As dawn was just breaking, the Crown Princess… now to be called Lady Yang, without taking any personal belongings, brought only Young Prince Chun and boarded an inconspicuous carriage, heading directly for Jing Garden.
With the witchcraft scandal in the Eastern Palace, she didn’t want to touch even the most precious items. All the treasures combined were not as precious as her Young Prince Chun.
In the carriage, Young Prince Chun asked Lady Yang with reddened eyes, “Mother, how is Father?”
The small child had already sensed something was amiss.
Lady Yang looked down at her son and said softly, “Your father made a mistake, so your Imperial Grandfather is punishing him by having him reflect in seclusion.”
Young Prince Chun lowered his gaze to stare at his hands without a sound.
Lady Yang embraced Young Prince Chun and asked, “Doesn’t Chun like Jing Garden? Winter is coming soon. Then Mother will accompany you and your sisters to build snowmen and have snowball fights…”
The Crown Prince’s transgression and the involvement of his favored palace maid resulted in all the Crown Prince’s women in the Eastern Palace being given white silk to hang themselves, except for her. Now Young Prince Chun’s two half-sisters could only rely on Lady Yang.
After a long silence, Young Prince Chun raised his eyes to look at Lady Yang and asked with pursed lips, “Mother, did Father commit a grave error and was ordered to die?”
Lady Yang’s expression changed slightly: “Chun shouldn’t think such things.”
Young Prince Chun shook his head: “I’m not imagining things. Mother, I understand…”
He didn’t continue about what he understood, but Lady Yang suddenly burst into tears.
What sin had they committed to make such a young child understand these things?
Lady Yang held Young Prince Chun, her heart aching as if cut by a knife.
Young Prince Chun blinked gently and embraced Lady Yang: “Mother, don’t cry. It’s enough that Chun has you.”
Lady Yang wiped her tears and forced a smile: “Yes, Mother will always be with Chun.”
At this moment, she was extremely grateful to one person.
If not for those few meaningful words from Princess Yan despite their shallow acquaintance, if she had merely followed the rules and not visited the Emperor so frequently, that three-foot white silk would likely have been meant for her as well.
She couldn’t die and didn’t dare to die. If she died, Chun would be left without a mother.
The carriage drove through the misty morning, silent except for the clopping of hooves and the turning of wheels.
With both relief and lingering fear, Lady Yang softly said to Young Prince Chun, “Chun, Mother hopes you will always remain kind and generous, and have enough wisdom to protect your kindness and generosity. There is someone who is our benefactor…”
The carriage traveled further and further, gradually fading into silence.
Meanwhile, the court was thrown into chaos after daybreak.
The Crown Prince had plotted rebellion last night and was ordered to die. The Crown Princess, Young Prince, and others were demoted to commoners and moved out of the Eastern Palace. Countless palace attendants and maids in the Eastern Palace were implicated. In just one night, the entire Eastern Palace was emptied.
When Pan Hai announced these events before the civil and military officials, Yang Deguang, the Minister of Rites, fainted on the spot.
No one dared to help him up. Seeing Pan Hai about to leave, they all crowded around him.
“Eunuch Pan, what exactly happened?”
“Yes, Eunuch Pan, how could the Crown Prince plot rebellion?”
“Eunuch Pan, will His Majesty hold court tomorrow?”
Pan Hai’s face was gloomy, with dark circles under his eyes. He said coldly, “My lords, do not ask further. When His Majesty has recovered somewhat, he will summon the Six Ministries’ senior officials to discuss matters.”
After Pan Hai left, the officials lingered, reluctant to disperse.
Such a momentous event had occurred without warning, and the Emperor’s handling of the Eastern Palace had been as swift as lightning. What exactly had happened?
How exactly had the Crown Prince plotted rebellion?
The officials were full of questions, waiting anxiously.
They couldn’t possibly leave without getting an answer.
Although the Emperor was the supreme sovereign, it was too much to directly order the Crown Prince’s death without consulting his ministers.
“They haven’t left, have they?” Emperor Jingming, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and asked upon hearing familiar footsteps.
Pan Hai hurried forward to massage the Emperor’s shoulders: “Your Majesty, you’ve barely slept all night. Please rest for a while.”
“Summon the Grand Secretaries and the heads of the Six Ministries to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.”
“Your Majesty—” Pan Hai didn’t move, worried about the Emperor’s health.
Emperor Jingming gave a bitter laugh: “If I don’t set their minds at ease, I won’t be able to sleep peacefully either. Go on.”
The summoned officials rushed to the Hall of Mental Cultivation almost impatiently, including the Minister of Rites, Yang Deguang, who had fainted earlier. It was obvious that the other officials maintained some distance from Yang Deguang.
The moment they saw Emperor Jingming, the officials were stunned.
In just one day, the Emperor seemed to have aged several years.
“You’re all here.” Emperor Jingming looked around at the officials, his voice filled with exhaustion.
The officials all glanced at the current Grand Secretary, Gu Juguan.
At a time like this, it was naturally the Grand Secretary’s role to take the lead.
Gu Juguan didn’t hesitate, even though Emperor Jingming’s face was full of fatigue and sorrow.
He cleared his throat and asked, “Your Majesty, may we inquire what act of rebellion the Crown Prince committed to warrant his death sentence?”
The officials’ expressions were grave.
If the Emperor couldn’t provide a reason, they wouldn’t easily back down.
Deposing two Crown Princes and ordering the death of the heir apparent – the Great Zhou dynasty couldn’t withstand such turmoil.
Emperor Jingming remained silent, silent to the point where the officials thought he wouldn’t answer, then he spoke: “Witchcraft.”
The officials were shocked.
Emperor Jingming continued in a deep voice: “I suddenly experienced excruciating chest pain, and the imperial physicians were at a loss. Someone from the Eastern Palace secretly reported that the Crown Prince was using a voodoo doll to curse me. After a search, a doll with my birth date and time was indeed found in a flower pot in the Crown Prince’s bedchamber… The Crown Prince’s intentions were treasonous, unforgivable by heaven’s law…”
As he spoke, Emperor Jingming looked at Yang Deguang, the Minister of Rites.
Yang Deguang slowly collapsed to the ground.
It was witchcraft. Had the Crown Prince gone mad?
All the officials were dumbfounded.
They had come prepared to argue with the Emperor, but who would have thought the Crown Prince would use witchcraft against the Emperor?
Throughout history, whenever witchcraft scandals occurred, not only did the perpetrators perish, but tens of thousands of people could be implicated and lose their lives.
The Emperor ordered the Crown Prince’s death while only demoting the Crown Princess and Young Prince to commoners was already considered lenient.
“I had high hopes for the Crown Prince, but who would have thought he would commit such an insane act of patricide and regicide? Thinking of this, I am deeply grieved and unable to sleep. If you have no other matters, you may withdraw.”
“We take our leave, Your Majesty.” The officials withdrew, each with a heavy heart.
The officials waiting outside crowded around to inquire, but these men just shook their heads and quickly left.
Emperor Jingming did not rest but summoned several princes, explaining the Crown Prince’s affair and finally said, “Let the deposed Crown Prince be a warning to you all. Do not do anything you will regret.”
The princes responded in unison: “We will heed Father Emperor’s teachings.”
Emperor Jingming waved his hand, signaling for everyone to withdraw.
Prince Qi returned to his residence and, behind closed doors, laughed loudly: “To think the Crown Prince could come up with using witchcraft to harm someone. He truly had some ability.”
Princess Qi, knowing the fate of the Crown Prince and his household, felt quite uneasy: “Your Highness, that palace maid who instigated the Crown Prince to use a voodoo doll—”
“It has nothing to do with us.”
“Isn’t this a bit too coincidental…”
Prince Qi sneered: “Many people wanted the Crown Prince dead. Perhaps it was one of them who bribed her. Father Emperor will surely investigate thoroughly, but as long as it can’t be traced back to us, it doesn’t matter.”