Chapter 1368: Smoothing the Situation
The Fourth Prince was still hesitating and struggling, but unexpectedly, this rumor started to spread among the royal nobles, important officials and dignitaries!
The Fourth Prince was frightened, but he didn't dare to say it in person, otherwise it would seem like he was adding insult to injury.
Anyway, the matter had already spread, so there was no need to hide it any longer, and it couldn't be hidden. So he asked an imperial censor to impeach him, and just openly expose the matter, so that people would say that the laws of the Qin Dynasty were strict, and it was good that the prince was guilty of the same crime as the common people.
Unexpectedly, after the Emperor conducted a thorough investigation, he found out that the Crown Prince was wrongly accused! The Crown Prince was actually innocent!
"Your Majesty!" Imperial Concubine Mei cried, "The Fourth Prince is terribly frightened right now. He really believed that the Crown Prince had touched the money from the national treasury after receiving reports from his subordinates, and that's why he ordered people to investigate secretly. He doesn't know why the results reported to him turned out to be true! This is really, really--"
"The officials under you are so bold that they dared to deceive the Fourth Prince! How did this happen? The Fourth Prince is shocked, frightened, and at a loss. He is too ashamed to see the Emperor. As his mother, I have to be thick-skinned and explain everything to the Emperor so that he won't be angry!"
"This child is really too impulsive and too confused this time. No matter how he is punished, he deserves it. I will never plead for him! I only ask the emperor to know the whole story, and I will be satisfied, and the rebellious son will be content!"
"Your Majesty is wise, please show mercy!"
The emperor looked coldly at Concubine Mei, who was kneeling on the ground, crying and feeling sad. He snorted coldly and stared at her with a chilly gaze without saying a word.
Taoist Shang Zhen, who was sitting on a cushion beside him and holding a Buddhist whisk, coughed softly, "Your Majesty, please take it easy and don't get angry! Excessive anger will cause liver fire to surge and internal organs to burn, which is not good for spiritual practice at all."
The emperor gently closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions. When he opened his eyes again, his expression had relaxed a little.
"Is that true?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you!"
"Humph, the fourth brother is meddling too much. This is about the crown prince, but instead of informing me first, he actually ordered someone to investigate secretly. He's really bold!"
Imperial Concubine Mei kowtowed and trembled slightly, the emerald hairpins on her bun jingling softly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
The emperor said coldly: "If I don't punish him, where is the prince's dignity? Let him come to the prince's house to apologize, and then reflect on his mistakes behind closed doors, and leave me alone!"
"Yes, I thank the emperor for his grace on behalf of the Fourth Prince!"
Imperial Concubine Mei kowtowed, choking with tears of gratitude as she thanked him. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the Emperor probably believed what she said.
Anyway, the Fourth Prince didn't do this himself, so it would be enough to find a scapegoat to take the blame.
However, in this way, the Fourth Prince was reprimanded and punished by the Emperor, and his prestige was greatly damaged, making him even inferior to the Crown Prince.
Concubine Mei, who had just overcome the difficulties, felt unwilling and resentful again.
The emperor still doted on Imperial Concubine Mei. Seeing her still kneeling on the ground with tears in her eyes and a pitiful look on her face, he felt pity for her. He sighed and said, "Old Fourth is confused. What has it got to do with you? Get up. I know you are loyal to me."
"Yes, I thank Your Majesty for your grace! Your loyalty to Your Majesty is evident to all. It is for this reason that I, as the mother of the Fourth Prince, feel even more ashamed."
(End of this chapter)
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