Chapter 461: The 9th Prince is Punished

Chapter 461: Chapter 461: The 9th Prince is Punished

The blood-curdling scream instantly tore through the hall’s boisterous atmosphere. Everyone turned to look in the direction of Princess Shu.

Princess Shu had fallen from her chair. She was sitting on the floor, her eyes shimmering with frightened tears.

The hand that had landed on her shoulder belonged to King Shu.

He had just arrived for the banquet and was about to greet his wife when he saw her sitting alone, lost in a daze.

He hadn’t expected that a single touch from him would startle Princess Shu so much that she would fall to the ground.

The moment she saw King Shu, her face filled with terror.

King Shu frowned discreetly. Noticing that everyone was looking their way, he hastily and frantically pulled his wife to her feet.

"Yue He, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Princess Shu composed herself slightly, but she couldn’t stop trembling. Held in King Shu’s arms, she only felt a wave of nausea.

"I’m fine," she said, pressing a hand to her temple. "I just feel a little unwell."

The Emperor had already walked over. "Princess Consort, are you alright? The Divine Doctor and the Ghost Doctor happen to be here. Let them have a look at you."

As he spoke, Sima Han and Xiang You both stepped forward to check on her.

The moment King Shu saw Xiang You, his expression changed.

A thought seemed to strike him. He glanced down at Princess Shu, and a dark shadow flashed in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, I’m afraid Yue He is not feeling well. I’ll take her back first," King Shu said, then swept Princess Shu up into his arms.

Princess Shu was quite startled and forgot to struggle.

In that instant, however, she seemed to catch the faint scent of cosmetics on King Shu—a strange, herbal fragrance. She never used such cosmetics.

At this thought, Princess Shu looked up and saw King Shu’s seemingly concerned face.

’Could it be that he went to see someone else before coming here?’

The Emperor didn’t notice anything amiss between the two and simply nodded. "Alright, you two may head back first. If anything happens, send someone to inform me."

Just then, Shen Ningning’s voice came from outside the doors. "Uncle Emperor! We found the person who broke the Glazed Buddha! It was the little eunuch who serves the Ninth Prince!"

King Shu, who was about to leave, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Everyone watched as Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei walked in through the main entrance together. Pei Yin followed behind them, carrying a tightly bound little eunuch on his shoulder.

The Emperor was shocked. "How could it be him?"

Pei Yin tossed the man directly onto the floor, and the little eunuch let out a pained cry as he landed.

"Explain everything to the Emperor yourself, in full detail!" Pei Yin reprimanded coldly.

Under the heavy, dark gazes of the entire hall of nobles and concubines, the little eunuch trembled in fear.

He looked up. "It... It was I who broke the Glazed Buddha."

The Emperor glared at him. "Who put you up to this!"

The little eunuch didn’t dare to speak.

Having heard the news, Princess Consort Qi and the Ninth Prince rushed over.

"Father Emperor, I have only just learned that this audacious eunuch dared to break the Glazed Buddha and frame my cousin! His crime is unforgivable. I implore you, Father Emperor, to issue an edict for his immediate execution!" the Ninth Prince said furiously, pointing at the little eunuch the moment he arrived.

Princess Consort Qi had walked in haste, and as she passed King Shu, she gave him an imperceptible glance.

The Emperor clearly didn’t believe the Ninth Prince’s words, his somber eyes fixed on him.

"He is but a little eunuch. How would he dare risk death to destroy the Glazed Buddha? Are you certain no one was pulling the strings?"

Princess Consort Qi was terrified the Emperor’s suspicion would fall upon the Ninth Prince.

She quickly stepped forward to explain. "May the Emperor forgive me. It is all due to my own negligence in managing my servants. A few days ago, when Wei’er came to the palace to visit me, I privately complained that the Qi Family was being cruel to me. My son and this little eunuch were present at the time. I fear he must have overheard and, in his eagerness to earn merit, decided to teach Wei’er a lesson to curry favor with me."

The little eunuch lifted a face as pale as paper.

Before he could speak, the Ninth Prince burst out angrily, "My mother and I treated you so well! When your mother was sick, we even gave you Silver Coins to find the best doctor for her, yet you targeted my cousin! She is my own cousin!"

Upon hearing the word "mother," the little eunuch couldn’t help but lower his head. Tears streamed down his face as he sobbed and trembled, confessing to everything.

"I was wrong! I shouldn’t have thought that bullying Miss Qi would be a way to vent Princess Consort Qi’s frustrations! Spare me, Your Majesty! I will never dare to do it again!"

The Emperor’s face was ashen. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Drag him out and beat him to death!"

The little eunuch screamed, shouting all the way, "Princess Consort Qi! Ninth Prince! Ninth Prince!"

Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei frowned in silent understanding.

’The little eunuch’s unfinished words... he was probably pleading with them to take good care of his mother on his behalf.’

’But with someone as venomous as Princess Consort Qi, the little eunuch has likely died in vain.’

The Emperor’s gaze was dark as he looked at the Ninth Prince. "For one of your subordinates to do something like this is not unrelated to your indulgence. The government affairs I’ve entrusted to you recently have also been fraught with errors. It seems to me that you can’t manage your servants, nor are your own abilities up to par!"

"How can I possibly entrust the management of the Ministry of War to you when you are like this? You are to immediately relinquish your authority over the Ministry of War. Crown Prince, from now on, you will be in charge of it."

Mo Lingwei raised an eyebrow. If he took over the Ministry of War, all Six Ministries would be under his control.

’The old man really knows how to pile on the work.’

Over on the other side, however, the color had drained from the faces of both Princess Consort Qi and the Ninth Prince.

"Your Majesty, Li’er is still young. He simply failed to properly manage a palace attendant. As for his governmental duties, I will be sure to urge him to consult with the senior ministers. I beg Your Majesty not to deprive him of this opportunity to gain experience."

King Shu, who was off to the side, hadn’t left. A moment ago, he had looked frantic, as if deeply concerned for Princess Shu’s health, but now he stood not far away, watching the situation with veiled concern.

A chill spread through the heart of Princess Shu in his arms.

’At this point, what was there left not to understand?’

’Her husband’s eyes were only for Princess Consort Qi. His concern for her had always been a deliberate act!’

Princess Shu struggled and freed herself from King Shu’s embrace.

"Your Highness should go and try to persuade him," she said faintly, her emotions having gradually stabilized.

This was exactly what King Shu wanted to hear. He nodded quickly and gave Princess Shu a perfunctory reply, "Although this is the Emperor’s family matter, with so many ministers present, it would look bad if he truly punishes the Ninth Prince. I’ll go and mediate. You rest here for a moment."

Seeing his reaction, Princess Shu confirmed her suspicions.

A chilling coldness filled her eyes, and a monstrous hatred surged within her.

Just as King Shu started to walk over, Princess Shu spoke first. "Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but the reason the Ninth Prince has incurred your wrath is, in fact, a lack of experience."

As she spoke, she walked toward the crowd, her expression having already returned to calm. King Shu stared at her in astonishment and immediately reached out to grab her hand.

But Princess Shu deftly evaded him, not stopping until she was before the crowd, meeting Princess Consort Qi’s cold, sinister gaze.

Princess Consort Qi said, "Princess Consort, the Emperor is merely reprimanding Li’er. As his aunt, how can you say something so disheartening?"

Princess Shu smiled faintly, her tone serene. "Since I am his aunt, it is all the more reason I should offer some advice."

At that moment, Shen Ningning muttered, "The Princess Consort is right. They say the little eunuch acted because he wanted to harm Xiao Wei, but what a coincidence. It’s not like everyone here is a fool."

Her voice was not too loud, nor too soft, but just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

The Emperor’s expression darkened.

He looked at the Ninth Prince. "Since your mother just said you need to gain experience, then it’s settled. I have long intended to send you to Youzhou. You will go there and stay for a few years."

The color instantly drained from Princess Consort Qi’s face, leaving it deathly pale.

Youzhou!

That was an extremely bitter and cold land. When convicted ministers were exiled, that was the place they were sent.

’She had long known that the Emperor only cared about the Crown Prince, but she never imagined he could be so ruthless to her own son!’