Chapter 196 Viewing Him as a Monster
"Father, I am truly innocent..." Pei Shaoqing's lips trembled as he tried his best to defend himself.
Emperor Muzong withdrew his gaze from him. He had always placed high hopes on Pei Shaoqin, and he had chosen to turn a blind eye to the affairs of the court as long as they were not too outrageous. However, he was not only bewitched by beauty, but also made one foolish move after another.
It's practically a piece of rotten wood.
Thinking of this, Emperor Muzong's eyes suddenly darkened. "Insolence! Anyone who dares to say another word will be severely punished!"
Consort Tan looked at Emperor Muzong with immense grief, a thousand words stuck in her throat, as if all her energy had been drained away, and she suddenly slumped down.
"All of you, step back."
"Yunzhi, you stay."
Dou Wenyi was slightly taken aback, then got up and walked outside. Pei Shaoqing seemed to be confined to the Prince Rui's residence, but this time he was not convicted. If a crime were proven, the mere fact that he had been involved with a palace concubine would completely disqualify him from vying for the throne.
Not to mention arson, assassination of the emperor, and so on. If these crimes were to fall on his head, even if Prince Rui did not die, he would be demoted to a commoner or even imprisoned forever.
After all, he was the emperor's own flesh and blood, and had previously enjoyed the emperor's favor. The emperor's current treatment of him was already exceptionally lenient.
As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, Pei Siyan strode over, slightly lifting his phoenix eyes, his gaze lingering on her face. "Yi'er... it's all my fault, I've made you worry again."
Dou Wenyi looked away, neither humble nor arrogant, "It's just my duty, Your Highness, there's no need to thank me."
Pei Siyan's expression froze, his thin lips pressed tightly together. "Yi'er, you look a little haggard. Go back and get some sleep first. I still have to see someone. I'll come back to find you after I'm done."
“Your Highness is busy with many matters; there’s no need to inform me of everything,” Dou Wenyi replied indifferently, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.
For some reason, I subconsciously thought of Shen Yanzhou. Perhaps he had already realized the truth, but still helped Pei Siyan cover it up?
The atmosphere instantly froze, becoming completely silent.
Following behind Pei Siyan, Eunuch Anxi felt a pang of unease. The Crown Princess was too stubborn. Why wouldn't she lower her head and coax His Highness the Crown Prince?
After a long silence, a distant and indifferent voice came from above, "Dou Wenyi, you're doing very well!"
Dou Wenyi looked up again and only saw his dark green robe fluttering past her eyes.
She let out a soft breath. She had already made her thoughts clear yesterday. Was he planning to bury his head in the sand, pretend nothing had happened, and continue living in a daze?
...
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the glazed tiles of the painted boat, as if a thin layer of gold had been applied to them.
A beautifully decorated pleasure boat was moored on the lake. Its carved beams and painted rafters were exquisite. Pei Siyan leaned against the window, a faint sadness showing on his cold face.
Meng Xiang walked calmly up the steps. Inside the room, a half-finished chess game was laid out on the table.
It seems the Crown Prince has been waiting for him for a long time.
Meng Xiang walked slowly to Pei Siyan's side and stopped, saying calmly, "I apologize for keeping Your Highness waiting. Your Highness, you truly have a brilliant strategy."
Pei Siyan returned to his seat, picked up his teacup, and smiled nonchalantly, "It's not that I was scheming, but rather that a fool had a sudden inspiration. He brought this upon himself, so he can't blame anyone else."
Prime Minister Meng smiled wryly, "Your Highness is too modest."
Pei Siyan used a woman to kill three birds with one stone, even scheming against the Imperial Advisor, easily turning the tide of the situation. His methods were undeniably brilliant.
If he had killed Prince Rui directly, Pei Siyan's position as crown prince would have been over. But he chose to hold back, which gave them other options...
Pei Siyan swept his phoenix eyes over, his voice mocking, "The assassin who tried to kill Father that night is not dead at all. He is, after all, my fifth brother... I don't want Father to kill him outright."
Meng Xiang's forehead was covered in cold sweat. "Your Highness is very magnanimous. His Highness Prince Rui will surely appreciate your brotherly affection."
Pei Siyan raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled softly, "Is that so?"
Meng Xiang feigned ignorance, saying, "Prince Rui is muddle-headed and has repeatedly offended His Majesty. He should restrain his temper and cultivate his character."
Pei Siyan said slowly, "Prime Minister Meng, your grandfather was Emperor Gaozu's cousin. The two were as close as brothers and had the merit of supporting the emperor. Your uncle guarded the border for decades and made great contributions. He even lost two sons for the Great Zhou Dynasty. In your generation, due to poor health, you abandoned martial arts and pursued civil service, and have made great achievements in the court."
"I do not wish for the Meng family line to be destroyed in your hands."
Meng Xiang's expression changed several times, and he stammered, "Your humble servant is terrified."
Pei Siyan fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his thumb, a strange light flashing in his eyes. He said casually, "Prince Rui is foolish, arrogant, and powerless against the temptation of beauty. He even dared to assassinate the Emperor for a woman. He was too reckless. He suffered a leg injury this time and is very likely to become a cripple. Even if Physician Ge were to appear in the world, it would be difficult for him to recover."
"I wonder if Miss Meng will be able to restrain his temper after she enters the Prince Rui's residence."
Meng Xiang's pupils suddenly contracted, in disbelief.
Throughout history, no emperor has ever been crippled, so this is Pei Siyan's real killer move.
He completely eliminated Pei Shaoqin's right to vie for the throne!
As expected of the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou, he is ruthless and cruel, but he is clear-headed, decisive and ruthless, and can even lead troops into battle. If it weren't for his headaches, or his madness, his prestige would have surpassed that of Emperor Muzong long ago.
However, as court officials, they did not like having such a new ruler.
"Prime Minister Meng, I can let bygones be bygones, and I can also..."
Pei Siyan gave him a deep look, then looked around at the shimmering lake, and changed the subject, "After the New Year, Miss Meng and Fifth Brother will get married. I wonder if I will be able to drink their wedding wine."
On ordinary days, the pleasure boat is filled with singing and dancing, and those who come here are all high-ranking officials and nobles from the capital. However, few people know that this pleasure boat is actually the treasure ship Hai Cang that Jiang Huai sank into the sea last year, and the owner behind this ship is a distant cousin of Prime Minister Meng.
Pei Siyan slowly descended the steps, and Chi Yan came to greet him. The two of them got into the carriage together.
"Your Highness, as you expected, Shen Yanzhou didn't say anything. His Majesty kept him here to investigate the Imperial Preceptor. But Your Highness, do you really intend to spare Prime Minister Meng?"
Pei Siyan rubbed his temples, paused, and said, “No, even if he loses Pei Shaoqin as his master, he might still choose Prince Duan. To them, a weak, incompetent, muddle-headed, and easily controlled monarch is the most ideal monarch, so that the Meng family’s wealth and status can be preserved forever.”
If Meng Xiangruo behaves himself from now on, he won't mind keeping him alive. But if he insists on causing trouble again and again, the Meng family's fate will be sealed.
...
Inside the Chaohua Hall of the East Palace, you could hear a pin drop.
As dinner time approached, Eunuch Anxi felt a chill run down his spine. Recently, whenever His Highness returned to the East Palace, he would dine with the Crown Princess at Wutong Garden.
The Crown Princess treated His Highness so coldly today, where should we have dinner?
He sighed inwardly before cautiously probing, "Your Highness, shall we have dinner at the Wutong Garden, or...?"
Pei Siyan's face was gloomy, his eyes filled with a fierce glint, and the veins on his hand gripping the teacup bulged. "She sees me as a monster, do you expect me to coax her?"
Anxi's heart trembled, and he dared not reply.
With a loud thud, the teacup slammed heavily onto the ground. "Get out! Get out of here!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
