The officials of the Eastern Palace shared the Crown Prince’s fate, rising and falling together.
When the Crown Prince was first deposed, most officials were demoted. The current officials were a new batch, with only a few old-timers remaining. One of these, previously insignificant, had now gained the Crown Prince’s favor.
However, this favored official couldn’t rejoice. He had witnessed his colleagues’ misfortunes firsthand. After the Crown Prince’s reinstatement, he had hoped for a period of stability, but the Crown Prince hadn’t changed at all.
“What should I do? Father Emperor is ill. He’s seen every prince, even the Crown Princess and my son, but not me…” The Crown Prince was distraught, even sprouting white hair.
The official pondered and said, “Your Highness, perhaps His Majesty is still angry. In my opinion, you should show more sincerity, using your filial piety to move His Majesty.”
The Crown Prince snapped, “Easy for you to say. Father Emperor won’t even see me. How can I show sincerity if he can’t see or hear me?”
“Your Highness is mistaken.”
“How so?” The Crown Prince frowned at the official.
The official spoke softly, “Even if His Majesty can’t see or hear you directly, others will report your actions to him. It’s as good as His Majesty witnessing it himself.”
“Then think of a plan for me. I can’t be the only one unable to see Father Emperor.”
The next day, everyone went to visit Emperor Jingming as usual.
Soon, Pan Hai invited everyone in, leaving the Crown Prince outside as usual.
Prince Lu winked at the Crown Prince, chuckling, “Second Brother, since Father Emperor won’t see you anyway, why don’t you just go home?”
The Crown Prince glared at Prince Lu but remained silent.
Prince Lu was surprised. Huh, had the Crown Prince learned to swallow his pride?
A sharp pain in his waist interrupted his thoughts—his wife had pinched him.
“My Prince, shouldn’t we hurry along?” The Princess of Lu said with a forced smile, inwardly furious. Her husband was always provoking the Crown Prince; if the Crown Prince ascended the throne, they’d be in trouble.
Prince Lu rubbed his nose, “Let’s go.”
He realized it wasn’t the Crown Prince who had learned to swallow his pride, but himself. As long as the Crown Prince remained in his position, with the possibility of inheriting the throne, Prince Lu had to suppress his dislike.
Unless… Prince Lu’s steps faltered, his eyes flickering. Maybe he should find a way to eliminate the Crown Prince.
It was the first time Prince Lu had such a thought.
When everyone emerged from visiting Emperor Jingming, they were surprised to find the Crown Prince kneeling on the stone steps outside the hall.
“Second Brother, what are you—”
The Crown Prince looked up at Prince Qin, who had asked the question, and said, “I’ve angered Father Emperor. I’m kneeling here to beg for his forgiveness and pray for his swift recovery.”
The others exchanged glances. Had the Crown Prince turned over a new leaf?
Not wanting to linger in the palace, Prince Qin said gently, “Second Brother, do take care of yourself. The ground is cold.”
“Yes, Second Brother, be careful not to hurt your knees from kneeling too long,” Prince Qi added with concern.
“Thank you for your concern, brothers. As long as Father Emperor forgives me and recovers soon, this is nothing,” the Crown Prince said solemnly.
Outside the palace gates, Prince Lu sighed, “What a pity we can’t stay to watch the show.”
His wife glared at him, “What show? Let’s hurry home.”
Meanwhile, Old Qin had already cracked his whip, setting the Prince of Yan’s carriage in motion.
Inside the carriage, Yu Jin sneered, “I didn’t expect the Crown Prince to resort to such a desperate measure. It’s all he’s capable of.”
Leaning against a comfortable pillow, Jiang Si calmly said, “The effectiveness of such a ploy doesn’t depend on its complexity, but on whether the target is soft-hearted.”
“Do you think Father Emperor will soften?”
“It’s hard to say.”
Due to her rebirth, many things had changed. She wasn’t sure exactly when the Crown Prince would be deposed for the second time.
“We’ll see. Even if Father Emperor softens, it only means he still has some fatherly affection for the Crown Prince. It doesn’t mean an emperor still approves of him as heir,” Yu Jin said flatly.
If the Emperor still didn’t consider deposing the Crown Prince after all this, it would mean the Great Zhou was doomed.
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Pan Hai softly reported, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is still kneeling outside.”
“Let him kneel!” Emperor Jingming thundered.
Pan Hai dared not say more and quietly retreated to the side.
The princes had come to visit Emperor Jingming in the morning. As noon approached, the Crown Prince, kneeling on the stone steps, felt dizzy and cursed the official in his heart.
What a terrible idea that scoundrel had suggested! He was about to kneel himself to death, and Father Emperor still hadn’t seen him!
It was so painful, so uncomfortable—
The Crown Prince wanted to get up countless times, but thinking of the anxiety and fear of recent days, he gritted his teeth and endured. He couldn’t give up now; if he persisted a bit longer, Father Emperor might see him. Surely Father Emperor would soften upon seeing him in such a pitiful state. Throughout his life, he had angered Father Emperor many times, but in the end, Father Emperor had always softened…
As the Crown Prince thought hazily, his vision darkened, and he toppled to the side.
An attendant hurriedly went to report to Emperor Jingming.
“The Crown Prince has fainted?” Emperor Jingming instinctively glanced at the hourglass.
It was barely noon, and he had already fainted from kneeling. If it were the Fifth Brother or Seventh Brother, they could kneel until evening without issue.
This thought made Emperor Jingming even angrier.
“Take the Crown Prince back to the Eastern Palace!”
When the Crown Prince woke up, he found himself back in the Eastern Palace and sat up abruptly, “How did I get here?”
An attendant explained, “You fainted outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. His Majesty ordered you to be brought back.”
“So, Father Emperor didn’t see me?” the Crown Prince mumbled.
The attendant dared not respond.
“Where’s the Crown Princess?” the Crown Prince suddenly thought of something.
“The Crown Princess is cooking porridge.”
The Crown Prince’s face darkened.
No need to ask—the porridge was for Father Emperor.
These past few days, the Crown Princess had been personally cooking porridge and sending it to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Although Emperor Jingming wouldn’t eat it, he would accept it, acknowledging the Crown Princess’s intentions.
The Crown Prince grew increasingly irritated.
Was the Crown Princess currying favor with Father Emperor because she thought he was useless? Hmph, he would make Father Emperor change his mind, and then deal with this wretched woman after ascending the throne!
No, he had to go kneel again tomorrow!
He had fainted from kneeling today; if he went to kneel again tomorrow, Father Emperor would surely see him.
Having made up his mind, the Crown Prince touched his swollen, painful knees and hesitated.
It was already late autumn, and the stone steps were as cold as ice. Kneeling there was too painful—what if he crippled his legs?
After some thought, the Crown Prince summoned a palace maid he often “chatted” with and asked, “Do you know needlework?”
The maid nodded, “Yes.”
The Crown Prince gestured towards his knees, “Make me a pair of padded knee protectors.”
“Huh?” The maid was stunned.
The Crown Prince’s face darkened, “Can you do it or not?”
The maid hurriedly replied, “Yes, I can. What kind would Your Highness like—”
“Just make them thick,” the Crown Prince said, thinking of the icy stone steps. The thicker, the better. But worried that others might notice, he added, “They shouldn’t be visible under my robes. Understand?”
The maid nodded blankly, “Understood.”