"how?"
Prince Rui immediately bowed his head in respect.
"No, Your Majesty, I will follow your teachings."
He bent down and prostrated himself on the ground, his face respectful.
But inside, I felt like I was going to vomit.
He couldn't understand why Emperor Rongcheng hadn't punished Shen Hechuan.
Emperor Rongcheng understood his son well, so he didn't let him leave directly, but instead gave him a severe scolding.
This made Prince Rui feel depressed and increasingly angry. After leaving Emperor Rongcheng's palace, he went directly to Consort Hui's palace.
After Prince Rui left, Emperor Rongcheng, with a cold face, instructed Dexi beside him, "Send someone to follow him and see where he went."
A moment later, Dexi returned.
"Your Majesty, Prince Rui has gone to Consort Hui's palace."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng let out a slow sigh.
"It seems that I have given them too much power, which has emboldened them."
Upon hearing this, Dexi did not say much, but simply lowered his head and listened respectfully.
Emperor Rongcheng couldn't help but glance at him.
What are your thoughts on the matter of the Crown Prince?
Dexi quickly shook his head.
"Your Majesty, this old servant is terrified. How could I possibly speak so presumptuously about the Crown Prince's affairs?"
Emperor Rongcheng snorted coldly upon hearing this.
"Speak when I tell you to."
Upon hearing this, Dexi glanced at Emperor Rongcheng discreetly before speaking:
"His Highness the Crown Prince is virtuous and talented, and is known for his benevolence. He has always been a role model for all the officials. But in this old servant's opinion, His Highness the Crown Prince is too perfect in every way, which gives people a sense of unreality."
Now, the Crown Prince has gone to such lengths for a woman, which is somewhat unconventional and doesn't suit his status.
However, in the old servant's eyes, it made him seem more human.
"After all, young people are always impulsive and have things they care about."
The implication is that Shen Hechuan now has a weakness, making him easier to manipulate.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng snorted coldly and remained silent.
His gaze was deep, as if veiled by a layer of mist, as if he were thinking of something, his thoughts immersed in his own memories.
After a moment, he regained some of his clarity and gave the order:
"By imperial decree, the daughter of the Marquis of Yong'an and the son of Minister Luo are deeply moved by the sincere affection between them, and I hereby grant them permission to marry within this month."
Upon hearing this, Dexi exclaimed in disbelief.
"This month?"
He paused for a moment.
There are only fifteen days left this month, which is far too rushed to prepare for a wedding.
"Your Majesty, this... seems to be a bit too rushed."
Emperor Rongcheng snorted coldly.
"If we don't hurry, are we going to let that brat Crown Prince just take her for himself?"
As he spoke, he glared at Dexi.
"They are young people after all. It's okay to be impulsive, but they should also be mindful of their status."
"He is the Crown Prince. If word gets out that he, as the Crown Prince, has done something like forcibly taking a minister's wife, will he still have his position as Crown Prince?"
Upon hearing this, Dexi paused, then quickly nodded in agreement and went to prepare.
However, just as Dexi reached the entrance of the main hall, he heard Emperor Rongcheng's voice from behind.
"Wait a minute."
Emperor Rongcheng suddenly spoke, but after Dexi turned around, he paused for a moment before asking.
"How is the Empress doing lately?"
Upon hearing this, Dexi paused again before saying:
"Your Majesty, the Empress is doing well. She is just like usual, tending to the flowers and plants, reading books, and enjoying a leisurely life. She has not done anything else."
"Um."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Rongcheng gave a soft "hmm," nodded, and waved for Dexi to leave.
Meanwhile, in Consort Hui's palace...
When Consort Hui learned that Emperor Rongcheng had not punished Shen Hechuan, she was so angry that she threw away the snail-shaped ink she was holding.
"What?"
She suddenly stood up, ignoring the fact that she had only drawn half of her eyebrows, and looked at the aggrieved Prince Rui with disbelief.
"His Majesty has not punished the Crown Prince?"
"right."
Prince Rui nodded.
"Not only was he not punished, but he also gave his son a severe scolding."
He then emphasized that point again.
"Father also told me that if any news of the Crown Prince imprisoning my wife gets out, I will be held responsible."
Prince Rui was clearly not expected Emperor Rongcheng to react this way; his face was full of disbelief, and his tone carried a hint of grievance.
Consort Hui pondered for a moment before letting out a cold snort.
"It seems that the old man is still reluctant to really remove Shen Hechuan from his position as crown prince."
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui looked up.
"But Mother, didn't you say that Father has long disliked Shen Hechuan, and that he has been unable to depose him because he hasn't found any fault with Shen Hechuan?"
Why is it that now that such a good method is available, Father not only doesn't use it, but also reprimands his son?
Upon hearing this, Consort Hui couldn't help but roll her eyes at her son.
"How could I have given birth to such a stupid and foolish son!"
"This is a royal scandal!"
Your father was too busy hiding it to let the ministers know that the Crown Prince had done such a disgraceful thing.
Don't forget, your father did the same thing back then.
If he punishes the Crown Prince now because of this, wouldn't that be punishing himself in a roundabout way?
Presumably for this reason, Emperor Rongcheng had no choice but to cover up the matter for Shen Hechuan.
Consort Hui had overlooked this point beforehand and failed to remind Prince Rui, which is why she ended up losing more than she gained.
Thinking of this, a flash of inspiration struck her.
She almost forgot that there was still an empress in the palace.
Her life had been so glamorous lately that she had forgotten that Emperor Rongcheng had once been deeply in love with this empress.
In order to marry her, he defied the world and committed the despicable act of forcibly taking another man's wife.
Thinking back to Emperor Rongcheng's actions, she couldn't help but wonder if he still harbored feelings for the empress, which was why he couldn't bear to harm her son.
This made Consort Hui wary.
It seems she needs to find some time to visit the Empress, who has long resided in the inner palace.
One hour later.
Inside the main hall of Emperor Rongcheng.
Dexi, observing Emperor Rongcheng's expression, carefully announced, "Your Majesty, His Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."
Emperor Rongcheng snorted coldly.
"They arrived quickly."
"not see."
As he spoke, his face turned cold, and he continued to look at the memorial in front of him, but a moment later, Shen Hechuan's voice rang out in the hall.
"Father, I have something to say."
Beside him, Dexi quickly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This old servant really couldn't stop His Highness the Crown Prince."
Emperor Rongcheng waved his hand, dismissing Dexi, before coldly snorting and speaking:
"The Crown Prince has grown increasingly audacious, daring to disobey my orders."
Shen Hechuan lifted his robes, knelt down properly, and respectfully bowed, saying:
"Father, I humbly beg you to rescind your decree!"
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