Xiao Yujue received the emperor's oral order, changed her clothes, and went to the side hall next to the imperial study to wait under the guidance of the chief eunuch.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment." The eunuch personally brought a cup of tea to Xiao Yujue and said with a smile, "The Emperor is discussing matters with the Prime Minister and will be here soon."
"Thank you, eunuch." Xiao Yujue nodded to the eunuch chief steward and asked with a smile, "Eunuch, do you know why my father summoned me?"
During the days of house arrest, Xiao Yujue had a hard time. He knew very well what was happening outside, but he was powerless to do anything.
"This... I don't know either. But, Your Highness, don't be too nervous. After all, you and the Emperor are related by blood. He is your father and will definitely take care of you."
Xiao Yujue forced a smile and nodded.
Who else understands better than him that the least valuable thing in the royal family is family affection?
The chief eunuch took the young eunuch out, leaving only four palace maids and two young eunuchs serving in the hall.
"Concubine Shen has arrived."
Not long after, Concubine Shen came in alone. Seeing Xiao Yujue there, she stepped forward and bowed.
"So His Highness is here too. If I had known, I would have asked the imperial kitchen to prepare more cakes and pastries." Concubine Shen put down the cakes in her hand and said with a smile, "The emperor loves to eat them. Your Highness, would you like to try some?"
"No need, thank you for your kindness, Concubine Shen."
Xiao Yujue gently refused, and Concubine Shen did not force her.
He and Concubine Shen are of similar age, but of different generations. He feels it is not right for them to live under the same roof.
"I'll go outside and wait for my father. Concubine Shen, please do as you please."
Xiao Yujue turned around and was about to leave, when she suddenly felt dizzy, her legs went weak, and her body leaned forward uncontrollably.
“Your Highness…”
Concubine Shen was closest to Xiao Yujue, so she stepped forward subconsciously to support him and asked with concern, "Your Highness, are you okay?"
"I……"
Xiao Yujue wanted to push Shen Jieyu away, but his hands and feet were not under the control of his brain. His vision gradually blurred, and in a trance, he seemed to feel someone taking off his clothes, and he seemed to hear faint sobbing.
"brute!"
Xiao Yujue was woken up by a basin of cold water poured on her back. When she opened her eyes, she saw herself lying in a dishevelled state in the side hall.
He was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat.
"You little bastard, I didn't want to believe the rumors outside that you were greedy for beauty. Who knew you were so bold that you even wanted to touch my woman?"
Xiao Yujue wiped the water off her face and then saw Concubine Shen hiding behind the emperor, crying.
Her clothes were torn, her hair was scattered, and she cried out heartbreakingly: "Your Majesty, I have no face to see anyone anymore... I will go first, Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."
As she spoke, Concubine Shen bumped into the cabinet next to her.
Fortunately, the palace maid beside her was quick to block the cabinet, but Concubine Shen still fainted.
"Father, I... was framed and wrongly accused. I don't know what happened."
Xiao Yujue knelt down hurriedly, he had realized the seriousness of the matter.
"Don't know? You actually said you don't know?" The emperor was furious and scolded the eunuchs and palace maids who were kneeling on the ground and trembling, "Tell His Highness what happened."
"Reply... Replying to the Emperor, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said he wanted to drink some wine, so I brought him a pot of wine..."
Xiao Yujue was about to retort when he saw the wine jug on the ground and smelled the strong smell of alcohol on himself.
"After His Highness drank, Concubine Shen arrived. His Highness dismissed me and the others. Not long after, I heard Concubine Shen's cry for help from the room, so I bravely rushed in and saw..."
The little eunuch's voice became weaker and weaker, and he even trembled all over.
"Speak." The emperor growled hoarsely.
"I saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince pressing Concubine Shen down and trying to do something inappropriate."
"You're talking nonsense." Xiao Yujue's face flushed red, his clenched fists made veins bulge, and he wished he could beat the little eunuch to death with one punch.
The emperor stepped forward quickly, raised his hand and slapped Xiao Yujue hard in the face.
"You little bastard, I was discussing with the Prime Minister today how to clear your suspicion, but you... it seems that there is no need for that."
“Father…”
Xiao Yujue was completely panicked.
He didn't want to work so hard for so many years only to have it all go to waste because of something like this.
"Someone, take this rebellious son away."
The emperor was so angry that he saw stars and he felt furious when he looked at Xiao Yujue.
"Order the eunuch to draft an imperial edict to depose Crown Prince Xiao Yujue, demote him to a commoner, and confine him to the Black Bamboo Forest forever. Without my permission, you are not allowed to step out of the Black Bamboo Forest."
Xiao Yujue's heart instantly fell to the bottom.
"Father, please listen to my explanation. This is not the case..."
But the emperor didn't want to listen anymore. After the guards came in, he turned around and waved his hand. The guards immediately took Xiao Yujue off and walked out.
An hour later, the eunuch in charge announced the imperial edict and posted it at every street corner in the capital.
For a time, the people of the capital cheered and praised the emperor for sacrificing his own relatives for the sake of justice and eradicating the scum.
The families of the girls who were victims were not satisfied with the result. However, they were against the emperor after all, and considering that they still had millions of dollars left, they could only stop while they were ahead.
After all, they pulled Xiao Yujue down from the position of future heir.
This time, even Shangguan Yue and Mu Jingrui were dumbfounded.
Those who supported Xiao Yujue openly or secretly wanted to plead for him, but they were all caned or demoted by the emperor.
Early the next morning, a large group of imperial guards rushed into the prince's mansion with an arrogant and domineering attitude.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing the Imperial Guards rampaging in the Prince's Mansion and embezzling the confiscated property, Mu Jingyan couldn't stand it anymore and stepped forward to stop them.
"What? What's it got to do with you?"
The Imperial Guard glanced at Mu Jingyan with contempt and spat at her.
This action completely angered Mu Jingyan.
"That's outrageous."
Just as she was about to rush forward to teach the Royal Guards a lesson, a hand grabbed her wrist.
“Your Highness…”
"Forget it. Now I am in a desperate situation. What else can we...care about?"
Xiao Yujue's voice was very lonely, which made Mu Jingyan feel sad. "Your Highness, don't be like this. The emperor will understand one day..."
Xiao Yujue didn't say anything, but just smiled helplessly.
You Zhenzhen sat aside, watching the Imperial Guards empty out the entire Prince's Mansion, without saying a word.
Mu Jingyan held Xiao Yujue's hand and gave him a reassuring smile.
At this time, several royal guards carried out several large boxes from the study. Seeing this, Mu Jingyan ran over and stopped them.
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