The emperor faked his death? Never mind, I will ascend the throne directly!

The Royal Guards had no intention of fighting anymore, and now that their master had escaped, how could they have the will to fight again?

As the first soldier dropped his spear and knelt down first, the others followed suit and knelt down in a large crowd.

"We're all just trying to earn a salary, why risk our lives for others..."

"Yeah, I have a mother and children to support at home, there's no need to lose my life!"

"Your Highness the Third Prince is wise and powerful. I think he is the true candidate for the throne!"

"Li Chenghao deserted the battlefield, is he worthy of our loyalty?"

Seeing that the Royal Guards had defected one after another, He Sheng was overjoyed and his voice was as loud as thunder.

"The road to the Golden Throne Hall is now open. Please, Third Prince, ascend the throne!"

The soldiers behind him also raised their weapons and shouted, the sound was louder and louder, deafening.

"The road to the Golden Throne Hall is now open. Please, Third Prince, ascend the throne!"

"The road to the Golden Throne Hall is now open. Please, Third Prince, ascend the throne!"

In the rockery deep in the palace, Li Chenghao listened to the thunderous cheers from afar, his face turned pale and his body trembled uncontrollably.

He kept recalling Li Chengfeng's words "The emperor guards the country's gates, and the king dies for his country!", and his legs suddenly went weak and he collapsed to the ground!

"Hao'er, hurry up! It will be too late if you don't leave now!"

Concubine Liu pulled Li Chenghao up, and said with some regret.

"Mother, where else can we go? The entire palace is surrounded..."

Li Chenghao's face was ashen and his eyes were full of death.

"Humph, your father is suspicious by nature, and he has already made a backup plan."

"I have been running the harem for many years, and I know these secret passages very well!"

"Behind this rockery, there is a path that leads directly to the outskirts of the city!"

Li Chenghao waved his hands somewhat helplessly. "Third brother controls the Zhenbei Army and the Imperial Guards. No one in the world can stop their sharp edge. Even if we escape, what's the point..."

"Hao'er, Daqian has a vast territory. Your grandfather has been managing it outside the palace for many years. Is it as simple as you think?"

"Among the princes of various places, many are at odds with the Marquis of Zhenbei, and they have been in frequent contact with us before!"

"As long as you come forward and raise your arms, people from all over the country will respond..."

"Marquis Zhenbei? He's nothing more than an old, reckless man!"

As Concubine Liu spoke, she pushed open a hidden stone door deep in the rockery, revealing a pitch-black secret passage, and walked in first.

"go!"

...

At noon, in the Golden Palace.

Li Chengfeng was wearing armor and sitting on the dragon throne, looking majestic and stern.

"Your Highness, we have searched the entire palace and found no trace of the Crown Prince or Concubine Liu..."

"They seem to have escaped from the palace through some secret passage!"

At the foot of the stairs, a guard knelt on one knee and reported respectfully.

Li Chengfeng frowned slightly, and a cold light flashed in his eyes.

If you don't remove the roots of the grass, I'm afraid... it will grow again in the spring breeze!

"A bunch of rubbish! Can't even keep an eye on a living person?"

He Sheng raised his brows and shouted angrily.

"Forget it, uncle." Li Chengfeng waved his hand, signaling He Sheng to stay calm.

"If he ran away, he ran away. He's just a stray dog. He can't cause any trouble."

Li Chengfeng glanced at the left prime minister Song Zelin who was standing with his hands behind his back and spoke lightly.

"Master Song, do you have any good ideas?"

Song Zelin stroked his beard, seeming to be prepared.

"The eldest prince plotted treason and is now on the run..."

"Li Chenghao is disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unjust. He has colluded with foreign ministers and is plotting rebellion. Effective immediately, his position as Crown Prince is abolished and he is demoted to a commoner!"

"Also, Concubine Liu..."

"He has a vicious mind, harbors evil intentions, and murders loyal and good people. His crimes are unforgivable!"

"An imperial decree should be issued to all counties immediately, issuing a wanted order for these two men. Anyone harboring them will be treated as an accomplice and investigated!"

As soon as the words fell, the court fell silent!

The left prime minister who used to look like a good guy, accused Li Chenghao, the short-lived half-emperor, of treason right from the start!

The head of the Confucian scholars in the world, truly extraordinary!

"Then follow the left prime minister's wishes..."

Li Chengfeng's eyes flashed and he immediately gave the order.

After all, he is a time traveler, so he naturally knows the abilities of these people.

Song Zelin was a veteran of three dynasties. When it came to governing the country and maintaining peace, no one in the court could match him.

...

As night fell, the palace was brightly lit.

Against the backdrop of fires, a solemn atmosphere enveloped the entire palace.

The Zhenbei Army took over the duties of the Imperial Guards. They were wearing full armor and holding long spears, and were patrolling along the palace walls.

Pairs of hawk-like eyes scanned the surroundings vigilantly, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

"Ahem..." With a light cough, a patrol officer in armor stopped in front of the imperial study.

"You bastard! What time is it now? You still dare to sleep!"

"These are turbulent times. The entire city is under martial law. If you don't pay full attention to guarding His Highness, you will be killed if anything goes wrong!"

The two soldiers who were dozing against the wall were startled by the sudden roar. All sleepiness disappeared immediately and they stood up hurriedly. "Please forgive me, sir. I know I was wrong. Next time..."

"Hmph! There won't be a next time!" The officer snorted coldly, glanced at them fiercely, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, get ready! If I catch you slacking off again, I will kill you without mercy!"

"Yes, yes, sir!" The two soldiers were so frightened that their faces turned pale and they nodded repeatedly in agreement.

In the imperial study, Li Chengfeng, dressed in a simple dark suit, was sitting at his desk, oblivious to the minor incident outside.

The mountains of memorials record all matters, big and small, in every corner of the Daqian Dynasty, including some old and complicated cases.

By candlelight, he read very seriously, sometimes in deep thought, sometimes picking up a pen to make notes, as if he wanted to engrave the contents of the memorial into his mind.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by a guard's announcement: "Your Majesty, the Left Prime Minister, Lord Song, requests an audience!"

Li Chengfeng rubbed his somewhat sore brows, put down the memorial in his hand, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He muttered to himself, "Finally, I'm here..."

In the previous life, when Li Chenghao ascended the throne, Song Zelin also visited him late at night, but was turned away by the stubborn Li Chenghao, which eventually led to the Daqian Dynasty missing the opportunity and declining step by step.

In this life, he will never make the same mistake again.

"Xuan!"

Li Chengfeng patted his clothes and stood up to greet him.

...

Soon, Song Zelin walked hurriedly into the imperial study.

"Old minister, see your Majesty!"

Song Zelin bowed, his fatigue hard to hide in his tone.

"Sir Song, there is no need to be so polite. Please stand up quickly!" Li Chengfeng stepped forward and personally helped Song Zelin up in a gentle tone.

Wu should be headed by the Zhenbei Army.

Wen, Song Zelin is worthy of the name!

Daqian is now undercurrent, in addition to the open pressure from the Zhenbei Army...

What he needed more urgently was Song Zelin's good policy for governing the country!