On the other side, Empress Lu was even more anxious than Madam Du. She was so nervous she almost bit her mouth until it bled, constantly staring at the door. Palace Director Xie came forward with a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, softly and gently comforting her: “Your Majesty, don’t be too anxious. His Majesty used to dote on His Highness so much—if His Highness pleads with him…”

This wasn’t something that could be resolved with pleading. Empress Lu’s bellyful of resentment couldn’t help but surge up again. She understood Crown Princess Lu’s grievances and knew that what Prince Gong and the Crown Prince had done this time was truly unconscionable. But the Crown Prince was already paralyzed, and Prince Gong was also going to learn his lesson—he’d been ill since that incident in Langfang and still hadn’t recovered. It was just asking Crown Princess Lu for a bit of mercy. She had thought Crown Princess Lu would at most simply refuse, but who knew Crown Princess Lu would go all the way and report it directly to Emperor Jianzhang?

This was clearly forcing Emperor Jianzhang to increase Prince Gong’s punishment. She closed her eyes, feeling that Crown Princess Lu was truly too heartless. She didn’t blame Elder Du and Madam Du—even she herself felt that Elder Du’s method was feasible. After all, with such deep affection from their youth, how could it be severed just by saying so? Moreover, all these years the Crown Prince had always treated her poorly.

Who knew Crown Princess Lu could truly be so ruthless, disregarding all past affection, even using this letter of plea as a weapon against Prince Gong and Elder Du? This way, not only did Emperor Jianzhang’s disgust toward Prince Gong increase sharply, but there would also be discord between Prince Gong and Elder Du—the idea was Elder Du’s, and he had done everything possible to persuade Prince Gong to agree. Yet in the end, this method not only failed to work but actually harmed him this severely. Madam Du had even told him at first that Crown Princess Lu agreed to help plead if he would just write the letter—what must Prince Gong think now?

The more she thought about it, the worse her headache became, and her heart hung in suspense. Matters Emperor Jianzhang set his mind to were rarely changed. Before leaving, he had said that this time he would definitely teach Prince Gong a lesson—it certainly wasn’t said just for show.

She had just picked up her cup to drink some water to moisten her throat and calm her emotions when she heard a commotion outside. Palace Director Xie hurriedly rushed out, then came back in with a deathly pale face. She first glanced at Empress Lu, hesitating for a long time before stammering to tell her: “Your Majesty… word came from the front that His Highness was disrespectful to His Majesty and showed him no reverence. His Majesty is making him guard the imperial mausoleum for three months… to properly reflect on his errors before the ancestors.”

Empress Lu’s eyes rolled back, and she truly fainted.

Emperor Jianzhang had actually been willing to do it! Once the reputation of disobedience was placed on someone, where was there any future to speak of?! Even for officials, once someone impeached them for being unfilial and disobedient, they would be dismissed from office—much less for members of the imperial family!

These four words “unfilial and disobedient”—when they fell upon a person, they were more suffocating than a mountain. Prince Gong covered his forehead, which was bleeding profusely from being struck by Emperor Jianzhang’s inkstone, his two eyes staring tightly at Emperor Jianzhang, his lips pressed together firmly.

If he were truly unfilial and disobedient, he should have directly refused Empress Lu’s intentions back then. He should have directly confronted Emperor Jianzhang about his matter with Lu Caiwei, rather than being a fool who knelt before Empress Lu for three days.

But now, his act of fighting back because he had already been driven into a corner had been directly stamped by Emperor Jianzhang with the great seal of those four words: unfilial and disobedient. He pulled up the corners of his mouth in a laugh.

Emperor Jianzhang couldn’t laugh. He stared at his youngest son, then turned to look out the window. After a long pause, he said: “About what happened between you all back then—We now know everything. We know you’ve been wronged, but some things cannot be done just because you feel wronged. You’re living less sensibly than a child.” Emperor Jianzhang sat down behind the desk, looking at Prince Gong: “These years, have We treated you poorly? Do you truly think We didn’t know about your private mining operations in Taiyuan? You always remember what your mother and brother owed you in the past, but have you ever thought about what you yourself have? Lady Yang, whom We chose for you—all these years, has she not treated you well? In what way have you lived worse than your brother these years?”

Prince Gong’s gaze flickered as he turned his head away without saying a word.

“Talking about feeling indignant, talking about feeling wronged.” Emperor Jianzhang sneered: “These are all just excuses. The truth is your appetite has been fed too large, your ambition has swelled too much.”

After he finished speaking, he didn’t even look at him again, waving his hand to cut off the words about to leave his mouth: “No need to say more. Go see your mother empress. After you’ve seen her, pack your things and go.”

He wouldn’t even let him attend the Mid-Autumn Festival or his own birthday celebration. Prince Gong swallowed with difficulty, only feeling his throat hurt terribly.

Eunuch An came forward with a bowed back to escort Prince Gong. Though his face showed nothing, his heart trembled violently. This month had truly seen too many incidents. In the blink of an eye, the Crown Prince had become like this, and now Prince Gong was being sent away to guard the imperial mausoleum.

Prince Gong left without looking back. He knew Emperor Jianzhang’s character—his word was law, and what he decided would not change. Moreover, the news of him being struck with an inkstone in the Imperial Study should have already sprouted wings and flown everywhere. Further pleading would be futile.

Eunuch An walked ahead while he covered his forehead and followed behind, keeping his head down and walking swiftly the entire way. When he reached Qingning Palace, he stopped and looked back at these red palace walls, and through these palace walls looked out at this intrigue-filled, magnificent palace city.

This was a place where he had once lived for over ten years. He had once wanted to live here forever, but ultimately he could no longer live here forever.

Covering his head the entire way, the palace servants naturally dared not speak too much, but privately they inevitably whispered among themselves. Before long, Crown Princess Lu and Song Chuyi’s side had already received the news early.

At that time, she had just dismissed Madam Du—Emperor Jianzhang had only severely scolded Elder Du but hadn’t truly done anything to him, because the court still needed to use him. Crown Princess Lu naturally wouldn’t endlessly tear down his dignity, having Song Chuyi give Madam Du a warning before sending her off—fortunately Madam Du also knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare bring up Prince Gong’s matters again.

As soon as Nanny Wu heard, she clapped her hands and laughed: “Good! This truly is karmic retribution!” No one hoped more than her to see the Crown Prince and Prince Gong receive their comeuppance. These two brothers were indeed worthy of coming from the same womb—both equally human-faced and beast-hearted, neither of them any good.

Crown Princess Lu was just discussing with Song Chuyi about the day of Xiang Mingzi’s wedding, and hearing that Princess Rongcheng’s daughter would be the one to warm the bed, couldn’t help but smile: “She’s truly gotten herself this great red packet.”

Princess Rongcheng had always been a sensible person. The Song family’s future with the Grand Prince was inextricably linked—naturally she was happy to grow close to the Song family. After listening to the message Pei Yin reported, she didn’t even blink, turning back to ask Pei Yin: “Prince Gong has gone to Qingning Palace now?”