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

Emperor Qian's face turned ashen, and he roared in a deep voice:

"Have you been wronged?"

Even if there is a great injustice!

He is the Crown Prince! The heir apparent to the throne!

Kneeling and blocking the palace gates in public, causing the people to speculate that I am mistreating my own children?

Where has he placed my face, my royal dignity?

The officials in the court were silent as cicadas in winter, and no one dared to speak.

Master Liu remained unyielding and calmly offered his advice again:

"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince would never have acted so rashly if he had not been driven to the brink of desperation."

There must be a reason for everything. Why not summon the Crown Prince to the palace? A questioning will reveal the truth. Do not wrongly accuse a loyal and virtuous person!

Emperor Qian's chest heaved violently, his anger surging.

He had thought the Crown Prince had fully matured, but today's outrageous behavior reminded him of his former dissolute and unruly nature.

After a long silence, Emperor Qian gritted his teeth and gave a deep order to Zhang Wu, the commander of the imperial guards outside the palace:

"go!

Get rid of this rebellious son!

Bring him to the palace!

Lin Fu, the third prince, who was standing in line to the side, lowered his head and looked down, concealing the undisguised ecstasy in his eyes.

He waited quietly.

They waited for Lin Xuan to ruin his future, for the Eastern Palace to collapse, and for his opportunity to finally arrive.

Outside Chengtian Gate, a large crowd of people gathered, all watching Lin Xuan and Shen Qingyi kneeling before the palace, whispering and discussing among themselves.

Someone muttered in confusion, "What on earth happened? Why are the Crown Prince and Crown Princess kneeling outside the main gate of the palace?"

Another commoner beside him sighed: "Is there any need to ask? The Crown Prince must have suffered a great injustice, otherwise he would never have done such a thing."

A few people huddled together and chatted: "Have you forgotten? The Crown Prince's new bookstore will open in a few days, and the books will be sold at extremely low prices, affordable even for ordinary poor families."

Another person immediately chimed in: "I suppose that's where the problem lies! Many aristocratic families and officials profit from book collections, and the Crown Prince has cut off their source of income. Naturally, these people will try to slander and make things difficult for the Crown Prince in front of His Majesty."

The surrounding people were filled with righteous indignation upon hearing this, and someone immediately suggested, "We cannot stand idly by while such a virtuous prince is wronged. Let's call more fellow villagers and scholars to come and speak out for the prince!"

The crowd echoed his sentiments, and public opinion had already shifted towards Lin Xuan.

Just then, Zhang Wu, the commander of the Imperial Guards, strode through the crowd and stood before the two of them. He cupped his hands and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Crown Princess, His Majesty summons you to the palace immediately."

Lin Xuan slowly stood up, then reached out to help Shen Qingyi up beside him, and whispered to her, "We've already gone all out by kneeling in front of the palace gates to create momentum. Now that Father has sent someone to summon us, we must not push our luck."

Shen Qingyi nodded and stood up with Lin Xuan's help.

Zhang Wu led the two toward the Golden Palace. Along the way, Zhang Wu looked conflicted, unable to understand the Crown Prince's actions. The Crown Prince and his wife kneeling and blocking the palace gates was simply too shocking.

After thinking it over, he deliberately slowed his pace and landed beside Lin Xuan, lowering his voice to quietly remind him: "Your Highness, just now the ministers in the hall impeached you one after another, and His Majesty's face is extremely pale. You must be careful with your words and actions when you go to the hall later."

Lin Xuan understood, knowing that Zhang Wu was subtly giving her a friendly reminder. She nodded slightly in thanks, "Thank you for your kind reminder, Commander Zhang. I know what I'm doing and will not act rashly."

Seeing his calm demeanor, Zhang Wu said no more.

Lin Xuan turned to look at Shen Qingyi, who looked nervous beside him, and asked softly, "Have you memorized all the lines and responses I taught you?"

Shen Qingyi gripped her sleeves tightly, a hint of unease in her eyes, and replied softly, "I've remembered everything, but Your Highness, is it really alright for us to do this?"

Lin Xuan smiled faintly and patted the back of her hand to comfort her: "Don't worry, just act more convincingly later, and everything will turn out fine."

Led by Zhang Wu, Lin Xuan and Shen Qingyi entered the Golden Palace.

The civil and military officials stood on both sides of the hall, all staring at him with sidelong glances, the atmosphere so oppressive it felt frozen.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Qian sat high, his anger already accumulating to the extreme, his rage barely contained, just a moment away from exploding completely.

Before the two could even regain their footing, Emperor Qian spoke in a deep, icy voice:

"Your Highness!"

Today, you and the Crown Princess knelt outside Chengtian Gate, disturbing the court and the people, and drawing criticism from all!

You must explain yourself to me today!

What exactly is the meaning behind this move? What is its true purpose?

The hall was deathly silent, all eyes fixed on Lin Xuan, waiting for his reply.

Lin Xuan stood silently, his expression calm, and did not offer any explanation.

Just then, Shen Qingyi beside him suddenly went limp and knelt heavily in the hall with a thud!

She raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at Emperor Qian on the dragon throne, her cries mournful and sorrowful, each word dripping with blood:

"Father! I beg you, Father, to do justice for your son!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, tears streamed down her face like broken pearls, making her look pitiful and extremely grief-stricken.

The entire hall of civil and military officials was instantly stunned.

Emperor Qian was also slightly taken aback.

He initially thought the Crown Prince kneeling in the palace was an act of arrogance and recklessness, a result of his favor with the emperor.

But seeing the Crown Princess's broken-down, tearful, and aggrieved appearance, he suddenly realized something.

Today's events are not as simple as he thought!

Shen Qingyi, suppressing a sob, raised the secret letter high above her head, her voice trembling with grief:

"Father! The Third Prince, Lin Fu, has secretly sent a letter to me!"

He forced me to publicly testify that the current Crown Prince is an imposter and not the true heir apparent!

He even made threatening remarks!

If I refuse to comply!

He then secretly plotted to kill his father, who was imprisoned in the imperial prison!

On one side is her husband's innocence! On the other is her biological father's life!

Your son had no other choice but to resort to this desperate measure.

"I beg Your Majesty to investigate! I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice for the Shen family and for the Crown Prince!!"

Upon hearing this, the entire Golden Palace resounded with a deafening roar!

The officials' expressions changed drastically, and they all turned to look at the Third Prince in astonishment!

Emperor Qian's face instantly turned icy cold, and his eyes blazed with fury!

He immediately raised his hand to signal to the eunuch Li Fuquan beside him.

"Bring it up!"

Li Fuquan quickly descended from the palace, respectfully accepted the secret letter with both hands, and swiftly presented it to the emperor's desk.

Emperor Qian lowered his head and quickly scanned the letter, reading ten lines at a glance.

The more he looked, the darker his expression became, and a murderous intent surged between his brows!

The letter was full of threats and inducements, every word was malicious, and every sentence was meant to coerce the emperor's sister-in-law and frame the crown prince!

"Bang!!"

Emperor Qian was furious and slammed his palm hard on the dragon throne!

The stationery on the dragon-shaped desk bounced up, splattering ink everywhere!

Just as the court was filled with fear and chaos, Lin Xuan stepped forward and raised his hand in front of everyone.

He grabbed the prince's crown and belt with both hands and yanked it hard!

The crown prince and court robes of the current emperor were removed in public!

Dressed in plain clothes, he stood in the center of the Golden Palace!

Lin Xuan's gaze was open and honest, his voice steady and resonant, echoing throughout the entire hall:

"Father."

Your subject kneels at the palace gate today not to cause trouble or act improperly, nor to force the emperor to abdicate.

It is not that I am incompetent!

Even his own wife was being coerced!

The position of crown prince is not worthy of his position.

Today, your son begs Your Majesty to abolish my position as Crown Prince!

After the words were spoken, there was complete silence!

The entire court was utterly stunned!

No one expected that the Crown Prince would actually request to be deposed in court!

The entire court was shaken. Emperor Qian slammed his fist on the dragon throne in fury, his face contorted with rage, and the entire hall exuded an overwhelming aura of power.