In the Imperial Palace, the Ninth Prince's mother was dragged down by her son this time as well. The emperor found an excuse to banish her to the Cold Palace!
After kneeling at the Palace Gate for an entire day, the Ninth Prince passed out.
His subordinates carried him back. When he awoke, he received an order to move out of the Ninth Prince's Manor within seven days. Upon hearing it, he fainted again.
And just like that, the Ninth Prince-no, he was no prince anymore. He was merely Chen Yankun.
The emperor had not stripped him of his surname.
Thus, Chen Yankun moved out of the Ninth Prince's Manor.
The Ninth Prince felt that his current plight was entirely the fault of Concubine Jin, that walking curse. If she had not meddled, why would he have gone after Xie Xingyu? None of what followed would have happened.
It was all Concubine Jin's fault!
At that thought, Chen Yankun could no longer suppress the vicious fury in his heart. He charged into Concubine Jin's courtyard.
Concubine Jin had been having a miserable time lately. The people she had offended before had been making plenty of trouble for her, and she had lost all her former splendor.
Seeing her wretched state only deepened Chen Yankun's disgust. Without a shred of mercy, he began beating her.
Concubine Jin had thought Chen Yankun still had feelings for her. Hadn't he come to see her, after all?
She had never expected him to give her two resounding slaps the moment they met, without a single word.
The blows stunned Concubine Jin, but she quickly came to her senses. Chen Yankun was no longer a prince, yet he still dared to throw his princely weight around?
Concubine Jin scrambled to her feet and lunged at