The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 548: You... Insolent

Prince Zhuang recalled that night of horror, the terror of having a blade pressed against his neck, then thought of his only legitimate son, and was overwhelmed with grief, but more than that, fear and regret. He cried out in despair, "Father Emperor, please seek justice for your son, my Wei’er was killed by the Old Fifth!"

"You say Huangfu Wei was killed by the Old Fifth?" The Emperor’s expression did not change in the slightest, his gaze becoming even more unfathomable.

Prince Zhuang wept bitterly, "Father Emperor, just now in the side hall, the Old Fifth confessed with his own mouth. It was he who killed Wei’er, my poor Wei’er was only ten years old..."

The Emperor shouted, "Enough!"

The commanding words, full of imperial anger, startled Prince Zhuang into silence, and he dared not cry further, hastily holding his tongue.

The Emperor said coldly, "Princess Consort Zhuang has just been here!"

His consort had been here? His father had not questioned her in his presence, nor did he know what the princess consort had said. However, he was not worried because many of his deeds were hidden from Princess Consort Zhuang.

Princess Consort Zhuang knew very little, so naturally, there was no risk of her leaking information.

The Emperor glanced at him, his tone becoming more severe, "I will ask you once more, where is Huangfu Wei?"

Prince Zhuang pleaded, "Father Emperor, your son truly does not know. Wei’er was abducted several days ago and is still missing."

The Emperor said coldly, "But Princess Consort Zhuang just said that people have been sent to the manor to train. Is this true?"

Prince Zhuang was taken aback, quickly saying, "Father Emperor, my consort is not in good health, and I feared she could not bear such a blow, so I indeed told her that. If I had really sent Wei’er to the manor, how could I dare tell you he was abducted? Even if given the courage of heaven, I would not dare commit such a crime of deceiving the Emperor!"

The Emperor turned his cold gaze to Prince Cheng, "Old Fifth, what do you say?"

Prince Cheng, expressionless, said, "Your son has no words to say. To know whether Prince Zhuang or Princess Consort Zhuang is speaking the truth, one need only go to the manor to see!"

The Emperor thought this reasonable.

He looked at Prince Zhuang, who promptly said, "Father Emperor, I have no objections. I am willing to go to the manor as well to prove my innocence!"

The Emperor looked over, but Prince Cheng showed no reaction.

The Emperor asked, "Old Fifth, what about you?"

Prince Cheng, still expressionless, spoke coldly, "Someone else’s son, I do not care, I only wish to find Jingchen."

The Emperor: "..."

The courtiers: "..."

This Prince Cheng truly is straightforward, while Prince Zhuang speaks with such lofty righteousness, and Prince Li is eloquent before the Emperor, as if his tongue can work miracles.

Yet Prince Cheng’s words are not pleasing at all.

However, the more they thought about it, the more they understood. Prince Zhuang had killed his son, a blood feud for killing one’s child. Of course, he wouldn’t care about the life or death of Prince Zhuang’s son.

The Emperor snorted coldly, "If Huangfu Wei cannot be found, you will not be cleared of suspicion."

Prince Cheng sneered, "It’s only suspicion, without evidence. Third Brother killed my son Jingchen, assassinating him on the street, shocking the Imperial City, with irrefutable evidence, yet Father Emperor did nothing. Surely, I won’t be dealt with over mere suspicion, will I?"

"You... are being insolent!"

The Emperor’s anger caused his forehead veins to bulge.

This rebellious son, what was he saying?

Was he implying that his father, the Emperor, was being unjust?

Prince Cheng knelt and said, "Your son is a straightforward man, having spent years dealing with enemy soldiers on the battlefield, speaking directly without evasion, unable to say pleasing words. I ask for Father Emperor’s pardon!"

The Emperor: "..."

The earlier fury was punctured mid-air by this statement, neither anger nor irritation fit.

To be angry, this rebellious son was already kneeling to plead for forgiveness.

To not be angry, listen to these words; is this how any son or subject should speak to their Emperor Father?

The Emperor called, "King Kang!"

Huangfu Mian stepped forward, "I am here!"

The Emperor instructed, "Convey my decree, instruct Pei Yichang of the Capital Guard to take men and go to Prince Zhuang’s manor in the west of the city to search for Huangfu Wei, and you will go with them. Report all matters back accurately!"

"I accept the decree!"

Prince Zhuang said, "Father Emperor, I am willing to go too!"

"What will you go for? You need not go anywhere, just wait here!"

Prince Cheng said, "Father Emperor, I wish to go and find Jingchen!"

"You are not allowed to go anywhere either! Wait until King Kang reports back, and if the matter does not concern you, then do whatever you like!"

Many of the courtiers discreetly glanced at Prince Cheng, with eyes filled with sympathy.

All sons, but this son is truly without paternal or maternal love. Prince Li was delayed for one night, and the Emperor had already lovingly let him go back to rest early. This Prince Cheng rushed day and night to the Capital City, eyes red with sleeplessness, who knows how long he hadn’t rested, yet while waiting in the side hall, with Prince Zhuang speaking nearby, he could fall asleep, and now, instead of letting him go back to rest, they directly detained him.

Especially, in how it all seemed, it was Prince Zhuang causing trouble, Prince Cheng’s son was assassinated on the street, and now his treatment is even worse than Prince Zhuang, who made the move.

However, while sympathy remains, these people are all very clever, and their sympathy is also quite limited.

Going to the manor outside the city to find someone, even riding a fast horse there, is not a quick trip. But now the Emperor clearly intends for both Prince Zhuang and Prince Cheng to stay here and not leave, and not mentioning the end of the court, these courtiers can only continue to wait here. They came early in the morning to court, and now it’s already mid-morning, long past hunger, and they still don’t know how long they’ll have to wait.

Ignoring the courtiers’ unspoken complaints, the Emperor asked, "Regarding the river management of Yongjia River in Jiazhou, what good strategies do you all have?"

This was to continue discussing state affairs.

Yongjia River is the largest river in Jiazhou, but there are several blockages. On usual days it’s manageable, but after several days of rain, floods are inevitable, the people along the river suffering greatly, and the number of people dying annually due to floods is a gigantic figure.

The court had sent three officials from the Ministry of Industry to manage it, but the results were minimal. A few days ago there were seven continuous days of rain, and the dam broke again. This matter had just been reported to the court, and the Emperor had not yet handled it. Now, while waiting, the Emperor sought input from all courtiers.

The courtiers all voiced their opinions, although it should be under the purview of the Ministry of Industry, the Minister of Ministry of Industry stepped forward, ready to request permission to personally oversee this matter. As the ministry had failed three times, he felt a responsibility and preferred to request permission to redeem his faults with merits.

Suddenly, a series of snores, some loud, some low, resonated.

The crowd: "..."

Following the sound, everyone noticed Prince Cheng, Huangfu Yi, leaning against a pillar, asleep.

This was in Longyu Hall, in a gathering of courtiers where the Emperor was present, yet he could fall asleep under the imperial presence?

Isn’t sleeping like this disrespectful to the Emperor?

Prince Zhuang was secretly overjoyed; the Old Fifth was courting death.

The Emperor also frowned.