Chapter 85

Yan Ming entered the hall and saw that his mother was also present. His expression suddenly tightened, and an uncontrollable sense of foreboding arose in his heart. But he said nothing, turning to see Emperor Wu Lie sitting in front of the couch and Yan Donghuang standing beside him. His eyes darkened slightly as he walked forward a few steps, respectfully knelt down, and said, “Your son greets Father.”

Emperor Wu Lie said nothing. The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat oppressive.

Yan Ming lowered his eyes to the palace floor, maintaining a respectful and humble posture.

“Prince Jing,” Rong Chun reminded softly, “the Crown Princess is also here.”

Yan Ming’s hand tightened at his side, realizing he needed to salute Yan Donghuang.

How ridiculous. To support Yan Donghuang, Father repeatedly suppressed his own sons. Yesterday, he publicly punished the eldest prince, and today, he let him kneel here… So many sons, yet none could compare to Yan Donghuang? The natural order of things was being turned upside down. What kind of bewitching potion had Father taken?

Yan Ming closed his eyes lightly, hiding the darkness in his eyes, then opened them and saluted, “Your subject greets the Crown Princess.”

Yan Donghuang said indifferently, “No need for such formalities, elder brother.”

“Yan Ming,” Emperor Wu Lie finally looked at him, “did you go to the Grand Princess’s residence this afternoon?”

Yan Ming stiffened at these words, slowly raising his head to look at Yan Donghuang, his expression tinged with sarcasm and bitterness, “Donghuang… no, Crown Princess.”

The deliberate emphasis on “Crown Princess” was clearly mocking and resentful: “I went to apologize, not to offend you. You have already beaten me, yet you still complain to Father. Is that necessary?”

Yan Donghuang’s voice was indifferent, “Elder brother went to apologize voluntarily. I merely fulfilled your sincerity. What dissatisfaction do you have with me?”

“I wouldn’t dare—”

“Yan Ming,” Consort De spoke urgently, “the Grand Princess used private punishment on you. Why don’t you tell your father the truth?”

Private punishment?

Yan Ming’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively turned to look at his mother, almost blurting out: How did Mother know about this?

But before he could speak, a thought suddenly struck him, and his face turned pale. So it wasn’t Yan Donghuang who complained first, but his mother who wanted to accuse Yan Donghuang of using private punishment on a prince?

Yan Ming’s heart sank, realizing that something was wrong. He seemed to have fallen into a trap.

“Yan Ming,” Emperor Wu Lie spoke in a deep voice, his tone carrying an inherent authority, “tell me, did Donghuang use private punishment on you, or did you go to apologize voluntarily?”

Yan Ming looked up at Emperor Wu Lie’s cold and sharp eyes, feeling a chill run up his spine.

How should he answer? If he said Yan Donghuang did use private punishment, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor. The crime of deceiving the emperor was severe enough to ruin him. But if he denied that Yan Donghuang used private punishment, then his mother would be guilty of deliberately confusing right and wrong and slandering the heir apparent. The consequences would be equally severe.

“Yan Ming,” Emperor Wu Lie’s voice carried a sense of supreme pressure, “why aren’t you speaking?”

Yan Ming snapped back to reality, suppressing his emotions, and lowered his eyes, “Your son… Donghuang was just appointed as the heir apparent. She is the ruler, and I am the subject. If she punishes me, I should accept it. Please do not blame her, Father.”

What a way to say “do not blame her.”

Emperor Wu Lie sneered, “Let me ask you again: did you go to the Grand Princess’s residence to apologize voluntarily, or did Donghuang use private punishment on you?”

Yan Ming clenched his hands, “It was… the Grand Princess…”

“But the people I sent to monitor said that you went to the Grand Princess’s residence alone, carrying a whip and riding a horse.” Emperor Wu Lie’s gaze was cold, “Yan Ming, why didn’t you take any guards with you?”

A prince going out without guards, only carrying a whip, and ending up beaten. There were only two explanations: either he sincerely went to apologize, not wanting to cause conflict with the people at the Grand Princess’s residence, and showing his sincerity to Yan Donghuang by not bringing guards. Or he didn’t want to leave any witnesses, so even if he falsely accused them, the people at the Grand Princess’s residence could testify, and he could claim they were defending their master.

But Father had sent people to monitor?

Yan Ming’s face turned ashen, feeling a deep sense of sorrow, being schemed against by his own father and sister.

“Donghuang,” Emperor Wu Lie, tired of questioning, turned to Donghuang, “how do you think this should be handled?”

“Consort De is emotionally unstable due to the Chu family’s incident,” Yan Donghuang said calmly, with little emotion in her voice, “I suggest confining her to Ganquan Palace, not allowing her to leave without an edict.”

Emperor Wu Lie nodded, “And your elder brother?”

“I am very disappointed in my elder brother,” Yan Donghuang looked at Yan Ming, her eyes reflecting the same bitterness as his, “demote him to a county prince.”

Chapter 86

As soon as the words fell, Yan Ming’s face turned gloomy and ugly, his lips pressed tightly, and his hand hanging by his side clenched tightly.

So, after all she did, her ultimate goal was to demote him?
What exactly did he do to offend her?

Yan Ming sneered, his laughter filled with sarcasm and disappointment: “Today, I finally understand what it means to burn bridges after crossing them… Yan Donghuang, thank you for teaching me such a profound lesson.”

Yan Donghuang’s eyes were cold as frost: “You may not admit it, but my cruelty and ruthlessness were all learned from you.”

“What exactly did I do wrong?” Yan Ming suddenly stood up, almost losing control as he looked at her, “What exactly did I do wrong? Tell me!”

“Impudent!” Emperor Wu Lie’s voice was icy, “Rong Chun.”

“Your servant is here.”

“Prince Jing was disrespectful in front of me. Take him out and give him thirty lashes.” Emperor Wu Lie waved his hand and ordered in a deep voice, “From today, he is demoted to a county prince, and without an edict, he is not allowed to enter the harem or meet with Consort De.”

“Yes.” Rong Chun responded.

Guards came in from outside and dragged Yan Ming out.

Yan Ming’s eyes were fixed on Yan Donghuang, and his gaze was filled with anger and questioning as if he were looking at a heartless person. But if he thought this would make Yan Donghuang feel guilty, he was clearly mistaken.

Yan Donghuang just watched him being dragged out calmly, her expression unchanged.

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!” Consort De couldn’t believe it, crawling forward, crying, “The one who is wrong is clearly Yan Donghuang. Why is Your Majesty punishing Prince Jing so severely? He is Your Majesty’s son, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Wu Lie was annoyed by her voice: “Rong Chun, convey my decree, Consort De is to be imprisoned in the Cold Palace for slandering the Crown Princess.”

Rong Chun accepted the order: “Your servant obeys.”

Consort De’s body went limp, almost fainting.

The emperor wanted to imprison her in the Cold Palace?
He was truly so ruthless. Just because Yan Donghuang suffered a little grievance, he wanted to imprison her in the Cold Palace.

“Yan Donghuang!” As Consort De was being dragged out, she suddenly screamed, “You are a cruel and heartless demon, a scheming villain! You are ambitious and deserve to die a thousand deaths, ungrateful wretch. I misjudged you! You are an ungrateful—mmph!”

The eunuch dragging Consort De down was so frightened that his face turned pale. He quickly covered her mouth, half pleading and threatening: “Consort De, Prince Jing still needs to live. Please say less.”

Consort De was soon taken away, filled with unwillingness and resentment.

Yan Ming was pressed down on the bench, biting his teeth hard. The heavy board hit his body again and again, causing his face to turn pale and his forehead to be covered in cold sweat. But his eyes were cold, filled with resentment and unwillingness, as cold as ice.

Perhaps because of Consort De’s earlier scolding, the guards did not dare to hold back. Each strike seemed to be aimed at breaking his spine.

Yan Ming’s hand gripping the bench was bulging with veins, and his nails broke and bled without him realizing it.

Emperor Wu Lie got up and walked to the bedside, leaning against the headboard: “Donghuang, you don’t need to watch over here, there are palace people, you don’t need to worry.”

Yan Donghuang nodded: “Besides Eunuch Rong serving, Father should not let anyone else bring food tonight.”

“I know.” Emperor Wu Lie closed his eyes tiredly, “Although I am old, my mind is still clear. Those with ulterior motives will not easily succeed.”

Yan Donghuang silently lowered her eyes.

The means of harming people are always unpredictable. Those who appear close and gentle on the surface may be secretly preparing a bag of colorless and tasteless poison, waiting for an opportunity to give you a fatal blow.

Yan Donghuang took her leave and left. As she stepped out of the hall, she clearly heard Yan Ming’s rapid breathing due to pain and the occasional muffled groans from his throat.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yan Ming struggling to lift his head, sweat dripping down his cheeks, his face pale, his eyes filled with coldness and resentment as if looking at a mortal enemy.

Indeed, a mortal enemy.

Yan Donghuang’s eyes swept over his face indifferently, and she walked away without a word. Outside Chongming Hall, she had already arranged for people, those who wanted to act tonight would not have a chance to succeed. As she stepped out of the palace gate, she saw Prince An, Yan Ling, standing outside, along with a carriage parked nearby. Unsure how long he had been waiting there. Seeing Yan Donghuang come out, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and spoke warmly: “Donghuang.”

Yan Donghuang’s attitude was cold: “Call me Crown Princess.”

“…Crown Princess.” Yan Ling lowered his eyes and changed his address, bowing in salute, “I want to talk to you.”

Yan Donghuang said indifferently: “You want to persuade me to give up the throne?”

Yan Ling was silent for a moment, then asked instead of answering: “Why do you suddenly want to be emperor?”

“This is my business.” Yan Donghuang walked to her horse and skillfully mounted it. “Men can go to the battlefield, so can I; men can have ambitions, so can I. You don’t need to persuade me because persuasion is meaningless.”

With that, she pulled the reins and turned: “Giddy up!”

Yan Ling didn’t expect her to be so distant, not even willing to say a few more words. His steps froze in place, and he silently watched her ride away, his elegant and noble face filled with deep and unfathomable emotions.

Donghuang, what exactly happened to you?
…

Today was a long and oppressive day, and it was also a day of an impending storm. Several princes returned to their mansions, and several concubines returned to the harem, but they were still paying attention to the movements in the palace and the court.

Prince Jing, Yan Ming, returned to his mansion at noon, went to the Grand Princess’s mansion to apologize in the afternoon, and was summoned to the palace in the evening to receive thirty lashes. The news quickly spread to the various prince’s mansions.

As night fell, it was supposed to be a time for rest. But with thunder rumbling today, who could sleep?

At the beginning of the pig’s hour, the eldest prince’s mansion, Yan Zhang, was quiet. The footsteps of the servants coming and going to serve were very light, afraid of disturbing the master who was already unpredictable after being injured, and bringing about their own death.

Even the personal guards reported the news in low voices: “Prince Jing was just carried back to his mansion from the palace. It is said that his injuries are worse than the prince’s. Besides that, the emperor has demoted Prince Jing’s title; from today, he is demoted from a prince to a county prince.”

Yan Zhang lay on the bed, his face pale, his body burning with pain. Hearing this, he was shocked: “Demoted to a county prince?”

“Yes.”

Yan Zhang’s heart turned cold: “Did you find out the reason?”

“They said it was for disrespect in front of the emperor.”

Disrespect in front of the emperor?

Yan Zhang was stunned, then laughed incredulously. Disrespect in front of the emperor?

Yan Ming was always the best at pretending, always appearing calm and elegant in front of others, he was disrespectful in front of the emperor?

Instead of thinking about why he was disrespectful, it was better to think about what kind of madness possessed Yan Donghuang, making her determined to eliminate Yan Ming? Or rather, she wanted to eliminate all the princes?

Yan Zhang trembled with pain, but his mind was extremely clear, clear enough to foresee his own death.

Yan Donghuang was a princess, a woman. Even though this time the emperor used thunderous means to force the court to accept Yan Donghuang as the crown princess, after the emperor’s death, the ministers would eventually be dissatisfied.

A prince inheriting the throne is the right way.

Yan Donghuang couldn’t possibly not know this, so she would definitely eliminate all the princes. Only when all the princes were dead would the ministers have no reason to dethrone the emperor and establish another. So, their relationship with Yan Donghuang was one of life and death. Instead of passively waiting to die, they decided to take the initiative.

Yan Zhang pressed his head against the pillow, his voice cold and muffled: “Tan Yuan.”

“Your servant is here.”

“Prepare pen and ink. I will write a letter; you arrange for a reliable person to send it to King Wuyang.” Yan Zhang closed his eyes slightly. “Since Yan Donghuang’s bargaining chip is the Qingluan Army, I will start with the Qingluan Army… but don’t rush. The letter must be delivered without fail.”

“Yes.”

Yan Zhang thought coldly, before King Wuyang arrived, it would be best if Yan Donghuang eliminated the other princes, then she would be left with a reputation for cruelty, attracting endless criticism and resentment, let’s see how she would sit on the throne then.