"Crown Princess? So ignorant of etiquette?"
Emperor Sheng Jin frowned, his face darkening instantly. He exuded an imposing aura that made it difficult for anyone to breathe.
The crown prince knew immediately that something bad had happened, so he quickly knelt down as well.
"Your subject is guilty. The Crown Princess is your subject's wife. If she does not know the rules, then your subject does not know the rules. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
The Crown Prince's words were a reminder to the Emperor that they were husband and wife as one.
Hopefully, Sheng Jin will show his affection for him and extend that affection to the Crown Princess, and thus spare her from punishment.
In fact, the Crown Prince was also feeling uneasy. His father had been in a low mood during the morning court session, and looked like he was angry.
He thought for a moment and realized that his father was angry with him because of the matter of dismissing the concubines yesterday.
Unexpectedly, as soon as court was over, his father took him to the Phoenix Palace. It seemed that—
The Emperor was angry with the Crown Princess, even more so than with him!
I wonder if Father Emperor will forgive the Crown Princess this time. He was too rash yesterday and caused her a lot of trouble!
His Highness the Crown Prince was filled with self-reproach and guilt, and even wished he could turn back time and take the initiative to apologize to his father.
Instead of waiting until now, causing the Crown Princess to be scolded by the Emperor.
However, the crown prince underestimated his standing in the emperor's eyes.
Sheng Jin hesitated as expected.
She glared at her son with a hint of disappointment, secretly annoyed that he was a hopeless romantic!
Is the Crown Princess really that good?
Is it worth it for the Crown Prince to risk offending himself to exonerate the Crown Princess?
He had been holding back his anger since last night, thinking that the Crown Princess was being unreasonable.
Which man doesn't have three wives and four concubines, and his son is the crown prince!
The Crown Princess is far too jealous and does not deserve the gentle and refined Crown Prince!
Now that the Empress has complained, he is even angrier.
How can such a Crown Princess be worthy of the Crown Prince, and how can she possibly become the Empress in the future?
But I really need to think more about the Crown Prince; I can't let any rumors spread today.
Let's clear the area.
Thinking this through, Sheng Jin gave the order in a deep voice.
"Alright, family scandals should not be aired in public. Everyone, step down. Empress, Crown Prince, and Crown Princess, please stay."
With the emperor's words, the concubines, even if reluctant, had no choice but to step down.
In fact, many of the concubines secretly harbored feelings for the emperor.
After all, as an emperor, he governed the country, balanced the court, and played power games, yet he was wholeheartedly devoted to the people. He was practically a god in everyone's eyes.
Moreover, he was not interested in women, although it was due to a strange illness. Men who are chaste and self-disciplined are truly lovable.
Therefore, almost all the concubines were willing to stay in the palace. How could it not be good to be closer to the people they loved?
Sheng Jin had no idea that his concubines were so devoted, and even if he did, he wouldn't be moved.
He was like a born emperor, obsessed with power, and emotions were worthless to him.
After everyone had left, the emperor bypassed the two kneeling men and walked straight to his high seat.
The Empress followed closely behind, sitting beside him on her own throne.
"Crown Princess, do you know your mistake!"
When Liu Lingxi heard the emperor reprimand her, she panicked.
But what just happened could only be her retaliation. Which concubine hasn't had a verbal battle? That doesn't mean she disrespects her stepmother.
But even the Crown Prince's pleas for mercy were to no avail after the Empress complained; the Emperor was clearly angry.
Therefore, we have no choice but to accept it.
Liu Lingxi bit her lip, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and bowed down, her head bowed as low as it could go.
"Your subject knows his mistake and begs for punishment from Your Majesty."
Her soft, sweet voice, tinged with a hint of aggrieved sobs, was the perfect remedy for calming down anyone's anger.
Like a refreshing drizzle, it makes thirsty people walking in the desert cherish it and are reluctant to waste a single drop.
The emperor was like a parched man who received a drop of sweet dew and felt refreshed all over.
Sheng Jin originally wanted to depose her from her position as Crown Princess, or choose another noblewoman to suppress her.
Now, after hearing her plea for forgiveness, he was no longer angry and even wanted to forgive her directly.
That's really strange!
The emperor tried to suppress the bizarre thought that suddenly popped into his head and continued to ask.
"What exactly happened just now, and why did you disrespect your stepmother?"
For some reason... he wanted to keep listening to her voice.
Liu Lingxi was unaware that the emperor was no longer angry.
She was terrified and kept her head pressed firmly to the ground, too afraid to look up.
The crown prince, preoccupied with worrying about her, failed to notice his father's unusual behavior and thus missed the fleeting amusement in the emperor's eyes.
Only the Empress, only the Empress sitting next to the Emperor, saw it!
The Empress felt a sinking feeling, as if a stone was pressing on her chest, and she suddenly couldn't breathe.
Her hand, which was gripping the handkerchief, tightened suddenly, and she could no longer relax it.
No, the emperor won't like the crown princess.
She understood the Emperor; he had no romantic feelings for anyone, and now he was simply learning the truth.
Moreover, the emperor is a wise ruler, and he certainly didn't want to wrong the crown princess, so as to avoid alienating the crown prince.
Yes, and the crown prince too.
Now, thanks to my intervention, the Emperor has changed. He dotes on the Crown Prince so much that he certainly won't do anything wrong on a whim!
After comforting herself with these words, the Empress finally began to feel relieved.
But she was clearly too hasty in letting her guard down.
Because the Crown Princess looked up—
She saw the emperor's pupils suddenly contract, his whole body tense up, and his eyes fixed intently on the Crown Princess!
Like a hunter eyeing its prey, the excitement and joy were unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
It’s over!
Her worst fears came true!
Liu Lingxi was unaware of the Empress's worries; she simply wanted to kneel more respectfully and appear more dignified.
She didn't dare to look up at the emperor's face, for fear of adding another charge of looking directly at the emperor's countenance.
Liu Lingxi simply lowered her eyes and tried her best to recount what had just happened.
"Your Majesty, I did indeed rise rather late today, but I still managed to arrive at Fengyi Palace before Chenshi (7-9 AM) to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. However, Consort Liang said that I..."
Sheng Jin didn't listen to the rest of what she said. Instead, he looked at her red lips as they opened and closed, and felt an impulse he had never felt before.
He wanted to kiss her!
He wanted to kiss her until she couldn't speak, and could only whine and whimper in his arms.
I want to do things that men and women do together, to make her bloom beneath me...
But the words he had just spoken still lingered in his ears, and even echoed in his mind.
"I got up a little late today."
Why is it so late?
Yes!
She is the Crown Princess, so only the Crown Prince can make her get up late!
Crown Prince, yes, Crown Prince!
Sheng Jin felt as if a hole had been pierced in her heart, and a seed was slowly sprouting, about to blossom—
Suddenly, a stream of boiling water was poured in, scalding the newly sprouted seeds to death!
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