Emperor Yongchang did not continue that topic.
Originally, as soon as Xiao Yunting returned to the capital, he had proposed marrying Qi Yuan as Imperial Grandson Consort, and Emperor Yongchang had intended to have people investigate her more thoroughly.
But now that the Lu family had suddenly fallen into such trouble, Xiao Yunting’s marriage could not happen anytime soon.
Since that was the case, there was no need to rush. He could investigate slowly.
Raising his brows, he glanced at the Eldest Princess. “You needn’t be so nervous either. I merely asked a few questions, yet you value her quite highly.”
After weighing things for a moment, the Eldest Princess simply spoke frankly. “Imperial Brother, since you say that, then I won’t hide it anymore. You’re right, I value her and regard her like my own family. I can vouch for her character.”
For a dignified Eldest Princess to personally guarantee someone’s character showed just how deeply she liked that girl.
Emperor Yongchang gave a quiet acknowledgment, then suddenly changed the topic. “How has Jintang been lately?”
The Eldest Princess was caught somewhat off guard by the question. After all, she had originally been worried Emperor Yongchang would suspect Qi Yuan of sowing discord within the imperial family and think her deeply scheming.
But Emperor Yongchang clearly did not want to continue the previous topic. After thinking it over several times, she softly replied, “Ever since Zeng Wenxiu died, he has been utterly dispirited. No matter how much effort we spend, he never improves.”
At the mention of this matter, the Eldest Princess herself felt miserable.
She only had this one child, so naturally she desperately hoped he would be well.
But who could have known Zhou Wangfei and the Song family would be so vicious?
As a result, Lu Jintang had been ruined to the point that he could no longer even live normally.
Both she and Lu Mingan were anxious, but there was no solution no matter how anxious they became.
Lu Mingan had even tried using provocation tactics before, yet Lu Jintang remained completely indifferent regardless.
Otherwise, she would not have been so unaware of outside affairs that she only learned about the Lu family matter after it had already caused a storm throughout the city.
She let out a deep sigh.
Emperor Yongchang, however, showed no sympathy. “What is there to become dispirited over? A grown man, acting as though he wants to die over a little hardship, if everyone were like him, would anyone still be able to live?”
After thinking a moment, he directly added, “I think you have always regarded him too preciously.”
The Eldest Princess raised her eyes to look at Emperor Yongchang, not quite understanding what he meant.
Emperor Yongchang looked back at her. “Before, I already told you that it would be better to let him train in the military for a while, but you couldn’t bear it. Now look, even if you keep him tied to your side, what use is it?”
Recovering what one had once lost was life’s greatest blessing.
Who would still think beyond that?
Back then, the Eldest Princess had absolutely refused to let Lu Jintang enter the military.
But now she hesitated.
Looking at her expression, Emperor Yongchang said softly, “Let him go. He spent so long fleeing assassins that now even the slightest disturbance makes him react like a startled bird. You cannot protect him for his entire life. It would be better to let him venture out a little.”
The Eldest Princess fell silent for a while before asking, “Where should he go?”
Emperor Yongchang had already considered this long ago. Now that the Eldest Princess asked, he answered directly. “Let him go to Dengzhou. Let him properly see the scenery there and also look at those young men defending the country. I will naturally arrange people to watch over him. After a year or two, when he returns, he can enter the Imperial Guard and serve as a personal guard. That way, I can also logically bestow him with a title.”
In truth, the Eldest Princess had always felt Emperor Yongchang was detestable.
After all, Emperor Yongchang truly failed to distinguish right from wrong in many matters.
But hearing him speak like this now, she felt somewhat moved instead, because it seemed Emperor Yongchang truly had considered things for the sake of her, his younger sister.
Gritting her teeth, she finally made up her mind as well. “Then let him go.”
Rather than locking him at home to remain muddle-headed forever, it truly would be better for him to go out and see a larger world.
The Crown Prince falling ill and temporarily ceasing all contact with Eastern Palace officials, even suspending the lessons from the Hanlin lecturers and Crown Prince tutors, sent chills through everyone’s hearts.
Such news had to be published in the official court bulletins.
Countless people throughout the court were speculating about Emperor Yongchang’s intentions and wondering exactly why the Crown Prince had lost imperial favor to the point that Emperor Yongchang had forbidden the Eastern Palace from communicating with the outside world.
The Qi family did not belong among those merely guessing.
The moment Qi Zhen heard the news, he hurried to see Old Marquis Qi.
By the time he arrived, Qi Yuan was already there.
The curio shelves in Old Marquis Qi’s room had been replaced with a new set made of purple sandalwood, gleaming brightly with polished sheen.
Subconsciously, he reached out and touched one.
Only then did he walk around the shelf and say to Old Marquis Qi, “Father, have you heard? The Crown Prince is ill, and His Majesty has already ordered that Eastern Palace officials are forbidden from entering the Eastern Palace for one month…”
He glanced at Qi Yuan.
For some reason, he always felt this matter had something to do with her.
Old Marquis Qi nodded. This time he did not criticize him for being rash, merely frowning as he asked Qi Yuan, “Yuan Jie’er, doesn’t this matter simply return to the starting point? Aside from worsening the hatred between the Crown Prince and the Imperial Grandson, it doesn’t seem to accomplish much.”
As long as Emperor Yongchang intended to pass the throne to Xiao Yunting, he would first have to pass it to the still-living Crown Prince.
Under such circumstances, as long as the Crown Prince did not die, he would inevitably reign as emperor for at least some period of time.
And the problem was that even a short time would be enough for the Crown Prince, after ascending the throne, to destroy Xiao Yunting.
Even now, while Emperor Yongchang was still alive and someone still existed who could restrain the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince was already willing to strike mercilessly against Xiao Yunting.
Not to mention what would happen once Emperor Yongchang was gone.
Qi Yuan smiled lightly. “How could it be useless? One month, with no messages able to enter the Eastern Palace, and no one able to go in or out for the Crown Prince to command, one month is already enough.”
When Emperor Yongchang ordered the Crown Prince to recuperate, it was not something as simple as when Qi Zhen casually confined Qi Yunting before, while still allowing him to run around freely.
When Emperor Yongchang gave an order, then even the entrance and exit of a single person from the Eastern Palace would be investigated clearly by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The Crown Prince absolutely would not dare stir up any more trouble during this period.
Old Madam Qi immediately thought of the Eldest Princess’s visit earlier and felt her right eyelid twitch violently.
Unable to resist, she asked, “Yuan Jie’er, the Crown Prince’s confinement…”
Qi Yuan laughed softly. “That was likewise unexpected. I originally only wanted the Eldest Princess to cause some trouble for the Crown Prince so that His Majesty would punish him a little. I truly did not expect him to directly confine the Crown Prince for an entire month.”
Qi Zhen shot her a suspicious glance.
He always felt she was lying.
She claimed she had not expected it, so why did she seem so delighted?
Still, he remembered the important issue and paused before saying, “Then… then even so, the Crown Prince is still the Crown Prince.”
Still the Crown Prince, and still Xiao Yunting’s father.
Qi Yuan smiled faintly. “Not necessarily.”
Qi Zhen suddenly felt that perhaps he should stand outside after all, at least where he could brace himself against the curio shelf if needed.
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