In a hurry, the Eighth Prince's wife was taken to the Prince Cheng's residence by Yinxiang, and then she went to the palace without stopping.
Even after kneeling before Emperor Kangxi, the Eighth Prince's wife was still in a daze.
When Kangxi asked her about the Crown Prince's everyday clothes, she subconsciously replied, "Eighth Prince is in charge of the Imperial Household Department on behalf of the Emperor. The Imperial Household Department is responsible for presenting four sets of everyday clothes to Yuqing Palace every month. Eighth Prince is here to take a look at the Crown Prince's clothes in advance."
Prince Cheng found it amusing: "I understand that Eighth Sister-in-law is trying to protect Eighth Brother, but you can't just say things like that with your eyes wide open. How did the things that the Imperial Household Department gave to His Highness the Crown Prince end up in Eighth Brother's hands?"
“Besides, the size doesn’t match up.” Prince Cheng gestured to himself, “It looks like it was made for the Eighth Prince himself.”
The Eighth Prince's wife's head was buzzing. At that moment, she suddenly remembered Yinxiang's two sentences.
Was it sewn by Eighth Sister-in-law for Eighth Brother, or did Eighth Brother ask someone to prepare it privately?
These two choices mean two different outcomes. If anyone dares to covet the position of Crown Prince, she and the Eighth Prince will have to accept a compromise today, or both of them will have to.
Taking a deep breath, the Eighth Prince's wife stiffened her neck and said, "Replying to Father Emperor, it was because I thought this dress was beautiful that I made one to show our master. I placed it in the Eighth Prince's study as a surprise, but the Imperial Household Department has been busy with the Crown Prince's wedding, and the Eighth Prince has not yet discovered it. It is all my foolishness, please punish me, Father Emperor."
"Are you foolish?" Kangxi's tone was calm and even, but it sounded like a thunderclap to the people kneeling on the ground.
"I think you know too much," Kangxi concluded decisively. "Eighth Prince also has a crime for indulging your nonsense."
"You two have quite the nerve to secretly collude with scholars taking the imperial examinations, using my money to promote the Eighth Prince's reputation!"
"Your Majesty, this is all my fault. Eighth Prince was completely unaware of it. To cooperate with the Ministry of Rites in preparing for the Crown Prince's wedding, Eighth Prince hasn't returned to his residence for a long time. Furthermore, Consort Liang bestowed several beautiful princesses upon him, so even when Eighth Prince returns to his residence, he rarely visits me. I haven't spoken to him in a long time. This matter really has nothing to do with Eighth Prince. Your Majesty, please believe me!" Eighth Prince's wife spoke quickly, afraid that Kangxi wouldn't believe her, and even went so far as to say that the couple was not on good terms.
"I cannot believe your word alone. You are not allowed to speak after the Eighth Prince arrives. I want to see whether you acted on your own or whether you and your husband conspired together!"
After Kangxi finished speaking, he ignored the Eighth Prince's wife and pulled Yinxiang aside to tell him some interesting stories. Time passed quickly.
When the Eighth Prince arrived, his wife knelt to one side, her face showing signs of crying. Prince Cheng looked on with a hint of schadenfreude, while Yinxiang was talking to Emperor Kangxi.
"Your Majesty, I wish you good health."
"You unfilial son, if you could use fewer underhanded methods, I would feel a little more at ease!" Kangxi seemed to be furious.
"Your subject is terrified and does not know what mistake I have made. Please enlighten me, Father Emperor." The Eighth Prince knelt on the ground in great fear and glanced at his Eighth Princess Consort.
Guo Luoluo shook her head gently. The Eighth Prince seemed to understand something. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and continued when he looked up, "Guo Luoluo is ignorant. I will teach her slowly when I get back. Don't get angry with a woman. You'll only hurt yourself."
"Tell me, have you seen this Crown Prince's everyday robe before?"
"What is this?" The Eighth Prince's shock seemed genuine; he had never seen this garment before.
Moreover, the fact that he was framed and harmed even though he had clearly thought of this shows that the person who harmed him behind the scenes is truly powerful and influential.
Emperor Kangxi declared firmly: "The Crown Prince is my legitimate son, the heir apparent of the Qing Dynasty, and also your elder brother. He must be treated with respect both in public and private. Such a grave act of disrespect must be severely punished!"
"Father, I was unaware that Lady Guoluo had done such a foolish thing. I am guilty of negligence and beg for your punishment." The Eighth Prince looked at his wife with a disappointed expression. "Although Lady Guoluo did not mean to disrespect the Crown Prince, I will discipline her strictly in the future!"
"This woman is incapable of bearing children, is not virtuous enough, and is ambitious. Keeping her by your side will only bring trouble sooner or later. For the sake of her maternal grandfather, I will keep her for now. Your harem will be managed by the noble ladies of the Eight Banners."
With a single sentence from Emperor Kangxi, a distinguished concubine was added to the Eighth Prince's household.
The imperial examination was reopened with different questions, and Rong Haibin surprisingly achieved the rank of third-place scholar.
For a time, everyone believed his drunken speech without a doubt, and every day people lingered in front of the Eighth Prince's mansion hoping to strike it rich.
Shouting that he wanted to see the Eighth Prince's wife, that he didn't want money, and that he only wanted to become an official, cast a strange shadow over the Eighth Prince's reputation.
The Fourth Prince's Residence.
Rong Haibin changed into an inconspicuous outfit and disguised himself as a servant before appearing in Yinzhen's study.
"My brother's revenge was all thanks to Your Highness's help in planning. I thank Your Highness the Fourth Prince." Rong Haibin solemnly lifted his robe, knelt on the ground, and kowtowed several times.
"Your survival means you've caught the Emperor's eye; it's your own ability, and has nothing to do with me." Yinzhen remained indifferent, indicating that your affairs were none of his concern.
"I will remember this and never forget it." Rong Haibin had always been resentful about his brother's death. In the eyes of the world, his brother was a lewd and depraved man, but what good was it for him to use his brother's money to study?
After learning the cause of his brother's death, Rong Haibin's wish changed from passing the imperial examination to successfully avenging his brother.
For this, they were willing to sacrifice their own lives.
Fortunately, Emperor Kangxi was not interested in his life.
Yi Hua was in a good mood. If she wasn't afraid of being noticed, she would have loved to sing a song. She looked at the booklets that the accountants had compiled and gave them to Yinzhen when he returned.
"These are fake accounts made by my eighth brother's wife. I hope you can help me, sir."
"She's basically left with only the title of Fujin (a high-ranking official), and you still don't intend to let her go?" Yinzhen was somewhat curious. This false account would at most add some evidence to the Eighth Fujin's crime of buying and selling official positions, so why was Yihua so determined to do it?
"No, she still feels guilty and pity towards the Eighth Prince. However, if the Eighth Prince knew that she had used his influence to amass wealth, it would be difficult to say exactly how much of that money actually went to him."
Yi Hua laughed and said that as long as the Eighth Prince became suspicious of his wife, that would be the beginning of her life being unable to turn things around.
Yinzhen shook his head. No wonder Confucius said that women and petty men are the most difficult to deal with. Once a woman gets ruthless, she can really give you a hard time.
"The Crown Prince's everyday clothes at the Eighth Prince's place appeared before the Thirteenth Prince could even make a move." Yinzhen reminded Yihua, "It seems that someone else knew about our actions. He even personally killed the Eighth Prince, so it seems that he has a grudge against the Eighth Prince."
“After this matter is over, we need to keep a low profile for a while. In a few days, we’ll take the children to stay at the villa for a while,” Yinzhen said.
"Is Master thinking of farming again?" Yi Hua asked with a smile, finding it amusing.
"We must keep Honghui and Hongyun in line." Yinzhen said thoughtfully, fearing that some people might resort to desperate measures and harm the children.
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