Prince Ding and the Empress were both startled. They instinctively looked at each other, then quickly looked away.
The Empress quickly put on a gentle smile: "Eunuch Huaifu, please wait a moment. Prince Ding just fell into the water and the chill hasn't completely dissipated. Please allow me to straighten his clothes before you go."
Huaifu bowed and stepped back a few paces, waiting to the side.
The Empress walked up to Prince Ding, straightened his clothes, and whispered in his ear: "The fact that Eunuch Huaifu arrived so quickly shows that your father already knows that you broke off your engagement and instead sought to marry the second daughter of the Marquis's family. If you continue to hide it now and deny it to the death, it will only make your father more furious and more disappointed in you."
"When you arrive before your father, kneel down and admit your mistake, and take the initiative to accept punishment. Even if your father wants to punish you, it will show that you are a responsible prince with the courage of a prince."
"It's not shameful for a man to risk everything for the one he loves. On the contrary, it shows how deep your love is. Perhaps your father will even think that you are worthy of his entrusting the Great Zhou Dynasty to you."
Prince Ding took a deep breath and nodded in agreement: "Mother, I understand."
The Empress straightened the tassel of the jade pendant at his waist before stepping back half a step and saying calmly, "Go on, don't keep your father waiting."
We arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Study.
The young eunuch guarding the door immediately stepped forward and bowed to Prince Ding: "After the eldest daughter of the Ye family left, Vice Minister Ye came to request an audience with His Majesty. He is currently inside speaking with His Majesty. Please wait a moment, Your Highness."
Ye Cunjin also entered the palace to request an audience with his father, the Emperor.
The Prince of Ding was surprised.
What was Ye Cunjin's purpose in entering the palace to request an audience at this time?
Did Ye Cunjin learn of Ye Qingxue's actions and worry that he, as a prince, would be punished by the emperor? So, did Ye Cunjin go to the palace to take all the blame onto the Ye family?
Thinking this, Prince Ding secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had prepared himself mentally to admit his mistake and accept punishment, the emperor's wrath was still hard to bear.
Hopefully, Ye Cunjin is inside now, and can share some of the Emperor's firepower.
Inside the Imperial Study.
Ye Cunjin bowed and knelt before the emperor; he had been kneeling like that when he entered.
The emperor was furious because Prince Ding had broken off the engagement and was seeking another wife, and he didn't want to see anyone.
But the visitor was Ye Cunjin, the elder brother of Ye Qingxue, who had just made three great contributions. Out of consideration for Ye Qingxue, he summoned Ye Cunjin into the imperial study.
"Minister Ye, why are you in such a hurry to see me so late?"
Ye Cunjin said, “Your Majesty, my younger sister, Ye Qingxue, grew up in a village in the countryside of Jingzhou. My father, mother and even grandmother arranged for many nannies to teach her, but Qingxue is stubborn and does not listen to teaching. My whole family has been very worried about this.”
"I thought that once she grew up and knew that she would marry the Prince of Ding as his concubine, she would become much more docile. But now it seems that she still retains the nature of a country girl, doing things her own way and ignoring all advice."
"Your Majesty, my family and I are troubled and heartbroken, but we are helpless. We beg Your Majesty to understand the truth and know that Qingxue's actions today were not instigated by the Marquis's mansion, but were Qingxue's own reckless behavior! We implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"
Ye Cunjin kowtowed to the ground with great force, making a loud "crunch" sound, firmly severing ties with Ye Qingxue.
The emperor looked at him with some doubt and remained silent for a long time.
The longer Ye Cunjin waited, the more anxious he became, thinking that the emperor would punish the entire Marquis's mansion because of Ye Qingxue's behavior.
His heart was pounding like a drum, as if it were about to jump out of his throat.
Just when Ye Cunjin was about to reach his breaking point, the emperor finally spoke.
"Does Minister Ye mean that Ye Qingxue's actions today have nothing to do with the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion?"
Ye Cunjin knew that saying this was tantamount to pushing Ye Qingxue into a fire pit, and that it might give the Marquis's family a cold-hearted impression in front of the emperor.
Ye Qingxue's actions were a blatant disgrace to the royal family, utterly rebellious and deserving of death. Since Prince Ding had already broken off the engagement with her, it was only right for their Marquis's mansion to protect itself.
Therefore, Ye Cunjin forced himself to say, "That is exactly what I mean. Although Ye Qingxue is the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family and my own sister, her actions have absolutely nothing to do with the Marquis's family!"
"Very well! I understand. Minister Ye, you may return now!" the emperor said loudly.
Yes, loudly!
Ye Cunjin thought he had misheard the emperor's tone; shouldn't the emperor be furious?
But he could actually detect a sense of praise and joy in the emperor's tone.
That's right. Ye Qingxue committed such a grave mistake that the emperor must be furious. He would think that the Marquis's mansion had instigated it and that everyone in the Marquis's mansion was no longer capable of doing anything.
Now that the emperor has learned that this matter has nothing to do with the Marquis's mansion or with him as a vice minister, the Marquis's mansion can still be used, and he can still be used as a vice minister. Only then was the emperor happy.
Ye Cunjin's perception was correct; the emperor was indeed happy, but the reason for his happiness was completely different from what he had imagined.
The emperor thought that Ye Cunjin's quick entry into the palace to sever ties with Ye Qingxue after she made great contributions was a very upright act, showing that he did not covet Ye Qingxue's merits and benefits at all, which was truly commendable.
Since Ye Cunjin is so sincere and the Marquis's mansion is so loyal, he will naturally grant the request of the entire mansion and not share Ye Qingxue's merits and rewards with them, so as not to make them feel uneasy.
As a man, Ye Cunjin wanted to achieve great things through his own efforts, which the emperor could understand and support.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave." After saying this, Ye Cunjin stood up and left the Imperial Study with a slight bow.
As the fresh air filled his nostrils, Ye Cunjin felt a surge of joy. Fortunately, he arrived in time and managed to distance himself from the Marquis's residence and Ye Qingxue, which earned him the Emperor's approval; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
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