Chapter 110 Oscar Father and Son Award Winners
It should be noted that the Emperor has not held the Mulan Autumn Hunt for three years since his ascension to the throne. Every year, he sends Prince Yi to make arrangements. The Mulan Hunting Grounds are not even close to the capital. Just how angry must the Emperor be to send the Crown Prince out?
Hongzhao looked flustered. Hearing these words coming from his father's mouth, he seemed to be frozen in place, even forgetting to plead for mercy.
Hongshi's legs had been trembling ever since he knelt on the ground. He curled up like a quail and didn't dare to lift his head. He was always most afraid of his father, but seeing his younger brother, the Crown Prince, being reprimanded and punished like this, a surge of hot blood rushed to his head.
He gritted his teeth and crawled two steps on his knees, his trembling legs supporting him. Everyone below remained silent, but he kept moving forward with his head down. When he finally spoke, his voice was trembling uncontrollably—"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, the Crown Prince was only worried about...his mother. He misspoke. I beg...I beg Your Majesty to have mercy!"
Yinzhen looked at his eldest son, who was kneeling below, trembling uncontrollably. Yet, Yinzhen felt quite comforted. As a father, he felt he had surpassed the late emperor. The late emperor's children fought and killed each other, but his son was the most filial and respectful of his brothers.
Yinzhen had witnessed how much Hongzhao took care of his older brother, Hongshi, and knew Hongshi's temperament best, given that Hongzhao was born a few years earlier. Before Hongzhao was born, Yinzhen had also placed high hopes on Hongshi, but he didn't understand why Hongshi was so afraid of him, as if Yinzhen were a heartless father who mistreated his son.
Although this son is not a good person, he is extremely filial and knows how to be loving. It is already rare for him to be a subject.
Although he was satisfied in his heart, he still had to curse harshly.
"You misspoke, but I think it was foreshadowed, it's just that it's only showing up now. If you plead for the Crown Prince again, then go with him!"
He thought this would be enough to deter the timid Hongshi. But who knew that Hongzhao glanced at the three people beside him and suddenly seemed to have gained courage. Even though his father had said so, he hesitated for a long time before opening his mouth again.
Hongzhao subtly withdrew his hand, which was resting on his side, hidden under his sleeve, and pressed it firmly against Hongshi's hand, which was trembling more and more and was already slightly damp with sweat. He then shook his head almost imperceptibly to stop him.
Hongshi frowned, puzzled. He didn't understand why his younger brother wouldn't let him plead for him. But long-standing habits taught him that he wasn't as clever as his brother. So he was exceptionally obedient, and seeing this, he kept his mouth shut and remained in the kowtow position, not getting up.
Seeing the restless Consort Rou and Consort Jing, Yinzhen wondered if he should admire the good relationships the mother and son had with others. However, he was truly overwhelmed with anger, so he could only straighten his face and tighten his lips before anyone else could speak—"If anyone pleads for mercy again, it will be considered deliberate disobedience, and they will be punished the same as the two of them!"
"Hongzhao, go ahead."
He waved gently at Hongzhao, saying that they would set off tomorrow and that he could not stay even one more day.
Hongzhao was unusually quiet, his eyes were red and his face was pale. There were traces of blood on his lips, which he had coughed up with his teeth. He cleared his dry and tight throat and let out a long sigh from his chest.
He closed his eyes, trying to suppress the rising bitterness in his eyes, and said in a slightly hoarse voice with a slight tremor, "Your subject... obeys the decree. I hope that Father Emperor will remain slender and vigorous, and that his spirit will shine as brightly as the autumn moon."
This was a piece of calligraphy he presented to his father, the Emperor, shortly after he learned to write. The Emperor was very pleased and hung it in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, where ministers and concubines who frequently visited the hall could see it. Now, mentioning it again on such an occasion evoked a sense of melancholy in onlookers.
They are, after all, the imperial family, unlike ordinary families. The late emperor and the deposed crown prince were like that, and now the emperor and the fifth prince are also like that.
Everyone watched as the Crown Prince kowtowed deeply, but the Emperor sat upright above him. The Emperor was always discerning in his emotions, and no one could discern what was in his dark eyes.
Only he himself knew that when Hongzhao recited that sentence again, his heart truly felt as if it had suddenly plummeted. Watching Hongzhao's lonely figure walking further and further away, he was overcome with grief and truly felt a fear of losing this child.
He tried to close his eyes and stop looking, but his gaze involuntarily followed the small figure into the distance.
Once Prince Dun is dealt with, he will be able to bring his children back!
The banquet started off in a lively and bustling manner, but it ended in a spectacular fashion.
The highest-ranking concubines and the most favored concubines in the palace were all confined to their quarters, and even the Crown Prince, who had always been favored, was sent to the distant Mulan Hunting Grounds by the Emperor in his anger.
With such a dramatic change in the harem, Yu Ying'er was naturally the one who was pleased.
She would always travel in a sedan chair, singing songs, all the way back to her own courtyard from the Jiuzhou Qingyan Palace. No palace servant could miss her. She had only served the Emperor for a few months when she ousted a Noble Consort who had given birth to four children and a favored concubine. Anyone would be pleased with that.
Consort Nian was not in a good mood. She still held a grudge against Consort Yu for calling her old and was thinking that she would teach her a lesson later.
Yu Yingying was personally sent to the Emperor's side by her, and she was naturally happy to see her gain favor. However, she never expected that this frivolous and arrogant little palace maid could be so cherished and pampered by the Emperor. She was so angry after a few sarcastic remarks that she even punished the Crown Prince. She couldn't care less about the grand plan. At this moment, the jealousy in her heart was almost overwhelming her.
The strains of a tune still drifted from not far away. Annoyed, she covered her ears and snapped, "Sing! Sing! Bring that slut here to me!"
——
The next day, before dawn, Hongzhao dressed neatly and followed his thirteenth uncle to the outside of the Yuanmingyuan. Simple carriages were ready, and guards and eunuchs were busy loading things onto the carriages. Several companions also arrived early at the gate with their own luggage.
Of course, this is only on the surface; the main force had already set off ahead and was waiting to rendezvous.
Hongzhao had just been reprimanded yesterday, and although he showed no signs of dejection or dejection today, he remained as elegant and upright as a pine or bamboo. However, the dark circles under his eyes made him look pitiful and haggard.
He stood in front of the carriage, looking at the footstool in front of him for a long time without stepping on it. After a long pause, he turned around and looked back deeply. There was no one behind him, and no one came to see him off.
A look of dejection flashed in his eyes when he didn't see the person he wanted to see.
Prince Yi, watching the father and son so engrossed in their act, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow from the shadows—"Your Highness, let's go, it's time for us to set off."
Hearing the urging, Hongzhao withdrew his gaze, walked firmly onto the carriage, and did not look back.
"Let's go." At the command, the carriage slowly started moving. A gentle breeze lifted a corner of the gauze curtain, and two figures hidden in a corner behind the artificial hill at the gate suddenly came into Hongzhao's view.
He flung open the curtain and strained to look behind him.
It was Hong Jin, whose eyes were swollen like walnuts, waving frantically at him.
Both she and her mother knew it was a setup, an act, but Hongjin was unaware of it. She only knew that her mother, who held a high position, was suddenly imprisoned, and her favored twin brother was sent far away, which must have terrified her.
Another one is Fucha Yingjun, whose current appearance is exactly like her own, with a worried look on her face, yet she still manages to force a smile at her.
She... must have been terrified.
Hongzhao suddenly felt a pang of sadness, but he couldn't say anything and could only wave at them.
——
Yinzhen sat listlessly in the hall, holding the memorial, without turning a single page for a long time. His gaze drifted through the memorial as if he were looking at something else.
"Is Hongzhao on his way now?"
Su Peisheng looked up alertly—"Your Majesty, according to the time, we have already set off."
It was the first time he had left home for a long journey, and his father hadn't even gone to see him off. It was all that wretched tenth son's fault!
Just as he was lost in thought, he heard Xiazi whisper a report from the side.
"Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince requests an audience outside the palace."
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