A muffled thud was heard.
The inkstone fell heavily to the ground with a crisp sound.
However, the expected excruciating pain did not occur.
Rong Sheng swiftly appeared in front of her, blocking her path without hesitation.
The heavy inkstone slammed into his chest with a dull thud.
The emperor's face instantly turned extremely gloomy. He originally wanted to step forward to check the situation, but after taking only one step, he abruptly pulled back and stared intently at the brother and sister with his sharp eyes.
Despite the sharp pain from the heavy blow to his chest, Rong Sheng remained kneeling upright, showing no sign of backing down.
He stood firmly in front of Rong Ning, and said in a calm and resolute tone, "Father, please calm down. A Ning did all this for my own good. If I were kept in the dark and knew nothing about these things, I would regret it for the rest of my life."
"But things in the south are more important. If you come back now, you're giving them an opportunity. It will be virtually impossible to clean them up again later!"
"Your Highness, you have disappointed me greatly!"
Rong Sheng took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Father... I returned to Nanyang City without your permission. It was my fault. Please punish me."
The Crown Prince's attitude was very sincere, but Rong Ning's brows furrowed as she listened.
Was I wrong?
Was it really wrong?
They supported each other and grew up together. His younger sister was about to be married off to a distant place for political reasons. Before that, he defied the imperial decree and returned to see his sister one last time. Was he really wrong?
Rong Ning found it incomprehensible. She knelt forward and said coldly, "Father, I took it upon myself to send a message to the Crown Prince, which went against your wishes. I was wrong, but since I was already wrong, I might as well be a little more wrong and make things clearer."
The emperor looked at her, his eyes blazing with anger. Rong Ning did not flinch or dodge, and continued, “Father...you are a wise emperor, you should know that the salt and iron malpractices in the Southern Dynasty were not formed overnight. The interests involved are deeply intertwined and the scope is extremely wide.”
The Crown Prince has inherited your true teachings. He has swift and decisive methods and the support of his father. He stayed in the south for more than a month. He has already investigated everything that could be investigated and dealt with those who could be dealt with.
As for the rest... Father, you know better than anyone that it's basically impossible to completely solve the deep-seated problems in the salt and iron industry now, because those behind it are powerful and influential people in Nanyang City.
If we were to wipe them all out, the court would inevitably be thrown into turmoil. If we pushed too hard, it would provoke those people to jump up and down in anger.
At that point, it won't just be a simple upheaval in the imperial court.
"Father, having reached this position, went so far as to send my elder sister to marry into the Great Jing Dynasty. Wasn't your concern to prevent further conflict in the Southern Dynasty? Wasn't it also for the well-being of all the people?"
Rong Ning grew angrier as she spoke. She looked up at the emperor and continued, "These things... Your son, a fourteen-year-old girl, can see them clearly. Can't you see them clearly?"
No… you can see it clearly!
But the Emperor kept using the salt and iron case in the south to delay the Crown Prince's return to Nanyang City, simply because he didn't want the Crown Prince to know about his elder sister's impending marriage. He was afraid that the Crown Prince, as the ruler of the country, would ruin everything.
But Father, as a father, can you really bear to see the Crown Prince and my sister regret this for the rest of their lives?
Looking back, will you really not regret it?
Rong Ning's voice softened at the end, and she looked at the emperor with tears in her eyes.
She was so strong-willed and hated crying, especially in front of the emperor.
She took a deep breath, clasped her hands together, and kowtowed on the ground. "If Father Emperor truly believes that I am wrong, and that my wrong is so outrageous and unforgivable, then please punish me. Whether it is confinement, salary reduction, beating or killing, or demotion to a commoner, I will accept it!"
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