"There must have been quite a few court officials present at Song Yu's investiture banquet, right?"
Pei Xuan nodded and replied, "Father, rest assured, I have already made arrangements, and no one will dare to mention this matter in the morning court."
"You've greased the horns...you've greased the horns?"
Emperor Jingyuan's tone changed abruptly, and he suddenly stood up.
He rarely lost his temper with Pei Xuan, but for the first time, he showed an angry expression.
"Xuan'er, you, you're so foolish!"
Seeing that he was angry, Pei Xuan immediately stood up, lifted his robe and knelt down: "Your Majesty's mood is up to you, I know this is not a good thing, but in order to respect the late Emperor's wishes and to avoid putting Your Majesty in a difficult position, I have no choice but to take this drastic measure and act first and report later."
Emperor Jingyuan pointed at him, shaking his head in anger: "Where has your usual wisdom and intelligence gone? How could you act so impulsively? You are the Crown Prince of this dynasty! Do you know what the court and the people will say about you for doing this?"
Pei Xuan said, "As long as I can share the Emperor's burdens, I am willing to bear any consequences."
"you!"
Emperor Jingyuan was furious. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the cups and saucers to tremble.
"How will you take responsibility? The fact that no one in the court has mentioned this matter is only temporary calm. Perhaps some court officials are afraid to speak up for Jiang Wan because of your power, but those civil officials are not to be trifled with. They can directly advise the emperor. Do you think they will care about you, the crown prince? Once the news spreads, you will not escape a barrage of criticism!"
“You…you are my most promising child. The future of the Great Yong Dynasty will be handed over to you. How can you be so careless about your reputation?”
"Xuan'er, you've always been intelligent, don't you understand the power of public opinion?"
The Empress, who was standing to the side, also shook her head and said, "Xuan'er, you have indeed gone too far in this matter."
Pei Xuan listened to their reproaches, his face expressionless, and he simply lowered his head and said, "Father and Mother are right to reprimand me; it was I who was rash."
His sincere confession made it impossible for Emperor Jingyuan to continue reprimanding him.
After a moment of contemplation, Emperor Jingyuan waved his hand and said, "Very well, you may leave. You are to remain in the Eastern Palace for the next few days and are not to leave the palace!"
Pei Xuan did not argue, bowed, accepted the punishment, and withdrew.
His silent demeanor caused Emperor Jingyuan to sigh deeply.
"Your Majesty, please don't be too angry." After Pei Xuan left, the Empress gently advised, "Xuan'er is rarely impulsive. Although his actions this time were inappropriate, they were out of filial piety, and he wanted to share your burdens."
Emperor Jingyuan: "How could I not know his intentions?"
Pei Xuan, however, represents the future of the Great Yong Dynasty.
His reputation is of utmost importance; he must not be allowed to leave a stain on his name in history books.
Judging from what happened at the investiture banquet, Jiang Wan has gained the sympathy of many guests, and there may be much discussion about this matter among the common people.
If Jiang Wan had come in person to ask for a divorce, even if Emperor Jingyuan had refused her request, things wouldn't have been so difficult.
However, Pei Xuan's actions were too extreme, and if word got out, it would inevitably provoke public outrage.
"Never mind."
Emperor Jingyuan rubbed his temples.
"As a father, isn't it your duty to pay off your children's debts? Let me think carefully about how to resolve this matter for him."
Seeing his worried expression, the Empress reached out and massaged his head, then gently offered a few words of comfort.
She did not leave the palace until Emperor Jingyuan had taken a calming medicine and fallen into a deep sleep.
The winter night was cold, and the palace maids hurriedly draped a cloak over her shoulders.
Emperor Jingyuan lost his temper inside the palace, and the servants guarding the door all heard it.
The personal maid whispered to her, "Your Majesty, do not worry. His Majesty has always valued His Highness. He is just angry right now, and he will be fine in a few days."
The Empress remained silent.
If we're talking about the woman who understands Emperor Jingyuan and Pei Xuan the most, then she is the one.
She knew well that Emperor Jingyuan was deeply devoted to filial piety and had his own selfish motives, and would not allow Jiang Wan to divorce him.
She also knew Pei Xuan's shrewdness and meticulous planning, and that he would not easily make impulsive moves.
Jiang Wan's desire for a divorce, whether or not it succeeds, is originally none of Pei Xuan's business.
But Pei Xuan insisted on intervening in such a willful way, simply because he understood Emperor Jingyuan's intentions and was using his own reputation as the crown prince as a price to force Emperor Jingyuan to make a choice.
If Emperor Jingyuan insists on not allowing a divorce, Pei Xuan will be the first to suffer.
In the eyes of the court officials, Pei Xuan publicly appeased Jiang Wan while secretly imprisoning her. The meeting discussed how he was ruthless and extreme, and unfit to be a wise ruler.
Damage to the crown prince's reputation is a major event that shakes the very foundation of the state.
If Emperor Jingyuan wanted to avoid this situation, he had no choice but to compromise on the matter of Jiang Wan.
While obeying the late emperor's will is important, it is not as important as the future of the Great Yong Dynasty or the stability of the empire.
Emperor Jingyuan naturally knew which was more important.
The Empress sighed softly.
How could she not guess the reason why Pei Xuan would go to such lengths, even risking his own life and using himself as a gamble?
The Empress, draped in a warm cloak, her face hidden in the night, suddenly chuckled softly.
"I am surprised."
They were surprised that Pei Xuan had such thoughts.
She only realized it today.
...
On the third day that Pei Xuan was confined to the Eastern Palace, another major event occurred in the capital.
Song Yu, who had just been named the heir apparent, was kidnapped while inspecting the military camp.
Fortunately, Song Yu was skilled in martial arts and carried a signal flare, which allowed him to escape unharmed.
The following day, the Prefect of Jingzhao submitted a memorial to the Emperor, revealing that the people who had kidnapped Song Yu were from Donglai, and their purpose was to obtain the sacred artifact of Dayong, the iron certificate inscribed with cinnabar.
After the banquet at the General's Mansion, news of Song Lin's forgery of the imperial edict spread throughout the capital. The common people ridiculed his foolishness and audacity, but those with ulterior motives began to ponder another question.
The iron certificate that Song Lin presented was fake, but the Song family might have genuine ones in their possession.
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