The Crown Princess

Consort Xian's face was as pale as snow, and she crumpled to the ground.

The Crown Prince was too ruthless. It wasn't enough that he had ruined her Chen'er; now he wanted to cast her into the Cold Palace as well.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please see reason! I've been wronged!" Consort Xian crawled on her knees toward Emperor Yongchang. "Your Majesty, if you're determined to condemn me, you'll find a pretext no matter what! The Crown Prince is trying to drive me to my death!"

Emperor Yongchang's face looked dreadful. His already gloomy complexion had turned even more sallow and lifeless.

He had already been forced to deal with a pair of his children. Was he now supposed to let Xiao Qianyu decide which of his own consorts would be deposed?

But he was utterly exhausted, his heart weary beyond measure.

From the Grand Princess to the Third Prince, Xiao Qianyu had stood invincible behind the claim of Heaven's will. No matter how Emperor Yongchang struggled, it seemed he was only following Xiao Qianyu's lead.

His imperial authority—the power to decide life and death, to make a single word law—was steadily slipping away. It filled Emperor Yongchang with fear.

He didn't want anyone to see how weak he looked as an emperor when Xiao Qianyu pressed him at every turn. He only wanted to put an end to the turmoil as quickly as possible.

"Granted. Issue an imperial edict: Consort Xian is to be stripped of her title at once, removed from the inner palace, and confined to the West Garden." With that, Emperor Yongchang swept his sleeve and said darkly, "Prepare the carriage. We're returning to the palace."

The West Garden was the Cold Palace.

Consort Xian let out a shriek, rolled her eyes, and fainted.

She hadn't imagined that a moment of furious questioning, after losing her temper with the Crown Prince, would lead to her losing her title and being confined to the Cold Palace. The price was far too high.

Once a palace consort who had stood above everyone else, she had fallen from grace and was now worth less than a chicken. They carried her away at once.

Everyone held their breath in fear.

After Emperor Yongchang left, Duke Chengen remained behind. Watching Xiao Qianyu, he sighed, his gaze both kindly and disapproving. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, when you can spare someone, spare them. You've never been one to act so aggressively or disregard the bonds between siblings. Why make things difficult for yourself?"

Xiao Qianyu met his gaze calmly. "Heaven shines upon us. Father Emperor issued the decree and made the decision. Are you dissatisfied with Father Emperor's decree? If so, go and admonish Father Emperor. Why come to me? Heh. You ask me to spare someone whom Heaven has cast aside, a violent and lawless criminal. Who do you think you are, coming to say such things to me? This is utter nonsense."

He didn't give Duke Chengen the slightest bit of face.

He didn't even need to know what status the man held or what his relationship with the original owner had been. He only needed to know that, aside from the emperor, everyone else had to bow before him.

Duke Chengen's body trembled. Shock and pain flickered in his eyes. Then he stooped, his back slightly bent. "I spoke out of turn. Your Highness, please forgive me."

The Empress hadn't followed Emperor Yongchang out either.

Now, seeing Xiao Qianyu rebuke Duke Chengen—the man whom even the emperor treated with a measure of respect—without hesitation, she couldn't help covering her lips to hide her smile.

Because of the Empress Dowager, even as empress, she couldn't grant her family a title above Duke Chengen's, lest it seem she lacked filial piety. She had only secured the title of Marquis Chengen for her younger brother.

Among the imperial in-laws, Duke Chengen was now the foremost figure, while the Marquis Chengen estate ranked below him. The Empress had long been unhappy about it.

In the past, the Crown Prince had treated Duke Chengen with the utmost deference and affection, while showing little warmth toward his own maternal uncle. At least now he'd come to his senses.

The Empress lowered her hand. With an air of dignified elegance, she chided him softly, "Crown Prince, Duke Chengen is not only a high-ranking official of the state, but also your elder. How can you speak to him so rudely?"

So this was Duke Chengen. Xiao Qianyu had finally figured out who the old man before him was.

Only members of the imperial in-laws could be granted the title of Duke Chengen. He just didn't know whether the man belonged to the Empress Dowager's family or the Empress's.

But from the Empress's expression, Xiao Qianyu was certain Duke Chengen was probably the Empress Dowager's brother.

Xiao Qianyu replied without courtesy, "If he's a high-ranking official, then, in both public and private matters, he should know to uphold justice for the people, punish lawlessness, and defend the National Law. Yet all he does is tell us to forgive. He's clearly muddleheaded himself. If everyone is let off lightly as you suggest, then anyone could treat the Palace Rules and the laws as nothing, and slaughter palace servants at will. If we indulge them at every turn, then when the imperial clan oppresses the people and the emperor's in-laws throw the government into chaos, who will be able to keep them in check?"

His words were as sharp as a blade. He had all but pointed at Duke Chengen and called him a senile fool.

Even Duke Chengen, for all his deep reserves, couldn't help darkening his expression. A lump of anger lodged in his chest, refusing to go down.

For a moment, Duke Chengen's presence was so imposing that the Empress grew a little afraid. She had originally intended to stay and bond with Xiao Qianyu, but now she immediately found an excuse to slip away.

Duke Chengen gazed deeply at Xiao Qianyu. "I'll remember Your Highness's words. I spoke without thinking."

Xiao Qianyu glanced at him indifferently. "Good. I'm returning to the Eastern Palace. Duke Chengen, you may withdraw."

Duke Chengen took a deep breath and stepped aside. "This old subject respectfully sees Your Highness the Crown Prince off."

Xiao Qianyu swept his sleeve, climbed into the sedan chair, and left as though no one else were there.

Shumo hurriedly led the others after him.

Duke Chengen remained behind, watching their departing procession for a long time.

Xiao Qianyu hadn't given Duke Chengen a second thought. He was pondering how to bring the Imperial Guards commander's position under his control.

Would Zhao Jun side with him, the Crown Prince?

If not, who could take his place?

Xiao Qianyu now desperately hoped that the officials and subordinates who had once belonged to the Eastern Palace would return soon.