The Empress, noticing Emperor Jingming’s intense anger, gently patted his back and softly advised, “Your Majesty, please don’t let this harm your health. Prince Shu is still young, and given the pleasant atmosphere today, it’s not unexpected for him to overindulge in drink…”

Recalling Prince Xiang’s disgraceful behavior, the Empress felt a lingering sense of unease.

Fortunately, the Emperor hadn’t been confused enough to associate Prince Xiang with her—otherwise, she might as well have resigned herself to a lonely life in the Cold Palace.

Emperor Jingming, upon hearing the Empress’s counsel, grew even more enraged. He grabbed a tea cup and smashed it on the ground, shouting, “He drank, others drank too, but why don’t we see anyone else getting drunk and running around naked?”

The Emperor could already envision how the royal family would become a laughingstock once news spread of a prince streaking at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.

The Empress, remembering Prince Xiang’s heart-wrenching cries of “Imperial Mother,” felt a wave of disgust. She pursed her lips and sighed softly, “Perhaps Prince Xiang has something troubling him.”

Trying to calm the Emperor’s anger? Of course not. At this moment, she only wanted to add fuel to the fire.

As expected, Emperor Jingming’s fury intensified. “Troubled? Does having troubles justify getting drunk and running around naked?”

He had his troubles too. The past two years had brought no shortage of vexations. If everyone who felt upset behaved like that good-for-nothing Eighth Prince, he wouldn’t be able to rule as Emperor anymore.

“What troubles could he possibly have? Is he upset because I chose the Seventh Prince instead of him?” Emperor Jingming asked irritably.

Emperor Jingming wasn’t a fool. Thinking back to Prince Xiang’s cries in Changsheng Palace, how could he not understand?

The Eighth Prince was dissatisfied because he hadn’t been chosen!

Given his harmonious relationship with the Empress over the past two years, Emperor Jingming had no reservations. He raged, “What right does he have to be angry? Who we choose or don’t choose is our business. What authority does a junior like him have to comment? Is he ashamed of his birth mother?”

Prince Xiang’s birth mother was a dancing girl. Though insignificant in Emperor Jingming’s heart, it was a different matter for a son to be ashamed of his mother.

The Eighth Prince was different from the Seventh. Although he had few opportunities to meet with Consort Li after growing up, in the Emperor’s impression, Consort Li had always doted on his son, cherishing him deeply.

A son doesn’t despise his mother for being ugly, just as a dog doesn’t despise its home for being poor. To be ashamed of one’s mother just because of her humble origins—what is that if not the behavior of an ungrateful wretch?

The more Emperor Jingming thought about it, the worse his impression of Prince Xiang became.

The Empress didn’t forget to add more fuel to the fire: “Your Majesty, don’t be angry. It’s human nature to aspire to greater heights—”

“Bullshit human nature!” Having already smashed one tea cup, Emperor Jingming couldn’t smash another, so he kicked a small stool far across the room.

The Empress’s lips curved slightly upward, and she refrained from further persuasion.

After this incident, Prince Xiang had completely lost the Emperor’s favor. There was no chance of him becoming her son now.

Well, she already had Prince Yan as her son, so it wasn’t possible anyway. But it was still necessary to prevent any unlikely possibilities.

The Empress felt reassured and said with feigned remorse, “Your Majesty, please don’t be angry. The mishap at the birthday banquet was due to my poor arrangements—”

“This is not your fault,” Emperor Jingming interrupted the Empress. “Who could have anticipated that the Eighth Prince would run around naked? Ah, who could have thought it?”

The anger that had just begun to subside flared up again.

Pan Hai, standing nearby, thought to himself, “… The Empress must have a grudge against Prince Xiang.”

The Empress continued to speak softly and gently for a while longer before gracefully taking her leave.

Emperor Jingming sat brooding in silence for a long time before hoarsely instructing Pan Hai: “Relay Our imperial decree: Prince Xiang has disgraced himself through drunken misconduct at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, showing utter lack of decorum. He is to be immediately demoted from Prince to Duke, and his salary shall be withheld for one year…”

Pan Hai felt a moment of sympathy for Prince Xiang but quickly set about carrying out Emperor Jingming’s orders.

Prince Xiang, who had been unceremoniously thrown back into his residence by the guards, was devastated upon regaining his senses.

What… what had he done?

Running around naked at his Imperial Grandmother’s birthday banquet—Prince Xiang slapped himself hard across the face, becoming even more lucid.

Even more devastated than Prince Xiang was the Chief Steward of Prince Xiang’s residence.

Upon hearing that Prince Xiang had committed the shameful act of streaking at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet, Chief Steward Niu untied his belt and was about to throw it over a roof beam, ready to end it all.

There was no way to go on living. He had secretly laughed at how difficult it must be to be the Chief Steward of Prince Yan’s residence, given Prince Yan’s tendency to cause trouble. He never imagined his own master would do something like this!

Chief Steward Niu was stopped before he could take his life. He rushed to Prince Xiang’s side, weeping bitterly.

Prince Xiang kicked Chief Steward Niu, angrily saying, “This Prince is troubled enough, you old fool! Stop your wailing!”

Chief Steward Niu struggled to his feet resolutely: “It’s all this old servant’s fault. But Your Highness should still think of a way to remedy this—”

“Find a way?” After venting his anger, Prince Xiang collapsed back into his seat, looking utterly dejected.

What way could there be after all this?

He had seen the Seventh Prince drink that cup of wine, so why hadn’t anything happened to him? Why was he the one who ended up in trouble?

Prince Xiang pounded his head forcefully several times, feeling a splitting headache and his thoughts in utter disarray.

“Fourth Brother—” Prince Xiang suddenly thought of Prince Qi and abruptly stood up to leave.

Chief Steward Niu hurriedly blocked his way: “Your Highness, where are you going?”

Prince Xiang impatiently pushed Chief Steward Niu aside: “Out of my way.”

Chief Steward Niu stumbled, and seeing Prince Xiang heading towards the main gate, he could only chase after him.

Just as Prince Xiang reached the main gate, he saw several palace eunuchs hurriedly approaching.

He froze in place, fear rising from the depths of his heart.

The lead eunuch, Xiao Lezi, stepped into Prince Xiang’s residence and stood in the courtyard. He unfurled the imperial yellow edict and began to read it aloud.

By the time Xiao Lezi finished reading the imperial edict, Prince Xiang’s face had turned ashen.

Xiao Lezi sighed lightly and urged, “Your Highness, please accept the edict.”

Prince Xiang collapsed to the ground, staring blankly at the tiny weeds sprouting between the cracks of the bluestone bricks.

He had become a Duke?

He hadn’t even dared to enter the succession struggle, only planning to cheer from behind his Fourth Brother. Now, before he had done anything, he had already been demoted to Duke?

Instinctively accepting the edict Xiao Lezi handed to him, Prince Xiang remained in a daze long after the eunuchs who had come to deliver the decree had left.

Chief Steward Niu had already fainted from crying.

With Prince Xiang causing such a scandal, losing his position as Chief Steward would be the least of his worries.

As the residences of several princes were located on the same street, the eunuchs returning to the palace would inevitably pass by several princely mansions.

The main gate of Prince Lu’s residence opened slightly, and someone peeked out to watch the eunuchs leave before quickly going to report to Prince Lu.

“Did the eunuchs go to Prince Xiang’s residence to deliver an edict?”

“This servant saw it with his own eyes.”

Prince Lu slapped his thigh: “Quickly, go find out more!”

Soon, the servant sent out to gather information returned: “Your Highness, Prince Xiang has been demoted to Duke!”

Prince Lu was stunned for a moment before breaking into a broad smile. He went off to boast to Princess Lu.

The news of Prince Xiang’s demotion to Duke spread like wildfire.

At that moment, the old Chief Steward of Prince Yan’s residence was handling the affairs of the princely household. Upon hearing this news, he sat motionless for a long while before suddenly standing up and asking in a trembling voice, “Where is His Highness?”

He had let his guard down, thinking that surely nothing would go wrong at the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet and thus hadn’t reminded His Highness a few more times. He never imagined that these princes would always manage to surprise mere mortals like themselves!

“His Highness is with the Princess Consort.”

Hearing this, the old Chief Steward blinked, his eyes welling up with emotion. Then, a deep sense of shame arose: he had been wrong. Their Prince was far more reliable than other princes.

At least he wouldn’t run around naked at a banquet!