Chapter 106

The Second Prince knelt outside the palace, his expression unexpectedly solemn upon hearing Consort Yu Zhao’s voice, as if he had no idea that Consort Yu Zhao was also inside.

“Consort Yu Zhao, this palace has already made it clear to you. Are you still obstinately refusing to see reason?”

Consort Yu Zhao smiled foolishly inside the palace, “With just one word of love, who can withstand its power? Since you’re so heartless, then so be it!”

Consort Yu Zhao’s tone suddenly became heavy, and in the next moment, she exerted all her strength to climb up and fiercely collide with the nearby pillar!

The Crown Prince’s fingers moved slightly, then instantly relaxed.

No one in the palace knew of his martial skills.

Consort Yu Zhao was determined to seek death to absolve her younger brother, but in the current situation, her life or death was already decided, not worth him revealing this trump card.

Bang—

With no one to stop her, Consort Yu Zhao fiercely collided with the pillar, the sound dull, sending shivers down one’s spine.

The Empress promptly embraced the Western Prince, pressing his head against her chest.

The Western Prince wasn’t afraid; he had already walked through the gates of hell once, and he had long foreseen Consort Yu Zhao’s fate.

Regardless of how the Second Prince acted today, Consort Yu Zhao wouldn’t survive.

A cluster of blood blossomed on the pillar, bright red.

Consort Yu Zhao slowly slid down the pillar, her eyes wide, staring in the direction of Emperor Yong.

This was Consort Yu Zhao’s final calculation with her life.

She had heard that when Concubine Yu took her own life, her eyes remained open when Emperor Yong arrived.

She resembled Concubine Yu, hoping Emperor Yong would remember the tragic death of his beloved woman and protect the last trace of Concubine Yu’s bloodline!

Emperor Yong watched Consort Yu Zhao perish as she collided with the pillar, meeting her gradually dimming eyes. He suddenly took a step back.

This face, this expression, he had dreamt of it countless times.

In every dream, he always failed to stop Consort Yu Liu from taking her own life, experiencing that heart-wrenching pain and despair over and over again.

The Crown Prince saw Emperor Yong’s sudden change in color, and involuntarily closed his eyes.

Perhaps he had the answer in his heart.

Outside the hall, the Second Prince only heard a dull sound, and Consort Yu Zhao made no more sound.

He had a hidden speculation in his heart, thinking: at a critical moment, he’s not entirely useless.

He paused slightly, then raised his voice, “Father? Your son still awaits your punishment!”

Creak—

The doors of Funing Palace suddenly opened from within, and Emperor Yong stood at the entrance, looking down at the kneeling Second Prince.

The Second Prince timely raised his head, his face filled with fear and anxiety.

Emperor Yong met the Second Prince’s eyes, his heart trembling slightly.

Compared to Consort Yu Zhao, the Second Prince’s eyes were exactly like Yuliu;’s, clear and deep.

But, had the Second Prince inherited Yuliu;’s temperament? Equally disobedient, equally causing him heartache…

“Empress,” Emperor Yong suddenly spoke.

The Empress stepped forward, stopping where Emperor Yong had just walked.

Emperor Yong turned his head to look at the Empress, speaking in a faint tone, “Consort Yu Zhao has confessed. She deserves her death; there’s no need to preserve her body.”

The Empress remained silent.

Emperor Yong lowered his gaze to the Second Prince on the ground, continuing,

“The Second Prince indeed made mistakes. Though not grave, punishment is necessary. Empress, how do you think he should be punished?”

The Empress didn’t even lift an eyelid, but a chill crept into her heart.

On one hand, Emperor Yong didn’t want to severely punish the Second Prince, but on the other hand, he didn’t want the Crown Prince and Western Prince to alienate him because of this, so he threw this mess to her.

He was confident that after so many years of being docile and obedient, she would still follow his wishes today, just as she had always done before, to solve his problems and relieve his worries?

It’s ridiculous, does His Majesty even realize that the Second Prince has harmed her son?!

She is the Empress to His Majesty, but more importantly, she’s the mother of her son!

“Back to Your Majesty, according to the old rules, if a prince commits adultery with a palace maid, causing chaos in the harem, he should be stripped of his status and demoted to a commoner.”

Emperor Yong’s brows furrowed deeply upon hearing this.

“Empress, the Second Prince’s offense doesn’t warrant such punishment.”

The Empress had anticipated Emperor Yong’s intervention long ago, her expression calm as she said lightly,

“I’m just following the old rules. If Your Majesty finds it inappropriate, why not make the judgment yourself?”

Emperor Yong hesitated slightly. At this moment, the Second Prince bowed to the ground, his voice filled with sorrow, “Father, I’ve acted improperly and caused trouble. Please punish me!”

The Crown Prince led the Western Prince to the Empress’s side when he heard Emperor Yong’s stern voice:

“Second, indeed, you should be punished. From today onwards, you’ll lose your stipend for a year, be confined for a year, and without my order, you’re not to step out of Chonghua Palace!”

The Second Prince, with his face to the ground, relaxed his brows slightly upon hearing this.

He had passed this dangerous trial.

Just as he was about to express his gratitude, the Empress’s cold voice suddenly sounded, “Your Majesty, send the Second Prince to the Zongren Mansion.”

At these words, the Second Prince furrowed his brows again.

Being confined to Chonghua Palace and being confined to the Zongren Mansion were completely different matters. Once a member of the royal family entered the Zongren Mansion, it meant there was a serious offense.

After entering the Zongren Mansion, there would be a stain on his reputation, and he would be further away from that position!

Emperor Yong’s face turned dark upon hearing this, his mood indecipherable.

However, the Empress showed no fear, continuing to speak:

“Your Majesty, though the Second Prince didn’t commit a grave offense today, he was indeed misled by Consort Yu Zhao, even willing to cover up her attempt to harm you and the Crown Prince.”

“And today, my son was nearly killed by Consort Yu Zhao! I still shudder to think of it!”

“If the Second Prince had brought Consort Yu Zhao before Your Majesty in time, my son wouldn’t have been in such danger!”

“I only wish for the Second Prince to reflect deeply. After all, he’s just confined to the Zongren Mansion for a year, not banned from returning to the palace forever!”

Seeing Emperor Yong still hesitant, the Empress suddenly took a few steps forward to Emperor Yong’s side, kneeling down!

“Mother!”

Both the Crown Prince and the Western Prince called out simultaneously.

The Empress’s expression was firm as she raised her gaze to Emperor Yong, saying coldly,

“Your Majesty, I have never treated the Second Prince unfairly all these years. Today, my son’s safety is something I cannot tolerate.”

“Last time when Di Zaiying attempted to assassinate my son, with Your Majesty presiding over justice, I didn’t intervene. Must we repeat the same mistakes today, hurting my son and me?”

Emperor Yong, upon hearing the Empress suddenly mention Di Zaiying, involuntarily narrowed his pupils.

Huang Gonggong stood quietly on the side, hearing the Empress’s words, he thought to himself:

The Empress has hit the nail on the head this time. The old relationship between Di Zaiying and Consort Yuliu is already a sore spot for His Majesty.

At this moment, the Crown Prince also stepped forward.

His expression calm, he knelt down beside the Empress, holding the Western Prince’s hand, and said softly,

“Father, I understand that today’s incident was not the Second Brother’s intention. He has always loved my brother dearly. If he had known that Consort Yu Zhao’s actions would harm my brother, he would never have been so foolish.”

Emperor Yong, upon hearing this, thought that the Crown Prince was interceding for the Second Prince.

Little did he know, the Crown Prince’s tone shifted, and he continued,

“After all, the Second Brother is still too young and easily influenced by Consort Yu Zhao. So, I agree with Mother’s suggestion to send him to the Zongren Mansion for reflection.”

“When his one-year confinement is over, I will personally go to the Zongren Mansion to bring him back to the palace. From then on, we brothers will be united, serving Father together!”

The Second Prince turned his head abruptly, looking fixedly at the Crown Prince.

For so many years, this was the first time the Crown Prince had directly intervened against him!