Chapter 159: Holding His Net Firmly
Zhao Huaixiang frowned when he heard that, thinking: Is he using the same old trick again?
Emperor Sheng raised his eyebrows, and glanced at Prince Rong and his son, then said calmly: "Announce."
Pei Shiyin quickly turned her head and looked back, and saw Concubine Chun walking towards her in palace dress, without any sign of panic and helplessness as she had just shown.
"Mother."
When Concubine Chun walked past, Pei Shiyin couldn't help but call her.
She was... a little scared.
Because her mother looked too calm, and she guessed that her mother had known about what Ah Xiang had done for a long time.
Concubine Chun paused for a moment, lowered her eyes to glance at Pei Shiyin, and a very gentle smile appeared on her usually elegant and dignified face.
The next moment, she walked into the hall without stopping, walked between Zhao Huaixiang and Zhao Huaizhang, and then saluted Emperor Sheng:
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."
Emperor Sheng's expression was neither cold nor hot, and he said lightly: "Stand up."
He and Concubine Chun really had no feelings for each other.
When he was still in the mansion, he favored a maid who served in the study after drinking, but he didn't take it seriously.
Because of her average appearance, there was no intention to make her a concubine, and she was given contraceptive soup the next day.
Unexpectedly, more than a month later, the maid was found to be pregnant.
How could he, a prince, have a child with a maid? He immediately asked Fushun to execute the woman.
Unexpectedly, the maid was also smart and found an opportunity to escape to the princess and seek shelter.
The princess was a kind-hearted person. Ji'er was only a year old at the time, and she couldn't bear to commit the sin of murder, so she made the decision for him and promoted the maid to be his concubine.
After that, the maidservant always stayed by the princess' side, and even the princess personally arranged her childbirth.
Thinking of this, Emperor Sheng raised his eyes to look at Concubine Chun in front of him.
The maid back then has become a concubine today.
If she had not always been by the Queen's side, had not been influenced by the Queen's temperament, and had not had the Queen's preference for her, he would never have allowed her to climb to this position.
Concubine Chun was never cold or indifferent to him, but fortunately her son was a smart one, and was the most like him among his three sons in both temperament and methods.
Emperor Sheng was thinking over and over again when he saw Concubine Chun suddenly roll up her sleeves and call out softly, "Xiang'er."
Zhao Huaixiang looked up when he heard this.
Snap——
Concubine Chun actually slapped Zhao Huaixiang in the face in front of Emperor Sheng!
Everyone was shocked, and Pei Shiyin even cried out in a low voice.
Zhao Huaixiang was caught off guard and was knocked to the side. When he raised his head again, his cheeks were red and his eyes were full of disbelief.
"Mother...Mother?"
"Empress Chun, you are so outrageous!" Emperor Sheng also shouted in shock and anger at this moment.
Even though Concubine Chun was Prince Xiang's biological mother, she had no right to teach Prince Xiang a lesson in front of the emperor!
Concubine Chun turned a deaf ear to Emperor Sheng's angry rebuke. She knelt down and saluted, saying in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, it is Xiang'er who murdered the Crown Princess at the flower viewing banquet."
When these words were spoken, not to mention Emperor Sheng and Prince Xiang, even Prince Rong's eyes widened in disbelief.
The ancients often said that a mother's status is determined by her children, and this is even more true in heaven.
Anyone in this world could come forward to testify against Prince Xiang, except Concubine Chun.
Because she is the biological mother of King Xiang, they share the same fate. Besides, what mother in the world would be willing to ruin her child's future?
Zhao Huaixiang looked up at his mother in a daze. He had been able to argue confidently in the face of Zhao Huaizhang's accusations just now, but now he could not utter a word.
At this time, Concubine Chun suddenly lowered her eyes and her gaze fell on Zhao Huaixiang's face.
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, her smile was so gentle, but it also revealed an unshakable determination and ruthlessness.
"Your Majesty, I know that the royal dignity cannot be violated and the justice of the country cannot be violated."
"As Xiang'er's biological mother, I failed to fulfill my duty of teaching him, causing him to make such a big mistake. I regret it deeply and cannot deny my fault."
"Therefore, I ask to be deposed from my position as a concubine, to enter a nunnery and never leave for the rest of my life, to pray for Your Majesty and the country day and night to atone for the sins of me and my son!"
"Mother!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Huaixiang and Pei Shiyin's expressions suddenly changed.
Pei Shiyin knelt forward a few steps, and Zhao Huaixiang had already raised his hand to grab Concubine Chun's sleeve, and his usual calmness and composure were no longer there.
"Mother, why do you have to do this? Even if...even if I have to punish you..."
Having said this, a trace of dejection appeared on Zhao Huaixiang's face and his shoulders slumped.
He shook his head gently, and actually raised the corners of his mouth at this moment, but his smile was full of bitterness.
The righteous will have many supporters, while the unrighteous will have few. Not to mention others, even A-Yin and his mother, whom he loves the most and is closest to, cannot stand on his side. What chance does he have of winning?
He had anticipated countless endings, and he would probably lose spectacularly and badly, but he never thought that he would lose at the hands of a gentle knife.
At this time, Zhao Huaixiang couldn't help but raise his eyes and looked at Emperor Sheng gently.
This was the first time that he saw shock and surprise on his father's face, as well as anger and confusion at a situation that was out of control.
He suddenly felt a strange sense of relief in his heart.
This emperor who was high above everyone else and in control of everything finally suffered a setback!
At this moment, Zhao Huaixiang had already guessed who was behind the plot.
First, he tried to lure the second brother away and clear the place.
Then he joined forces with Huai Zhang, lured in A Yin, and finally persuaded his mother. Without even having to produce any so-called evidence, he gradually broke down his defenses and fighting spirit.
If he guessed correctly, the reason why his mother made up her mind to end everything today was because... she saw Ye'er who had left long ago?
After lunch, Ye'er felt sleepy and left the table early.
He had known that Ye'er was a smart child.
My mother has always been grateful to the late queen and has always loved Ye'er very much. If Ye'er asks for it, and with the kindness she received in the past, I'm sure my mother will be able to make this decision.
Besides, his mother never agreed with him competing for that position, and she hated his cruel and vicious methods.
The one who can control people's hearts and minds, take charge of the overall situation, string everything together, and weave it into a dense net to hold him tightly, there is no doubt that it can only be Jiang Xun.
The emperor tried every possible means to push Jiang Xun forward and make him stand on the side of the still young Ye'er to restrain and train him and his second brother.
But I never thought that this "grindstone" has edges and corners and is a sharp weapon in itself, which cannot be easily held in the hand and played with.
Has your Majesty ever thought that one day he would shoot himself in the foot?
Thinking of this, a genuine smile actually overflowed from Zhao Huaixiang's eyes, but the smile was full of sarcasm and a hint of happiness.
It only takes a moment to complete the journey of the heart.
Zhao Huaixiang seemed to have made some kind of decision. He first looked back at Pei Shiyin, then looked up at Concubine Chun, and finally returned to his usual gentle appearance.
He smiled and said, "Mother, if you want to punish me, it should be me. I was just deceived by my disguise."
This statement was tantamount to a clear admission that it was he who framed the Crown Princess at the flower-viewing banquet.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Sheng suddenly closed his eyes, hiding the extreme disappointment in his eyes.
The son he thought was most like him was just like this.
If he was really like himself, he shouldn't be restrained by Concubine Chun at this moment. As long as he denies it, there is no evidence and he cannot be convicted.
Unfortunately, he was so emotional that he was unable to handle the important task, which made him extremely disappointed!
Pei Shiyin stared blankly at the backs of Concubine Chun and Zhao Huaixiang, tears already streaming down her face.
Prince Rong and his son looked at each other calmly, but they could not hide the sigh in each other's eyes.
Although they didn't know why Concubine Chun stood up and identified Prince Xiang, what they had to do next was to completely protect their Prince Rong's Mansion from the emperor!
Zhao Huaizhang's eyes were filled with unshakable determination, and he nodded slightly to his father.
At this time, Concubine Chun slowly knelt down, looked directly at Zhao Huaixiang in front of her, and said in a gentle voice:
"Xiang'er, when people are in this world, they can pursue fame, they can chase after profit, and they can have their own selfish thoughts, but they must never forget their conscience, they must not cross the bottom line, and they must not make the same mistake over and over again."
"You can blame your mother for being naive, stupid, and cruel, and blame her for ruining your future."
When Zhao Huaixiang heard this, he shook his head repeatedly.
Seeing this, Concubine Chun's eyes were filled with tears. She raised her hand and gently stroked Zhao Huaixiang's red and slightly swollen cheek, leaning close to his ear and whispering softly:
"Xiang'er, if there had been no Empress back then, not to mention you, even your mother... would have been reduced to dust."
"People, you must not forget your roots. Your mother will bear this sin with you."
Concubine Chun said this, without hesitation, she turned around and knelt before Emperor Sheng, and said in a deep voice:
"I beg Your Majesty to strip Xiang'er of his title of King Xiang, in order to uphold the law and serve as a warning to others!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Sheng stood up suddenly, no longer able to maintain his usual dignity and composure.
"Princess Chun, this is your son!"
Concubine Chun looked up, met Emperor Sheng's gaze without flinching, and nodded, saying, "Because Xiang'er is my son, I must sacrifice my relatives for the greater good, maintain the royal dignity for Your Majesty, and protect the reputation of the royal family!"
Emperor Sheng's breathing quickened, his chest rising and falling. He looked at Concubine Chun again and felt that he had never known this unfavored concubine.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Zhao Huaizhang on the side suddenly took two steps forward on his knees, kowtowed to Emperor Sheng and said:
"Your Majesty, I feel that I have committed serious sins and I dare not enjoy the honor and luxury anymore. I would like to go to the imperial mausoleum, guard the mausoleum and reflect on my sins to atone for my sins."
"Day and night, I will serve you respectfully to show my sincere regret. I hope Your Majesty will grant my approval!"
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