Chapter 54 The Third Prince Moved to Jiaozhi County and Was Not Allowed to Return to the Capital Without an Imperial Edict
The Third Prince had not expected that Emperor Wen Zhao would come in person. When he looked at Concubine Jing Gui, who was being held by two maids, his expression suddenly changed and he knelt down hurriedly: "Father, I am guilty and I know I was wrong."
Emperor Wen Zhao glanced at the half-burned dragon robe in the Third Prince's hand, his face turned ashen, and he stared at him sternly without saying a word.
Damn Third Prince, he admitted his faults quickly. The Sixth Prince rolled his eyes, and accidentally made eye contact with the Imperial Consort who was standing two steps behind Emperor Wen Zhao.
Seeing her own stupid son actually join in the fun, the Imperial Concubine frowned, winked at him, and mouthed silently, "Get lost."
The Sixth Prince took one look at His Majesty, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and thought to himself that something was wrong. He hurriedly and quietly moved back, taking small steps at a time, until he was behind You Zheng, who was almost the same height as him but twice as strong as him.
Then, with You Zheng's help, he moved behind the rockery. After he had taken a few steps, Emperor Wen Zhao glanced at him calmly and said, "Why are you running? Since you are here, stay and listen."
The Sixth Prince was eager to stay. Hearing this, he was delighted and bowed quickly, saying respectfully, "Your Highness obeys your order."
He then stood up and walked behind the Imperial Concubine. The Imperial Concubine glared at him and blamed him for coming.
The Sixth Prince came over and whispered, "Mother, it's all thanks to my son that he's here, otherwise the damn Third Prince would have burned the dragon robe, and we wouldn't have found anything then, and that would have been troublesome. Mother, you don't know how urgent it was at that time..."
"Shut up and listen to your father." The Royal Concubine raised her hand, pinched his arm hard, and scolded him quietly.
Since Tong Tong said so, His Majesty must believe it even if no evidence can be found. This idiot Xiao Liu really shouldn't have gotten involved, and he looks so smug and pleased that it makes people want to slap him.
The Imperial Concubine used all her strength to twist the Sixth Prince, causing him to grimace in pain. Seeing his mother getting mad, he quickly fell silent and dared not say another word.
Hiding behind the Imperial Concubine, he quietly rolled up his sleeves and took a look. Oh my goodness, it was bruised. He muttered in a low voice: "My mother is so cruel."
The Imperial Concubine turned around and glared at him, and the Sixth Prince was so frightened that he quickly hid beside the Queen and grabbed her sleeve.
The queen stared at the third prince without looking away, but she reached out and patted the sixth prince's hand, whispering, "Be good, little Sixth Prince."
His own mother was always so fierce, while the Empress was always so gentle. The obedient Sixth Prince finally stood still and dared not act weird anymore.
The moment Concubine Jing Gui saw the dragon robe in the Third Prince's hand, her legs went weak and she fell to her knees.
Did the third brother really make a dragon robe? It's over, it's over now, will the third brother still be alive?
Your Majesty usually favors the third son, but that is because the third son has always been a non-confrontational person and has never shown any interest in the throne, so Your Majesty is confident in him.
But this stupid guy, how could he be so confused? If he wanted to fight for the throne, he should fight secretly. How could he make a dragon robe?
When she thought about how terrible it would be if His Majesty really made up his mind to do that, Concubine Jing Gui covered her mouth tightly with both hands, fearing that she would cry out loud.
The third prince touched his head to the ground, not daring to get up. Although he could not see Emperor Wen Zhao's expression, he only felt like a thorn in his back. In a short while, his entire back was soaked with sweat.
After a long while, Emperor Wen Zhao finally spoke: "Tell me, why did you make the dragon robe privately?"
Emperor Wen Zhao's voice no longer had the anger it had just had, but that seemingly calm tone sent a chill down the Third Prince's spine, and at that moment, he wanted to confess.
But making a dragon robe privately is a crime of treason. It would be better to kill Lao Wu. Anyway, that idiot can't find any evidence to prove that he didn't do it. Especially since there is a tunnel between the two palaces and the two of them had too close contacts, it can't be cleared up no matter what. Maybe Your Majesty will believe it.
In just a short moment, the Third Prince's heart was filled with turbulence, and he thought a lot. Finally, he gritted his teeth and kowtowed heavily: "Father, this dragon robe was not made by me. I found it from the Fifth Prince."
When the Fifth Prince heard him say this, he immediately knelt down, sweat dripping down his forehead in anxiety: "Father, the Third Prince is lying, it really wasn't your son who did it."
Emperor Wen Zhao turned the ring on his thumb, remained silent, and watched coldly.
The fifth prince thought that His Majesty did not believe him, so he turned around and pushed the third prince hard, angrily accusing him: "Third prince, why are you harming me? In the past, I respected you, trusted you, and listened to you in everything. I did everything you asked me to do. Why are you harming me? Why?"
The Third Prince staggered after being pushed, and stood up with his hands on the ground. He looked at the Fifth Prince and said, "Fifth Prince, let me ask you, was it you who proposed to dig that tunnel?"
The Fifth Prince: "It was me, but it was you who said that we shouldn't have too much contact with each other, so as not to arouse suspicion from others, so I suggested digging a tunnel."
The third prince asked again: "Let me ask you, you dug this tunnel, didn't you?"
The Fifth Prince: “Yes.”
The Third Prince: "You also asked someone to dig that secret room, right?"
The Fifth Prince: “Yes.”
The Third Prince: "There are two keys to the lock of that secret room. You and I each have one, right?"
The Fifth Prince: "Yes, but didn't you say at that time that you would hide the silver? How could I know that you actually hid the dragon robe?"
The Third Prince: "You once said that since we are all sons of the Emperor, why should only the eldest be the Crown Prince? We are also qualified to compete for it."
The fifth prince glanced at Emperor Wen Zhao, fearing that he might misunderstand that he had rebellious intentions, and hurriedly explained: "I did say that, but I only said it to you, I..."
The Third Prince interrupted him: "Fifth Brother, tell me from your heart, have you never thought about becoming a crown prince? Have you never thought about sitting on the throne one day?"
The Fifth Prince was choked by the question, his eyes shifting back and forth between Emperor Wen Zhao and the Third Prince, at a loss, stammering in defense: "I, I, I have thought about it, but I thought that my father might pass the throne to me after a hundred years."
Father must have been kicked in the head by a donkey for thinking of passing the throne to you. The Sixth Prince rolled his eyes, and was angry at the Fifth Prince's scumbag look, and whispered: "You pig-brained man, how can others know what you think in your heart? Why don't you just deny it directly?"
The Fifth Prince also reacted after he finished speaking. He was filled with remorse and rage. He clenched his fists, veins popped out on the backs of his hands, and his chest heaved as if he was about to pass out.
The Third Prince kowtowed to Emperor Wen Zhao again and said, "Father, I failed to teach my younger brother well. I am guilty. I discovered that my younger brother had committed such a treasonous act, but I did not report it to you in time. I have added guilt to my crime. Please punish me."
The Empress and the Imperial Concubine looked at each other, with a hint of sneer on their lips.
The third brother is really good at acting. If it wasn’t Tong Tong who said those words, looking at the scene just now, the fifth brother might have been wrongly accused by him.
Concubine Jing Gui looked at this situation and a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart. She immediately scolded him: "Third brother, even if you feel sorry for your brother, you shouldn't deceive His Majesty."
The third prince nodded: "Yes, I am wrong."
Concubine Jinggui kowtowed to Emperor Wen Zhao again and apologized: "Your Majesty, I have failed to teach the third son well, please punish me."
Emperor Wen Zhao pointed at Consort Jing Gui, then at the Third Prince, and laughed angrily, "So in the eyes of you and your son, I am just a fool?"
The third prince kowtowed and said, "Father, I am innocent."
Concubine Jing Guifei's heart skipped a beat. Oops, she forgot that it was Tong Tong who said this.
Earlier in Chongde Hall, His Majesty was such a suspicious person, but after listening to the report from the Empress and the Royal Consort, he believed it without any doubt. And now the Third Brother is still here making excuses...
Concubine Jing Gui's face turned pale and she sat down on the ground in despair. There was only one thought in her mind: it's over, everything is over, the Third Brother is over, and she is over too.
The Third Prince knew nothing about Tong Tong's affairs and wanted to make excuses, but Emperor Wen Zhao had already lost his patience and shook his head: "Third Prince, if you want the position of Crown Prince and the throne, then you should fight for it openly like your elder and second brothers. Why do you do such a thing behind the scenes?"
"Now that the incident has happened, you have not taken any responsibility at all and even tried to frame the fifth brother. You have disappointed me so much." Emperor Wen Zhao said sadly.
If this happened in the past, it would have to be investigated carefully, but now with Tong Tong, there is no need to investigate at all.
Emperor Wen Zhao was too lazy to watch him act like a coward, so he said coldly, "The Third Prince has deceived the emperor and has bad intentions. Starting tomorrow, he will be relocated to Jiaozhi County to govern the southern border. He is not allowed to return to the capital without an imperial edict."
Jiaozhi County is located at the southernmost tip of Dasheng. It is surrounded by mountains and sparsely populated. It is close to the sea 100 miles to the southeast and borders several small barbarian countries with an unspeakable language to the west. It is a truly desolate place.
The Third Prince grew up in an affluent environment and had never experienced any hardship. This time, let alone returning to the capital, it is hard to say whether he can reach his destination alive.
When the Third Prince heard the words Jiaozhi County, he was extremely shocked and panicked, "Father, I really know I was wrong. Please have mercy on me and forgive me this time."
Concubine Jing Gui had never seen the Da Sheng Kanyu Tu and did not know where Jiaozhi County was. Her pale face was full of confusion.
The imperial concubine standing nearby saw this and whispered, "Jiaozhi County is next to Nanzhang State."
"The Southern Ruler?" Concubine Jing Gui's eyes were filled with fear. She immediately crawled to the feet of Emperor Wen Zhao, tugged at the corner of his robe, and cried loudly: "Your Majesty, I beg you to spare the third child this time. He is still a child. Think about it, when the third child was a child, you also held him in your arms and lifted him up. You even praised him a while ago..."
Emperor Wen Zhao kicked Consort Jing away and said angrily, "Should I spare him this time? Now that I am in my prime and in good health, he dares to make a dragon robe. If it's a few years later, will he rebel and kill me directly?"
These words were so heartbreaking that Concubine Jing Gui dared not say a word and just lay on the ground crying.
原本文昭帝還沒想好如何處置靜貴妃，想着回宮和皇後商量一下再說，這會兒她這一求情，他便怒上加怒，直接下令：“靜貴妃教子五方，但念在她服侍朕多年，三皇子一事她事先不知情，朕便網開一面，靜貴妃貶為昭儀，從今日開始，搬去永思宮吧。”
文昭帝是庶出皇子，在他年幼時，她的母妃，也就是如今的太後，曾被先帝打入過冷宮，受盡苦楚。
那時候文昭帝曾多次偷偷溜進去探望，冷宮的破敗和凄楚的生活，給他留下了難以磨滅的心理陰影。
在他登基以後，把原先冷宮裏居住的廢太妃們全都遷到京郊的一處行宮處安置，廢除了冷宮，發誓在他在位期間不會把任何一位妃子送入冷宮。
文昭帝的想法是好的，奈何宮中妃子越來越多，人一多，是非就多，犯了錯的也不能全部殺了，無處安置。
于是，文昭帝又下令把原先已經修繕好的冷宮改為永思宮，用以安置這些犯了大錯，又不夠格處死的妃子。
雖然和以前的冷宮比起來，裏面一應物品都很齊備，吃食正常供應，也有宮女服侍，可大門卻是每日鎖起來的。
哪個妃子一旦進去之後，基本上此生再無望出來了，至少這麽多年，進去的那幾位就再也沒出來過。
“永思宮？陛下您讓臣妾去永思宮？”靜貴妃癱在地上，失魂落魄地喃喃自語，無法接受這個事實。
三皇子膝行着爬到靜貴妃身邊，将她扶起，淚流滿面地道歉：“母妃，是兒臣不好，兒臣連累了您。”
靜貴妃擡手啪啪給他幾個巴掌，哭着怒罵道：“你個混賬，你個糊塗鬼，你不是從來不瞞母妃的嘛，這麽大的事，你為何不問過我啊！”
靜貴妃擡手，一下一下重重拍在三皇子身上，三皇子一個勁兒說自己錯了，母子二人抱頭哭成一團。
五皇子跪在地上，整個人俯趴下去，把腦袋觸到地上，極力降低自己的存在感。
可文昭帝又怎會忘了他，冷聲吩咐道：“老五你個蠢貨，和你那沒腦子的母妃一樣愚蠢至極，朕不想見到你，從明日起，你去軍中吧。”
一想到軍中的艱苦生活，五皇子直接傻眼，可卻不敢反抗，只能磕頭謝恩。畢竟，相對于老三，他這樣算是好的了不是嘛。
處罰了兒子，自然不會忘了娘，文昭帝又看向皇後：“純妃降為貴人，也搬去永思宮吧。”
皇後行禮：“是。”
一聽這話，五皇子忙磕頭：“父皇，兒臣有罪，但兒臣做的那些錯事，我母妃都不知情，請您開恩，饒恕我母妃吧。”
文昭帝看都不再看他一眼，轉身就走，“尤征，把那地道給朕填了，兩府封了。”
尤征神色一凜，躬身行禮道：“是。”
皇後看着跪在地上抱頭痛哭的母子倆，冷聲道：“靜昭儀，本宮給你一個時辰的時間，你和三皇子好好說說話。”
靜貴妃本以為皇後會将她強行帶走，沒想到竟然還給了她一個時辰。
眼下一切已成定局，母子二人這一別，此生怕是再難相見，自然有許多話要說，靜貴妃感激涕零，哭着磕頭：“嫔妾謝娘娘大恩。”
皇後又看向鄭嬷嬷：“你留下，一個時辰之後，帶着靜昭儀回宮。”
“是。”鄭嬷嬷應道，帶着幾名嬷嬷留下。
皇貴妃又看向傻呆呆在地上跪着的五皇子，提醒道：“老五，明日你就要去軍中，若你要進宮見你母妃，就趕緊去吧。”
五皇子回神，磕頭謝恩，起身往外跑。
皇後朝皇貴妃點點頭，兩人擡腳往外走，去追文昭帝。
六皇子跟在兩人身邊，小聲問：“母後，母妃，是老三要害我和四哥的人這事，我還要不要和父皇說？”
老四和小六畢竟都是皇貴妃的孩子，皇後不好做主，看向皇貴妃問道：“妹妹你看呢？”
皇貴妃搖了搖頭：“不必說了，如今老三已經被陛下趕到交阯去了，想必這輩子再難回來，就不必給陛下添堵了。”
皇後點頭，深表贊同：“本宮也是如此想，老三老五再不好，可畢竟是陛下親生的，一連處置了兩個，陛下心中定然難受，最近這幾日就不要說那些不開心的事惹陛下心煩了。”
六皇子聞言點頭，一副乖乖的模樣：“好，兒臣就聽母後和母妃的。”
皇貴妃點頭：“待會兒出去，你直接回府，別在你父皇身邊晃悠，免得惹人煩。”
六皇子抱着皇貴妃的胳膊，碩大的個子，非要貓着腰，把大腦袋搭在皇貴妃肩上撒嬌：“知道了母妃，您兒子長得這般英俊，性子又這般惹人喜愛，您不要總是嫌棄兒子嘛。”
“站直了，有點兒人樣。”皇貴妃翻白眼，回手就朝他臉上扇去。
“母妃您又動手。”六皇子驚呼，猛地往後一跳，成功躲開。
“兒臣先走了。”他扔下一句，也不從門出去，直接翻牆走了。
---
六皇子騎着馬一溜煙跑到大皇子府，在大門口翻身下馬，也不用人通報，把缰繩往看門小厮手上一丢，徑直跑了進去。
一口氣跑到大皇子住的主院，還沒進門就喊：“大哥，大哥，我的好大哥，你在哪裏呀？”
大皇子妃有孕，又有人要害她，最近這段時日，大皇子除了進宮和不得不親自去辦的事，就一直待在府裏，寸步不離地守着大皇子妃。
此刻他正拿了本書，坐在矮凳上，對着大皇子妃的肚子念書，正念着，就聽外頭傳來小六興奮歡快的聲音。
他搖搖頭，無奈笑了：“這個小六，明兒我可得讓他離你遠些，別把咱們孩兒也帶的像個皮猴似的。”
大皇子妃被這話逗得撲哧一笑，從他手裏接過書，推推他：“應該是老三那裏有消息了，你快去吧，等會兒皮猴要上房了。”
作為一個争奪儲君之位的熱門人選，大皇子在宮中自然安插有眼線，在禁軍統領尤征帶着人馬出宮圍了三皇子和五皇子府的時候，他就已經得到了消息，緊接着又得到陛下帶着皇後等人出宮的消息。
雖然不知道具體發生何事，可如此大的陣仗，他便猜到，老三和老五必定是犯了不可饒恕的大罪，陛下才會如此大動幹戈。也猜到，今日之後，老三已經不足為懼。
心情松快，他這才興致頗高地拿了本書給自己妻兒念書。
大皇子扶着大皇子妃的腰，對着她肚子溫柔地說：“兒啊，爹爹先去見你六叔，待會兒再來陪你。”
見他如此一本正經，大皇子妃哈哈笑出聲，伸手推他：“孩子才屁大點，聽不到的。”
大皇子伸出一根手指擋在她嘴上，笑着輕聲說，“當着我兒的面，娘子莫要這般粗俗。”
大皇子妃不滿，輕輕踹他一腳：“你又不是不知道，我從小到大就是這般說話的，沒理由為了個小崽子就讓我改性子吧。”
大皇子一想也是，笑着點頭道：“娘子言之有理，為夫愚鈍了，娘子怎麽開心怎麽來就是，你只管生，教導孩兒的事交給我即可。”
兩人說話這麽一會兒功夫，六皇子已經蹿了進來，也來不及給兩個人行禮，上前一把将大皇子抱起來，興奮地蹦跶兩下：“大哥，我的好大哥，你猜怎麽着？”
大皇子生怕小六抱着自己轉圈，再不小心踢到自家娘子，忙訓道：“小六，你趕緊把大哥放下，切莫別碰着你嫂嫂和你小侄兒。”
“哎呀呀，忘了這事。”六皇子忙把大皇子放下，這才給大皇子妃行禮：“見過嫂嫂。”
大皇子妃一個勁兒地笑：“這是有什麽喜事啊，把我們小六開心成這樣。”
六皇子轉動腦袋快速掃了一圈屋內，見再沒外人，他便壓低聲音開口：“大哥，大嫂，你們不知道，老三和老五都廢了……”
他眉飛色舞地把在三皇子府的事詳細說了，包括他機智無比勸說尤征那個大傻子翻牆進去，包括他奮勇直前沖入密室，破門而入搶下龍袍。
總之，在六皇子的描述中，他就是一個有勇有謀的大人物，今兒要是沒他，那事情是萬萬辦不成的。
大皇子夫婦忍笑聽完，大皇子說道：“小六，你完全不必那般冒險，若老三狗急跳牆，傷着你可怎麽是好。”
六皇子拍桌子：“那怎麽成，要是老三把龍袍燒沒了，他那麽奸詐會說，要是說的父皇心軟饒了他怎麽辦。”
大皇子妃接話道：“即便沒有證據，可桶桶說了，父皇必然是信的，總會處罰老三的。”
“……”六皇子一呆，好像是哦。
見自家弟弟張着嘴巴呆滞的模樣，大皇子不忍，拍拍他肩膀，勸慰道：“不過還是人賬俱獲的更好，這樣父皇當場就可以處置了。”
"If there is no evidence, the third brother will definitely not accept it. We can't tell outsiders about the barrels, and it's hard to explain to the court officials. The third brother is eloquent and good at acting. There are still some ministers in the court who have been deceived by him."
The Sixth Prince clapped his hands and nodded heavily: "That's right, that's what I thought at the time."
The eldest prince and his wife couldn't help laughing. The eldest prince's wife said, "Now that we know that the person who harmed you is the third brother, you can rest assured and deal with that brothel girl when you go back."
Thinking of what Tong Tong said, Liu Yun'er started to poison the Third Prince after she had an affair, and thinking that she was still staying in his house, the Sixth Prince felt very uncomfortable.
He didn't want to keep her any longer, his face darkened, he stood up and walked out: "I'll go back and deal with it now."