Crown Princess

Consort Xian's face turned ashen white as snow, and she slumped to the ground.

The Crown Prince was too ruthless. Not only did he harm her Chen'er, but he also intended to banish her to the cold palace.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please see clearly, this concubine is wronged!" Consort Xian crawled towards Emperor Yongchang on her knees. "Your Majesty, what excuse is needed to condemn someone? The Crown Prince wants to force this concubine to her death!"

Emperor Yongchang's expression was extremely grim. His already gloomy face appeared even more sallow and lusterless.

He had already been forced to deal with a pair of his children. Did he now have to look to Xiao Qianyu for permission to depose or establish concubines in his harem?

But he was truly exhausted, his heart weary.

From the Grand Princess to the Third Prince, Xiao Qianyu, relying on the notion of heavenly mandate, stood in an invincible position. No matter how he struggled, it seemed he was merely following the Crown Prince's steps.

The imperial authority to grant life or death, to make final decisions, was constantly slipping away, filling Emperor Yongchang with fear.

He did not want anyone to see his weakness as an emperor facing Xiao Qianyu's relentless pressure. He just wanted to quell the situation quickly.

"Approved. Issue an imperial decree: Consort Xian is to be immediately stripped of her title, removed from this palace, and confined to the 'West Garden'." With that, Emperor Yongchang flicked his sleeve, his face grim. "Prepare the imperial carriage, return to the palace."

The West Garden was the imperial palace's cold palace.

Consort Xian let out a scream, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted.

She hadn't expected that a momentary lapse of reason, driven by anger to question the Crown Prince, would result in her being stripped of her title and confined to the cold palace. The price was too great.

Once a high-ranking palace consort, after being demoted, she was like a phoenix fallen from the sky, worse than a chicken. She was immediately carried away.

Everyone held their breath, silent as cicadas.

After Emperor Yongchang left, Duke Chengen remained. He looked at Xiao Qianyu and sighed, his gaze filled with kindness, but also disapproval. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, forgive when possible. You are not usually this radical or lacking in brotherly and sisterly affection. Why trouble yourself?"

Xiao Qianyu calmly met his gaze, his eyes unruffled. "The heavens are clear. Father Emperor issued the decree and made the decision. Do you have any dissatisfaction with Father Emperor's decree? If you are dissatisfied, go advise Father Emperor. What is the meaning of coming to me, the Crown Prince? Heh, forgive when possible. You want me to forgive someone whom heaven despises, a tyrannical and wicked person. Who are you to speak to me like this? You are utterly clueless."

He gave Duke Chengen no face at all.

He didn't even need to know the other person's identity or status, or their past relationship with the original owner. He only needed to know that besides the Emperor, who could suppress him, everyone else had to bow before him.

Duke Chengen's body trembled. Shock and pain flickered in his eyes, and then he stooped, his back slightly hunched. "It was this subject's mistake. Crown Prince, please forgive me."

The Empress had also not left with Emperor Yongchang.

Seeing Xiao Qianyu, who even the Emperor treated with respect, confront Duke Chengen so directly, she couldn't help but cover the corners of her mouth with her hand to hide her smile.

Because of the Empress Dowager, even though she was now the Empress, she could not allow her maternal family's peerage to exceed that of Duke Chengen, out of filial piety. She had only bestowed the title of Marquis Chengen upon her younger brother.

Currently, Duke Chengen was the foremost figure among the imperial relatives, with the Marquis Chengen's mansion ranking below. The Empress had long been unhappy about this.

However, in the past, the Crown Prince had been extremely respectful and close to Duke Chengen, not showing much affection to his own maternal uncle. Now, it seemed he had finally woken up.

The Empress lowered her hand, her expression dignified and elegant. She reprimanded softly, "Crown Prince, Duke Chengen is not only a vital minister of the state but also an elder. How can you speak so disrespectfully?"

So it was Duke Chengen. Xiao Qianyu finally understood the identity of the old man before him.

Only the imperial clan's maternal relatives could be enfeoffed with the title of Duke Chengen. He wasn't sure if it was someone from the Empress Dowager's maternal family or the Empress's maternal family.

However, observing the Empress's demeanor, Xiao Qianyu was certain that Duke Chengen was likely the Empress Dowager's brother.

Xiao Qianyu said impolitely, "If he is a vital minister, then both publicly and privately, he should know to champion the common people, punish the wicked, and uphold the national law. Yet, he speaks of forgiveness. Does he not know he is also muddled? If everyone were lightly forgiven as you say, then anyone could disregard the palace rules and laws and arbitrarily kill palace servants. If we indulge them step by step, when the imperial relatives bully the people and the imperial relatives disrupt the government in the future, who will be able to suppress them?"

His words were sharp as knives, almost directly calling Duke Chengen foolish and incompetent.

No matter how deep Duke Chengen's schemes, his face darkened, and a breath of anger got stuck in his chest.

In an instant, Duke Chengen's imposing aura became overwhelming. The Empress felt a little scared. She had intended to foster a connection with Xiao Qianyu but immediately found an excuse to slip away.

Duke Chengen looked deeply at Xiao Qianyu. "Your Highness the Crown Prince's words, this subject has noted. It was this subject who spoke presumptuously."

Xiao Qianyu glanced at him indifferently. "It's good that you know. I am returning to the Eastern Palace. Duke Chengen, you may withdraw."

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

Xiao Qianyu flicked his sleeve and got into the imperial carriage, leaving as if no one else was there.

Shumo quickly followed with his men.

Duke Chengen was left staring at the departing procession for a long time.

Xiao Qianyu paid no mind to Duke Chengen. He was contemplating how to gain control of the position of the Imperial Guards commander.

Would Zhao Jun side with him, the Crown Prince?

If not, who could replace his position?

Xiao Qianyu now desperately wished for the subordinate officials and subordinates who originally belonged to the Eastern Palace to return quickly.