Chapter 338 Beautiful Spider Spirit VS Cold and Ascetic Monk 42
Zichen Palace.

The ambergris rose in the air, and the beams and pillars made of golden nanmu looked more solemn under the candlelight.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn and dignified, and all the ministers stood in silence, awaiting the emperor's decision.

"Long live my emperor."

Following the orderly reverberations of greeting, Emperor Xuanwu, dressed in a dragon robe, slowly stepped into the Purple Palace, sweeping his majestic gaze over everyone present.

Finally, it fell on Xuan Ji, a man in the hall who was dressed in plain clothes, had an extremely handsome face, but also had a remarkable temperament.

Xuan Ji was the focus of the court today, and all the officials were secretly sizing him up, including Crown Prince Dugu Ye.

Although Emperor Xuanwu has not announced the news yet, people who are sensitive to information already know that Xuan Ji is the son of Concubine Min, and was secretly found by the emperor.

Judging from the situation today, it is obvious that he wants to restore his status as a prince.

"Everyone loves you."

Emperor Xuanwu walked to the dragon throne and sat down. He looked down at the civil and military officials in the court with a deep gaze and said in a loud and majestic voice: "My dear ministers, I have something to announce today. It concerns the bloodline of my royal family and the future of my Great Yu Kingdom."

When the ministers heard this, they knew what the emperor wanted to say, and their eyes drifted to Xuan Ji intentionally or unintentionally.

The same was true for Dugu Ye. He stood in the front of the ministers and saw Xuan Ji with a calm face out of the corner of his eye. He felt extremely complicated.

To him, Xuan Ji is both a brother and a love rival, and he doesn't know how to face him.

No one knows Dugu Ye's complicated mood.

Then, Emperor Xuanwu announced in a deep voice:
"My sixth son has lived among the common people since he was young. Fortunately, he was blessed by the Buddha and practiced Buddhism in the Wanfo Temple. His Buddhist name is Xuanji. Now his identity has been verified and he is undoubtedly my biological son. I am very relieved, but also feel guilty that he has not had the joy of reuniting with his father for many years."

When Emperor Xuanwu said this, his tone was filled with excitement and emotion.

"Your Majesty is destined by heaven. The return of the Sixth Prince is a blessing for the country of Dayu!"

An old minister was the first to kneel down.

The other ministers followed suit and shouted in unison: "God bless Dayu, the prince will return to the throne!"

Emperor Xuanwu raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up, and continued: "Since he is a prince, he must naturally recognize his ancestors. I have decided to restore Xuanji's status as the prince from today, grant him the title of King of Wei, and enjoy the treatment of a prince. From tomorrow on, he will participate in the government affairs to show his virtue."

"Your Majesty!"

The ministers knelt down again, each wondering in their hearts how this sudden change would affect the court situation.

Dugu Ye didn't care much about Xuan Ji's entry into the court.

After recovering his memories of his past life, he no longer cared much about power and status.

If Xuan Ji is willing to stop getting entangled with Yao'er from now on, he is willing to offer the position of crown prince with both hands.

Traveling with a beautiful child in my arms, eating, drinking and having fun, and being affectionate with each other, isn't it more comfortable for me than being a prince?
Xuan Ji was originally a monk, and with his cold and indifferent character, he did not want to compete with the world, and he had no interest in government affairs at all.

He stepped out of the line in an instant, bowed, and said in a calm voice: "Father, I grew up in the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple since I was young, and Buddhism has penetrated into my bones. I have no interest in government affairs, and it is not my forte."

Emperor Xuanwu had a complex expression, with both relief and regret. "My son, I admire your character very much. Since you have no interest in government affairs, I will not force you. If you don't want to attend court, then don't attend court."

He sighed softly and continued, "The return of the King of Wei is not only a joy for the royal family, but also a blessing for the country. I have decided to select an auspicious day to hold a royal sacrifice in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, inform our ancestors, and have the name of the King of Wei officially recorded in the royal jade book."

Xuan Ji did not refuse again. Since he accepted the identity of the Sixth Prince, these were all expected.

But the heart is inevitably complicated.

"Your Highness obeys your command. Thank you for your grace, Father."

Xuan Ji bowed respectfully, his voice was soft but firm and powerful.

Emperor Xuanwu nodded calmly, his eyes showing relief, and continued to announce, "I have decided to rename the Wanfo Temple as the Huguo Temple, and make it a royal temple to be worshipped by the royal family forever. At the same time, I will order people to repair the temple and reshape the golden body of the Buddha to show my gratitude."

As Emperor Xuanwu finished speaking, there was a chorus of praise in the court.

The ministers praised the emperor's benevolence and expressed their admiration for the Sixth Prince's tolerance and compassion.

In short, all kinds of flattery were floating around in the Purple Palace, which made Emperor Xuanwu in a very good mood.

Dugu Ye looked at Xuan Ji, but in his heart he was thinking about how to put the position of crown prince under his butt on the other's head.

Yao'er's current identity is a widow with a child. As a prince, it is undoubtedly a pipe dream for him to marry a widow with a child.

It’s not like all the noble ladies in the capital are dead, so how could the Crown Princess be a widow with a child?
Not to mention that my father would not allow it, even the court officials and royal family members would not allow it.

The common people would not know what to say. But if he was not the crown prince, or even deposed, people would not care who he married, not to mention marrying a widow, even marrying a country girl would be fine.

In this way, things between him and Yao'er would be much smoother.

Just when Dugu Ye was thinking about these things, Emperor Xuanwu suddenly announced his decision to depose the empress.

"Empress Zhao was cruel and ruthless. She framed Empress Yuan and caused her death during childbirth. I am heartbroken and I also feel that this is unacceptable under the law. From today on, I will depose Empress Zhao and banish her to the cold palace to await your fate."

Emperor Xuanwu's voice was not loud, but it exploded like thunder in the court, shocking everyone.

When the court officials heard that the Queen was under house arrest in Fengyi Palace, they thought something had happened. It turned out that they had discovered that Concubine Min was murdered by the Queen.

When Concubine Min died, the emperor wished he could die with her, and all the old ministers witnessed it with their own eyes.

When they heard that the emperor wanted to depose the queen, none of the old ministers dared to come out to plead for mercy.

Only the Queen's brother, Duke Zhao, came out and knelt down to protest his injustice, "Your Majesty, the Queen has always been virtuous, how could she harm Empress Yuan? There must be a misunderstanding in this matter, I hope Your Majesty can see clearly."

Emperor Xuanwu looked at Duke Zhao with cold eyes and said in a deep voice: "The evidence is irrefutable. I have thoroughly investigated the matter, and the Queen's guilt is irrefutable."

Duke Zhao's forehead was covered with sweat, but he continued to plead unwillingly: "Your Majesty, the Empress has been with Your Majesty for many years. Even if she has no merits, she has worked hard. Please consider our old friendship and give her a lighter sentence."

Emperor Xuanwu narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone full of coldness: "I have made up my mind. If anyone else pleads for him, they will be punished together."

All the ministers were silent, no one dared to speak.

There was silence in the Zichen Hall, and the atmosphere became increasingly solemn.

Xuan Ji raised his eyes slightly, glanced at Duke Zhao, then lowered his eyes again, his expression still indifferent.

Dugu Ye stood in front of the ministers with a complicated expression.

He knew the crime committed by his mother and understood the pain of his father. He looked at Xuan Ji who was standing silently beside him, feeling mixed emotions.

"Father, I have a request."

Dugu Ye's voice broke the brief silence. He slowly walked forward and knelt in the center of the hall.

Emperor Xuanwu's eyes instantly fell on him, his gaze solemn, "If you want to plead for your mother, then forget it."

"Father, I dare not protect my mother for her crimes. However, as a son, I cannot continue to be the crown prince. I beg you to remove me from the position of crown prince, so that I can reflect on my crimes and atone for my mother's sins."

Dugu Ye spoke sincerely, his eyes were full of determination, and he had no attachment to the position of crown prince.

All the ministers were shocked when they heard this. They had never seen a prince voluntarily resign from the position of crown prince, and they could not understand the deeper meaning behind the crown prince's action.

"Your Highness, this is absolutely not possible."

Duke Zhao was so frightened that his heart was trembling. It was fine if the queen was deposed, as long as the prince was there, the Zhao family would not fall. But if even the prince was gone,
He didn't dare to imagine how the Zhao family would gain a foothold in the court in the future.

Dugu Ye ignored him and didn't care about what happened to the Zhao family.

All he could think about was how to lose his position as crown prince and then go to Lianhua County to find some heartless woman.

I can be with her openly and no longer have to sneak into bed with her in the middle of the night.

Emperor Xuanwu frowned. Ye'er was his most proud son. He was outstanding in ability, talent, strategy, virtue, and both civil and military achievements.

Even when Xuan Ji returned to the palace, he never thought of removing him from the position of crown prince.

He was sure that if the country was handed over to him, Dayu would become more prosperous and powerful.

"Ye'er, your mother's crime has nothing to do with you. I will not be angry with you because of her, you don't need to do so."

Dugu Ye shook his head gently, with a bitter smile on his lips, "Father, I have made up my mind. Although I did not commit the crime of the Queen Mother, as a son, how can I stay out of it? Besides, I already have someone in my heart. She is not from a famous family, nor is she innocent. She even has two children. But I really like her, and I know that Father will not allow it. Please help me."

As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the court.

what happened?

The Crown Prince fell in love with a woman? A widow with a child?
Even, willing to give up the position of crown prince for the other party?
Is this brain covered with shit and urine?
What kind of widow is so attractive?
Xuan Ji stood there quietly, a rare change appearing on his usually calm and handsome face, his heart was in turmoil and surging violently.

He suddenly remembered that when he was in Lianhua County, he was playing with An An and You You, and the two children accidentally called him Uncle Ye.

He never knew who the so-called Uncle Ye was, and he had been secretly investigating the man.

He looked at Dugu Ye who was kneeling in the center of the hall, thinking that the prince's name was Dugu Ye.

Could it be
Is the Uncle Ye mentioned by An An and You You the Crown Prince?