Chapter 43: Prince Huai Goes to Jail
When Prince Ning saw her like this, he understood everything as clearly as a mirror.
But he still looked as honest as usual, pretending that he didn't notice anything.
Every time Prince Huai came to Concubine Jing's palace, he would not leave until he had stayed for an hour or two.
When Prince Ning saw that he did not move, he did not move either.
Just as the mother and her two children were in a stalemate, a eunuch rushed in.
"Your Majesty, something bad has happened. Eunuch Lin has come to announce the decree, and..."
"Don't talk nonsense. I am very kind. Since Eunuch Lin is here to announce the decree, just follow me to receive it."
After being yelled at by Concubine Xian, the eunuch who came to deliver the message was immediately confused. What did he want to say?
Oh, it’s the Imperial Guards. Eunuch Lin is holding the imperial edict in his hand, and a team of Imperial Guards is following behind him.
Unfortunately, when he reacted, he could only see the backs of Concubine Xian and her two children as they walked out of the palace gate.
When Lin Fu arrived, Concubine Xian had already brought Prince Ning, Prince Huai, and a group of palace maids and eunuchs from Huixi Palace to prepare to receive the imperial edict.
He did not delay and opened the imperial edict and began to read it.
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, has summoned Prince Chu Chengshuo, saying that he has disobeyed the Holy Word, has no ambition to make progress, and has disregarded the law... He has been arrested and interrogated by the Dali Temple. I hereby declare this."
"Eunuch Lin, this imperial edict is probably written incorrectly? When has Prince Huai ever disregarded the law?"
After hearing the imperial edict, Concubine Xian was dumbfounded and hurriedly questioned Lin Fu.
"Your Majesty, I am only delivering your order. I do not know the details. Your Highness, please accept your order quickly."
After Lin Fu finished speaking, he clasped the imperial edict together, held it in both hands, and waited for Prince Huai to reach out to take it.
Prince Huai was also a little confused at this time and had no idea how to react.
"Your Highness Prince Huai, please accept my order."
Seeing that Prince Huai was full of astonishment and had no intention of accepting the order, Lin Fu had no choice but to remind him again.
"Shuo'er cannot accept this imperial edict. I have to go to see the emperor."
Concubine Xian got up anxiously and went to the study to see Emperor Yongping.
"My Lady Consort Xian, the Emperor has instructed us to have the Imperial Guards escort Prince Huai to the Dali Temple as soon as the imperial edict is read."
When Lin Fu saw that Prince Huai refused to accept the order, he signaled the imperial guards to step forward and arrest the person.
Concubine Xian was stunned for a moment, then she quickly looked at Prince Ning who was standing beside her.
"Ze'er, your brother..."
"Mother, since the emperor has issued an order, let me go with the imperial guards. The Dali Temple will definitely clear my name."
Prince Ning looked at Concubine Xian with a righteous and solemn look on his face.
"No, if the prince is sent to the Dali Temple, then in the future..."
Everyone present understood what Concubine Xian meant.
If a prince is sent to the Dali Temple, it must be a false accusation and he can come out with a clear conscience.
Otherwise, he will never have the chance to succeed the throne.
However, Sheng'an Kingdom already has a crown prince. Isn't Concubine Xian's ambition too blatant?
Lin Fu pretended not to hear her words, and the imperial guards walked forward without even looking at him, took Prince Huai away.
"Mother, save me. Second brother, save me. Mother, Second brother, you must save me... Mother..."
Prince Huai was held up by the guards by his arms and half-lifted, half-dragged away.
He couldn't resist and could only turn back and shout for help to Concubine Xian and Prince Ning as he walked.
Concubine Xian is only three years younger than Emperor Yongping and is now fifty-three years old.
When she met her two sons just a moment ago, she looked like an elegant and graceful middle-aged woman.
But at this moment, he seemed to have suddenly aged ten years and lost all his glory.
It's not that she didn't hear her younger son's cry for help, but she had originally arranged for her older son to clean up the work done by her younger son.
Now, the Dali Temple has investigated the younger son.
She couldn't figure out what went wrong and didn't know how to save him.
"Eunuch Lin, can you please hand over the imperial edict to me?"
When Prince Ning saw that Lin Fu was about to turn around and leave, he hurriedly called out to him.
"Ze'er, let Eunuch Lin take the imperial edict back first. You and your mother will go to see your father later."
Concubine Xian did not want to accept the imperial edict and did not want her youngest son to have any stain on his body.
She also fantasized that as long as she could find a way to clear up the matter involving her younger son, this imperial edict would naturally cease to exist.
But she must have known that not accepting the order would be regarded as disobeying the order, which would be a more serious crime.
"Yes, I will listen to my mother."
Prince Ning agreed to Concubine Xian and gave Lin Fu a helpless look.
Lin Fu said nothing more. He took the imperial edict and his men and followed the imperial guards out of Huixi Palace.
"Ze'er, what's going on? Didn't mother ask you to..."
As soon as Concubine Xian returned to the palace, she dismissed the eunuchs and palace maids and asked Prince Ning anxiously.
"Mother, I have followed your instructions, but I don't know how the Dali Temple found out about my brother."
Prince Ning's brows were furrowed and his face was full of worry.
She seems more anxious than Concubine Xian.
"Then you can go with your mother to see your father and tell him that you ordered people to do those things and that they have nothing to do with your brother."
This was Concubine Xian's original plan.
In her mind, her little son was clever and smart, and he was always trying to please her, which won her heart.
If there is a chance to aspire for the throne, the youngest son will be the undisputed candidate.
As for the eldest son, he is too honest and dull, and looks simple and honest.
Even if he were given that position, he would probably not feel comfortable sitting there. It would be better for him to assist his younger son.
When the younger son takes that seat, I will then grant him a rich fiefdom. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?
"Mother, I did the same thing, but since my father ordered my brother to be imprisoned, I'm afraid the Dali Temple has found strong evidence, otherwise..."
Prince Ning frowned, as if he didn't dare to say more.
"You just need to take the blame on yourself. Mother will excuse your brother. Once your brother is safe, mother will find a way to keep you safe."
At this moment, Concubine Xian's mind is filled with the hope that nothing will happen to her little son. The hope of her Zhang family returning to glory all depends on him.
"Mother, are you sure you can..."
"Yes, mother can definitely do it. Just do as mother says."
Concubine Xian interrupted Prince Ning, somewhat impatiently.
Why did the eldest son, who used to do whatever she asked him to do, talk so much today? And he always contradicted her?
Are you unwilling to follow her arrangements?
Isn't she doing this for the good of the two brothers?
How could her eldest son not understand her painstaking efforts?
"Okay, in that case, I will go with you to see my father."
Prince Ning said no more, and his trust in Concubine Xian reappeared on his face.
"Ze'er, you are right. You must believe that your mother will not harm you."
Concubine Xian asked someone to do her makeup again.
Prince Ning was waiting in the palace so that he could go with him to the study to meet the emperor.
"My queen, something's wrong. My queen, something's wrong. It's cold... there... something's wrong over there."
As soon as Concubine Xian finished dressing and came out, a palace maid rushed into the hall and knelt on the ground.
"Slap your face, I'm fine."
Concubine Xian is almost mad with anger. These bastards say bad things about her day after day.
What's wrong with her? She's obviously fine.
The palace maid who came to report the news was a first-class palace maid in Huixi Palace, and was the fifth batch of first-class palace maids serving Concubine Xian.
The first few batches either died in palace struggles while shielding their masters from the sword, or were sent to the throne of Emperor Yongping to consolidate their masters' favor.
These first-class palace maids have only been promoted for a short time, so it is inevitable that they are a little clumsy in their work.
"Pah~"
"Pah~"
The palace maid was also obedient and slapped when asked to do so without saying a word.
"Fifty slaps on the face. Reflect on yourself and think whether I am a good person or a bad person. Humph!"
After Concubine Xian finished speaking, she walked straight out of the palace gate, and Prince Ning followed closely behind her.
The two of them quickly disappeared from the little palace maid's sight.
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