Chapter Fifty-Two: <strong>Everyone Is A Good Actor</strong>
“What did you say?” When Qilong Emperor heard the guard’s report, he was so angry he almost fainted. But he still remembered what the setting was, so he stood up and bowed to the master of the Three Pure Monastery. “Spiritual Master, I probably cannot continue our match.”
The monastery master smiled as he stood up and said, “ying <i>weiqi</i> is a pastime. Your Majesty, please act at your leisure.”
Qilong Emperor was not in the mood to converse with the monastery master. He hurriedly left the inner room and walked towards the Western Yard. When he arrived, all the women present had drawn back into the rooms. The Crown Prince had dressed. Li <i>meiren</i> had been pulled down, and the only eye-catching mark that remained was the blood on the wall.
Li <i>meiren</i> was one of the women whom the Emperor had been favoring recently. Otherwise, she would not have been included among the peopleing on this trip. But now his own son had slept with his concubine, and his concubine hadmitted suicide in front of the womenfolk of the Imperial House. No matter how much power he had, he would not be able to stop the mouths from talking. Kill all the womenfolk present? If he really did that, then tomorrow, it would be someone else ruling the Great Zhao Dynasty.
The people who came after him included Ning <i>Wang</i>, Xian <i>Wang</i>, Sheng <i>Junwang</i>, Xu Wang <i>Shizi</i> and others. Ning <i>Wang</i> was in the Crown Prince’s camp, but he was filled with regret about this matter that had just urred. Why had he been bewitched at the beginning and joined the Crown Prince’s camp?
As a son, forcing the death of a <i>shu</i> mother implied that his conduct wascking. He was also seen by so many womenfolk, not to mention the many guards who were present at the scene. This matter would be impossible to conceal, unless everyone present was on the Crown Prince’s side.
But was that possible? Because the Crown Prince had been too arrogant these past years, he had offended many members of the imperial n, not to mention that there were people outside who said that the miscarriage of Sheng <i>Junwang Fei</i> was rted to the Crown Prince <i>Fu</i>. With Sheng <i>Junwang’s </i>status in court, how could he let this matter pass?
“How are the women—have they been frightened?” Ning <i>Wang</i> saw the situation and could only avoid the serious matter. He asked about the womenfolk who had been at the scene.
“Ning <i>Wang Ye</i>, a few of the noble ones were frightened and fainted. The Grand Doctors havee to take their pulse,” a guard replied.
Yan Jin Qiu who heard this asked in a natural manner, “How is Xian <i>Wang Fei</i>?”
Because Xian <i>Wang</i>‘s love for Xian <i>Wang Fei</i> was known in Jing, the guard was not surprised. He immediately responded, “Xian <i>Wang Fei</i> fainted in fright and has been helped into the room to rest.”
“En.” Yan Jin Qiu’s brow furrowed. His feet shifted a few times and then he stood still.
The guards saw Xian <i>Wang</i> appear as though he wanted to enter the room and couldn’t help but think, if it wasn’t that there were other women in the room, Xian <i>Wang</i> would have probably entered the room now. As expected, hearing was not as good as seeing. Xian <i>Wang</i> really was in deep love with his <i>wang fei</i>.
“You bastard!”
The shout from the Emperor frightened the guard into bowing his head and holding his breath.
Hearing this, Yan Jin Qiu looked over and saw that the Emperor had kicked the Crown Prince, who stumbled back a few steps. If it wasn’t that two young <i>taijian</i> were supporting him, he probably would have fallen to the floor.
“You do not need to hold this bastard. <i>Zhen</i> will end him today.” The Emperor was extremely enraged. He took out a de from the waist of the guard behind him and went to chop at the Crown Prince. Ning <i>Wang</i> saw that the situation was far from good, and hurriedly knelt in front of the Emperor, grabbing onto the other’s legs with his two hands. “Emperor, do not be angry...”
Before he could finish speaking, the Emperor kicked at his face. As he fell to the floor, he heard the angry shout of the Emperor, “Why should <i>zhen</i>keep this bastard? It is better for him to die cleanly.”
Ning <i>Wang</i>y on the ground and did not get up. He touched his face and thought dejectedly, Kill him if you want. It wasn’t his son, and the one who would not have any grandchildren would not be him. If the other was killed, this would all end, and he would not have to clean up after this foolish Crown Prince.
Hearing the wails and sobbing in the surroundings, Ning <i>Wang</i> who was near fifty appeared as though he was going to lie on the ground and sink through it. He had tried. If the Emperor regretted killing his son, then the me could not beid on his head.
After he listened for a while and the Emperor still hadn’t killed the Crown Prince, Ning <i>Wang</i> suddenly felt slightly disappointed. It would be very good if the Emperor really killed the Crown Prince; then, he would not have to face such a stupid person.
It was fated that Ning <i>Wang</i>‘s wish could not be fulfilled, because as the Emperor had kicked aside a dozen or so people as he held the de and neared the Crown Prince, the Empress appeared.
The Empress knelt with a bang in front of the Emperor and said with a tear-filled face, “Emperor, <i>qie</i> knows that the Crown Prince hasmitted a great mistake this time, but can you spare him from death as he is your son? <i>Qie</i> only has this one son, and he is <i>qie</i>‘s life.”
Your son is your life, then isn’t Li <i>meiren</i> the life of her parents? Ning <i>Wang</i> felt the ground was slightly hard and changed into a slightly morefortable position as he moaned and grunted. He needed to let the people in the surroundings see that it was not that he was not going to restrain the Emperor, but that he was too old and could not get up after falling.
Yan Jin Qiu silently looked at Ning <i>Wang</i> who was groaning in pain but had a red face. He smiled coldly. This was really an old fox. He looked down and saw the footprint of the Emperor on the bottom of his own robe from where the Emperor had kicked him, and he sat down on the ground with an expression of pain. Then he covered his leg and inhaled sharply.
The Emperor was in the prime of his life, and was strong and vigorous. After this kick, he felt great pain when he tried to walk.
Ning <i>Wang</i> and Yan Jin Qiu’s gazes met in the air, and then both moved their eyes away in mutual understanding.
“Emperor, please, spare the Crown Prince’s life based on the love between us for so many years.” The Empress’ makeup was ruined, her hairpins a mess. She had lost herposure in front of these people, but for her, what was most important was her son who was behind her.
The Crown Prince was dizzy from being kicked by the Emperor. Seeing the Empress kneeling in front of him, his mind gradually cleared and he knelt down beside the Empress. He sobbed out, “Father-Emperor, this son is innocent. This is someone else’s n. How could this son evermit such an outrageous action? Father-Emperor, please investigate thoroughly!”
The Empress also knew that the matter was fishy. If Li <i>meiren</i> was alive, this matter would not be so troublesome but Li <i>meiren</i> had died, and moreover, bymitting suicide in front of so many people.
Even if the investigation revealed that the Crown Prince had not done this, how many of the public would believe this? Most people would say that they were trying to protect the Crown Prince, and Li <i>meiren</i> was pitiful for losing her life at such a young age.
If the Crown Prince’s conduct had been orderly and if he was a hard-working person, then even if such a matter urred, as long as the matter was cleared up, no one would suspect him. Even if the mystery was not solved, people would unconsciously think that this was the result of scheming.
But the Crown Prince... Regardless of whether he was connected to this matter, in the eyes of other people, he was definitely involved in this matter.
The Empress could think of this, and the Emperor could as well. He turned to look at the people behind him. Which one was the person who did this?
Was this person forcing him to abolish the Crown Prince?
But if the Crown Prince was deposed, who could he give his throne to? Those nephews who were prowling about?
It would not be so simple!
“Investigate! Any person who hase to the Three Pure Monastery cannot leave—all of them have to stay for <i>zhen</i>.”
The Emperor’s words meant that everyone present was a suspect. But the Crown Prince who was on the bed with Li <i>meiren</i> did not have any problem?
All those present were part of the Imperial House. When they heard the Emperor’s words, their expressions became strange. So the culprit did not have any problems, but they, the innocent passersby, were guilty?
After Qilong Emperor said this, he regretted it. When he turned and saw that the expressions of the Imperial House members were not good, he sighed dispiritedly. “Someonee and take the Crown Prince into the Heavenly Prison. Before the matter is investigated, he cannot be released.”
“Father-Emperor?!” The Crown Prince looked in disbelief at the Emperor. What kind of ce was the Heavenly Prison? He, the Crown Prince, was being imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. Would he have any face after this?
However, the Empress knew that the Emperor’s actions were protecting the Crown Prince. Otherwise, the Imperial House members would feel discontent. She could only watch as the guards took the Crown Prince away.
“It iste now. Everyone, return with <i>zhen</i> to Jing.” Qilong Emperor did not mention the “cannot leave.” He then sighed emotionally. “This bastard is so, <i>zhen</i> feels very unhappy inside.”
What could the people say? They could onlyfort him, ease his mind, and say that the matter would be rified.
It was unknown what these people really thought.
In any case, the news that the Crown Prince had raped his <i>shu</i> mother spread through Jing. In these rumors, the Crown Prince had an image as a lusty and useless person. He saw Li <i>meiren</i>‘s beauty and had evil intentions. He took Li <i>meiren</i> and caused Li <i>meiren</i> tomit suicide.
Li <i>meiren</i>‘s death caused the Crown Prince to appear as a “rapist.” No matter what the truth was, this was the Crown Prince’s image.
But even if the Crown Prince was so absurd, themon people could only ept it. The Emperor only had this one son, and in the end, the only person who could seed the throne was the Crown Prince.
##
Because the Xian couple was wounded and frightened, they were carefully ushered back to the <i>wang fu</i>. An hourter, the Emperor sent over replenishing medicines.
Hua Xi Wan looked at the bruise on Yan Jin Qiu’s shin. She sighed and said, “The Emperor really kicked hard.”
“He is also just acting. If he really wanted to kill the Crown Prince, who would dare to stop him? He is just acting for all of us.” Yan Jin Qiu put down his pants and said, “I hear that you think that Sheng <i>Junwang Fei</i> was acting strangely?”
Hua Xi Wan called a servant to get a basin of hot water for Yan Jin Qiu to wash his wound before she said, “After the event urred, <i>Tang Sao</i>had intentions of leading us to see what happened in the room. However, the guards got there first, so she did not do it.”
“So something like this happened.” Yan Jin Qiu’s brow creased. Was it the Sheng <i>Junwang </i>couple who did it? But with Yan Bo Yi’s moves, it should not be so crude and brutal.
He nced at Hua Xi Wan, saying, “Rest early. We do not have to think about this matter now.”
In any case, this did not have anything to do with them at this time.