The Prince Yu's words might not be understood by everyone.
But the two people in the grand hall understood perfectly.
Chu Qianli's brow furrowed slightly. She hadn't expected that among Chu Minghao's concubines, someone was already pregnant.
Chu Minghao was naturally aware of this.
Prince Yu was using this unborn child to threaten Chu Minghao.
Chu Minghao was now undeniably facing a death sentence.
Prince Yu was telling him that if Prince Yu fell, his child would not be spared either.
Chu Minghao collapsed onto the ground, blood still seeping from his lips. His eyes had completely lost their luster, and his heart was filled with despair.
His father had abandoned him.
He was left with only a dead end.
Before Prince Yu left, he looked at Lan Fan. "Sir, my heart is in great pain. Could you perhaps accompany me to my residence and examine what ailment it might be?"
"That is only natural," Lan Fan replied, preparing to leave with him.
However, Chu Qianli, seated on the jade throne, spoke up. "If Imperial Uncle Yu is feeling unwell, you are welcome to return and rest early. However, Master Tutor, your business here is not yet concluded. I fear you cannot yet leave this grand hall."
"What does Her Highness the Princess mean?"
"Master Tutor, my Southern Underworld's Lingjiu Hall is currently without a leader. The matters within Lingjiu Hall have not been resolved. Does Master Tutor intend to depart now?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Yu and Lan Fan exchanged a look, a flicker of something passing between their eyes.
Chu Qianli was not being so kind as to let Lan Fan lead the entire Lingjiu Hall.
But at present, Lan Qing had indeed not yet awakened, and Lingjiu Hall was truly without a leader.
Prince Yu's mood was indescribably complex. He had intended to address Lan Fan's situation today; Lingjiu Hall urgently needed a master.
However, due to the matter of the city moat's embankment, he only wanted to distance himself from it as quickly as possible, inadvertently delaying such a crucial matter as Lingjiu Hall.
"Your Highness, since Lingjiu Hall has been mentioned, then please allow the State Preceptor..."
"Imperial Uncle Yu, aren't you suffering from a severe chest pain? Don't you need to return and rest?" Chu Qianli raised an eyebrow.
Prince Yu was enraged, and the ministers felt a myriad of emotions.
This princess... alas, it was indeed Prince Yu's own doing.
The crucial point now was whether Prince Yu was involved in the city moat incident.
Most of the neutral factions now held a very different view of Prince Yu compared to before.
Struggling for power was acceptable; after all, the empire belonged to the capable.
However, if one were to disregard the populace, or even slaughter them, for the sake of power, that was absolutely unacceptable.
Such a person, if they were to become emperor in the future, would undoubtedly be a tyrant.
A tyrant would destroy the Southern Underworld's centuries-old empire.
How could this be allowed?
Several neutral factions found their scales beginning to tip towards the Emperor and the Princess.
Prince Yu grunted unhappily. "My personal health and honor are of little consequence. The well-being of the populace is paramount."
Lingjiu Hall was related to the stability of the empire.
However, as he said this now, everyone felt a strange complexity in their hearts.
Prince Yu pretended not to see it and immediately looked at Chu Jiangnan. "Your Majesty, everyone is completely unclear about the State Preceptor's current situation. I implore Your Majesty to allow the State Preceptor to appear, so that everyone may be put at ease."
As long as the State Preceptor did not appear, everyone's anxiety regarding Lingjiu Hall would reach its peak.
Could the Emperor truly conceal matters concerning the State Preceptor from everyone?
"There's no rush. Perhaps we should first address the collapse of the city moat? After all, thousands of lives were affected!"
Chu Qianli's expression darkened, and she glared angrily at Chu Minghao. "Young Master Hao, were there any others involved in the deliberate detonation of the city moat? Speak!"