On the second day, the Crown Prince knelt again on the stone steps outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation. He persisted until nearly noon before fainting once more.
“Your Majesty, His Highness has fainted,” Pan Hai reported softly to Emperor Jingming.
The Emperor, who had been ill for some time, looked sallow. He barely moved his eyelids as he said, “Take him back to the Eastern Palace.”
Pan Hai stepped outside and announced, “Return the Crown Prince to the palace.”
Lying on the cold stone steps, the Crown Prince secretly moved his eyelids.
This time, he was feigning unconsciousness.
The knee pads had helped; it wasn’t as uncomfortable as yesterday. But kneeling for so long was still unbearable. He’d try again tomorrow.
The Crown Prince was quickly carried away by several attendants.
Pan Hai returned inside.
Emperor Jingming opened his eyes, “Has the Crown Prince left?”
“Yes,” Pan Hai approached to massage the Emperor’s legs.
Emperor Jingming remained silent, lost in thought.
On the third day, as everyone waited in the hall, they saw Pan Hai approach and turned to look at the Crown Prince.
It had been three days. Would the Emperor see the Crown Prince today?
The Crown Prince couldn’t help feeling nervous.
If Father Emperor didn’t see him today, he’d have to kneel outside again.
Pan Hai surveyed the group and said, “His Majesty summons the princes and princesses.”
The Crown Prince looked disappointed.
He wasn’t being seen again!
Gritting his teeth, the Crown Prince turned to walk outside.
He’d kneel if he had to. He couldn’t believe Father Emperor would let him keep kneeling indefinitely.
Prince Lu, who loved to see the Crown Prince embarrassed, watched him leave. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“What are you looking at? Let’s go, we’re the last ones,” the Princess of Lu pulled at her husband.
“Uh, coming,” Prince Lu followed the others inside, pondering.
There was something oddly familiar about the Crown Prince’s movements…
Emperor Jingming looked at his sons filing in, his expression gloomy.
“I’ve said before, you needn’t come every day.”
Everyone replied, “It’s already remiss of us not to stay by your side to care for you, Father Emperor. If we didn’t come to visit, we’d be even more unfilial.”
Emperor Jingming’s gaze slowly swept across his sons’ faces. “I’m gratified that you have such thoughts. I only hope that you brothers can love and support each other. That would be the greatest filial piety.”
Everyone hurriedly agreed.
Prince Qi said, “Father Emperor, Second Brother has been kneeling for three days. His body might not withstand it… Please forgive him and let him rise.”
Prince Lu secretly curled his lip.
Father Emperor had just spoken about brotherly love and support, and Fourth Brother was already pleading for the Crown Prince. How opportunistic.
“Yes, Father Emperor, the stone steps are cold. Kneeling for too long will ruin his legs…” Prince Qin added his persuasion.
Emperor Jingming’s expression softened.
His complete disappointment in the Crown Prince didn’t mean he wanted his son’s legs ruined by kneeling.
Very well, there was no point in this standoff. He’d find an opportunity to speak clearly with the Crown Prince and let him be an idle prince in the future. This might be best for both the Great Zhou and this useless son.
Having made his decision, Emperor Jingming said to Pan Hai, “Summon the Crown Prince.”
Seeing the Emperor relent, everyone’s expressions became subtle.
After three days of kneeling, Father Emperor had softened. The Crown Prince was still most important to him.
Pan Hai left the hall and approached the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you.”
The Crown Prince stood up abruptly: “Father Emperor will see me?”
“This way, Your Highness.”
The Crown Prince hurried inside. Upon seeing Emperor Jingming, he immediately knelt, exclaiming emotionally, “Your son greets Father Emperor.”
Prince Lu stared at the Crown Prince, that familiar feeling growing stronger.
When the Crown Prince knelt just now, there seemed to be something odd about his knees, as if something was stuffed there— Prince Lu’s eyes widened. If not for the presence of others, he would have slapped his forehead.
No wonder it felt familiar! In his youth, when he was often punished, didn’t he secretly stuff cotton pads at his knees?
With cotton pads, he could kneel from dawn till dusk.
Prince Lu was quite experienced in how to stuff things at the knees without being noticed. The Crown Prince was an amateur compared to him.
Hehe, what would happen if Father Emperor discovered the Crown Prince had stuffed cotton pads at his knees?
Prince Lu stroked his chin, pondering how to expose the Crown Prince.
Unaware of Prince Lu’s scrutiny, the Crown Prince remained kneeling after his greeting, looking pitifully at Emperor Jingming.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s pitiful state, Emperor Jingming felt conflicted. He said coldly, “Rise.”
The Crown Prince hurriedly stood up, disregarding others’ presence, and asked, “Father Emperor, are you feeling better? I’ve been so worried, unable to see you these days.”
Emperor Jingming replied irritably, “I’m not dying.”
The Crown Prince was stunned. He raised his hand and slapped himself, “It’s all my fault for angering Father Emperor.”
“Enough. Just don’t make trouble in the future,” Emperor Jingming said flatly.
Having made his decision to no longer view the Crown Prince as heir, he felt surprisingly calm facing this son.
Perhaps it was a case of the deeper the love, the harsher the criticism. Now that he had given up hope, he could be composed.
The Crown Prince, not understanding the subtle change in Emperor Jingming’s mindset, was delighted at these words.
Great, Father Emperor wasn’t holding it against him. The kneeling hadn’t been in vain!
“I’m tired. You may all withdraw,” Emperor Jingming began dismissing them.
“Father Emperor, please rest well. Your son (daughter-in-law) takes leave.”
Prince Lu grew anxious.
This wouldn’t do. If they left like this, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have to kneel anymore. Wouldn’t that mean he’d gotten away with it?
Prince Lu’s eyes darted. He deliberately walked beside the Crown Prince and secretly extended his leg.
The Crown Prince, caught off guard, stumbled forward.
In that split second, Prince Lu stepped on the Crown Prince’s trouser leg. As the Crown Prince fell, his pants were pulled down, though his outer robe still covered most of his legs.
The scene froze.
After a moment, the youngest, Prince Xiang, said, “What’s on Second Brother’s knees?”
The Crown Prince, dazed from the fall, heard Prince Xiang’s words and paled. He quickly jumped up and pulled up his trousers.
Everyone silently turned to look at Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming stared at the Crown Prince, his face ashen.
The Crown Prince’s legs weakened, and he knelt: “Fa-Father Emperor—”
Surely Father Emperor hadn’t seen?
Emperor Jingming closed his eyes, then opened them, his tone icy: “The Crown Prince and Prince Lu stay. The rest of you, out!”
Although the other princes were reluctant to miss this drama, they dared not show it and hurriedly withdrew.
Emperor Jingming then said, “Remove the Crown Prince’s trousers. I want to see what’s there.”
The Crown Prince panicked: “Father Emperor, Father Emperor—”
Several attendants stepped forward and swiftly pulled down the Crown Prince’s trousers, revealing the cotton pads tied at his knees.
The Crown Prince’s vision darkened, with only one thought: This time, he was truly finished!
Emperor Jingming took a deep breath, suppressing his fury. His tone emotionless, he said, “Pan Hai, have someone escort the Crown Prince back to the Eastern Palace.”
“Father Emperor, I was wrong, I’ll never dare again, please forgive me—” The Crown Prince struggled and shouted as he was carried out by the attendants.
Emperor Jingming glanced at Prince Lu.
Prince Lu, terrified by the look, laughed nervously, “Father Emperor—”
Emperor Jingming pointed to the door: “Go kneel outside!”