Beichen Yuan watched as the two were about to argue, feeling puzzled himself.

He had discovered the Third Prince’s poisoning attempt long ago and had already ordered the poison to be switched.

But why was the Crown Prince still poisoned?

Could it be that while the mantis stalked the cicada, the oriole lurked behind?

Beichen Yuan remained silent, quietly observing as the princes debated over the matter.

Eventually, suspicion fell upon the Second Prince, Xiao Ruici.

Xiao Ruicheng, seeing his second elder brother being falsely accused, immediately defended him, saying, “What does this have to do with my second brother? Everyone in court knows that he and the Crown Prince are close. How could he possibly harm him?”

Xiao Ruicheng glared angrily at the Third Prince and Consort Liu, as if fearing they would frame his second brother.

After all, they were full-blooded siblings, naturally closer than the other princes.

The Second Prince glanced at Xiao Ruicheng, signaling him to stop speaking.

“The innocent will be proven innocent. With Prince Liang and Beichen Yuan both present, the culprit won’t be able to escape,” Xiao Ruici said, cleverly pulling the two bystanders into the conflict.

Prince Liang quickly distanced himself, saying, “I should not comment on the struggle for the throne, but finding the culprit shouldn’t be difficult.”

Beichen Yuan looked at the Second Prince before speaking. “I’d be happy to help expose the poisoner.”

Dressed in a dark embroidered python robe, the War King exuded an imposing presence even while sitting.

Although the princes continued their arguments, none dared to ignore him.

Beichen Yuan didn’t speak, instead keeping an eye on the imperial physician’s assessment.

He wasn’t the only one waiting—so was the Third Prince.

If the Crown Prince died, no one would stand in his way.

The Second Prince lacked a powerful maternal family to rely on and was no threat.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince has requested your presence,” the imperial physician suddenly called out to Beichen Yuan.

Beichen Yuan strode forward.

The once joyous spring banquet had turned into a tense atmosphere where no one dared to breathe too loudly.

Looking at the pale-faced Crown Prince, Beichen Yuan sighed.

The Crown Prince lacked ruthless methods but was known for his benevolence and great vision, making him the ideal successor.

However, his weak health meant that even if the Emperor passed him the throne, he wouldn’t be able to hold onto it.

He had long known his fate, but he hadn’t expected that they wouldn’t even wait a few more months.

“Beichen… Beichen, I was useless. I fear I will… disappoint Father and you. If I die… please, protect my second brother… and help him ascend the throne. The Third Prince… is not suited for it,” Xiao Ruifeng pleaded, blood seeping from his lips.

Even at death’s door, he worried about the Third Prince’s rise to power.

They all knew that if the Third Prince became emperor, he wouldn’t tolerate the other princes.

Their fates would be sealed.

Beichen Yuan clasped the Crown Prince’s hand, nodding solemnly.

He had already planned to support the Second Prince, as he was the most suitable choice among them.

Having a weak maternal family was both a disadvantage and a strength—it meant there would be no external political interference after his ascension.

The Third Prince, on the other hand, had a powerful maternal family backing him.

But that was precisely why the late emperor never passed him the throne.

The last thing he wanted was for the imperial family to be controlled by outsiders.

Furthermore, the Third Prince lacked both strategy and leadership. If the Liu family continued to rise, even the imperial surname might change.

The conversation between the Crown Prince and Beichen Yuan was too quiet for others to hear.

When Beichen Yuan saw Xiao Ruifeng take his last breath, he slowly stood up and announced, “The Crown Prince has passed.”

As his words fell, everyone in the hall immediately knelt.

Before the mourning could begin, Beichen Yuan continued, “Before his death, the Crown Prince decreed that the throne be passed to the Second Prince, Xiao Ruici. The coronation ceremony will be held soon. As for the Crown Prince’s murder, I will personally investigate.”

“Wait!” The Third Prince suddenly stood up, interrupting.

Beichen Yuan’s gaze swept over him, instantly making him shrink back slightly.

“The Crown Prince was never officially enthroned, so he had no right to pass the throne. Now that he is dead, the new emperor should be chosen from among the princes,” Xiao Ruiye declared confidently.

In his mind, no one was more qualified than himself.

Beichen Yuan glanced at him and asked, “Who does the Third Prince think is the right choice?”

Xiao Ruiye was just about to say “me” when Beichen Yuan continued, “I say the Second Prince is the right choice. Does anyone here dare to object?”

Silence fell over the hall.

Even Consort Liu seemed momentarily flustered.

At this moment, Grand Secretary Liu stepped forward. “War King, that statement is incorrect. The selection of a new emperor is no trivial matter and should not be decided by just one person. Are you trying to monopolize power?”

Despite his fear of Beichen Yuan, Grand Secretary Liu was still a high-ranking official with some courage.

He also knew that Beichen Yuan could either be won over or eliminated if he refused to cooperate.

Beichen Yuan chuckled coldly. “The Crown Prince nominated the Second Prince. Since that was his decision, I will only recognize the Second Prince. If Grand Secretary Liu disagrees, then tell me—who else is more suitable?”

Grand Secretary Liu stroked his beard confidently. “Naturally, the Third Prince is the best choice. He is skilled in both literature and warfare and possesses the bearing of the late emperor. He is the most suitable heir.”

“Indeed! The Third Prince is kind and benevolent. He is the perfect choice!” Another official, loyal to the Third Prince, spoke up.

One by one, more than a dozen ministers stepped forward.

“We support the Third Prince’s ascension!”

“The nation cannot be without a ruler for even a day. We respectfully request the Third Prince to take the throne!”

“We respectfully request the Third Prince to take the throne!”

Beichen Yuan looked at the kneeling ministers and sneered. “So this is what the Liu family is relying on? These people? They are not enough for me to kill. Would Grand Secretary Liu like to bring out more?”

“What arrogance, War King! If they aren’t enough, how about them?”

With his supporters behind him, Xiao Ruiye straightened his back.

He clapped his hands, and two thousand armored guards suddenly appeared in the banquet hall.

The noblewomen screamed in terror as the golden-armored soldiers brandished their blades, charging directly toward Beichen Yuan.

Clearly, they had been prepared for this moment.

Seeing the battle unfold, Prince Liang and Prince Huainan finally found the banquet interesting.

They stepped aside, watching the chaos with amusement.

Xiao Ruici was surprised that the War King supported him.

Their relationship had never been particularly close.

However, he knew that Beichen Yuan had been close to the Crown Prince.

He hadn’t expected that after the Crown Prince’s death, Beichen Yuan would take his side.

This was truly unexpected.