Things in the palace could not be kept secret.
Emperor Yongxing was so enraged by the matter of Prince Zhou’s profiteering from smuggled salt that he almost spat blood.
He declared that unless Prince Chen died, he would never be made crown prince.
Shen Yun looked at Liang Jingchen, who lay on the couch with a relaxed expression, and said, "Your Highness, the knife is at your throat, yet you are not in a hurry."
Liang Jingchen spread his hands, looking casual. "Isn't this what Lord Shen intended?"
Shen Yun had no answer to this.
In fact, they had already discovered the matter of Prince Zhou's profiteering from smuggled salt long ago.
However, he had suppressed it, forbidding them from revealing it.
The decision to expose it at this particular time was due to a comprehensive assessment.
With Prince Chen severely injured, it was the best opportunity for Prince Zhou to ascend the throne.
Unfortunately, he himself was not clean, and he had committed the offense that the Emperor most abhorred: dealing in smuggled salt.
This was clearly intended to put him to death.
Of course, Shen Yun was overly cautious. He worried that this alone would not be enough to put significant pressure on Prince Zhou, so he added the matter of smuggled salt.
Now, with these two matters, Prince Zhou could be definitively nailed to the pillar of shame.
Su Xiaoqi, however, was somewhat worried, "What if Prince Zhou makes a desperate move?"
Through these incidents, Su Xiaoqi realized that although Prince Zhou himself had little power and ability,
due to his status, he naturally gathered many capable ministers around him.
One person's idea is short, but three people's ideas are long.
When there are more people, thinking becomes more comprehensive.
Therefore, Su Xiaoqi did not fear Prince Zhou, but she had to consider his entourage carefully.
Especially since Zhao Xiaohua had now become his consort.
She was different from others; perhaps others could not stir up much trouble.
But she was someone with special experiences.
Su Xiaoqi was deeply concerned.
Shen Yun looked at her with concern and comforted her, "My lady, there's no need to worry. What we want is for them to cause chaos."
Shen Yun told Su Xiaoqi that simply making Prince Zhou fall out of favor with the Emperor was enough with these two matters.
However, to completely crush Prince Zhou and disqualify him from inheriting the throne forever, these two matters alone were still insufficient.
Su Xiaoqi frowned. If this was not enough, what else could they do?
"What I want is for them to make a desperate move," Shen Yun said.
Su Xiaoqi's eyes widened in surprise, and she said uncertainly, "I roughly understand. No emperor can tolerate his son plotting rebellion while he is still on the throne.
As long as he dares to act, it means he has lost the possibility of becoming the crown prince for life.
Just like Prince Ping before.
But Prince Zhou is not Prince Ping; he has many elite troops and formidable generals under him.
What if they actually succeed?"
Shen Yun chuckled and said it was impossible.
They chose this path precisely because they had considered this aspect.
"Besides, my lady, you underestimate our Emperor," Shen Yun smiled.
He told Su Xiaoqi not to worry, that their Emperor was a man who hid his true depths.
Su Xiaoqi suddenly thought it through.
Indeed, if he truly had no ideas, how could he have survived the storm over ten years ago?
And how could he still be alive and well after being exiled for more than ten years?
He returned to the capital and, in the quickest and least costly way, seized the throne.
The reason she had this worry was perhaps due to his usual impression of being weak and gentle.
She had forgotten that he was a tiger.
This tiger had been recuperating for too long, and its sharp teeth were hard to conceal.
It was time to reveal its fangs.
In the palace, Emperor Yongxing, revealing his fangs, summoned the Imperial Guards and ordered them to apprehend Prince Zhou and thoroughly investigate the matter.
Prince Zhou's side quickly received the news and panicked.
He knew very well what it meant for the Imperial Guards to be dispatched.
Upon receiving the secret order from the palace to apprehend him, Prince Zhou, in his panic, sought out Zhao Xiaohua to discuss countermeasures.
"Don't panic, don't panic!" Zhao Xiaohua frowned in disdain as she looked at the pale and terrified Prince Zhou.
"Your Highness, why are you panicking? We've prepared everything. At worst, we can rebel against him, and you can ascend the throne as Emperor."
Prince Zhou hesitated. That was his father, the Emperor.
He was somewhat afraid.
However, under Zhao Xiaohua's persuasion, and the fear of being thrown into the Imperial Prison, he ultimately chose to follow Zhao Xiaohua's advice.
Before the Imperial Guards could arrive, he fled the prince's mansion through the back door with Zhao Xiaohua and Su Yurou.
They arrived at the residence of the Marquis of Dingbian.
He had always been his most loyal supporter.
Moreover, he held military power.
Prince Zhou poured out his woes to the Marquis of Dingbian, immediately swaying the Marquis, who was already dissatisfied with the Emperor and Shen Yun's faction.
He agreed to dispatch troops.
However, it required planning.
After Prince Zhou left, the housekeeper came in to advise the Marquis, "General, now is not the right time."
"I know, but what of it? They made me cut off my lineage, leaving me no face to face the ancestors.
What of it if I rebel against him!"
The Marquis of Dingbian's voice was filled with ferocity.
He couldn't understand why, despite his life of campaigning, he had never done anything wrong, yet he was only allowed to have one son.
Tragically, this son turned out not to be his own, but the offspring of an old bald monk.
For a moment, he didn't know whether to hate himself, hate that woman, or hate that child, besides hating that old monk.
Of course, he hated the person who revealed the truth even more.
Originally, he knew nothing, and life was peaceful.
Unfortunately, none of this went as planned.
Now that he knew everything, it ignited the source of some tragedies.
From then on, seeing Shen Yun was like seeing his own head covered in green.
Furthermore, Shen Yun's favor with the Emperor caused him, a general who was highly regarded by the former Emperor, to lose his status before the new Emperor.
The accumulation of numerous contradictions and internal anxieties made him choose sides without hesitation, standing in opposition to Shen Yun.
He had no prince he wanted to support.
He simply wanted to oppose Shen Yun.
Whatever Shen Yun supported, he would oppose.
Whatever Shen Yun opposed, he would support.
As for the housekeeper's advice now, he understood it in his heart.
Their Emperor was not as approachable as he appeared on the surface.
He was merely hiding his claws.
He knew even more clearly that at this point, he had no way back.
In fact, everyone in the court needed a way back.
Only he did not.
Because he had no son, his family line was extinguished.
What need did he have for a way back?
If he lost, at worst, he would just die.
As for winning, it would only allow him to vent his anger.
When a person wants less, they become fearless.
Prince Zhou was somewhat distrustful when he placed his bet on him, but soon, the Marquis of Dingbian took an action that surprised him.
He raised his troops.
He marched under the banner of eliminating traitors of the Great Liang Dynasty.
His target was Shen Yun.
He accused Shen Yun of marrying a princess of Bei Chu yet remaining an official in the court, which was a favor from the Emperor.
However, Shen Yun, ungrateful, had been secretly colluding with Bei Chu, planning to act against the Great Liang Dynasty.
The Marquis of Dingbian's thirty thousand troops surrounded the capital.
Emperor Yongxing in the palace heard of this and was furious.
Coincidentally, Ji Chenggang came to report that Prince Zhou was not in his mansion and could not be found anywhere in the capital.
Someone had seen Prince Zhou go to the Marquis of Dingbian's residence after leaving his own.
"Hmph, you bastard," Emperor Yongxing was not foolish. With Ji Chenggang's clear explanation, he understood.
The matter of the Marquis of Dingbian's rebellion was undoubtedly orchestrated by his good son.
Since he was unrighteous, he would also be unmerciful.
"Decree it. Order Su Ze to lead the troops to quell the rebellion," Emperor Yongxing's voice carried weariness.
"Then His Highness Prince Zhou?" Ji Chenggang added with concern.
"Prince Zhou has associated closely with those who committed treason. He is to be deposed and made a commoner. Bring him before me immediately," Emperor Yongxing said, sighing, his heart full of exhaustion.