The next morning at court, Emperor Xiao had barely sat down when a dense crowd of officials knelt before him, ready to offer their opinions.

Everyone is talking about Xiao Chengci smashing and burning down the temple yesterday.

"The Crown Prince's actions were extremely heinous. He showed no respect for the ancestors and even dared to smash the temple that the late emperor had personally built!"

“Your Majesty does not cherish the common people. The temples are where the people worship. I beg Your Majesty to severely punish His Highness the Crown Prince.”

After one official finished speaking, another official immediately knelt down.

"Your Highness's actions have made the whole world doubt whether the Crown Prince is capable of being the next monarch. It is truly disheartening."

"His Majesty goes to the temple to pray for blessings every year. If the Crown Prince's actions might anger Heaven and affect the fate of the nation, it is not impossible."

"The Crown Prince's actions clearly show that he has no regard for the common people and the safety of the nation."

"Yes, my younger sister died in childbirth yesterday. Perhaps it was because the Crown Prince angered Buddha, and Buddha no longer protects my sister, that this happened."

"At my home..."

Several officials knelt on the ground, all with the same goal: to severely punish Xiao Chengci.

“Yesterday, after the Crown Prince smashed the temple, I immediately imprisoned him.”

Emperor Xiao first explained his punishment of Xiao Chengci, which slightly calmed the anger of the officials kneeling on the ground.

"There is a saying that goes, 'If a son is not taught, it is the father's fault.' If the Crown Prince is like this, then I also have many faults."

When the officials saw that Emperor Xiao was taking the blame upon himself, they hurriedly tried to refute him.

They can impeach the Crown Prince, but to let them impeach His Majesty is like asking if their heads are too safe.

Emperor Xiao waved his hand, signaling him to finish speaking.

“Last night I dreamt of the late Emperor. He pointed his finger at me and berated me.”

Emperor Xiao glanced at the officials below and continued, "I am deeply saddened that they say I failed to properly educate the Crown Prince, leading him to commit this heinous crime."

As Emperor Xiao spoke, he patted his chest.

Several officials kneeling on the ground exchanged furtive glances, wondering what His Majesty was up to.

Emperor Xiao stood up. "Although the Crown Prince's actions were rash, they were indeed understandable."

"The prince smashed the Buddha statue because it was already damaged."

Before his subordinates could react, Emperor Xiao continued, "This temple was built by the late emperor when he first ascended the throne, in order to pray for the prosperity of the country and favorable weather."

“If the Buddha statue is damaged, the things that everyone prays for will naturally not come true. The Crown Prince is doing this for the sake of the common people.”

All the officials in the hall now understood that His Majesty was talking nonsense.

But, what can you do when he's His Majesty?

A group of ministers knelt down and shouted, "Your Highness is truly righteous!"

Seeing everyone's reaction, Emperor Xiao smiled with satisfaction.

The official kneeling on the ground, however, spoke up, "Since the Buddha statue is damaged, why smash it? Wouldn't it be better to just replace it?"

"His Highness the Crown Prince not only smashed the Buddha statues, but also burned down the temple, leaving the monks to sleep in the courtyard now. Why is that?"

"When the Crown Prince smashed the Buddha statue, he accidentally knocked over the incense and candles, which caused the fire. This is the Crown Prince's fault, and also my fault."

Such a poorly written explanation clearly treats the officials below as fools.

Before the officials could object, Emperor Xiao preemptively declared, "Therefore, I have decided to rebuild the temple, with the funds coming from my private treasury."

"I will build this temple together with His Highness the Crown Prince, in order to bring peace and stability to the world!"

"Your Majesty is wise."

"His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince personally built the temple, which will surely bring divine blessings."

"The deep bond between His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will surely be a moving story in the annals of history."

Emperor Xiao continued, "Not only that, I will also have the Crown Prince preside over the distribution of grain at the temple. After the temple is completed, the people who go to burn incense in the first ten days will each receive half a catty of rice."

The Left and Right Prime Ministers exchanged a glance and could only smile helplessly in the end.

Their emperor really went to any lengths for His Highness the Crown Prince.

It seems that the Crown Prince is being punished by having to oversee the distribution of grain.

In reality, His Majesty intended to use this method to dispel the people's dissatisfaction with His Highness the Crown Prince's burning of the temple.

The prince burned down the temple, so the people naturally complained.

But once they received the rice and realized the real benefits, they could only loudly praise the prince.

Your Majesty did this so that the Crown Prince would not lose the support of the people.

Since Your Majesty has thought things through so thoroughly, the officials won't feel that they've lived too long and insist on opposing Your Highness.

As for the censors, although His Majesty's excuse was flimsy, it was not good to let them continue to impeach him.

After the court session ended, Emperor Xiao sighed heavily, exhausted.

"How is the Crown Prince?"

The palace maid said, "Her Majesty the Empress sent a lot of things to the prison yesterday, so Your Majesty need not worry."

"Who said I was worried about him?" Emperor Xiao became angry at the mention of Xiao Chengci.

The palace servant dared not respond, "Her people from the Empress's palace are waiting outside the hall, saying that the Empress requests His Majesty's presence."

Having just dealt with his troublesome son, Emperor Xiao did indeed want to go to his son's mother and vent his frustrations.

Empress Shang also learned that Emperor Xiao had already resolved the matter during the morning court session today.

When Emperor Xiao arrived at Changqiu Palace, Empress Shang immediately rose to pay her respects.

Emperor Xiao waved his hand, and Empress Shang pulled out a chair to help His Majesty sit down.

"This is a crab roe pastry that Your Majesty has specially ordered the Imperial Kitchen to make today. Your Majesty, please have some."

Emperor Xiao waved his hand, "My head hurts, I can't eat anything."

"Why does Your Majesty have a headache? Let me massage it for you."

Emperor Xiao grabbed the Empress's hand, preventing her from getting up.

“Aci has been obedient, sensible and intelligent since childhood, which has saved me a lot of trouble.”

Emperor Xiao said helplessly, "Who would have thought that at this age, he would start causing trouble?"

Empress Shang picked up her chopsticks and served food to Emperor Xiao, nodding as she did so to show that she was listening attentively.

"You say it's just a woman? He's the crown prince, what doesn't he have?"

Emperor Xiao grew angrier as he spoke, "For the sake of a woman, you actually say that it doesn't matter whether you become the crown prince or not?"

"I have painstakingly nurtured him all these years, teaching him the ways of a ruler step by step, yet he says he will not become the crown prince. Has he ever taken me seriously?"

Empress Shang chimed in, "Yes, Aci is so inconsiderate; he doesn't know how to be considerate of His Majesty at all."

"Of all my children, only he is the one I personally tend to whenever he falls ill, fearing something might happen to him. But he is fine."

As Emperor Xiao spoke, his eyes even reddened.

"He has disobeyed me so much for the sake of a woman; I am truly disappointed in him."

Empress Shang replied, "Yes, Aci went too far."

Emperor Xiao slammed his hand on the table. “No, this time, I must punish him severely to prevent him from becoming arrogant and ignorant in the future.”

Empress Shang agreed with this point.

Xiao Chengci's behavior this time was too much; he needs to be taught a lesson.