novelraw Chapter 697 - 686: The Cuckolded Prince
Chapter 697 - 686: The Cuckolded Prince
"Crown Prince, what more have you to say now?" Empress looked at Ye Zheng with disappointment and heartache.
"False accusation, all of this is a frame-up. I, a dignified Crown Prince, even my wallet is tied by the servants, surely you all are playing tricks?" Ye Zheng surveyed the crowd with cold eyes, a sheer chill in his gaze.
"The Crown Prince’s words are not without reason. This humble official suggests that the matter be deferred until His Majesty awakens." Prime Minister Shen took a step forward and spoke.
"This humble official seconds the motion. Any matter concerning His Highness the Crown Prince involves the foundation of our nation and should not be taken lightly," Grand Commandant Chen also spoke with a face full of righteousness.
Both of their families belong to the Crown Prince Faction and regardless of whether or not the Crown Prince committed these acts, they could not admit to them.
"What do Imperial Uncle and Minister Liang think?" Empress did not directly respond to them but instead turned to ask the other two.
"I believe, with solid human and physical evidence, the Crown Prince should first be confined to the Eastern Palace pending His Majesty’s judgement," responded Old Prince.
Minister Liang also looked at the Crown Prince with a face full of disappointment: "Please, Lady, make your decision."
"Then, as per the lords’ advice, confine the Crown Prince to the Eastern Palace. Without an edict from His Majesty and myself, no one is to visit him," said Empress coldly, commanding that Ye Zheng be taken away.
After speaking, she looked at Ye Qiu and Lin Jingxian: "As for the Fifth Princess Consort, Xiao Wu you..."
"Lin Jingxian’s morals are despicable, please allow me to divorce her, Mother. As for the crime of confusing the Imperial Family’s bloodline, I hope you can entrust her and the two children to me to deal with," Ye Qiu said furiously.
Empress hesitated a bit: "Although Lin Jingxian is at fault, the two children are innocent, and they are also the Crown Prince’s bloodline."
"This humble son understands, even though the Crown Prince has humiliated me, I will not take it out on the two children," Ye Qiu said this with a face full of frustration.
The listeners sympathized, and the watchers teared up. The Fifth Prince’s spot for a Princess Consort was taken by a vile woman, and that of his legitimate son and legitimate daughter was also taken by another, now to face the ridicule of the entire capital, it’s hard to say anything.
"Then this Palace will make an exception this time, and entrust Lin Jingxian to you to deal with."
"There is another matter I wish to ask from Empress Mother."
"What is it?"
"After this incident with Lin Jingxian, I no longer wish to marry a Princess Consort. Regarding the two concubines bestowed by Father Emperor, might I ask Father Emperor and Mother to retract their decree? As compensation, I am willing to provide a generous dowry when these two ladies marry," Ye Qiu said, disheartened about women.
Empress also appeared troubled: "This is not something Mother alone can decide. I need to consult your Father Emperor and the two Ministers. Moreover, you are a Prince, and you only have Heng’er, a bastard, how could this be possible?"
"This humble son does not care, and besides, Heng’er is fine. Having him as a son in this lifetime is enough for me."
"You should return to your mansion now. Your Father Emperor and I will definitely give you an explanation," said Empress with heavy meaning.
Ye Qiu kowtowed in thanks: "This humble son thanks Empress Mother."
Lin Jingxian was escorted back to the Fifth Prince Mansion and then disgracefully thrown into Qinghu Court, where except for Mu Jin, everyone around her was detained.
"What are you trying to do?" She stared at Ye Qiu, her eyes red.
"Do you still want to act tough in front of me at this time? Lin Jingxian, do you know that I was aware of your involvement with the Crown Prince three years ago? It’s funny to see how you posed just for Silver Coin." Ye Qiu looked at her mockingly, "Now the fate of you and your two children is in my hands. You don’t beg for mercy and yet glare at me? Do you really think I am a fool?"
"How dare you? Ming’er and Lingling are the Crown Prince’s children, His Majesty won’t allow you to touch them," Lin Jingxian yelled indignantly.
"To think you were once a talented woman, can’t you figure out even this small matter? Don’t you understand why I knew about your disgrace three years ago but only revealed it now?" Ye Qiu looked at her pityingly, "Of course, it’s because at this moment, your strong supporter, my dear Father Emperor, can no longer make decisions for you!"
"What did you say?" Lin Jingxian asked urgently, "What have you done?"
"What I have done does not need to be known by you. However, you need to know that your beloved Crown Prince might no longer be able to become the Crown Prince."
The next day, accusations of the Crown Prince mistreating his brother’s wife and ordering an assassination attempt on Fifth Prince spread throughout the court, supported by undeniable testimonial and physical evidence, impossible to refute.
No matter how much Prime Minister Shen, Grand Commandant Chen, and other Crown Prince’s Tutors tried to manipulate, the calls for deposing the Crown Prince grew louder, even causing a sensation throughout the capital.
It was then that the people realized that the rumors circulating in the past few days were true. Such disgrace would not be tolerated even in a commoner’s family, let alone in the Imperial Family that they revered as divine?
Some rioters and foreign spies took this opportunity to incite riots, leaving the people of the capital in turmoil. Unfortunately, at this time, Emperor Xingwu was still unconscious, and the ministers suggested recalling the great Prince, who was at the border. He was the eldest son and the legitimate son, who had been defending the border for years and was highly respected among the people. He was deemed the most appropriate to temporarily handle the court affairs.
Empress Liu did everything she could to dissuade, saying that Ye Ke was commissioned to guard the border, and it was unstable now, needing his presence.
At this time, General Xia volunteered, requesting to replace the great Prince. He also staked his life as a guarantee that the border would not suffer.
Conveniently, a group of patriotic citizens knelt outside the palace gate, refusing to rise, requesting the punishment of the Crown Prince. Ye Qiu, Ye Kai, Ye Qi, and several other brothers took the lead in requesting Ye Ke return to the capital, and only then Empress Liu agreed.
"Shao Yao, do you think I was used by others?" Consort Hui paced back and forth in Changle Palace, looking agitated.
"I thought once the Crown Prince was demoted, my little fifteenth had the greatest hope, but now the great Prince is about to return," she said urgently, "What should I do now!"
Shao Yao, the trusted palace maid of Consort Hui, comforted her: "My Lady, the Crown Prince is our biggest enemy. As long as the Crown Prince is not dismissed, the moment His Majesty wakes up, the Crown Prince could rise again. Then, do you think His Majesty would forgive you, My Lady?"
"You make sense." Consort Hui grimaced, "You’re saying His Majesty is too biased. What’s so good about the Crown Prince? Isn’t he just born by that woman?"
"Exactly, that’s why His Majesty can’t bear to part with the Crown Prince! For the Crown Prince, His Majesty is willing to do anything. My Lady, think about it, once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, will we have any way to survive?" Shao Yao persuasively urged.
"You’re right."
"But we have no grievances with the great Prince! His succession is better than the Crown Prince’s, isn’t it!"
"But I have offended the Empress, are you sure she won’t mind? And my fifteenth, he clearly also has a chance."
"The Empress is always magnanimous. As long as My Lady sincerely appeases her, the Empress will not mind, regarding the little prince, My Lady, he is too young. This servant dares speak disrespectfully but those courtiers will not agree to let a young child ascend the throne. Besides, if not the great Prince, above the little prince there’s still Fifth Prince, Seventh Prince, Prince X!"
Consort Hui fretted: "Let me think about it."