The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 546: Differential Treatment

The Emperor cast a cold glance over his two sons: "You two wait in the side hall first, I still have state affairs to handle. We will continue discussing your matters after the Princess Consort Zhuang arrives!"

After sending Prince Zhuang and Prince Cheng out, the Emperor asked Eunuch Feng beside him: "Old Nine hasn’t arrived yet?"

Eunuch Feng replied: "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Li is already outside the hall."

The Emperor said: "Announce him!"

Soon, Prince Li entered the hall.

He had only returned to have breakfast, washed away a night’s fatigue, changed clothes, and hurried to the palace. Upon entering the palace, he learned that Prince Cheng hadn’t first returned to Cheng Prince Mansion, but had gone directly to the palace, feeling somewhat helpless.

This Fifth Imperial Brother is truly impatient. I thought he would first go to Cheng Prince Mansion to rest, but who knew he would go straight to the palace.

Covered in dust from travel, he didn’t even change his clothes before entering the palace to face the Emperor; this Fifth Imperial Brother truly lacks decorum.

Since the Fifth Imperial Brother has arrived but his welcoming party hadn’t yet, if Father Emperor became angry, what then? Therefore, Prince Li hurriedly waited outside the hall.

Hearing the summons, he quickly entered the hall.

After saluting, the Emperor asked: "Where did you greet Old Fifth when you left the city yesterday afternoon?"

Prince Li immediately understood. The reason Father Emperor sent him to greet outside the city was not out of a longing to meet Old Fifth eagerly, but because Old Third claimed that Old Fifth had already arrived in the Capital City secretly without an edict, harboring disloyal intentions.

Now, asking him, meant that.

Prince Li replied respectfully: "In response to Father Emperor, your son, accompanied by the Left and Right Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites, left the city to greet him. We walked over twenty miles without seeing Fifth Imperial Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law, so we rested and waited at a tea house by the roadside. We waited until the third watch when Cheng Prince Mansion’s carriage appeared. Upon meeting Fifth Imperial Brother, we did not delay and prepared to enter the city. When we reached the city gate, it was not yet dawn, and the gates were closed. We waited outside the city gate for half an hour and entered the city when the gates opened together with Fifth Imperial Brother."

"Cheng Prince’s carriage was also rushing through the night?"

Prince Li, with a low voice and sorrowful expression, said: "I did ask Fifth Imperial Brother at that time, and he said, ’As parents, upon hearing something has happened to their child, they are anxious regardless of day or night.’ I thought of my late Jinglun and felt the same..."

As parents, upon hearing something has happened to their child, they are anxious regardless of day or night. This sentence struck everyone’s hearts like a heavy hammer.

Many of the officials present, themselves being parents, felt a surge of grief upon hearing this sentence.

Prince Cheng’s Heir Huangfu Jingchen, most of them had met him. That young man, with a bearing of dragons and phoenixes, handsome and graceful, as gentle as jade, as bright as the moon, as clear as the wind, as pure as snow, the young man whom Gu Hanmo actively wished to take as a student, that modest and genteel youth, who should have had a better life, died silently in an alley, with even his remains incomplete.

Even those of them uninvolved feel pity upon knowing such a thing; how much more so his parents?

Prince Li was not defending Prince Cheng; Prince Zhuang wanted to rise again, yet Prince Li never wanted him to rekindle his influence.

Prince Cheng does not have the Emperor’s favor; the Emperor will certainly not make him Crown Prince. So this man poses no threat, and it’s just right to use this matter to drive a wedge in Father’s heart against Prince Zhuang. He reminded the Emperor that Prince Zhuang’s act of killing Huangfu Jingchen was not the first time he acted against his own nephew and had a precedent.

The Emperor frowned; if Old Seven says so, it proves that Old Fifth truly rushed day and night to arrive, making Old Third’s previous allegations either out of guilt, leading to confusion between dreams and reality, or a fabrication to use his Father Emperor’s hand to eliminate Old Fifth.

If it’s the former, there can be understanding; if it’s the latter, it’s unforgivable!

Whether it’s fabrication, let’s see further.

The Emperor looked at Prince Li with more paternal affection and said: "I understand. You’ve tired yourself last night; go back and rest!"

Prince Li said: "Thank you, Father Emperor!"

The ministers couldn’t help but think, Prince Li truly is most favored by the Emperor. After all, he just went out early and lost a night’s rest. Yet Prince Cheng, who rushed a thousand miles, traveling both day and night, exhausted, with bloodshot eyes, the Emperor didn’t even see his exhaustion. At present, he is still made to wait with Prince Zhuang in the side hall.

Though all are princes, the gap is indeed wide.

Half an hour later, Princess Consort Zhuang entered the palace.

The Emperor ordered her to proceed directly to Longyu Hall for an audience.

Upon hearing the decree for entering the palace, Princess Consort Zhuang thought some consort in the harem summoned her, not expecting to be directed to Longyu Hall where the Emperor discusses state affairs with high officials. Could it be the Prince is there? If so, why summon her, a woman, to the front hall?

Nonetheless, since it was the Emperor’s decree, she dared not delay.

Entering the hall, with ministers divided into two sides, the first sight of the Emperor’s imposing face and no sight of Prince Zhuang filled her with suspicion, though she dared not show it, she performed her salutes properly.

From the moment she entered, the Emperor’s scrutinizing gaze was on her face.

Indeed, as Old Fifth said, Princess Consort Zhuang’s expression was serene, dignified, and graceful, cautious within her poise. But indeed, she showed no signs of sadness or anxiety.

If something really had happened to Huangfu Wei, how could Princess Consort Zhuang remain so calm and composed?

The Emperor softened his tone and said, "Princess Consort Zhuang, I summoned you because I have something to ask!"

Princess Consort Zhuang hurriedly replied: "Yes! I will speak without reservation!" Her heart still harbored some fear; Prince Zhuang took action against Fifth Imperial Brother’s son, the matter exposed, lost the position of Crown Prince. Could the Emperor be asking about this? Yet she was unaware of this affair!

The Emperor said: "Wei’er is already ten years old. Though he studied in the Upper Study before, he has no fixed teacher yet. Do you have plans to invite someone to teach him?"

Princess Consort Zhuang cared most about Huangfu Wei, and hearing this she felt joy. The Emperor asking about Wei’er’s studies meant he bore no resentment towards Wei’er for what the Prince did? As long as Wei Er is unaffected, she is content.

But she wondered why the Emperor asked her directly instead of the Prince?

But she also thought, the Emperor must be angry with the Prince since the Prince’s actions were too severe! It shook the court; the Emperor was enraged, even stripped the Crown Prince position. Thus, he must not want to see the Prince but is concerned for Wei’er’s studies, so he inquired of her.

The Emperor further softened his tone, nodded, and said: "I see! This noon, bring Wei’er into the palace, I will ask his thoughts?"