The staff also felt upset. The loyalists had recently gained the upper hand, but now one wrong move ruined all their previous efforts.
The affairs of the Wu family had no direct connection with Prince Rui. The emperor ignored Prince Rui only out of suspicion. Now that Prince Qin was so anxious to suppress Prince Rui, it made the emperor feel that Prince Rui was innocent.
After hearing this, King Qin also regretted it.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has done a great job on this matter. He didn't care about anything. Even when the Wu family was in trouble, the Crown Prince didn't take the opportunity to step on Prince Rui. Although the Emperor is afraid of him, if the Crown Prince continues to behave in this non-competitive manner, perhaps he will be loved by the Emperor in return." The aide couldn't help but say another sentence.
Prince Qin thought about the Crown Prince and shook his head. "The Crown Prince used to be timid and always yielded. Of course, he wouldn't easily offend my third brother. Besides, the Crown Prince has been a hostage. How can he ascend to the throne with such a tainted record? Father is keeping him here only out of respect for the old ministers in the court."
The staff opened his mouth, but ultimately did not refute the king's words.
However, in reality, they don't think so.
The emperor was very suspicious and intolerant, especially as he got older, which made him even more confused.
He probably didn't dote on the prince, not because of the ten years he was a hostage, but because the prince was too smart when he was young and he didn't have much father-son relationship with him, so he was worried about backlash.
"Your Highness, please stay in the mansion these days and don't cause any trouble. As long as the imperial concubine in the palace does not lose favor, His Majesty will forget your mistake in the future." The staff advised in a kind voice.
There was an imperial decree, and even if King Qin didn't want to listen, he had no choice but to nod.
On the other side, King Rui finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He learned his lesson this time and even went into the palace obediently, kneeling on the ground and begging for his father's forgiveness.
Not only that, he also presented the Taoist scriptures he had copied last night, saying that from now on, he would copy one every day to pray for his father, the emperor, and his mother.
"Your mother has been having trouble sleeping and eating these days. You should go and see her more often. It was the fourth son who was foolish enough to expose this family matter, hurting your reputation. I will take care of it for you, but the fifth son... I used to think he was naive and straightforward, and it was inevitable that he would make mistakes, but this time I am so disappointed! The ominous sign on his face has just disappeared, and now he has been involved in this matter again. How much has he done behind your back? He must be punished!"
The emperor had a cold face.
He didn't even want to see a son who was so unlucky that his face was almost ruined.
Even though I'm recovered now, I still feel sick when I think about it.
"I beg Your Majesty... to give him a light punishment. After all, the Fifth Brother is my younger brother, and I can't bear it..." Prince Rui immediately showed a distressed look.
He knew what his father had said about scolding the fourth brother, so he had to pretend to be a brother.
Sure enough, seeing him like this, his father's expression softened a little: "You are too soft-hearted, child. You indulged the Wu family in the past, and now you indulge the fifth child. When will you be more cruel? If your personality is even a little like mine, I wouldn't be so worried!"
When Prince Rui heard this, he didn't take it seriously at all.
In fact... he knew very well that what his father said was completely sarcasm.
If he is really like his father, then he probably has nothing to do with the throne!
"Empress Duan Shi was disrespectful to the emperor for his remarks about the crown prince. He truly deserves death. However, considering that these words came from an old woman, I will grant him a lighter punishment. His family and all the male members of his household will be severely beaten with fifty lashes of the cane. Afterwards, his property will be confiscated and he will be exiled two thousand miles away." The emperor added casually, "You will go there in person with your men."
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