How can you rule the world if I'm just a substitute for you?

Lin Xuan immediately stopped in his tracks, his heart sinking slightly.

Not right.

Shen Qingyi is usually calm and composed, so why would she suddenly be urgently summoned back to the palace?

He wiped the sweat from his face and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

Wang Fuquan, panting heavily, shook his head repeatedly: "This servant doesn't know the specifics! But Her Majesty looked extremely unwell today, her face full of anxiety, and specifically ordered this servant to come immediately, requesting Your Highness to return to the palace at once!"

Alarm bells rang in Lin Xuan's heart.

The fact that Shen Qingyi was so flustered and anxious meant that something serious must have happened.

Without further hesitation, he immediately replied, "Understood. Prepare the horses and return to the palace!"

Lin Xuan didn't even have time to change his clothes; he immediately spurred his horse and galloped back to the East Palace.

Upon entering Shen Qingyi's bedchamber, the entire hall was quiet and deserted. The maids and eunuchs who used to serve her had all been dismissed.

Shen Qingyi sat alone in the hall, her face still beautiful in her palace dress, but her eyes were slightly red and she looked haggard.

Hearing footsteps approaching, she slowly looked up.

Looking at the travel-worn Lin Xuan, her beautiful eyes held an extremely complex expression, concealing entanglement, fear, and unease.

Upon seeing this, Lin Xuan's heart tightened, and he instantly realized that something serious had definitely happened.

He strode forward, deliberately softening his tone, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Why the sudden urgency to summon me back to the palace? What happened?"

Shen Qingyi's lips trembled slightly, and she remained silent for a long time, unable to utter a word.

After a long while, she reached into her sleeve and carefully pulled out a tightly sealed letter, slowly handing it to Lin Xuan with both hands, her voice soft and hoarse:

"Your Highness, please take a look at this first."

Lin Xuan reached out and took the letter, then tore it open.

After quickly skimming through the contents, it became clear that this was a secret letter written by the Third Prince Lin Fu to Shen Qingyi.

Lin Xuan looked up at Shen Qingyi and asked in a deep voice, "My beloved concubine, when did you receive it?"

Shen Qingyi lowered her eyes and replied softly:

"Someone secretly brought it into the palace last night."

Holding the letter, I pondered it alone all night, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

After much thought, I decided to tell the truth.

She looked up at Lin Xuan, her eyes filled with earnestness and sincerity, and said softly:

"Your Highness, tell the truth."

I've seen everything since you changed your personality, but after spending time together, I've already made up my mind.

You are someone I can entrust my life to.

Looking at her candid demeanor, Lin Xuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He reached out and gently took her hand, his eyes filled with utmost solemnity.

"Rest assured, my beloved, I, Lin Xuan, will never fail you in this life."

"Once I have swept away all obstacles in the court and ascended the throne, you will be my one and only empress."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, her tone carrying a hint of coquettish helplessness:

"He's just making empty promises to me again."

Although it was just a joke, the tenderness and trust in his eyes were impossible to hide.

Lin Xuan suddenly realized.

No wonder she seemed absent-minded and lost in thought when she went to bed last night; it turns out she had such a big thing on her mind.

Shen Qingyi looked up at Lin Xuan, her eyes filled with panic and helplessness, and asked softly:

"Your Highness, what should we do now?"

Seeing her worried expression, Lin Xuan not only didn't panic at all, but instead smiled calmly.

He exhaled softly, his tone calm and resolute:

"It's like a pillow being delivered to someone who's just trying to make them sleepy. Lin Fu's stupid move has directly handed me an opportunity."

Shen Qingyi looked bewildered and confused: "Opportunity? What opportunity?"

Lin Xuan looked at her with a firm gaze and slowly said:

"A golden opportunity to get your father out of prison."

Shen Qingyi was completely stunned, both surprised and suspicious:

"But... this is clearly the Third Prince coercing me to frame His Highness, what does it have to do with saving my father?"

Lin Xuan's eyes were resolute, his expression extremely calm, and he slowly spoke:

"We were just waiting for the right opportunity, and this letter from the third brother was that opportunity."

Shen Qingyi's pupils dilated slightly as she stared blankly at Lin Xuan.

"Then... what should Your Highness do now?"

Lin Xuan's gaze sharpened, and he gave the order in a deep voice:

"Change into court attire immediately."

You wear the Crown Princess's formal attire, and I wear the Crown Prince's ceremonial robes.

"Come with me to kneel outside Chengtian Gate and plead your case in court."

Shen Qingyi instantly understood his intention.

At this moment, Shen Qingyi nodded emphatically without any further hesitation.

The two quickly changed their clothes.

Lin Xuan changed into his proper and dignified crown prince's court robes, exuding an air of composure and awe.

Shen Qingyi wore a dignified palace robe with phoenix patterns, exuding elegance and nobility. Her face was aloof, but her eyes were incredibly firm.

A moment later, the two left the palace side by side, and their carriages went straight to the Chengtian Gate of the Imperial Palace.

Amidst everyone's astonished gazes,

The current Crown Prince Lin Xuan and Crown Princess Shen Qingyi,

Both of them knelt upright with their knees bent before Chengtian Gate!

In an instant, the entire palace road fell into dead silence.

The news that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess were kneeling together outside Chengtian Gate spread throughout the entire palace in an instant.

Before the morning court session had even ended, all the civil and military officials were in an uproar upon hearing the news, and they all turned their heads to look in the direction outside the palace.

In the imperial court, people's hearts were in turmoil.

Standing at the end of the court officials' line, the Third Prince Lin Fu understood the situation instantly upon hearing the news, and a subtle, smug smirk crept onto his lips.

He instantly figured it all out.

It must have been Shen Qingyi who handed her secret letter to Lin Xuan.

But he never expected that after Lin Xuan received the secret letter, he would choose the most foolish, reckless, and suicidal path!

He immediately led the Crown Princess to kneel at the palace gate to plead her case!

This move, seemingly a protest, is in reality tantamount to publicly slapping His Majesty in the face!

The crown prince, a figure of great stature, openly knelt and blocked the main gate of the palace.

Outsiders, unaware of the details, will only assume...

Emperor Qian treated the Crown Prince harshly and suppressed the heir apparent!

This is tantamount to handing someone a handle to use against you and courting your own demise!

Lin Fu chuckled inwardly, feeling increasingly pleased with himself.

Lin Xuan, Lin Xuan, you seem to be calculating every step of the way and your wisdom has greatly increased recently, but in the end you are still impatient and naive!

They dared to make such a fuss in front of the palace gates, just to attract attention!

What happened today is enough to make Father Emperor completely disappointed in you!

On the dragon throne, Emperor Qian sat high up, his face already ashen, his brows furrowed with overwhelming rage.

In recent days, he has witnessed Lin Xuan's complete transformation.

He once thought that the unruly prince had completely changed, and he was secretly pleased.

But what happened today is utterly absurd!

Emperor Qian pressed his palm firmly against the armrest of the dragon throne, his aura low and terrifying.

No one in the court dared to speak; the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Vice Minister of War Gao Song was the first to step out of the court, holding a tablet, and loudly began his report.

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince is arrogant, disrespectful of the emperor's authority, and utterly unruly!"

As the crown prince, he dared to kneel and block the main gate of the palace with his crown princess!

This is clearly a deliberate attempt to force someone to abdicate!

Your Majesty, I humbly request that you severely punish the Crown Prince for his disrespectful conduct, in order to uphold the order of the court!

As soon as Gao Song finished speaking, several officials from the Third Prince's faction immediately followed suit, stepping forward to echo his words.

"I second that opinion! The Crown Prince has acted rashly and disregarded the dignity of the royal family; he should be punished!"

"The crown prince should be calm and composed; his behavior today is utterly unbecoming!"

Immediately, impeachments rose and fell in the imperial court, all aimed at Lin Xuan.

Just then, Imperial Censor Liu stepped forward resolutely, cupped his hands, and spoke solemnly.

In his heart, Lin Xuan is now the hope for the future of literature.

The prince invented movable type printing and will improve papermaking in the future. The price of books will drop again and again, and millions of poor students in the world will benefit from this. It will enlighten future generations and benefit hundreds of years!

A crown prince who cares so much about the people would never act recklessly!

Master Liu reported loudly, "Your Majesty! The Crown Prince has always been calm and composed. His public kneeling at the palace gate today is no accident. He must be suffering a great injustice and has no other choice but to resort to this desperate measure! I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"