Several palace servants immediately surrounded the Crown Prince.
Seeing that the situation had settled, Erniu sat down on his hind legs, leisurely swishing his tail.
Pan Hai suddenly remembered something and turned to bow deeply to Erniu: “General Xiaotian, please return for now. This humble one will properly thank you later.”
At this point, anyone who still dared to say General Xiaotian was just a dog would face his wrath.
The crowd retreated from the Eastern Palace like a receding tide, leaving only chaos in their wake.
Young Master Chun looked up and asked the palace maid: “Did my father do something wrong?”
The palace maid tightly held Young Master Chun’s hand, her lips pale as she advised: “Crown Prince’s Son, please return to your chambers. The Crown Princess will worry if she sees you like this.”
Before leaving, the Crown Princess had specifically instructed her to look after the Crown Prince’s Son. She hadn’t expected that after going to bed, he would suddenly get up and insist on going out to look, refusing all her attempts to dissuade him.
In the end, the Crown Prince’s Son witnessed his father being taken away by the palace servants and the chaos in the Eastern Palace.
“Crown Prince’s Son, the night air is cold. Let this servant escort you back to your chambers.”
Young Master Chun stood motionless and asked again: “Did my father do something wrong?”
The palace maid lowered her head and whispered: “This servant doesn’t know…”
She only knew that something major had happened in the Eastern Palace, but how could a lowly palace maid like her understand what had truly occurred?
Moreover, even if she did understand, she wouldn’t dare tell the Crown Prince’s Son.
Young Master Chun seemed to realize this and said: “Let’s go back.”
He turned first, his small shoulders trembling slightly, seemingly suppressing his tears.
The palace maid wiped the corners of her eyes, her tears ice-cold.
The Crown Prince had committed an offense, and judging by Imperial Servant Pan’s furious expression, it must have been serious. Perhaps all the people of the Eastern Palace would be implicated…
The palace maid dared not think further and led Young Master Chun away.
In the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Jingming had grown somewhat impatient waiting, but when the palace servant announced that Imperial Servant Pan was bringing the Crown Prince, his impatience was instantly replaced by anxiety.
Could Pan Hai have found a voodoo doll in the Eastern Palace?
After a moment, Emperor Jingming spoke: “Let them enter.”
Soon after, Pan Hai entered, followed by the ashen-faced Crown Prince, supported by several palace servants.
Seeing the Crown Prince’s grey complexion, Emperor Jingming’s heart sank halfway, his gaze settling heavily on Pan Hai.
Pan Hai’s expression was equally grim as he presented the voodoo doll to the Emperor: “Your Majesty, please examine this.”
Emperor Jingming’s eyes contracted sharply when he saw the doll with needles in its heart, and his voice trembled when he noticed the birth date written on it: “Where was it found?”
Pan Hai glanced at the Crown Prince and said softly: “General Xiaotian discovered the doll buried in a flower pot by the window in the Crown Prince’s inner chambers…”
“Worthless creature!” Emperor Jingming suddenly stood up, pointing at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince collapsed to his knees, weeping profusely: “Father, Imperial Father, your son was wrong, your son truly knows his mistake…”
Emperor Jingming closed his eyes. In his ears rang the Crown Prince’s pleas for mercy, but these sounds only fueled his anger, which eventually turned to sorrow.
This was his most valued eldest son, given the position of Crown Prince from birth, taught by carefully selected ministers, yet who could have known he would attempt patricide and regicide?
Had he been wrong to learn from the previous dynasty’s lesson of letting love dictate the selection of an heir, which had led to chaos?
Emperor Jingming opened his eyes, his voice weary: “That palace maid—did you strangle her?”
The people Pan Hai had sent to Jingle Hall to examine the palace maid’s cause of death had already returned with their findings. Fortunately, the body hadn’t been cremated yet, making it easy to determine the cause of death.
The Crown Prince trembled but remained silent.
“Speak! Did you strangle her?”
The returning investigators had reported clear strangulation marks on the palace maid’s neck. The murderer could hardly be anyone but the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince shuddered and resigned himself: “Yes… it was your son…”
Meeting Emperor Jingming’s livid face, the Crown Prince panicked and hurriedly said: “Imperial Father, it was all that wretched woman’s sorcery that bewitched your son. Your son was momentarily confused—”
Emperor Jingming was too angry to speak.
By now, the Crown Prince’s intent to harm him was undeniable, yet he still couldn’t believe it was mere coincidence.
That the Crown Prince would want to harm him, and coincidentally a palace maid knew how to make harmful voodoo dolls, and another palace maid from the same hometown happened to discover it…
Perhaps there were still accomplices of Matron Duo in the palace, and the palace maid had been incited by them before the Crown Prince took the bait…
Emperor Jingming glared at the Crown Prince, seething with anger.
Whether the Crown Prince had conceived this idea himself or been manipulated by others, it was unforgivable.
Emperor Jingming’s gaze fell on the voodoo doll, his expression fluctuating.
Could such a wooden doll end someone’s life?
He had his doubts about this.
He believed in venomous insects, as those were tangible things within the body that could easily cause harm.
These suspicions would need to be investigated starting with the palace maid who had reported this.
“Take the Crown Prince away.”
The Crown Prince looked terrified: “Imperial Father, your son truly knows his wrong, please forgive your son—”
Emperor Jingming turned his head away.
Soon the Crown Prince was dragged away.
Emperor Jingming looked toward the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess knelt, pressing her forehead to the ground in a deep bow, and spoke calmly: “Your daughter-in-law is guilty. As Crown Princess, I failed to properly counsel the Crown Prince, allowing him to commit such a grave error. I request to share his punishment. I only beg Imperial Father to have mercy on Young Master Chun and allow him to grow up well…”
At this point, the Crown Princess could no longer maintain her composure, her voice choking with emotion.
The worst scenario had indeed come to pass—the Crown Prince had attempted regicide!
This foolish man had not only ruined himself, but if he harmed Young Master Chun, she would never forgive him, even as a ghost!
Emperor Jingming stared at the Crown Princess for a moment, then sighed: “Crown Princess, return to the Eastern Palace and take good care of Young Master Chun.”
The Crown Princess trembled all over, respectfully answered “Yes,” and withdrew.
The room fell into silence.
After a while, the Empress asked: “Your Majesty, how should we handle this voodoo doll?”
“Call that palace maid in.”
Hong Yu knelt before Emperor Jingming.
Emperor Jingming remained silent as the Empress asked: “Now that we’ve found the voodoo doll, do you know how to neutralize its harmful effects?”
Hong Yu quickly glanced at the doll, then lowered her head deeply: “Remove the birth date from the doll and destroy it completely.”
The Emperor and Empress exchanged glances.
Emperor Jingming gave Pan Hai a meaningful look.
Pan Hai understood and waved his hand: “Take her away!”
Hong Yu was shocked: “Your Majesty—”
Pan Hai reassured her: “Don’t be afraid, we just have some more questions for you.”
Hong Yu was quickly led away.
The Emperor and Empress remained in prolonged silence.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Empress spoke: “Your Majesty, regarding the Crown Princess and Young Master Chun—”
In her heart, the Crown Prince was already as good as dead. No matter how much the Emperor had loved and valued the Crown Prince, the crimes of attempted patricide and regicide were unforgivable. It would be merciful enough to allow him an intact burial.
But it was a pity about the Crown Princess and Young Master Chun…
Emperor Jingming looked exhausted, as if he had aged several years in an instant, and said softly: “I know what needs to be done.”