That's absurd.
The Fourth Prince's first reaction was that someone was deliberately slandering the Crown Prince.
The seventh prince's wedding is in the middle of next month. The fourth prince has been frequently shuttling between the Imperial Household Department and the Ministry of Revenue lately, and he is quite aware of the filth and corruption within the Imperial Household Department.
The Grand Minister of the Imperial Household Department was the Crown Princess's wife, Amaguardi.
Although that person always looked pained whenever the Fourth Master went to urge him to check the details of the gift list, he was actually a very timid person.
They are the kind of people who have the desire to steal but lack the courage.
The Fourth Prince might believe that Dechang would embezzle public funds in his daily supplies, but what about the betrothal gifts for a prince's wedding?
Fourth Master dared to assert that Dechang didn't have that much guts.
At least, De Chang did not embezzle a single penny from the dowry list for Lao Qi's wedding.
There is only one possibility: someone is using this incident to frame the Crown Prince.
What does the Emperor value most among his sons?
Isn't it just about brothers being harmonious, friendly, and respectful to each other?
For the father-in-law of the Crown Prince to embezzle the dowry for his own brothers' weddings is, at best, a sign that the Crown Prince misjudged people, and at worst, it shows that the Crown Prince was not on good terms with his brothers.
The Fourth Prince frowned, thinking about how the Eighth Prince had been frequently visiting the Imperial Household Department lately, using the excuse of choosing a gentle and obedient cat for his future wife.
The Fourth Prince tapped the table lightly with his fingers, a sign that he was deep in thought: "Is there any movement in front of Father Emperor's palace?"
Su Peisheng had already inquired: "At this moment, only the Third Master is well-informed. He is kneeling outside, saying that he wants to plead for the Crown Prince and that the Crown Prince would not do such a foolish thing."
After hearing this, Fourth Master shook his head, pressing his temples.
It was absolutely right for the Emperor to only take his third brother, who was already an adult, on his southern tour. Even the fifth brother, who was big and burly, was smarter than his third brother.
At this moment, which prince did not know that His Majesty was angry?
With your well-informed Third Master, you know that His Majesty's anger is because of the Crown Prince?
Besides, these are all family matters. This time, high-ranking officials from the imperial court also came to Wutai Mountain to pay their respects.
To put it bluntly, these incidents will ultimately damage the reputation of the royal family.
At this moment, the third brother approached the Emperor, thinking he was showing great brotherly affection, but in reality, it might make the Emperor suspect that the third brother was spying on the Emperor's will.
Father Emperor has always been averse to this.
Although the Fourth Prince knew that this matter was a complete disaster for the Crown Prince, he also knew very well that pleading for mercy at this time would only add fuel to the fire.
"Instruct someone to go back to the Imperial Household Department to investigate thoroughly, and then go to the Ministry of Revenue to compile the gift lists that the Emperor has been urging the Imperial Household Department to approve one by one these days, and send them to the Guarjia clan."
It was inconvenient for Fourth Master to appear directly; this matter could only be addressed by Dechang, who came forward to plead his case.
The worst-case scenario is—
Dechang took full responsibility for the matter, never mentioning that it was related to the Crown Prince. He then requested to resign from his position as Minister of the Imperial Household Department and retire to his own residence to enjoy his remaining years.
The Fourth Master paused suddenly as he thought of this.
In this way, the position of Minister of the Imperial Household Department will be vacant.
Even though it was already April, the Fourth Master suddenly felt as if he were in an ice cellar, his whole body chilled.
Such a matter is actually insignificant to the Crown Prince, but what if the other party is after the Guarjia clan's positions in the Imperial Household Department?
The Fourth Prince was unsure of his father's attitude, but for his father, perhaps the Crown Prince, who had no power or backing, was the safest option.
Fourth Master straightened his back and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
"Have someone keep an eye on what Prince Zhi and the Eighth Prince are doing."
Su Peisheng trembled and responded in a low voice.
——
In the capital city.
It was already springtime in April, but a torrential downpour suddenly began in the afternoon. The sky was overcast in the distance, and the occasional rumble of thunder could be heard.
Inside the Yuqing Palace in the palace.
The Crown Prince overheard his servants saying that the Crown Princess was standing under the eaves watching the rain when she requested an audience.
This day was no different from my previous life.
After learning all this, the Crown Prince in his previous life was furious. He sent someone to deliver a message to Dechang and wrote a letter to his father, the Emperor, to apologize.
This time, the Crown Prince witnessed all of this again, and suddenly felt like laughing.
Although many things went astray in this life, they were indeed not affected in the slightest.
It was as if all of this was his destiny.
Even if he pretended to be sick, or even pretended to be idle and went to the capital to drink every day.
The Crown Prince heard the servant repeat it again.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, and finally turned around: "Tell the Crown Princess that if she wants to protect the Guarjia clan, she should have her father plead guilty himself."
The attendant hesitated for a long time before finally retreating.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier. A servant held an umbrella for Guarjia, but it couldn't shield her from the bone-chilling cold that came from the servant's words.
Guarjia was a very dignified woman, neither as weak as the First Consort Yiergen Gioro nor as shrewish as the Third Consort.
She was taught from a young age how to fulfill her duties as the Crown Princess.
However, she also knew very well that the Guarjia clan behind her was her eternal support.
The Crown Prince's message was incredibly cold-blooded.
After sharing a bed for several years, the Crown Princess still felt a chill in her teeth.
She stood firmly in front of the courtyard gate, letting the wind and rain lash her face and the raindrops soak into the hem of her cheongsam.
Late into the night, the Crown Princess gave a pale smile.
In the courtyard of the concubine, Lady Li Jia was accompanying Hongxi as he studied. When she saw the maid enter, she made a shushing gesture and waited until she left the inner room before letting the maid speak.
Upon hearing the maid say that the Crown Princess had returned to the main courtyard, Li Jia scoffed and shook her head: "If I were her, I would do as the Crown Prince says. Now that she has married into the royal family, what does the honor of her maternal clan matter? As long as the Crown Prince is still the Crown Prince, can the Guarjia clan, which has no official position, be bullied?"
The girl lowered her head and remained silent.
But Li Jia couldn't help but mutter, "Ever since the Crown Prince took care of her when she was ill, he seems to have been acting strangely. I thought the Crown Prince would take all the blame for Guarjia's actions."
This is indeed something that the once-glorious and upright prince would have done.
However, in Li Jia's opinion, the Crown Prince's current approach of protecting himself is quite wise.
Ultimately, this matter depends on His Majesty's attitude.
It all depends on whether His Majesty wants to take back this coveted prize, the Imperial Household Department, into his own hands.
Li Jia was a vulgar person; the affection between father and son was nothing more than a drop in the ocean when faced with power.
However, the former crown prince never seemed to think that way.
"Fortunately, my Hongxi didn't inherit his father's stubbornness." Li Jia smiled and turned to instruct the servants: "Spring is dry, have someone make a bowl of snow pear soup and send it to the Crown Prince to soothe his throat."
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