The abstinent and powerful minister is cold and aloof during the day, but he adores her in his dream

Chapter 298 This move was extremely risky.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Hongjun was stunned. He seemed not to have expected that his father could really be so ruthless as to depose him.

He only came to his senses when the guards came forward to arrest him.

Seeing the emperor's indifferent expression, he roared, "Father, I am your own son! You can't treat me like this! Please, for my mother's sake, spare me this time, Father—"

"Take him away!" The emperor turned his back, not wanting to see him again.

He knew his son's character and abilities very well.

But this was, after all, his only son with the late empress, and since this son had not made any major mistakes in the past, he turned a blind eye to it and planned to let him be a ruler who would maintain the status quo in the future.

To his utter dismay, his son was so audacious and morally corrupt, which greatly disappointed him.

If the Great Chen Dynasty were to fall into the hands of this son, the ancestral legacy would surely be destroyed.

For the sake of the country and its people, he had to harden his heart and depose him from his position as crown prince.

Seeing that he remained unmoved, Xuan Yuan Hongjun was utterly despondent.

Suddenly, he caught sight of the swords tucked into the waistbands of the Imperial Guards, and a crazy idea flashed through his mind.

He steeled his resolve, swiftly drew the imperial guard's sword, and charged toward the emperor.

"Your Majesty, be careful—"

The officials gasped in surprise.

The emperor stood with his back to the crowd. He was deeply saddened by the removal of the crown prince from his post, when he suddenly heard shouts from his ministers.

He had just turned around when he saw the Crown Prince charging towards him with a sword. When his trusted eunuch stepped forward to stop him, he was stabbed through the neck.

The emperor's pupils constricted, his fury reaching its peak. "Xuanyuan Hongjun, how dare you! Do you intend to commit patricide?"

Xuanyuan Hongjun, already insane, said in a gloomy voice upon hearing this, "So what if it is? If Father Emperor doesn't give his son a way out, his son can only fight his way out with blood." With that, he had already rushed in front of him and pressed his sword against his neck.

The emperor looked at his son, whom he had always doted on and valued, in disbelief, and the last glimmer of hope in his heart was extinguished.

He said coldly, "You think you can sit on the throne by killing me? You're dreaming."

"Father, please have some love for your son. You are getting old anyway, why not abdicate in my favor as soon as possible? Your son will definitely be filial to you and serve you well," Xuan Yuan Hongjun said in a low voice, his eyes red.

"What if I don't?" The emperor looked at him with a chilling expression.

"If Father Emperor refuses, then I will have no choice but to commit treason," Xuan Yuan Hongjun said, pressing down on the sword in his hand.

The emperor was so angry that his face turned pale.

Everyone was shocked by what they saw.

"Deposed Crown Prince, please don't act rashly!"

"Release the Emperor at once!"

"The deposed crown prince must not make another mistake."

The ministers all offered their advice and remonstrance.

"Younger brother, please don't act rashly. That is our father, the Emperor. Don't act impulsively. Release him! Let's discuss this properly!"

Prince Gaoyang, who was resting in the same spot, rushed over upon learning of the incident. To his dismay, he saw the Crown Prince holding his father by the neck, which terrified him so much that he shouted in panic.

But Xuan Yuan Hongjun was no longer willing to listen to advice at this moment.
Knowing that he would have no way out if he gave up, he decided to go all in. He gripped his sword, stood behind the emperor, and urged, "If Father still wants to live, issue an edict to abdicate in favor of your son now."

"Don't even think about it!" The emperor roared in fury, raising his voice, "Guards, convey my decree: if anything happens to me, the throne shall be passed directly to Prince Rui, who shall ascend the throne immediately!"

Now, not only did Xuanyuan Hongjun's expression change, but even the Prince of Gaoyang's face darkened. "Xuanyuan Hongjun, are you satisfied now? If I die, you will never be able to obtain the throne!" the emperor said coldly.

Xuanyuan Hongjun roared, "Father, how can you be so biased? I am your most beloved son!"

"You know I love you the most, but is this how you repay me?" The emperor said indifferently, feeling both disappointed and regretful.

"Since that's the case, then we, father and son, shall meet again in the afterlife... Ah!" Before Xuan Yuan Hongjun could finish speaking, he suddenly screamed and dropped the sword in his hand to the ground.

Everyone looked and saw that Lu Zhan had somehow appeared behind the deposed crown prince and grabbed the prince's hand, causing the prince to lose his grip on the sword and fall to the ground.

"Lu Zhan!" Xuan Yuan Hongjun's eyes were bloodshot. "How dare you ruin my plans?" With that, he reached out his other hand, trying to strangle Lu Zhan.

Lu Zhan was prepared and dodged the attack, then hurled the man at the Imperial Guards who were standing by in battle formation. "The deposed crown prince has committed treason and attempted to assassinate the emperor. Such a heinous act is outrageous! Why don't you seize him immediately?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the swords in the hands of the Imperial Guards were all placed against Xuan Yuan Hongjun.

Xuanyuan Hongjun was instantly unable to move.

"Father, are you alright?" Prince Gaoyang came to his senses and rushed forward to help the emperor up.

The emperor, pale-faced but still trying to appear composed, pointed at Xuan Yuan Hongjun and said, word by word, "Throw him into the imperial prison and punish him for treason!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Hongjun collapsed into a limp heap.

"Shen Congrong, you will personally escort the deposed crown prince back to the capital. Also, convey my decree that Prince Rui be appointed as regent and act as the head of the court." The emperor then issued another order.

Commander Shen immediately stepped forward, "Your subject obeys!"

Soon, Xuanyuan Hongjun was taken away.

As he was about to leave the temple, he suddenly turned back to look at Lu Zhan.

"Lu Zhan, you've wronged me so badly, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was indignant, as the deposed crown prince was clearly taking his anger out on the prince.

The Emperor patted Lu Zhan on the shoulder and said, "Minister Lu, you have rendered meritorious service in saving my life. I will certainly reward you handsomely!"

Lu Zhan lifted his robe and knelt down, "Your Majesty is unharmed, I dare not take credit for it."

The emperor personally helped him up, saying, "You remained calm and composed, and unexpectedly resolved the crisis. Lu Zhan, I was right about you."

"It is thanks to Your Majesty's cultivation that I am where I am today. Thank you for giving me this opportunity," Lu Zhan said, lowering his eyes.

The emperor sighed inwardly. Lu Zhenbei had given birth to a good son, while he himself had many sons, but few of them were of any use, especially the crown prince whom he valued, who was actually... sigh.

Thinking of the Crown Prince's kidnapping of him, the Emperor's eyes dimmed and his heart turned cold.

"Your Majesty, should we postpone our trip to the hunting grounds?" Lu Zhan asked.

"No need. I can handle this little storm." The emperor shook his head and refused, ordering that the trusted eunuch who had just shielded him from the sword be given a proper burial, and instructing Duan Ling to settle the girls properly.

"I will send them back to their hometowns one by one," Duan Ling said respectfully, though he was sweating profusely inside.

Old Lu's move was both ruthless and precise, but also extremely risky.

After all, the crown prince is the emperor's most valued son, and a single misstep could bring trouble upon himself.

Fortunately, the Crown Prince brought this upon himself, and now the Emperor has completely given up on him.

They were originally imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court, but now they are directly thrown into the Imperial Prison and charged with treason.

The deposed crown prince has lost all power and it is impossible for him to make a comeback.