Chapter 180: An attempt on the crown prince's life, Yu Huatian's contingency
An imperial edict from Zhu Youxiao sent an earthquake through the entire Capital.
Countless people were bewildered and at a loss, unable to believe it.
Zhu Youxiao was frail and sickly, plagued by ill health, and had remained childless for all these years. Even the imperial physicians had diagnosed that he would never have another child.
The three sons Zhu Youxiao had fathered in his earlier years had all died young. Moreover, the princes currently qualified to inherit the throne-Prince Xin, the Iron Gallant Divine Marquis, Prince Fu, Prince Ning, and the others-had all been implicated in rebellion, their property confiscated and their entire clans exterminated.
Thus, many people had already prepared to support the imperial prince they favored after Zhu Youxiao's death and become ministers who helped a dragon ascend.
But now, an imperial edict from Zhu Youxiao had left countless people dumbfounded.
Zhu Youxiao actually had another son, and one born to a common woman at that?!
For a time, many refused to believe it, thinking someone had forged the imperial edict. They sent people into the palace to find out whether it was true.
But soon, their informants returned with news: the edict was genuine, and Zhu Youxiao had indeed issued it himself.
That was not all.
On the second day after the edict was issued, Zhu Youxiao dragged his weak, ailing body to court, personally confirmed the matter before all the civil and military officials, and brought Crown Prince Zhu Ciyu before the court to introduce him to them.
Looking at the fair-skinned child in Zhu Youxiao's arms, his large eyes blinking, everyone fell silent.
Then tears streamed down the aged faces of several loyal ministers, who were overjoyed. Zhu Youxiao had a son,