Consort Chen cried out that she had been wronged.
"I am innocent! Your Majesty, no one knows Rui'er's character and mine better than you do. There must be some misunderstanding!"
Noble Lady Li chimed in, "Yes, the Second Prince is still a child. He would never do such a thing!"
Zhou Yunshen sneered inwardly.
The Second Prince was a child, but he wasn't?
He was even younger than the Second Prince.
Zhou Yunshen lowered his head. "Mother is right. Second Brother is still a child..."
Zhou Yunshen bit his lower lip, looking forlorn. He had always been handsome, and under Noble Lady Li's guidance, he had lived by the rule that a man did not shed tears lightly, never voicing his grievances.
The way he looked now stood in stark contrast to his usual manner.
The emperor believed him all the more.
"Well, well, well! To think I never knew that my beloved son was a lawless little liar with a mouth full of falsehoods!"
"If Yun Shen is talking nonsense, is the Grand Tutor talking nonsense too? Are the Commandery Princess and everyone else all talking nonsense?"
"Do you take me for a fool?"
The emperor snatched up the teacup beside him and smashed it down. Consort Chen and the others immediately dropped to their knees.
His imperial wrath had erupted. Knowing there was no point arguing further, she resorted to her usual repertoire of crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang herself, weeping pitifully.
Remembering Jiang Shuyue's words, Zhou Yunshen secretly pinched himself. Tears welled in his eyes, trembling on the verge of falling-a heartbreaking sight.
The emperor strode over and slapped Consort Chen. "Cry, cry, cry! You still have the nerve to cry!"
"I see now that I have spoiled you too much, indulging you until