Chapter 107

“Father, what do you think?”

The Crown Prince’s eyes were clear as he kept looking at Emperor Yong.

The Second Prince, using the cover of his sleeve, slowly tightened his hands.

He knew that today, with the Empress and the Crown Prince both taking action, they wouldn’t stop until they achieved their goal.

If he waited passively now, forcing Emperor Yong to make a choice, it would only deplete Emperor Yong’s affection for the Empress.

It was better to retreat in order to advance; Emperor Yong would surely consider his maturity and feel guilty towards him, taking better care of him!

Being confined to Zongren Mansion for just a year, he had plenty of ways to turn the situation around!

Thinking of this, the Second Prince knelt down and said aloud:

“Father, with the danger faced by the Western Prince, I indeed have an undeniable responsibility. Confinement in Zongren Mansion for a year, I will go.”

“I will reflect deeply in Zongren Mansion and will never make such a mistake again.”

“Father, as the Empress suggested, please send me to Zongren Mansion!”

Emperor Yong looked down at the Western Prince kneeling on the ground, who was his Empress and his three sons.

Their expressions were all so respectful.

Emperor Yong’s brows furrowed deeply, and no one knew what he was thinking. After a while, he waved his hand.

“Enough, then send the Second Prince to Zongren Mansion for reflection for a year. The Western Prince was scared today; the Empress, comfort him well. That will be all.”

After Emperor Yong finished speaking, he didn’t look at anyone again, and he left with a sweep of his sleeves.

Seeing this, Huang Gonggong hurriedly bowed to the Empress and others before hastily following Emperor Yong.

As Emperor Yong walked far away, Huang Gonggong guessed Emperor Yong’s thoughts respectfully and asked,

“Your Majesty, Zongren Mansion is cold and the conditions are simple. Should we prepare something in advance for the Second Prince?”

Emperor Yong’s face turned cold. Just when Huang Gonggong thought Emperor Yong was angry and didn’t want to say more, Emperor Yong suddenly spoke again,

“The Second Prince is truly bold. Yuliu Niangniang was arranged by him, and he even deceived me.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Gonggong was suddenly shocked. So Emperor Yong had already figured it out!

Thinking of this, Huang Gonggong was suddenly shocked.

That’s right!

Based on his understanding of Emperor Yong, if Emperor Yong didn’t want to send the Second Prince to Zongren Mansion, even if the Empress knelt for a day and a night, Emperor Yong wouldn’t change his mind.

After all, back then, in order to make Emperor Yong abort Yuliu Niangniang’s child, the Empress and the concubines in the palace had done such things.

So… Emperor Yong himself wanted to punish the Second Prince!

But Emperor Yong just didn’t say it earlier, letting the Empress decide instead.

This was not only a punishment for the Second Prince, but also a test of the Empress’s thoughts!

As Huang Gonggong’s thoughts reached this point, he heard Emperor Yong murmuring,

“Let the Second Prince suffer for a year in Zongren Mansion. It seems I’ve been too kind to him. He actually dared to scheme against me, even reaching out to my inner circle.”

“If he behaves obediently, there are things I’m willing to give him for Yuliu Niangniang’s sake. But if he comes to snatch them, it’s a different story…”

Huang Gonggong’s steps faltered upon hearing this, looking at Emperor Yong’s tall figure, feeling a chill run down his spine!

This was the Emperor as he truly saw him!

Over the years, Emperor Yong had become increasingly infatuated with Yuliu Niangniang, indulging the Second Prince repeatedly.

He almost forgot that Emperor Yong used to be so calculating, manipulating people’s hearts step by step to reach this highest position!

If the Second Prince obediently followed Emperor Yong’s arrangements, Emperor Yong might really act according to his infatuation with Yuliu Niangniang.

Today’s events completely exposed the Second Prince’s ambitions, and Emperor Yong finally became wary!

Huang Gonggong slowly breathed out a sigh of relief, following Emperor Yong’s footsteps cautiously, not daring to say another word.

In front of Funing Palace, the Crown Prince and the Western Prince helped the Empress up.

“Mother, let’s return to the palace,” the Crown Prince said gently.

The Empress nodded softly, completely letting go of the thorns in her face when facing Emperor Yong at this moment.

“Let’s go. Zhan’er, hold Xiao Xi; Xiao Xi has been through a lot today.”

The Western Prince quickly shook his head. “Mother, Xiao Xi doesn’t need to be held. Xiao Xi is perfectly fine!”

He didn’t know what kind of talisman Miss Qiao had used, but he truly felt great all over, without any discomfort.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince affectionately rubbed the Western Prince’s head. “Alright, it’s up to you.”

As the mother and sons were about to leave, the Second Prince suddenly spoke in a deep voice, “Farewell to Mother, farewell to Crown Brother.”

The Crown Prince turned slightly at his words, meeting the Second Prince’s extremely beautiful face with a gentle smile.

“Second Brother, take care of yourself at Zongren Mansion. We’ll see each other again in a year.”

The Second Prince clenched his fists suddenly, a faint smile on his face. “Thank you, Big Brother, for your concern. Second Brother will definitely—return in time.”

The Crown Prince nodded gently, withdrawing his gaze from the Second Prince.

“Mother, watch your step.”

Supporting the Empress’s arm, the mother and sons talked and laughed, gradually walking away into the dusk’s pink glow.

The Second Prince stood still, his expression becoming increasingly grim.

After so much painstaking planning, he never expected to suffer such a defeat!

Where did things go wrong?

The Second Prince’s eyes suddenly narrowed, falling on the small figure of the Western Prince.

Since Yuliu Niangniang pushed Xiao Xi into the lake, and he was still young and had never learned to swim, how did he manage to come ashore?

Based on his understanding of Yuliu Niangniang, she must have left only after seeing Xiao Xi drown with her own eyes.

It was too bizarre.

If it weren’t for Xiao Xi unexpectedly returning, he had already comforted Meng Guxue. Logically speaking, no one would have discovered his affair with Yuliu Niangniang, and everything would have gone smoothly…

It seemed that since this year’s Lantern Festival, everything had become bumpy and tortuous, while the Crown Prince seemed to have divine assistance, repeatedly shattering his plans.

Who was helping the Crown Prince?

The Second Prince couldn’t come up with an answer, so he could only clench his fists in frustration and leave the Funing Palace.

Since he was going to be confined to Zongren Mansion for a year, many things needed to be arranged in advance.

And that Meng Guxue, he didn’t know if she had listened to his words. She was an indispensable part of the plan…

The Second Prince stepped out of Funing Palace and into Chunhua Garden, never looking back at the dead Yuliu Niangniang lying on the ground.

That beautiful body had danced gracefully in Funing Palace earlier in the morning.

At this moment, it lay cold on the ground, covered in blood, her eyes still wide open…

Inside Funing Palace.

The Western Prince was still young after all. Comforted gently by the Empress and the Crown Prince, he fell into a deep sleep.

His small hand tightly gripped the bedsheet, and he murmured continuously, “Sister Qiao, Sister Qiao…”

The Empress smiled tenderly, gently stroking the Western Prince’s head, before quietly leaving.

In the outer hall, the Crown Prince sat quietly, the hot tea beside him untouched.

The Empress sat down opposite the Crown Prince, and the two looked at each other, causing the Empress’s eyes to turn red.