Several imperial guards, concerned for the emperor and empress's dignity, were in a dilemma inside the room.
The emperor, furious and disoriented, had no regard for appearances. Seeing that the imperial guards who had gone in hadn't moved for a long time, he roared, "A bunch of useless trash! I told you to drag a few people out, are they dead inside? Do I have to go in and fetch them myself?! Drag that wretched creature out now!"
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guards realized that the Emperor seemed to know that the Crown Prince was in the room. They quickly stepped forward and, with great effort, managed to pull the Crown Prince and his two attendants apart and lead them out of the courtyard.
The concubines and palace maids present, upon seeing this unsightly scene, immediately turned their faces away, unable to bear looking any longer.
When the emperor saw the two old women, he was dumbfounded. How could it be these two old hags? Where was the bandit?
The Empress was utterly dumbfounded:
Has the Crown Prince gone mad?
He was supposed to take down that bandit, but instead he's hanging out with these two old geezers?!
These two old guys are even older than him!
Shang Nanjue was even more puzzled. He clearly saw the bandit enter the courtyard with his own eyes. How come it was these two old bastards messing around with the Crown Prince in the house? Where did the bandit go?
The two old women were still unconscious and were being held back by several imperial guards. They were still screaming and trying to pounce on the crown prince.
The Empress felt utterly humiliated and roared in fury, "Disgraceful wretch! Get out of here now! Drag these two old hags away and have them beaten to death with sticks!"
"Empress, the Crown Prince has disregarded ancestral rites and openly committed debauchery in the ancestral hall. Are you just going to let this go?" The Emperor was determined to deal with the Crown Prince.
The Empress's face immediately darkened, and she looked coldly at the Emperor, about to confront him directly.
The Crown Prince cried out first, "Father, please understand! I was drugged by Princess Chonghe, which is why I did such a foolish thing. I had no intention of disrespecting our ancestors. I am willing to confront Princess Chonghe openly."
"Where is Princess Chonghe?" the emperor asked.
This is also the question in the hearts of everyone who wanted to scheme against Ji Fengyao.
The crown prince broke down in tears, saying, "Your subject did not know. After he finished giving me and the two nannies the medicine, he left."
After saying that, the Crown Prince recalled Ji Fengyao's attire at the time, and suddenly a thought flashed through his mind. He said, "He was wearing casual clothes and a close-fitting outfit at the time, so he must have planned this in advance. She must have left the palace by now. Perhaps she has already left the capital and gone to the Northwest to find the Ninth Prince!"
The emperor and empress were greatly alarmed upon hearing this!
If that's the case, then those bandits really did plan this all along!
Perhaps this was something the Ninth Prince had planned all along; who knows?
They said, "How could the Ninth Prince leave behind any evidence so easily? It turns out he was waiting for this."
"Chase him! Go after him immediately!" The emperor was uneasy, his voice trembling with fear. With the Ninth Prince not in the capital, there was no one to check the Empress and the Crown Prince, so he dared not send Gao Cheng out.
Looking back, the emperor saw that Shang Nanjue also looked worried. He felt that since he had always valued Shang Nanjue, it was only natural to send him out to chase after the bandits.
Shang Xiche immediately made up his mind: "Nan Jue, take several hundred Imperial Guards and go out of the city to chase after her. You must bring Princess Chonghe back!"
"Yes, Father!" Shang Nanjue was overjoyed upon hearing this, but his face showed hesitation and timidity. He glanced at the Empress and the Crown Prince with concern, as if he was afraid that they would be displeased.
However powerful the Empress and the Crown Prince may be, they cannot openly defy the Emperor's orders.
Gao Chengwei quickly mustered all the soldiers.
Shang Nanjue led these imperial guards and immediately left the palace to chase after the person outside the west gate.
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