Shocking! Five men are in love with the same woman!

Besides, Emperor Jingzhao was not short of people to comfort and care for him.

Didn't you see how many people gathered around?

But the first to step forward was Consort Li, who truly loved Emperor Jingzhao.

But Emperor Jingzhao truly loved Consort Li. With so many people around him, he only showed concern for the others and kept comforting Consort Li.

After everyone had expressed their concern for Emperor Jingzhao.

Seeing that Emperor Jingzhao's expression was very bad, Xiao Muyao said, "Everyone has been frightened tonight, so let's go back to the palace to rest. The palace is safe now, and my father and I still have many matters to attend to."

Upon hearing this, everyone was very sensible and obedient, quietly bowing to Emperor Jingzhao, Xiao Muyao, and taking their leave.

Before leaving, the Empress and the Eighth Princess looked at Xiao Muyao with great reluctance and unease.

Xiao Muyao gave them a reassuring look, and the two left with peace of mind.

Once only the father and son remained in the hall, Xiao Muyao quickly stepped forward to Emperor Jingzhao and asked with concern, "Father, are you alright this time?"

Emperor Jingzhao did not respond upon hearing this.

He sat there quietly, as if all his strength had been drained away.

His once dignified and solemn face was now filled with weariness and sorrow.

Those deep wrinkles, like scars etched by time, are even more profound and obvious.

His hair seemed to turn even whiter in that instant, losing its former luster, like withered weeds in late autumn.

His shoulders slumped slightly, and his once straight spine was now somewhat bent.

The dragon robe, a symbol of imperial power, now appeared somewhat dull and lackluster, as if it had lost its former majesty.

His lips moved slightly, emitting a barely audible sigh.

That sigh was filled with endless pain and helplessness, as if it were a lament from the depths of the soul.

His face was as pale as paper, devoid of any color, as if his life force had been drained away at that moment.

At this moment, Emperor Jingzhao was like a statue eroded by time, filled with a sense of vicissitude and lifelessness.

This blow seems to have been quite severe, damaging his mental and emotional well-being, which evokes pity and sighs.

He murmured in anguish, "Have I done wrong all these years? Is that why this wicked son is so resentful that he dares to rebel? If I had paid more attention to the other princes, would things have been different...?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Muyao comforted him, saying, "Why should Father punish himself for the mistakes of others? This matter is not Father's fault. It is his own ambition and greed that caused this. The reason he said that Father was not good enough to them was just to cover up the fact that he himself is an ambitious person. Even if Father dotes on him, he will still have the same ambition."

Emperor Jingzhao carefully pondered Xiao Muyao's words, each one deeply touching his complex and indescribable emotions.

He knew perfectly well that what Lao Liu said was true; this truth was both cruel and realistic.

But he was still stung by those words, and his beloved son forced him to revolt. He was angry, heartbroken, pained, and regretful.

He fell seriously ill after suffering a huge blow to his mind.

After examining the patients, the imperial physicians only said that the injury had damaged the foundation of the body and that proper care and rest were necessary for recovery.

One should also avoid being stimulated or experiencing extreme joy or sorrow.

As for the others, they are all psychological problems.

They had no choice but to let His Majesty figure out how to overcome this hurdle.

Xiao Muyao showed no surprise upon hearing the imperial physician's diagnosis.

He instructed the imperial physicians to treat him diligently and also instructed Eunuch Yuan to take good care of him before leaving Longteng Palace.

It was already dawn, and presumably the princes and court officials had all received news of the eleventh prince's plot to force the emperor to abdicate and rebel.

With his father falling ill, he was now responsible for everything.

These past two days have been a non-stop journey, day and night. Once back in Beijing, I haven't had a moment's rest since.

But the matter was of great importance, so he could only force himself to deal with what was to come.

After arriving at the Golden Palace.

At this time, all the ministers and princes who participated in government affairs had arrived.

But they found that many people were missing from the court.

They had actually received some information, but they didn't dare to speak up easily.

Fortunately, all is well now, and this rebellion has presumably been suppressed.

The missing ministers are likely those who participated in the rebellion or those who had already sided with that person.

They never expected that the eleventh prince was hiding his true identity so well; they had never realized it.

They're doing big things quietly!

It was already time for the morning court session, but the ministers did not see Emperor Jingzhao. Instead, the Crown Prince had arrived.

Seeing their puzzled expressions, Xiao Muyao explained, "Father fell ill last night. The imperial physician said he needs to rest. Until Father recovers, I will be in charge of all state affairs."

The civil and military officials understood immediately.

His Majesty's illness must have been caused by the Eleventh Prince!

Now that His Majesty is bedridden, it is only reasonable and proper for His Highness the Crown Prince to take charge of state affairs as the heir apparent.

So everyone replied in unison, "We will obey His Highness the Crown Prince's orders."

Next, Xiao Muyao explained in detail the Eleventh Prince's attempt to force the emperor to abdicate and rebel.

Although he knew that most of the court officials had received the news, they did not know the specific details.

His voice was not loud, but every word was powerful, like a sharp sword pointing straight to the heart.

The heavy feeling and urgency were felt by everyone present.

After Xiao Muyao recounted the details of the eleventh prince's coup attempt,

A chorus of righteous indignation suddenly erupted in the imperial court, as powerful and resounding as thunder on a summer afternoon.

"The Eleventh Prince's actions are utterly outrageous, extremely disobedient and unfilial. How dare he commit such a disrespectful act against His Majesty!" An old minister rebuked in a trembling voice, his beard shaking slightly with emotion.

“Exactly! He is not only unfilial, but also unjust. He has completely disregarded brotherly affection and even harmed his concubines and brothers and sisters. He is truly depraved!” Another minister chimed in, his eyes flashing with indignation.

"If it weren't for His Highness the Crown Prince's wisdom and courage in arriving in time, our Great Zhao would have been plunged into an abyss of no return, with unimaginable consequences." A minister praised loudly, expressing his heartfelt admiration for Xiao Muyao's bravery and decisiveness.

“Indeed, the eleventh prince is ruthless. If he succeeds, the consequences will be unpredictable. His Highness the Crown Prince’s actions are a blessing for our Great Zhao and a boon for all the people!” The ministers echoed, their words filled with approval and admiration for Xiao Muyao.

Faced with the court officials' indignation and praise, Xiao Muyao slightly raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

Then, in a steady and powerful voice, he said, "What you say makes sense, my dear ministers, but this is not the time for discussion. The most urgent task is to deal with this traitor."

After he finished speaking, the court was once again filled with discussion.

Opinions differ on how to deal with the eleventh prince and his cronies.

Some advocated for harsh punishments and severe laws, including the execution of nine generations of the offender's family as a warning to others.

Some felt that punishing nine generations of a family was too cruel, and that punishing three generations would suffice.

Others believe that only the ringleaders and criminals should be punished, and their families should not be implicated.

Xiao Muyao listened quietly until everyone had finished speaking.

His face darkened, and he declared with an unwavering determination: "Treason is an unforgivable crime. If we do not exterminate nine generations of a family, everyone will dare to follow suit, thinking that even if they fail, it will not be a big deal. This will cause chaos in the court and the entire nation. Therefore, I am going to make an example of someone to warn others and let them know that the crime of treason is unforgivable and will not be tolerated."

After speaking, his gaze swept sharply over the princes below.

It was a silent warning, and also an irresistible authority.

The princes felt the pressure and lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

Then Xiao Muyao turned his gaze to the entire court of civil and military officials.

The ministers also involuntarily lowered their heads.

It wasn't that she felt guilty; rather, she was intimidated by the Crown Prince's imposing aura.

The Crown Prince's gaze was terrifying; they couldn't bear it!

After this matter was discussed, the next step was to discuss how to handle the daily morning court sessions.

After finishing all his business and attending the morning court session, Xiao Muyao went to Longteng Palace.

Everyone else has been dealt with, so the eleventh prince, the mastermind, cannot escape punishment either.

With his father's kind heart, he couldn't predict whether the emperor would choose to spare his life this time.

But no matter what the Emperor thinks, the eleventh prince must die!

He will never let him live.