The Second Prince had previously envisioned that the biggest obstacle would be none other than the Crown Prince.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince was dealt with easily, but these veteran ministers standing in the way proved to be quite troublesome.

After all, these people are not only close confidants of the Emperor but also the pillars of Great Chu. Even if he really ascended to the throne, he not only wouldn’t be able to touch these old ministers for a short time but would also have to rely on their support extensively.

Even if he wanted to remove these old ministers, he would have to first secure his position and reclaim most of the power.

Therefore, at this moment, he truly couldn’t turn against these old ministers or resort to extreme measures.

It should be noted that the Emperor has more than one son. The Crown Prince may be hopeless, but those brothers below might still have ambitions.

If he acted excessively, even if he forced everyone to agree today, once they leave the palace, it’s very possible they could unite to overthrow him.

Not to mention the Ninth Prince, a legitimate brother; if not handled properly, these veteran ministers could make the Ninth Prince the new Emperor and themselves the regents.

Establishing a barely one-year-old infant as Emperor would grant these ministers greater power than he would have as Emperor.

As soon as Consort Xian spoke, the Second Prince understood those intentions.

Unexpectedly, Madam of Gu Changqing refuted them, and now those Ladies of the Outer Court also agreed. Observing the approval among the female members of the clan left the Second Prince feeling a deep sense of crisis.

No matter how much foresight and strategy one has, he is still young. Previously, with the Emperor as his backing, the tasks assigned to him were not ones that offended people, so everyone was happy to lift him up with flowery praise. Even a small achievement would be exaggerated.

The Second Prince really hadn’t competed head-to-head with these ancient foxes before, and now with them disagreeing, he found himself unable to bear the burden.

Unable to resist, he sought a bit of help from those he trusted most.

Duke Qiguo’s eyes were bloodshot with hatred when he saw Song Hong, old and new grievances flooding back into his heart.

He knew that in the eyes of the Emperor, he did not have as much trust as Song Hong. The suffering his daughter endured, the suppression the Qi Family faced, it was impossible to regain footing and step over the Song Family under the Emperor’s rule.

Moreover, with his granddaughter married to the Second Prince as Princess Consort, their Duke Qiguo Residence and the Second Prince were inseparable.

His wife and daughter constantly reminded him that the Second Prince, born of noble lineage and marked by grace, was the most exalted among the princes, save for the Ninth Prince. The Emperor had always shown partiality towards this son.

Their family was already aligned with the Second Prince, so they wholeheartedly supported his ascension to the throne. When the time came, Duke Qiguo could then produce an Empress, and if the future Empress bore a prince, he would likely be the next Emperor.

An emperor who carried the bloodline of Duke Qiguo Residence could at least guarantee the glory and wealth of the mansion for several generations.

If it indeed turned out this way, what would the Song Family of the Duke Weiguo amount to? How to deal with the Song Family would be a matter for a single sentence from them.

Otherwise, if another prince ascended, especially if the Ninth Prince eventually took over, not only would the Second Prince lose hope, but the Duke Qiguo Mansion might not escape decline either.

Initially, Duke Qiguo managed to stay rational, thinking the matter was too risky, especially since the Emperor was still in prime health. If they aligned with the Second Prince and failed, it would result in the annihilation of their family.

But he couldn’t resist the constant persuasions of his wife and daughter. Adding to that, the Emperor had recently become indulgent, easing his hold on state affairs and allowing several elder princes to participate in governance.

The Second Prince, overwhelmingly humble, always showed respect to Duke Qiguo and addressed him as an elder in private, disregarding official titles.

Over time, Duke Qiguo couldn’t help but be tempted.

Furthermore, in many matters where the Second Prince mediated, Duke Qiguo had managed to halt the decline of recent years, and with the help of the Second Prince, members of the Wang Family Clan also secured numerous positions.

Throughout Duke Qiguo Residence and both inside and outside of the Wang Family Clan, devotion to the Second Prince was absolute. Everyone was singularly focused on how to ensure that, once the Second Prince ascended, their Wang Family would enjoy continuous prosperity and wealth.

To this end, he even helped the Second Prince draw in the Ruan Family.

Because of Lady Ruan, the Ruan Family held an irreconcilable grudge against the Song Family, making them a perfect match.

Today, the Second Prince smoothly seizing control within and outside the Imperial Palace was naturally thanks to the esteemed Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forest Army from the Ruan Family.

Duke Qiguo and Commander Ruan knew all too well that if Gu Changqing and those veteran ministers adamantly refused, further delay would only worsen their situation.

It must be understood that even for the Ninth Prince’s birthday banquet, it’s unheard of to keep people in the palace late into the night.

Once night fell and families didn’t see their relatives return, they would certainly become suspicious.

As long as someone from these families sent word outside the city, it must be known that they currently only controlled the Imperial Palace and were barely managing to hold a few city gates in the Capital City.

If word really got out, 30,000 Capital Imperial Army soldiers were stationed ten miles outside. If those soldiers were called to enter the Capital City and protect the imperial lineage, this small force of the Imperial Forest Army would not be enough to plug the gaps.

Therefore, it was necessary to strike decisively and complete the task today, so that even if the Capital Imperial Army received the news, the outcome would be already determined, and they would have no choice but to comply.

Duke Qiguo and Commander Ruan exchanged a look, both eyes revealing a murderous intent.

For today’s matter, there’s no turning back once acted upon. If they retreated now, all their efforts would be in vain, and the survival of many families might be at risk.

With a single glance, the two understood each other’s thoughts aligned with their own, and without much further thought, they whispered some words into the Second Prince’s ear.

The Second Prince’s expression changed continuously with their words.

In his view, ascending to the throne was paramount, and to do so with a good reputation would be ideal. No one desires infamy, right?

But if it truly came down to a choice, reputation became negligible, ascending to that position came first.

With just a brief thought, the Second Prince had made his decision.

He closed his eyes, made up his mind, and finally asked one last time, "Do you esteemed ministers really refuse to show me any respect?"

Gu Changqing and others naturally noticed the shift in the Second Prince’s demeanor and had their suspicions. But at this moment, they were also resolved, stating righteously, "We urge the Second Prince to reconsider! With His Majesty unconscious, the urgent task is to summon the Imperial Physician for treatment, other matters can be discussed later!"

The Second Prince’s patience had run dry, plagued by an indescribable unease, fearing that if delayed further, dreaded events might unfold.

So he merely nodded, "Since you esteemed ministers are so tactless, don’t blame me for being unkind! Guards—"

At his command, the Imperial Forest Army soldiers surrounding everyone unsheathed their swords and waist knives in unison, the gleaming blades aimed at the civil and military officials and the female relatives in the hall.