Emperor Xiao stood up abruptly. "What did you say? Say it again!"
"Your Highness...Your Highness burned down...the temple built by the late Emperor, and smashed the Buddha statues."
This temple was built with additional bricks and tiles added during the reign of the late emperor.
It is said that every year, Emperor Xiao would choose a time to go to the temple to burn incense and pray for blessings.
They prayed to Heaven to bless their nation with prosperity.
In the capital, countless high-ranking officials and nobles frequently visited temples to burn incense and worship Buddha.
Leaving aside dignitaries, even ordinary people in the capital would go to temples to burn incense and pray for blessings when something important happened in their families.
What is Xiao Chengci doing?
He burned the temple down with a single fire. Does Xiao Chengci know what crime that is?
Emperor Xiao roared, "Go! Quickly take men and bring this rebellious son back to me!"
The palace maid responded and hurriedly ran out to make the arrangements.
Emperor Xiao held his forehead, which had turned black with anger, while his mind was preoccupied with how to clean up the mess for Xiao Chengci.
The temple built by the late emperor was smashed and burned by Crown Prince Xiao Chengci.
At the morning court tomorrow, Emperor Xiao will not hesitate to have all the officials present a memorial to Xiao Chengci.
Not only the censors, but also officials in the capital and the common people in the capital, would question Xiao Chengci's status as crown prince.
For most people, temples represent faith.
Now that Xiao Chengci has destroyed their faith, they've really messed things up.
Xiao Chengci was escorted into the palace by the Imperial Guards. When the Empress learned of this, she rushed to the Imperial Study.
Xiao Chengci was brought in, followed by the Empress.
"You unfilial son!" Emperor Xiao cursed Xiao Chengci as soon as he saw him.
"Are you out of your mind? Why would you go and smash up a temple?"
Xiao Chengci knelt with his back straight, letting Emperor Xiao scold him without saying a word.
Seeing that Xiao Chengci remained silent, Xiao Chengci cursed again, "What, are you mute? Are you scared now?"
Xiao Chengci said calmly, "That temple is ineffective; it should have been burned down long ago."
"It doesn't work, do you think it just because you say so? Do you know how many people go to burn incense every day?"
Xiao Chengci stubbornly replied, "It just doesn't work, otherwise she wouldn't have died."
Xiao Chengci lay in the Eastern Palace for half a month before accepting the fact that Pei Zhi was dead.
Those Taoist priests were already killed by the Emperor.
So Xiao Chengci went and smashed up the temple, and even set it on fire.
If Buddha were truly efficacious, Pei Zhi wouldn't have died.
He personally went to the temple to burn incense and pray for Pei Zhi's well-being.
If Buddha is truly efficacious, why did Pei Zhi die?
"And those imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital, they all deserve to die, they're all good-for-nothings."
Emperor Xiao was so angry that he felt dizzy and wailed, clutching his forehead.
Upon seeing this, the Empress immediately stepped forward to help Emperor Xiao press his head down.
The Empress said anxiously, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. Aci... he was just temporarily possessed."
"He's possessed? I think he's gone mad. Do you expect me to have the entire Imperial Medical Academy beheaded?"
Xiao Chengci chimed in, "No need for that. Just chop up all those who have examined Zhizhi."
Emperor Xiao pointed at Xiao Chengci, his fingertips trembling with anger.
Xiao Chengci was as stubborn as a mule, so Emperor Xiao could only turn to the Empress and scold her: "Look at the fine son you've raised."
The Empress hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, it is all my fault for failing to raise my son properly. Your Majesty, please don't upset yourself."
Emperor Xiao wanted to give Xiao Chengci a beating, since Xiao Chengci had just been flogged.
He's fully recovered, and this isn't something that can be resolved with a beating.
Go ahead and curse, even Emperor Xiao would find it a waste of his breath.
Emperor Xiao lowered his voice: "Xiao Chengci, do you really not want to be the Crown Prince anymore?"
Xiao Chengci is a smart man. Doesn't he know how much trouble he has caused?
If Xiao Chengci truly cared about the position of Crown Prince, he wouldn't have done something so absurd.
Xiao Chengci's eyes were empty: "Whatever Father Emperor says goes. Being the Crown Prince is nothing special."
Xiao Chengci had always considered himself to be of noble status and held himself in high esteem.
He waited until Pei Zhi fell ill, died, and left him.
Xiao Chengci then realized that the position of Crown Prince was completely useless.
Pei Zhi did not want to marry him just because he was the crown prince.
Even though he was the crown prince, he was not able to cure Pei Zhi's illness.
He could only watch helplessly as Pei Zhi breathed her last before him, her body growing colder and colder.
No matter how he called out, Pei Zhi didn't respond at all, and he watched as Pei Zhi left him.
Before Emperor Xiao could say anything, the Empress hurriedly rebuked him, "Xiao Chengci, do you know what you're saying?"
After reprimanding Xiao Chengci, the Empress immediately knelt at Emperor Xiao's feet.
"Your Majesty, Aci is talking nonsense right now, please don't take it seriously."
Why is Xiao Chengci not going to be the crown prince? Does he want to be deposed?
How many deposed crown princes in history have survived?
Emperor Xiao paused slightly, looking at Xiao Chengci who was like a wooden puppet, and could only shake his head inwardly.
"Guards, lock Xiao Chengci in jail!"
The Empress grabbed Emperor Xiao's robes, "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Although Aci has committed this heinous crime, she is truly..."
The Empress wanted to defend Xiao Chengci, but after a long time, she couldn't come up with a reason.
No matter how you explain what Xiao Chengci did this time, it doesn't make sense.
This time, Xiao Chengci really went too far.
Xiao Chengci did not struggle and allowed himself to be taken away by the palace servants.
After everyone left, Emperor Xiao reached out and helped the Empress up.
The Empress, her eyes brimming with tears, asked, "Your Majesty, you wouldn't really depose Aci, would you?"
Emperor Xiao sighed, "Empress, I have put far more effort into Aci than you have."
Empress Shang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
"Given the current situation, we must provide an explanation to everyone. Lock him up first, and release him once I have resolved this matter."
Xiao Chengci burned down the temple built by the late emperor, an event that will surely shock the court and the public.
Lock Xiao Chengci up first, so as to avoid the public condemning him.
While it may seem that Emperor Xiao imprisoned Xiao Chengci, in reality, he was protecting Xiao Chengci in a roundabout way.
This would also prevent Xiao Chengci from getting into any more trouble these days.
"Tell me, how did Aci... just suddenly...?"
After Pei Zhi's death, Empress Shang also learned the whole story.
Previously, Emperor Xiao did not tell Empress Shang because he was afraid of putting her in a difficult position.
One was her own child, and the other was her nephew; she didn't want the Empress involved.
Emperor Xiao sighed, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Once he gets past this hurdle, he'll be fine."
Empress Shang held Emperor Xiao's hand tightly, "Your Majesty, you must protect Aci well."
Emperor Xiao leaned back on his dragon throne and said helplessly, "Children are all debts. Even the emperor has to clean up the messes his sons make."
Empress Shang quickly flattered, "Your Majesty's fatherly kindness is beyond my reach."
Although these were words of flattery for Emperor Xiao, they were also Empress Shang's true feelings.
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