Amidst everyone's shocked gazes, Mu Hansu grew even more smug. "That woman followed Father Emperor even before he ascended the throne. Therefore, her child should be Father Emperor's eldest son!"
He suddenly pointed at the Crown Prince. "Father Emperor's eldest son should never have been someone as incompetent and foolish as you!"
The Crown Prince of Da Yue Dynasty was not necessarily required to be the son of the Empress.
In fact, the previous Emperor was the eldest son, and the Emperor before him was also the eldest son. Many in the court had followed them because they were the eldest sons.
Now, in Mu Hansu's words, the Emperor's eldest son was someone else entirely. How could this not shock people?
But what Song Chaoyu did not expect was that what the Emperor was thinking at this moment was not anything else!
He opened his mouth and asked, "Where is Jiao Niang? Where is she? The child? Where are they all?"
This question, once asked, how could it not chill the Crown Prince's heart?
Even Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi exchanged glances and shook their heads simultaneously.
The Emperor was still the same Emperor, the Emperor who was truly cold and heartless at his core.
"Hahaha!"
Seeing the Emperor like this, Mu Hansu became even more triumphant. "I knew it, Father Emperor has always been this kind of person. Back then, Jiao Niang took the child and left, she..."
"Mu Hansu!"
However, before Mu Hansu could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Mu Changxi.
Since the Emperor had not given the Crown Prince any face, Mu Changxi seemed to have no intention of giving the Emperor any face either.
He merely glanced at the Emperor and then said, "Even if what Mu Hansu says is true, the identities of that Jiao Niang and her child are unclear, and their bloodline is also unclear. Father Emperor, I fear now is not the time to consider them, is it?"
The Emperor lowered his head, clearly not agreeing with Mu Changxi's words.
His attitude made Song Chaoyu find it even more laughable: the empire was about to be lost, and the Emperor was still being toyed with by Mu Hansu!
"Chang'er, you don't need to say anything more!"
The Emperor also glanced at the Crown Prince, perhaps thinking that the Crown Prince had never disobeyed him in the past.
Therefore, even at this moment, the Emperor did not fully regard the Crown Prince.
His attitude towards Mu Changxi was no longer the same as before. "I have been searching for Jiao Niang for many years, and now that I finally have news of her, I must go and see her and the child."
"Then what do you consider the Empress, and what do you consider my mother concubine!?"
Mu Changxi clenched his fists at his side. "Are you willing to risk the lives and safety of everyone in the Guande Hall for something that Mu Hansu might be lying to you about? Father Emperor, you are not only the one Jiao Niang lost in her youth, but you are also the Emperor of all of us!"
With Mu Changxi's persistence, the Emperor's brows furrowed tighter. "What, you know I am the Emperor too? Chang'er, you are too presumptuous today!"
He even pointed at Song Chaoyu. "Do you and the Princess of Chang have that kind of feeling? Whether it's the Empress or your mother concubine, they are all very important to me. But Jiao Niang is also important, and Jiao Niang has given birth to my child. I must—"
"Father Emperor!"
Seeing the Emperor and Mu Changxi at loggerheads, even the Crown Prince could not help but step forward, standing in front of the Emperor and interrupting him. "If Father Emperor insists on being so headstrong, then do not blame your son for being impolite."
"Crown Prince? Even you..."
The Emperor's brows knitted fiercely, and his gaze at the Crown Prince was filled with disbelief. "You all indeed have disloyal intentions towards me, don't you? Crown Prince, you are my Crown Prince!"
"Yes, your son is the Crown Prince."
The Crown Prince's gaze, however, became even more resolute amidst the assassins. "Father Emperor is the Emperor, and your son is the Crown Prince. Father Emperor and your son must be responsible for the people of Da Yue Dynasty!"
He waved his hand and pointed at everyone in the Guande Hall. "Father Emperor and your son must also be responsible for everyone in the Guande Hall, mustn't we? If it's just for Jiao Niang and the child whose identity as Father Emperor's child is unknown, and you are willing to put everyone in danger. Your son is afraid he cannot do such a thing."
"Guards!"
The Crown Prince suddenly called out towards the outside, and several hidden guards emerged from the shadows.
"Crown Prince, what are you doing?!"
The Emperor was clearly flustered, but the Crown Prince's eyes held an unprecedented determination. "Take Father Emperor to rest! I will handle the rest."
Excellent!
For some reason, Song Chaoyu felt this way in her heart.
As long as the Crown Prince took charge of everything, it would be excellent! The Emperor was no longer a trustworthy person, and at this moment, the Crown Prince must step forward.
"Let me go!"
The Emperor, seeing that he could not defeat the Crown Prince, tried to struggle. "Crown Prince, I am the Emperor, your Father Emperor! Are you going to rebel against me like Mu Hansu?"
"Father Emperor, it's best to rest early!"
When facing the Emperor, the Crown Prince's eyes finally held no other emotion, only coldness. "It is not your son who is rebelling against Father Emperor today, but Father Emperor who is not giving your son and everyone else a way to live. When things are resolved, your son will bring Jiao Niang and that child to Father Emperor's sight. But before that, please Father Emperor rest well. Your son will do everything well and will certainly not disappoint Father Emperor, nor will he cause Father Emperor any worry!"
"Father Emperor!"
At this moment, the Emperor's eyes finally showed panic. "Are you trying to imprison me?! Crown Prince, you were not like this before!"
"Father Emperor, you were not like this before either!"
The Crown Prince looked at the Emperor's eyes, and finally, a hint of helplessness emerged. "Your son does not want to be like this, but you are forcing your son to be like this. Your son also wants the Father Emperor from before, the Father Emperor who was called a 'wise ruler' by everyone. It doesn't matter how much Father Emperor dislikes your son or makes things difficult for your son. But you cannot joke with the people of the world, you cannot joke with the common people. Father Emperor, please rest well!"
"Good, good!"
The Emperor seemed to realize at this moment that many things had completely changed. "You are all very good, your wings have hardened, haven't they? You can all disregard me, can't you? But this empire is still my empire! You are acting so recklessly, aren't you afraid that I—"
"Not afraid!"
The Crown Prince sneered. "Anyway, Father Emperor's prejudice against your son is not a matter of one or two days. Your son has nothing to fear in his heart. As long as everyone can get out of this predicament now, your son will not care about anything else."
He waved his hand, seemingly unwilling to say more to the Emperor. "Take Father Emperor to rest. I will naturally handle the matters ahead!"
But seeing him like this, Song Chaoyu felt a sense of relief.
If he and Mu Changxi had been like this earlier, would things have turned out differently? The current Emperor was truly disheartening!