Several eunuchs immediately surrounded the prince.
Seeing that everything was fine, Erniu bent his hind legs and sat down, wagging his tail leisurely.
Pan Hai suddenly thought of something, turned around and bowed deeply to Erniu: "General Xiaotian, please go back first. I will thank you later."
At this point, he would get angry with anyone who said that General Xiaotian was just a dog.
A group of people retreated from the East Palace like a tide, leaving behind only a mess on the ground.
Chun Ge'er looked up and asked the palace maid, "Did my father do something wrong?"
The maidservant held Chun Ge'er's hand tightly and said with a pale face, "Grandson, please go back quickly. The Crown Princess will be worried if she sees you like this."
Before leaving, the Crown Princess specifically asked her to take good care of the Grandson. Unexpectedly, the Grandson, who had already fallen asleep, suddenly got up and insisted on going out to take a look. No matter how she tried to dissuade him, he wouldn't stop.
In the end, Taisun still saw the scene of the crown prince being taken away by the eunuchs and the East Palace in a mess.
"Tai Sun, it's cold at night. I will take you back to your room."
Chun Ge'er stood still and asked again, "Did my father do something wrong?"
The maid lowered her head and whispered, "I don't know either..."
She only knew that something big had happened in the East Palace, but how could a little palace maid like her understand what had happened?
Besides, even if I understood, I wouldn’t dare tell my grandson.
Chun Ge'er seemed to realize this and said, "Let's go back."
He turned around first, his little shoulders shaking, as if he was trying to suppress his tears.
The palace maid raised her hand and wiped the corners of her eyes, her tears were cold.
The prince has committed a crime. Judging from the way Eunuch Pan is upset, the crime he has committed must be serious. When the time comes, the people in the Eastern Palace may have to be buried with him...
The palace maid didn't dare to think any further and took Chun Ge'er away.
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Jingming was already getting a little impatient, but when the eunuch reported that Eunuch Pan was coming with the prince, his impatience disappeared immediately and was replaced by panic.
Could it be that Pan Hai really found the puppet in the East Palace?
After a pause, Emperor Jingming said, "Tell them to come in."
Soon Pan Hai came in, followed by the pale-faced prince, who was supported by several eunuchs.
When Emperor Jingming saw the prince's pale face, his heart sank and he looked at Pan Hai with a heavy gaze.
Pan Hai's expression was also not very good. He presented the doll to Emperor Jingming and said, "Your Majesty, please take a look."
When Emperor Jingming saw the puppet with a needle stuck in its chest, his eyes suddenly shrank. When he saw the birth date on the puppet, his voice trembled: "Where did you find it?"
Pan Hai glanced at the prince and whispered, "The puppet was found by General Xiaotian, buried in a flowerpot on the window sill of the prince's bedroom..."
"Beast!" Emperor Jingming stood up suddenly and pointed at the prince.
The prince knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, "Father, Father, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong..."
Emperor Jingming closed his eyes and heard the prince's cry for mercy in his ears, but this sound made him even angrier, and his anger turned into sadness when it reached its extreme.
This was his most cherished eldest son, whom he had given the throne to since birth, and he had carefully selected his ministers to teach him. But who would have known that he would end up committing regicide and patricide.
He learned the lesson of the previous dynasty that establishing a crown prince out of love led to chaos. Was he wrong?
Emperor Jingming opened his eyes and asked in a tired voice: "Did you strangle that palace maid to death?"
The person Pan Hai sent to Jingle Hall to investigate the cause of death of the palace maid has returned. Fortunately, the body has not been cremated yet, so it was very easy to determine the cause of death.
The prince shook himself and said nothing.
"Tell me, did you strangle him to death?"
The person who came back to report said that there were obvious strangulation marks on the palace maid's neck, and it was almost impossible that the murderer could be anyone other than the prince.
The prince shuddered and said resignedly, "Yes, it's my son..."
Facing the sullen face of Emperor Jingming, the prince panicked and said hurriedly: "Father, it was all because of that bastard who deceived my son. I was confused for a moment--"
Emperor Jingming was so angry that he was speechless.
By now, it was clear that the prince intended to harm him, but he still didn't believe it was just a coincidence.
The prince wanted to harm him, and there happened to be a young palace maid who knew how to use puppets to harm people. She was also discovered by another young palace maid, and the two palace maids were from the same hometown.
Maybe there are accomplices of Aunt Duo in the palace, and the palace maid was instigated by Aunt Duo's accomplices, and then the prince fell into the trap...
Emperor Jingming stared at the prince with hatred.
Regardless of whether the prince came up with this idea on his own initiative or was instigated by someone else, it is unforgivable.
Emperor Jingming's eyes fell on the puppet, and his expression changed constantly.
Can a wooden puppet like this really kill someone?
Emperor Jingming had doubts about this.
As for the insects, he believed them. After all, those insects were indeed in the human body, and it was easy for them to cause harm to people.
These suspicions may have to start with the palace maid who informed on the matter.
"Take the prince away."
The prince was horrified: "Father, I am really wrong, please forgive me--"
Emperor Jingming turned his head away.
Soon the prince was dragged away.
Emperor Jingming looked at the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess knelt down, bowed with her forehead to the ground, and said calmly: "I am guilty. As the Crown Princess, I did not admonish the Crown Prince in time, causing him to make a big mistake. I beg to share the same crime with him. I only ask that father have mercy on Chun'er and let him grow up well..."
Having said this, the Crown Princess could no longer remain calm and her voice choked with sobs.
The worst situation really happened. The prince actually wanted to kill the king!
It would be fine if this stupid man harmed herself, but if he harmed Chun Ge'er, she would never let him go even if she became a ghost!
Emperor Jingming stared at the Crown Princess for a moment and sighed, "Crown Princess, please go back to the East Palace first and take good care of Chun'er."
The Crown Princess shuddered, replied "yes" respectfully, and retreated.
There was silence in the room.
After a while, the queen asked, "Your Majesty, what should we do with this puppet?"
"Call the maidservant."
Hongyu knelt before Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming did not say anything, and the Empress asked, "Now that the puppet has been found, do you know how to deal with it so that it will not harm anyone again?"
Hongyu quickly glanced at the puppet and bowed her head deeply: "Remove the birth date and eight characters on the puppet, and then destroy the puppet."
The emperor and empress looked at each other.
Emperor Jingming winked at Pan Hai.
Pan Hai understood and waved his hand: "Take the person away!"
Hongyu was shocked: "Your Majesty——"
Pan Hai consoled her, "Don't be afraid. I still have something to ask you."
Hongyu was quickly taken away.
The emperor and empress remained silent for a long time.
After an unknown amount of time, the Queen spoke: "Your Majesty, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince——"
In her heart, the prince was no different from a dead man. No matter how much the emperor loved and valued the prince, the evil act of regicide and patricide was intolerable. It was good enough to reward the prince with an intact body.
It's just a pity for the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince...
Emperor Jingming looked tired, as if he had aged several years in an instant, and said softly, "I know what's going on."