A Prince's Furious Rebuke? A Minister Insulted? Kill Xu Qingxiao? Deploy the Eight Gates Capital Troops! Kill Without Mercy!

"What? Xu Qingxiao ordered Prince Huaiping's arrest?"

Inside the Duke of An's Estate, everyone was stunned. Not one person remained unshocked when they learned that Xu Qingxiao had ordered Prince Huaiping's arrest.

The Duke of An, however, knitted his brows and murmured to himself.

"He has taken this step after all."

This time, the Duke of An did not speak carelessly. Instead, deep concern appeared on his face.

"Father, is something serious about to happen?"

Li Bing could not help asking. Xu Qingxiao was far too good at stirring up trouble. Counting carefully, in the past month or two, he had furiously challenged Grand Confucians, thrown the Ministry of Punishment into uproar, and now gone straight after a prince.

At this rate, Xu Qingxiao would go after an imperial prince next time. And the step after that-wouldn't that mean...

"Don't overthink it."

The Duke of An took a deep breath, then said, "Pass on my orders. Reinforce the Capital City's defenses. No arbitrary changes to palace duty assignments. Prepare for every emergency."

At the Duke of An's words, Li Bing and the others' expressions changed. Although he had told them not to overthink it, what he said next left them no choice but to grow nervous.

What did "prepare for every emergency" mean?

A little thought made it obvious. Whose son was Prince Huaiping?

Prince Huaining's.

An imperial prince who commanded the Qilin Army truly held immense power. Even dukes stood a rank beneath such men.

If Prince Huaining actually rebelled or did something out of line, it would be a tremendous disaster, an enormous problem for the Great Wei Dynasty in its current state.

Inside the Great Wei Literary Palace.

Chen Zhengru, Sun Jing'an, Wang Xinzhi, and several Grand Confucians had all gathered there, their expressions grave.

"Xu Qingxiao