Zhou Xuance coughed twice: "Yuan Heng, Miss Shen was harassed tonight. Is this related to you? Find your personal eunuch or guard, arrest her and interrogate her. There will be results. It's useless to talk to me about uncle-nephew relationship."

"Third brother, even if you want to please Sister Zhiyi, you shouldn't use such methods!"

The crown prince began to gloat.

He understood his father's meaning:

He wanted to maintain the balance of power in the court.

Therefore, it was impossible to let him have absolute power. The fourth prince was born with a deficiency, and the seventh prince was too young, so he eventually released the third prince.

Ever since he was released from confinement, he's caused him no shortage of trouble.

Now that the Imperial Uncle is going to make a move against him, such a good opportunity is naturally seized to kick him while he's down.

“Even if these people don’t dare to hurt her, she is still a girl. If she is frightened, or if these thugs are reckless and actually hurt her, what would happen if word got out…”

"Isn't Zhiyi's reputation important?"

"Third brother, you have really disappointed your older brother."

The Third Prince was furious.

But he dared not retaliate.

Shen Chongde stood right opposite him, his eyes looking as if he wanted to devour him alive.

His mind was in turmoil. He pondered the situation, realizing he hadn't left any evidence or leverage, only the commoner's one-sided account. So he knelt on the ground.

“Father, I know it was my mistake to plant spies in the Imperial Uncle’s army.”

“But I was also punished for this. I was stripped of my title and imprisoned. If my uncle still harbors resentment and wants to ruin me, then I deserve it.”

"If my uncle wants to pin this on me, then I'll accept it."

...

Zhou Xuance remained unfazed by the Third Prince's remarks, but Shen Zhiyi was taken aback.

How could he be so shameless!

If he weren't a prince, colluding with barbarians would have warranted the extermination of his entire clan.

How dare they say such things?

The Third Prince kept kneeling and kowtowing, which surprised Shen Zhiyi, because his forehead was bruised from the kowtowing, but His Majesty did not say anything to stop him, but just watched coldly.

Just then, a eunuch announced that the Empress had arrived.

The third prince hesitated slightly as he kowtowed, then was overjoyed, feeling that his savior had arrived.

Emperor Xiaoxuan, however, simply said, "Stop her and don't let her in!"

His voice was extremely cold, which surprised the Third Prince. He had just looked up at him when Emperor Xiaoxuan picked up the inkstone beside him and threw it at him.

Caught completely off guard, unable to dodge in time!

With a loud "thud," the inkstone smashed onto his head, instantly causing blood to flow from his head. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to utter a word.

"You unfilial son, even at a time like this, you still dare to smear your royal uncle!"

"Do you think I don't know what you're thinking about the Shen family?"

"Father!" Zhou Yuanheng was terrified.

"You're trying to frame your uncle because you think there's only eyewitness testimony and no physical evidence, right? Well then, what about this matter?!" Emperor Xiaoxuan threw the wooden box that Kong Qing had just presented over to him.

The box was already open, and the contents fell out, revealing it to be the waist token from the Third Prince's residence.

“Father, Father Emperor, this…” Zhou Yuanheng was horrified.

"How dare you send someone to assassinate your royal uncle!"

"Zhou Yuanheng, he is your own uncle, the Emperor. He is here on my behalf to inspect the disaster situation in the south. Do you intend to murder him, or..."

"You want to kill the king!"

In his fury, Emperor Xiaoxuan's forehead veins bulged, frightening everyone present into kneeling and begging him to calm down.

Only Zhou Xuanze, relying on his weak physique, was still leaning back in his chair.

Hearing the commotion, the Empress outside the door was terrified, but was stopped by the guards and could only cry out from outside, "Your Majesty, Yuan Heng is still your own son. Even if he has done wrong, please forgive him..."

Shen Zhiyi knelt on the ground, her head slightly lowered, her heart pounding wildly with fear.

Tonight's events were completely unexpected.

At this moment, Zhou Xuance coughed as he stood up. "Your Majesty, it's probably because I handled the matter improperly last time, which displeased me. Perhaps you want to teach me a lesson."

"Never mind, as an uncle, how can I hold a grudge against a junior?"

"You can teach him a lesson. I don't care. You can't let the relationship between you and your son be damaged for the sake of a dying man like me."

...

As he spoke, he coughed violently a few more times.

"Xuan Ce, what nonsense are you spouting? I will never let anything happen to you." Emperor Xiaoxuan's face was cold as he glared angrily at his kneeling, rebellious son.

“Your brother’s life was a fluke. Fortunately, both Miss Shen and I are safe and sound. Your brother doesn’t want to pursue the matter too much. You can just scold him a few times. He’s still young and was just confused for a moment.”

Shen Zhiyi couldn't believe it and secretly looked at him:

Playing the victim

Retreat to advance!

He really dares to say that.

The Third Prince was stunned. Was this still his cold and unapproachable uncle? Why was he speaking like this?

But he was preoccupied with his own problems and had no time to care about him.

because……

After the last assassination attempt, the Imperial Uncle delivered the assassin's body directly to his residence. How could he dare to act recklessly again?

Therefore, the Imperial Uncle did not arrange any assassins during his trip south.

"Zhou Yuanheng, you are truly unrepentant and have greatly disappointed me." Emperor Xiaoxuan was furious.

"Father, it really wasn't me who did it!" The Third Prince was terrified.

Zhou Xuance chuckled: "You really didn't send any assassins to kill me?"

"I……"

He did send people there, but that was in the past!

These tokens must have been seized by the Imperial Uncle last time.

Does he think that he was responsible for the assassination attempt, and therefore blame himself for it?

He was truly more wronged than Dou E.

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