The Crown Prince’s fat body knelt on the ground, and cold sweat suddenly poured down from his forehead. He abruptly raised his head to look at Emperor Yongchang, saying in shock and panic, “Royal Father! Your son is wronged. Even if I deserve ten thousand deaths, I would not dare to do such a thing!”
He was not a madman, he was merely useless, not someone tired of living too long and wanting to shorten his life.
For no reason at all, why would he run to crash into the Eldest Princess’s villa estate?
Not to mention that the Eldest Princess’s residence had a good relationship with Empress Feng, and an even better one with Xiao Yunting, it was firmly part of the Crown Prince’s faction.
Even if they did not support him, given the weight the Eldest Princess and her husband held in Emperor Yongchang’s heart, he could not possibly have gone insane enough to move against the Eldest Princess!
Emperor Yongchang was too lazy to listen to his sophistry. With all patience gone, he let out a cold snort and immediately flung the memorial onto his head, sternly scolding, “Then take a look at what this is!”
The Crown Prince already vaguely felt something was wrong.
If nothing had truly been discovered, Emperor Yongchang would not have had this attitude.
He swallowed, feeling his throat somewhat swollen and painful, yet he dared not delay for even a moment and immediately picked up the memorial to read.
With just one look, cold sweat broke out all over his body.
He never dreamed that last night several hundred people had stormed the Eldest Princess’s villa estate disguised as bandits, but the eunuch leading them had come from his Eastern Palace!
His vision went dark, and then he clenched his teeth.
Since ancient times, there had been stacks upon stacks of Eastern Palace Crown Princes who never became emperor. His own time as Crown Prince had truly been like walking on thin ice, like sitting on needles.
Yet now, these people were actually coming to cause him trouble!
He had no time to be angry and hurriedly defended himself loudly: “Royal Father, your son would not dare! It was not done by your son, it truly was not done by your son, Royal Father!”
He turned again to look at the Eldest Princess and Lu Mingan: “Aunt, Uncle! How could I possibly do such a thing? This is clearly someone deliberately framing me!”
The Eldest Princess had always felt that the Crown Prince was too gloomy and perverse.
Especially in how he treated the Crown Princess and Xiao Yunting, far too cold.
So now, seeing the Crown Prince like this, she curled her lips into a half-smile: “Is it really deliberate framing? Crown Prince, you’d better think carefully, do you know what kind of people were mixed in among those bandits?”
What kind of people?
The Crown Prince froze, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Lu Mingan then coughed and said calmly, “Your Highness the Crown Prince may not yet know, among those bandits were also deserters from the northwest.”
Northwest deserters!
If just now the Crown Prince had merely felt uncomfortable, now he was practically about to faint.
The northwest deserter case had caused a huge uproar. It was said that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of War had jointly issued wanted notices to capture these people.
And afterward, some who had slipped through the net were still being hunted.
Yet now, those deserters had actually gone to storm the Eldest Princess’s villa estate.
And they had been led by a eunuch from the Eastern Palace?!
Although the Crown Prince was cowardly and temperamental, he was not without control over court affairs.
Nor were his subordinates useless men kept only for show.
Of course he knew that the matter of this group of deserters had previously been handled by Song Chang at the Dali Temple!
Song Chang!
Song Chang!
The father of his favored consort, his recently deceased father-in-law!
With these two matters connected, how could Emperor Yongchang possibly believe he had nothing to do with this?
He immediately knelt and crawled forward to Emperor Yongchang: “Royal Father, Royal Father! Your son can swear to heaven, I truly know nothing about this matter, nothing at all!”
Emperor Yongchang could not even be bothered to look at him.
Whether he knew or did not know, an investigation would make it clear.
He immediately asked coldly, “You know nothing, do the others in the Eastern Palace also know nothing?”
Did he think that just because that eunuch was dead there would be no evidence?
He glanced at Eunuch Xia: “Go, bring Lai Chenglong in.”
The Crown Prince’s heart instantly turned half cold!
Lai Chenglong, that executioner, truly had countless heads fall beneath his blade, and worse, Lai Chenglong was Emperor Yongchang’s trusted confidant.
Emperor Yongchang trusted Lai Chenglong’s father and trusted Lai Chenglong as well; in carrying out his duties, he needed to consider no one!
For a moment, anxiety made his heartbeat accelerate, and even his lips turned somewhat purple.
But Emperor Yongchang paid him no attention at all. He merely gestured for Lai Chenglong to rise and then told him, “You will personally interrogate this case. No matter who is involved, investigate thoroughly, show absolutely no leniency!”
Recruiting private soldiers was an unforgivable offense anywhere.
If it was the Crown Prince, then depose the Crown Prince.
If it was someone else, then death!
His gaze was cold.
The Crown Prince collapsed onto the ground, his lips trembling pale, unable even to speak a complete sentence.
The Eldest Princess and Lu Mingan exchanged a glance, both very satisfied.
This matter must be given an explanation.
Of course they both knew that this could not have been done by the Crown Prince himself.
Unless he were mad, he would not have been foolish enough to do such a thing.
But they still needed to give the Crown Prince a lesson,
To let him know that indulging his favored consort and beloved son must also have limits; otherwise, the result would be fierce backlash!
In high spirits, after leaving the palace they even made a special trip to the Qi residence.
Old Marquis Qi personally came out to receive them and sighed, “I truly did not expect so many things to happen.”
Lu Mingan was very understanding and nodded with emotion: “We are truly sorry. In the end, it was we who caused Yuan Jie’er to be dragged into this and suffer.”
The Eldest Princess said the same to Old Madam Qi.
Old Madam Qi immediately replied, “Your Highness must not say that. A thief may steal for a thousand days, but one cannot guard against thieves for a thousand days. You both have truly treated Yuan Jie’er as a junior and have always cared for her, how could you say such things?”
The Eldest Princess still felt apologetic: “It is still my fault. Actually, regarding today’s matter, we truly must thank Yuan Jie’er, otherwise our entire family would have become a laughingstock.”
What she referred to was naturally the matter of Zeng Wenxiu.
Old Madam Qi nodded as well, because this matter truly concerned bloodline inheritance.
Such a matter was unacceptable to anyone.
After comforting the Eldest Princess a few words, she had someone call Qi Yuan over.
Qi Yuan had already woken from a nap, and when she arrived her spirits had recovered.
As soon as the Eldest Princess saw her, before Qi Yuan could even salute, the Eldest Princess grabbed her hand and hurriedly asked, “You weren’t injured, were you?”
After receiving the news, the Eldest Princess had rushed straight to the palace without stopping.
So although she had heard that Qi Yuan was fine, she was still somewhat worried.
Now that she saw Qi Yuan, she finally felt relieved.
Qi Yuan shook her head and smiled: “Nothing happened. I had already made preparations, so it wasn’t really a fright.”
Hearing this, the Eldest Princess did not know why but felt like laughing.
How was it that she had not been frightened?
She had frightened everyone else quite a lot!
The Eldest Princess burst into laughter and reached out to poke Qi Yuan’s forehead: “You, you, truly are… truly a lucky star!”
At least, her lucky star.
Ever since she met Qi Yuan, she had constantly been regaining what was once lost.
This time, Qi Yuan had even saved Lu Jintang.
The Eldest Princess took a deep breath: “Yuan Jie’er, become my adoptive daughter.”
……
Old Madam Qi’s eyes widened.
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