"Consort De has deliberately spread rumors and damaged the Crown Prince's reputation. The evidence is conclusive. Effective immediately, she is stripped of her title, demoted to the rank of Consort, confined to her quarters for six months, and fined one year's salary!"

That evening, shortly after Ye Jingming returned to Yichun Palace, the imperial edict arrived.

Zhang Shunde personally read out the imperial edict.

After receiving the imperial edict, Consort De collapsed to the ground, plunging into despair.

First, she was stripped of her power to manage the palace's food and drink. Just a few days later, she was stripped of her title, demoted to the rank of concubine, confined to her quarters, and had her salary reduced. Consort De, no, now Consort Chen, couldn't understand where things went wrong.

She merely spread some rumors about the Crown Prince harming his siblings, and at most incited a few officials to impeach him. She had done such things before, so why did the Emperor turn a blind eye before, but punish her so severely this time?

"Jingming—Ye Jingming!"

She pressed her hands on Ye Jingming's shoulders, shaking his body excitedly, her expression like that of a madwoman.

"Did you already know that His Majesty intended to punish me?!"

Why didn't you tell me?!

Why didn't you plead for me before His Majesty?!

"We are mother and son, our fates are intertwined, what good will it do you if I am crippled?!"

Consort De kept pressing for answers, her questions growing louder and louder.

However, on the way back from Chengqian Palace, Ye Jingming had already prepared himself mentally, so when Consort Chen interrogated him, he simply watched his mother go crazy without saying a word.

Although the punishment is cruel, it is the result of the Emperor's brother's pleas for leniency.

He could hardly imagine how his father would have treated his mother if his elder brother hadn't pleaded for her.

Should they be banished to the cold palace? Or be sentenced to death?

Compared to that outcome, what do stripping one's title, confinement, and salary reduction amount to?

In Yichun Palace, Consort Chen vented her dissatisfaction and resentment to Ye Jingming for half the night, until she was exhausted before she was willing to let go of Ye Jingming and herself.

The next morning, as soon as the gates of Yichun Palace opened, palace servants from Chengqian Palace were already waiting outside.

The palace servants, acting on the emperor's orders, specially delivered a set of writing implements to Ye Jingming before he went to study at the Wenhua Hall.

The day before, Consort De had been severely punished, and the next day the Emperor bestowed a reward upon Ye Jingming. This was to tell everyone in the harem that although Consort Chen had been punished, the Second Prince was still deeply favored by His Majesty.

This reward was requested by Ye Jingchen on behalf of Ye Jingming from the emperor overnight.

Influenced by Consort Chen, his situation in the palace will become very awkward. The harem has always been a place of fawning on the powerful and stepping on the weak. When in power, everyone will fawn over you, but when you lose power, everyone will want to take the opportunity to kick you while you're down.

After learning about Consort Chen's actions, even those little brats had a very subtle attitude towards Ye Jingming, not to mention others.

Therefore, in order to prevent Ye Jingming from being humiliated, Ye Jingchen specially asked the emperor to bestow upon Ye Jingming a set of writing implements, and publicized this matter to the entire palace.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

Regardless of what others think, even Ye Jingming himself felt his back straighten up considerably after receiving his father's reward.

"Second brother, I heard that Father Emperor specially bestowed upon you a set of writing implements. Congratulations!" After Ye Jingming arrived at the East Palace, Ye Jingchen brought up this matter in front of everyone.

Ye Jingming was very clever and immediately guessed that the reward must have been requested by his elder brother. Otherwise, his elder brother would not have known so quickly after his father had just given him the gift.

"Thank you very much, Your Majesty." Ye Jingming was sincerely grateful to Ye Jingchen. Whether it was pleading for his mother or getting a reward from his father on his behalf.

"I just don't want things to cause a rift between my brothers and sisters because of your mother. We share the same blood and should be the closest people in the world. We should like each other, be tolerant of each other, and help each other!" Ye Jingchen said to Ye Jingming, and also to all his other brothers and sisters.

“You’re right, Your Highness. Second Brother is Second Brother, and Consort Chen is Consort Chen. We really shouldn’t discriminate against her because of what she did!” Ye Jingshu was the first to respond.

The word 'discrimination' is difficult to evaluate.

"Second brother, don't worry. We're not children anymore. We have our own judgment about good and evil," Ye Jingyu comforted him.

"Second brother, I will love you just as much as before!" Ye Jingyu said earnestly to Ye Jingming, looking up at him.

Once he surpasses Ye Jinghe, his third brother will be no threat; his next target to surpass will be his second brother.

Before that, Second Prince, you must not let this affect your mindset.

"I'll be watching you." Ye Jinghe was different from the others; his gaze towards Ye Jingming was filled with blatant suspicion, and his words were anything but polite.

Ye Jingming's mother hurt his brother, but who knows if he is truly innocent?

Although his brother doesn't mind, he will keep an eye on this guy for his brother.

"Jinghe, you need to trust your second brother more." Ye Jingchen patted his little head with a helpless expression.

“There are many, otherwise it wouldn’t just be about watching him.” Ye Jinghe said with a threatening tone, his face expressionless.

Ye Jingchen: ......

Not just watching? What else do you want to do?

What can a four-year-old do?

"I won't do anything to harm my brother. If you want to supervise me, then go ahead," Ye Jingming replied calmly, without getting angry.

"However—" he changed the subject, "if you really only care about your brother, then you should put away that prickly attitude of yours. You're only making things difficult for him!"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!