The emperor suffered a crushing defeat when it came to holding the child.

Ye Jingning burst into tears. The emperor held him as if he were a hot potato, and after only a short while, he hurriedly returned the child to Consort Shu.

The emperor frowned as he watched Consort Shu holding and comforting the child.

Chen'er clearly said his embrace was warm, broad, and made him feel safe; Jing Yu also liked being held by him, looking at him with bright, sparkling eyes. So why, when it came to Jing Ning—

While comforting the child with heartache, Consort Shu secretly observed the Emperor's expression.

When she saw the emperor's face darken visibly, Consort Shu felt bitter.

She brought the child with the intention of gaining the emperor's favor, but now, instead of receiving any favor, she may even make the emperor dislike Jingning.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It's not that Ning'er doesn't like you, but children are delicate. If you hold him in the wrong position, he will feel very uncomfortable. He cried because he was uncomfortable," Consort Shu explained cautiously.

"Alright, Jingning is still young and shouldn't be exposed to the wind. Take him back!" The emperor waved his hand.

For a while, he dared not touch the infant in swaddling clothes again.

Luckily, Chen'er isn't here, otherwise he might laugh at him!

Consort Shu left with her child in a huff. When the Emperor returned to Chengqian Palace, the first thing he saw was the peony flower that Ye Jingchen had given him.

"Place the flowers in Chongzheng Hall," he ordered.

In Chengqian Palace, Chongzheng Hall was where the emperor handled government affairs and reviewed memorials on a daily basis. The emperor also summoned ministers to this hall.

The peony was placed in the most prominent position in Chongzheng Hall, so that any minister who came here would see the flower at first glance.

As the morning court session ended and the ministers returned home, the news that His Highness the Crown Prince had used flowers as a metaphor for spring and sent spring to the Emperor spread throughout the entire imperial city.

Some laughed at the child's innocence, while others praised the filial piety as touching; some scoffed, while others applauded and were completely convinced.

Regardless of how people viewed this matter, many people in the imperial city, and even throughout the entire Great Abyss, followed suit!

Thanks to the efforts of many well-intentioned individuals, His Highness the Crown Prince's reputation for intelligence and elegance spread throughout the entire Great Abyss.

Meanwhile, in the East Palace, after a good night's sleep, Ye Jingchen ordered Chenxi to send secret guards to investigate Ye Jinghe's current situation in Changchun Palace.

The emperor discovered that Consort Shu had mistreated the prince. Any intelligent person would have known that she should treat the prince well from now on, at least outwardly.

Although the emperor had the two palace servants beaten to death today, he only sent Ye Jinghe back to Changchun Palace. It seems that he doesn't care about this prince at all. It's really hard to say what choice Consort Shu will make.

The secret guards were very efficient; Ye Jingchen learned of Consort Shu's choice before going to bed that night.

"She actually locked the Fifth Prince in a side hall, assigned people to guard him, and wouldn't allow him to step out of the hall?" Ye Jingchen couldn't believe what he was hearing.

The prince is under house arrest?

How dare Consort Shu?

"The Fifth Prince was imprisoned as soon as he returned to Changchun Palace, and his dinner consisted of only a bowl of leftover rice," Chenxi added.

Ye Jingchen was so angry he laughed. He had children of his own, so he couldn't stand people who abused children.

However, it is already late today, so it is not a good time to go to Changchun Palace.

The next morning, Ye Jingchen woke up with something on his mind.

He didn't stay in bed. He ordered someone to help him wash up, and instructed Fangfei to fetch some of his old clothes and prepare some food. He skipped breakfast and went straight to Changchun Palace.

When he arrived at Changchun Palace with the help of palace servants, the palace gates were not yet open.

Fangfei went up and knocked on the door.

The palace servants guarding the gate, seeing that it was someone from the Eastern Palace, quickly opened the gate.

Consort Shu was not like Consort Gui. Although her family was also deeply rooted in the court, it could not compare to the foundation of the Ji family. The palace servants of Changchun Palace were naturally not as bold as those of Weiyang Palace, daring to refuse entry to people from the Eastern Palace, let alone His Highness the Crown Prince himself.

Immediately, palace servants went to invite Consort Shu.

"I'm here to visit my fifth brother, there's no need to disturb Consort Shu," Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

The people of Changchun Palace dared not allow His Highness the Crown Prince to visit the Fifth Prince like that. If they did, their fate might be the same as that of the two palace servants from yesterday.

"Your Highness is of noble birth. Since you have come to Changchun Palace, let's wait for Consort Shu to personally entertain you." The palace servants were about to lead Ye Jingchen to the main hall.

Ye Jingchen came here early in the morning not only because he was worried about Ye Jinghe's condition, but also because he wanted to catch Consort Shu off guard. How could he possibly give her time to deal with it?

"I've come to visit my younger brother, and you want to stop me?" Ye Jingchen glared at him and immediately ordered his men to restrain all the palace servants in Changchun Palace.

He came with a purpose, so he brought enough men. With a single order, all the palace servants in Changchun Palace were brought under control.

"Where does the Fifth Prince live?" Ye Jingchen asked.

No one spoke.

"You dare to obstruct my meeting with the Fifth Prince? Your motives are suspicious. If you don't speak up, I will have you all beaten to death!" Ye Jingchen threatened.

The Crown Prince arrived with great force. The palace servants of Changchun Palace were already apprehensive. Ye Jingchen's sudden appearance frightened them, and some of the more timid servants pointed in a certain direction.

Guided by the palace servants, Ye Jingchen arrived at the palace where Ye Jinghe was imprisoned, only to find a large, gleaming padlock hanging on the gate.

"Why is the prince's residence locked? Do you think you're imprisoning a prisoner?" Ye Jingchen questioned sternly.

The palace servants in Changchun Palace remained silent, not daring to utter a sound.

"Open the door for me right now!" Ye Jingchen commanded.

"The key is...it's in Aunt Chunlu's hands," a young palace maid said timidly.

"Then go and bring Chunlu over!" Ye Jingchen ordered.

A palace attendant went to carry out the order, and after a while, the person was brought over, along with Consort Shu and a group of palace servants.

Consort Shu was still asleep when she was awakened by her personal maid Chunlu, who said that His Highness the Crown Prince had arrived at Changchun Palace to visit Ye Jinghe.

Consort Shu was jolted awake, instantly losing all sleepiness.

She hurriedly got up, and before she could even dress or wash up, the eunuch who had come to ask for her was already outside the bedchamber.

The emperor's favoritism towards the Crown Prince was obvious to everyone in the harem. Consort Shu didn't want to provoke that little tyrant. She was inwardly distressed, but dared not keep Ye Jingchen waiting any longer. She simply had someone casually tie her hair up and hurriedly led her people to see Ye Jingchen.

"Your Highness, Consort Shu—" Ye Jingchen put his hands behind his back. Although he was much shorter than Consort Shu, his aura was no less imposing.

He suppressed his anger and stared at Consort Shu, displaying the full authority of the Crown Prince.

Upon suddenly meeting Ye Jingchen's gaze, Consort Shu subconsciously took a step back.

However, Consort Shu quickly regained her senses, straightened her back, adjusted her sleeves, and composed herself before slowly speaking: "Your Highness the Crown Prince stormed into Changchun Palace early this morning with great force. What brings you here?"

"I want to see my fifth brother. Open the door." Ye Jingchen was too lazy to waste words with her and went straight to the point.

Consort Shu looked surprised. "Jinghe is my child. How could he be living in a locked palace? Your Highness, are you mistaken?"