological son. Back then, Attendant Yin had an affair with a guard in the mansion, and that was how she gave birth to Prince Chen. This is also why Prince Chen's appearance is completely different from Your Majesty's. Your Majesty, please investigate this thoroughly."
As soon as these words came out, the imperial hall was instantly filled with exclamations.
Even Yang Jia had a shocked expression on his face.
"Zheng Yuan, how could you be so ruthless?"
"Not only do you want to put Prince Zhen on the throne, but you also want to put Prince Chen and his mother to death. You are taking advantage of this imperial court meeting to eliminate the root of the problem and put a coffin on the coffin."
"Is the Empress's party so bold?"
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