My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

"Your Highness, this concubine is entangled with a court official; could it be that they intend to commit adultery within the harem?"

Prime Minister Wen's brows furrowed instantly. He was more than ten years older than the emperor, old enough to be a grandfather, and much older than this Consort Xian. How could anyone associate them with promiscuity?

But when he saw the Crown Prince and the people behind him, he immediately understood.

He's fallen into a trap.

Looking at Consort Xian's equally frightened and astonished appearance, one can tell that she was also one of those who had been schemed against.

His expression turned serious, with a hint of sternness.

“You eunuchs, stop talking nonsense! I only came to visit His Majesty and happened to meet Consort Xian. She was worried about His Majesty's health and almost fainted from worry. I comforted her a little. How did it become such a filthy thing in your mouth?”

Pei Yuyan relaxed, straightened his sleeves, raised his eyes, and said coldly, "Is the Prime Minister's so-called comfort just hugging and pulling?"

As the emperor's tutor, Prime Minister Wen also taught the crown prince.

However, after teaching for only a short period of time, he privately asked the emperor for permission to resign.

It's not that the Crown Prince isn't smart; on the contrary, he is extremely intelligent. It's just that he hasn't used his intelligence for good.

He clearly has a talent for learning to read and write, and he can even understand writing and reading articles very quickly, but he likes to pretend that he is not good at it.

Deliberately misspelling a few words or reciting a few passages incorrectly is just to attract the attention of others.

He is also very good at lying and hiding his emotions.

Prime Minister Wen was of an upright character and disliked such deceitful practices, even though he was the Crown Prince. These were all trivial matters, but small things reveal character, and he was truly displeased that such a young child was full of lies.

But the crown prince was generally intelligent. Perhaps lying and being overly sensitive are common traits of those in power. He didn't say much to the emperor before resigning.

When the crown prince grew up and was able to handle state affairs, he discovered that the prince not only had not changed his childhood bad habits, but had become even more stubborn.

His humility and deference in public were all fake; now, he has finally revealed his true colors.

Prime Minister Wen let out a long sigh: "If you want to find fault, you can always find a pretext. Your Highness, please just say what you want."

"I know the Prime Minister is innocent, but others don't. I am the Crown Prince, and what I say cannot convince everyone, unless—"

Unless he becomes emperor, standing above millions of people, he can say whatever he wants.

"Your Highness, please be careful with your words and actions, for His Majesty is listening."

Pei Yuyan chuckled softly, his tone laced with sarcasm, "Father is seriously ill, and it is unknown when he will wake up. This country cannot be without a ruler for a single day, don't you think?"

“Pei Yuyan, you truly have the heart of a wolf. I have vouched for you many times before His Majesty, how can you be so rebellious and disregard human ethics? I have the edict His Majesty issued before he fainted. The Empress Dowager is recuperating in the palace. Don’t think that just because His Majesty is unconscious, you can do whatever you want.”

"What does the Prime Minister mean? I don't understand."

The two exchanged words back and forth. Consort Xian, who was standing to the side, finally understood a thing or two. She opened her eyes wide, stood up straight, and pointed at Pei Yuyan's nose, cursing him.

"So, you actually wanted to kill your father and usurp the throne. Fortunately, His Majesty was prepared. The imperial edict clearly states that you are not the heir to the throne. It is my Han'er. You can forget about taking away what belongs to my Han'er!"

Pei Yuyan didn't even bother to look at her. He raised his hand, and Chen Desheng immediately ordered someone to cover her mouth and drag her away.

"If the Prime Minister is wise, he should hand over the items, and His Highness the Crown Prince can then ensure the Wen family's prosperity for a hundred years."

Chen Desheng, with his delicate fingers twirling, wore a smug expression, which made Prime Minister Wen's face tremble with anger. He was already old, and this anger almost made him faint.

He clutched his chest, his body trembling slightly: "The late emperor and His Majesty trusted me, which is why they allowed me to enter the cabinet and become prime minister. I will never ruin the century-old foundation of the Great Yan for my own selfish desires."

"Fortunately, His Majesty had already issued an edict. How could someone as disloyal and unfilial as you shoulder the heavy responsibility of the country?"

Pei Yuyan had already guessed that the edict left by the emperor did not say that he was in charge of the country, but he still held onto the hope that he would remember his mother and their father-son relationship.

Even though he was mentally prepared, he still felt a chill and a sense of sarcasm when he actually heard that the person in charge wasn't him.

Everyone said he was the most perfect crown prince, his knowledge and abilities were obvious to all, and he was a half-emperor who could inspire the heavens and enlighten the sages. Only the emperor did not believe in him and did not use him.

If he had trusted his son even a little, he wouldn't have ended up like this.

Pei Yuyan narrowed his eyes and waved his hand: "Take it down."

"The Prime Minister and the Virtuous Consort were having an affair in the palace and were plotting a rebellion. They have been imprisoned in the Dali Temple and the entire Wen clan is confined to the mansion and is not allowed to step out."

As soon as he finished speaking, guards stepped forward to detain the two of them.

"Let's see who dares to do this! I am the Imperial Tutor and the Prime Minister of this dynasty. Even His Majesty would not dare to arrest me without evidence. You are merely acting as regent; what right do you have to arrest me?"

Pei Yuyan commanded the Imperial Guards, who only obeyed the emperor. Naturally, they were afraid of being reprimanded by Minister Wen and none of them dared to make a move to arrest anyone.

"What if I possessed this item?"

Pei Yuyan calmly took something out of his pocket, and everyone in the room knelt down and kowtowed upon seeing this.

"Long live my emperor."

That was actually the Imperial Seal of the State.

After the emperor fell seriously ill, this item never appeared. Although Pei Yuyan was able to act as regent, without it, he had no decision-making power and could not command the officials.

"Impossible! When did you obtain the Imperial Seal?!"

"Take it."

Pei Yuyan didn't want to waste any more time with him; he only wanted to get the imperial edict from him immediately so that he could truly control the Imperial Guards. At that point, the emperor's life or death would no longer matter.

The kneeling guards were about to detain the prime minister again.

Then he said sternly, "Wait a minute. Do you think you can command the Imperial Guard just because you have the Imperial Seal? The Imperial Guard has never obeyed the Imperial Seal, but the Jade Unicorn Talisman. Fortunately, I have already sent the Jade Unicorn Talisman out of the capital."

As he spoke, he pulled a bright yellow scroll from his pocket.

The ties are loosened, and the scroll flutters gently.

"The Emperor's edict of the Great Yan is here. Why don't you kneel down and receive it?"

The people in the room looked at each other in bewilderment. No one knew who was the first to shout "Long live the Emperor!" and kneel down to kowtow. The others followed suit and bowed their heads.

Until only Pei Yuyan remained standing, his face was ashen, his eyes were cold, and his back was ramrod straight.

Prime Minister Wen ignored him and began reading the imperial edict directly.

"I have been unwell lately, feeling weak and fainting, and need to rest and recuperate. I fear that the country will be left without a ruler during this time, so I entrust the Jade Unicorn Talisman to Minister Wen for safekeeping. He and the person who holds the talisman are the backbone of the nation. Edict of the Emperor of Great Yan."

"Your Highness, why haven't you received the imperial decree yet?"

Pei Yuyan slowly clenched his fingers into a fist. Was he to accept his fate? How could he possibly accept it?

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: "That's it? I thought the Prime Minister had some real ability."

"Close the palace gates."

The eunuch outside slammed the palace door shut, and dozens of armored guards suddenly emerged from the shadows inside.

In less than a moment, they had captured everyone in the hall.

Prime Minister Wen's face was splattered with blood. Before he lost consciousness, his face was still filled with disbelief. He had underestimated the ruthlessness of the Crown Prince.

Pei Yuyan slowly walked out of the bedchamber. Chen Desheng hunched over and whispered, "Your Highness, that old scoundrel really doesn't have the Jade Unicorn Talisman on him. The Wen family has been searched thoroughly. I'm afraid he really did send it out of the capital. If... he sends it to the border, then we'll be in big trouble."

"Would Father dare to search for that cheap imperial uncle of mine? At most, he'd send a few generals from the surrounding area to chase after him."

Half an hour later, the eunuch arrived in a hurry.

"Your Highness, we've found out. A group of people left the capital from the Wen residence the day before yesterday and headed to Pingzhen."

Pei Yuyan narrowed his eyes slightly. What a coincidence, it was Pingzhen again.

"Your Highness, who do you intend to send?"

"Go alone."

It's perfect to have both the Jade Unicorn Talisman and Wei Nanxun in one place.