Inside the grand hall, people arrived one after another. Lafeier and his son were whispering to each other. A prince who was on good terms with the Howard clan walked to Lafeier's side and asked with concern: "Is the Duke's injury better now?"
Lafeier smiled and responded: "Much better."
Prince: "What was coming has come, I wonder what business the King has called us here for today. Does the Duke have any guesses?"
Lafeier: "The King has invited so many media reporters, he must have some big news to announce."
Looking at the chaotic scene, the Prince said: "Then I really look forward to it. These days the Duke must have also heard quite some rumors?"
Lafeier: "Rumors?"
The Prince paused briefly, then laughed and said: "Seeing everyone's interesting expressions, it's hard to say - oh yes, it's not a rumor that the Crown Prince has been handling state affairs with the King's seal these past two days. The Duke didn't see the Crown Prince's pretentious look, it was quite reminiscent of the old King's vigor in his youth." The last sentence was full of ridicule.
Lafeier laughed along.
Noticing Lai En's gaze wandering around the hall, as if searching for something, the Prince asked: "Is Duke Lai En looking for someone?"
Lai En immediately retracted his gaze and turned his head to look at that Prince, replying: "Seeing who is not here yet."
Prince: "Duke Lin probably won't make it. I don't know if his uncle Prince Lin will show up on his behalf."
Lafeier meaningfully said: "Who knows."
The Prince seemed to instantly grasp something. He looked at the calm and composed Lafeier, and figured out the situation. He too became calm, just waiting for the real show to start.
Lafeier whispered to Lai En: "Looking for someone?"
Lai En: "Just glancing around, everyone should be here already."
Lafeier didn't ask further.
Lai En's eyeballs silently turned to the corner of his eyes, and his hands behind him clenched for a moment. He secretly glanced at his father.
From Lai En's micro expressions, it could be seen that he was lying.
Not only Lai En was looking for someone, another gaze was also hidden on the second floor, searching for someone among these people.
Coincidentally, the two of them were looking for the same person.
- Didn't come? Or is he hiding like her?
"Why is no one here yet? We've been waiting for so long."
"Did you see Prince Lin? Since Duke Lin can't show up, Prince Lin as his uncle should come to stabilize the situation on his behalf, right?"
"Duke Lin is already the heir apparent. If Prince Lin could appear, he would have stood out earlier to stabilize things for Duke Lin. "
"Do you mean Duke Lin really..."
The old King appeared amidst the gradually impatient murmurs. The way he entered the scene also successfully caused a stir.
Because the old King didn't walk out by himself, but was pushed out in a wheelchair by the Crown Prince.
Not only that, the old King's mouth was slightly crooked, and one hand was clenched into a claw, as if suffering from convulsions.
These symptoms were undoubtedly those of a stroke.
Looking at the lifeless and gloomy faces of the old King's family, it was clear something bad had happened.
"Did the King have... a stroke?"
"So the rumors are true. Then Duke Lin..."
The scene instantly became somewhat chaotic. The Howard clan was excited, each of them looking as if they saw the dawn.
Chadan stepped forward two steps: "Everyone, quiet down."
When the grand hall quieted down,
Chadan began to speak: "These past few days, you must have heard quite some rumors and I know you are all very anxious. Today, I have invited you and reporters here to announce a few things."
On the second floor, Qiao Ying took out her phone, about to start filming, when a video call came in. Qiao Ying raised her brow slightly: "Awake?"
She answered the video call and flipped the camera to point at the scene below, saying to the person on the other end of the video: "What a coincidence, the show just started~"
Standing in front of the royal family members and cameras, Chadan announced in a loud voice: "The first thing is, as you can see, due to my father's advanced age and the blows he has suffered, he can no longer serve you. But I believe my father will certainly recover, do not worry."
Chadan: "The second thing is..."
Chadan paused for a moment, his expression suddenly grief-stricken: "Duke Lin, he..."
