“Moreover… I only knocked Prince Liang unconscious and used sleeping incense on both of them!” The Crown Prince was also completely bewildered, his face deathly pale. “Prince Liang… how could he possibly do anything to the Princess! It’s impossible!”
The Emperor’s temples throbbed violently. How could he not understand the twisted thoughts in the Crown Prince’s mind?!
Of course, the Crown Prince didn’t want Prince Liang to marry Liu Ruofu. Liu Ruofu was backed by Prince Xian; she was Prince Xian’s only daughter, and Prince Xian commanded heavy troops!
The Emperor closed his eyes. All these years, the reason he held Prince Xian in high regard and allowed him to control military power without suspicion was because Prince Xian had once risked his life to save the Emperor, and had even lost his ability to have descendants because of it, leaving only Liu Ruofu as his daughter!
The Emperor felt deeply indebted to Prince Xian, which was why he had always trusted him and treated Liu Ruofu as his daughter.
Prince Xian in Nandue had not yet received the news. If he learned of it, he would probably cough up blood in rage. Prince Xian had only this one daughter in his lifetime, whom he treasured like his own eyes. Now that her reputation was damaged, he certainly couldn’t bear it.
But how did this news spread so quickly?
Could it be… Prince Liang?!
The Emperor couldn’t help but begin to suspect his supposedly weak and incompetent son. This matter spread… only benefited Prince Liang.
Now that things had come to this, Great Liang would not take back a princess with a damaged reputation for their Fourth Prince. To appease Prince Xian, they could only have Prince Liang marry Liu Ruofu.
But the Emperor was somewhat unwilling and still wanted to test Prince Liang to see if he was truly harmed by the Crown Prince or if he was going with the flow to marry Prince Xian’s only daughter.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and said to Gao Demao, “Go summon Prince Liang!”
Prince Liang, who had washed his face and changed clothes, was brought into the great hall by Gao Demao and respectfully bowed to the Emperor and Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was about to speak, but the Emperor stopped him and looked at Prince Liang kneeling on the ground: “Just now, Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites came to the palace and said that your affair with Princess Nandue Liu Ruofu is now known to everyone, even the peace negotiation envoys from Great Liang have come requesting an audience. What do you think… should be done about this matter?”
Prince Liang didn’t dare raise his head, his palms involuntarily tightening. This was his opportunity to seek marriage with Prince Xian’s daughter Liu Ruofu.
He looked up at the Emperor with a shocked expression: “How could this be?! How could everyone know about it?”
Prince Liang’s gaze fell on the Crown Prince: “Crown Prince… Crown Prince’s brother? Could it be…”
“The Crown Prince would have to be insane to spread this matter!” The Emperor forcibly controlled his anger, gritting his teeth: “Speak! How should this matter be handled?”
“Father Emperor, I… I…” Prince Liang dejectedly lowered his head, his voice extremely low: “Does Tingzhen also know? If Tingzhen knows, how much she must hate me…”
The Crown Prince almost couldn’t help but scold Prince Liang for his pitiful act in front of the Emperor, but then heard Prince Liang choke up: “But… Princess Nandue is also innocent. Since I… I have ruined Princess Nandue’s reputation, I am willing to take responsibility!”
As soon as Prince Liang finished speaking, the Emperor’s teacup flew harshly toward Prince Liang: “I truly didn’t see this coming! My son has such ambition, scheming to marry the daughter of a powerful minister who commands heavy troops. What are you trying to do? Are you trying to force the palace?!”
Prince Liang’s face instantly drained of all color: “I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare, Father Emperor! I don’t have such thoughts. Father Emperor, you know me – I’m timid and weak, but I am a man! Father Emperor said Everyone already knows what I can do!”
The Emperor watched Prince Liang continuously kowtowing, his forehead bleeding from hitting the stone floor, clenched his fists, then said impatiently: “Enough! Stop kowtowing!”
Prince Liang was so frightened he shuddered, nearly collapsing on the ground, his whole body trembling as he continued to sob quietly.
“Now that things have come to this, you can only marry Liu Ruofu, but remember this is the last time I will tolerate you! Do you understand?” the Emperor said.
Prince Liang only kept kowtowing, unable to speak a complete sentence.
The Crown Prince was filled with indignant anger. After returning to the Crown Prince’s residence, he learned that the assassins Old Fang had sent to watch Prince Liang had completely disappeared and were probably dead, which made him develop an extremely strong sense of wariness toward Prince Liang.
He hadn’t expected that Prince Liang had people at his disposal!
Without thinking, the affair between Liu Ruofu and Prince Liang was spread by Prince Liang’s people.
But the Crown Prince was also worried that if he went to the palace again at this time to mention this matter to the Emperor, and the Emperor investigated thoroughly… then his keeping assassins in his residence couldn’t be hidden.
When he admitted to having people scheme against Prince Liang today, the Crown Prince was already worried the Emperor would investigate this matter. Fortunately, the Emperor didn’t investigate thoroughly, so he breathed a sigh of relief. If he brought up this matter again, wouldn’t he be seeking death?
Based on the Crown Prince’s understanding of the Emperor, when the Emperor summoned Prince Liang to ask how to handle Liu Ruofu’s matter, it was just a test. If Prince Liang said he would marry Liu Ruofu, the Emperor would certainly become wary of Prince Liang!
“Send people to watch Prince Liang’s residence! A fox will always show its tail eventually!” the Crown Prince said darkly. “Moreover… Princess Nandue Liu Ruofu has always been proud and arrogant. Now that she’s been defiled by Prince Liang and has to marry him, she must be angry! Oh yes… summon the Crown Princess! I need to instruct the Crown Princess to go visit Liu Ruofu properly!”
Quan Yu responded affirmatively and left with small steps to summon the Crown Princess.
Bai Qingyan’s group, because they were traveling with Dong Tingzhen, who didn’t often travel far, stopped frequently along the way and didn’t reach Shouyang until July 18th.
This time, Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi had achieved military merit in the northern frontier – one was promoted to Princess, the other to County Princess. In the eyes of common people and clan members, this represented Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi receiving abundant imperial favor.
Although before returning to Shouyang, Bai Qingyan had only sent someone to inform the Shouyang Bai residence when she would return, Dong Shi had not told the clan members.
Bai Qihe was still honest, feeling that if Bai Qingyan hadn’t mentioned it, then they shouldn’t inquire, otherwise, it would only displease Bai Qingyan.
But Bai Qihe’s wife, Fang Shi, was quite ambitious. Behind Bai Qihe’s back, she sent people to inquire about Bai Qingyan’s whereabouts. When Bai Qihe found out, the two had a big fight, and early this morning, Fang Shi had packed her belongings and returned to her natal family.
The Prefecture Magistrate and County Magistrate Zhou met again at the city gate. Both were used to this sight. County Magistrate Zhou cupped his hands and smiled: “I heard that your youngest son follows Princess Zhenguo and now helps with military training at the drill ground, earning great favor from Princess Zhenguo! This subordinate congratulates you!”
The Prefecture Magistrate still sat steadily under the oiled cloth canopy, holding a teacup and drinking tea, speaking leisurely: “Has County Magistrate Zhou finished trying all the cases involving the Bai clan?”
“Naturally! This is why… hearing that Princess Zhenguo returns to Shouyang today, I came specially to report to Princess Zhenguo. Those who should be exiled are exiled, those who should do hard labor will do hard labor! Punished strictly according to law!” County Magistrate Zhou beamed with satisfaction.