Looking at the Prince of Jin, he remained calm and unhurried, even having the leisure to have the cold tea replaced with hot tea.
The palace maid who changed his tea was trembling.
Ren Yingying saw that Tang Zhuyun was also calm and composed, and silently breathed a sigh of relief.
--At least she knew Tang Zhuyun; the latter's behavior clearly showed that she was confident.
Tang Zhuyun picked up her chopsticks and took a slice of lotus root for herself, revealing half of her wrist and... a glass bracelet.
Ren Yingying: Could that be Tangbao's space? Is it hiding a massive army inside?
Tang Zhuyun: Bullshit!
Isn't she just afraid the glass will break, so she rarely wears it normally, but is she showing off her love at this crucial moment?
Tang Zhuyun's gaze lingered on the doorway.
She is waiting.
Since the Crown Prince dared to stand up like this, he must have a backup plan.
From the fire at the Cui Family's residence to the Crown Prince's "direct remonstrance" to the Emperor, everything indicates that a bloody storm is about to break out tonight.
To everyone's surprise, before the Prince of Jin could even react, the Crown Prince lost his composure.
It seems they may not need to go on this trip to Northwest China.
Anticipation grew, and the Crown Prince, having enraged the Emperor to the point of turning ashen-faced, finally revealed his true intentions after the Emperor questioned him, "Are you trying to deceive the Emperor?"
--The imperial guards entered the main hall and surrounded the crowd.
The Prince of Jin fiddled with the wine cup in front of him, Zidu lifting his eyelids.
Noble Consort Jia panicked.
Because the Crown Prince's spearhead was clearly aimed at her.
Her face was filled with panic, but her gaze couldn't help but drift towards the Prince of Jin.
She seemed to draw strength from the Prince of Jin's composure, and hugged the Emperor's arm tightly. "Your Majesty, I am with you."
Tang Zhuyun: Tsk tsk, clearly asking for protection, yet making it sound like she's so steadfast.
Low emotional intelligence: Your Majesty, save me!
High emotional intelligence: I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Emperor, advancing and retreating together.
"Father, I have been forced into this situation today. It is no secret that Prince of Jin is the son of Noble Consort Jia," the Crown Prince declared passionately. "This mother and son control the court, manipulate Father, and attempt to overthrow the ancestral throne for the remnants of the Xiao Family. For the sake of the nation, I will risk my life to purge this corrupt official from the emperor's side!"
Tang Zhuyun picked at her ear. "Hey, Yuwen Zhi, are you done talking?"
The crown prince roared, "You vile woman!"
"Others speak eloquently, but you spew vulgarities," Tang Zhuyun said with a forced smile. "Using women as a raft to purge corrupt officials, you think you're worthy?"
Does the Prince of Jin really think he has superior eloquence if he doesn't compete with him?
The emperor clutched his chest and roared, "I'm still here, Yuwen Zhi, do you want to rebel?"
"Father, I only wish to purge the court of corrupt officials so that you can enjoy your later years in peace."
Tang Zhuyun: "It seems you've decided to rest in peace."
"You--"
"I'm here," Tang Zhuyun smiled. "What does Your Highness wish to do?"
Zong Xueci looked at her nervously, without saying a word.
"Guards, seize this slut!"
Tang Zhuyun achieved her goal of angering the Crown Prince and gracefully withdrew from public life.
She leaned her head on Prince of Jin's shoulder and smiled slightly, "Your Highness, it's your turn."
The Prince of Jin gently patted her arm, said "Naughty," and then his thin lips moved slightly. "Do it!"
The imperial guards that the crown prince had summoned rushed forward and seized the crown prince and those around him.
The crown prince was stunned.
This... this shouldn't be happening!
Last time, he wanted to use the Golden Scale Guard to humiliate Prince of Jin, but he didn't expect that the Golden Scale Guard were just pretending to surrender, so his plan failed at the last minute.
But this time, the Imperial Guards were his men!
When did the Prince of Jin extend his reach to the Imperial Guards?
After the Crown Prince and his family were captured, Prince of Jin slowly spoke, "Now you can prove that my Queen Consort doesn't need to do anything to the Crown Princess at all. Because if she wanted to, she could do it effortlessly."
Don't think too highly of yourself. In other people's eyes, he's just a bucket of swill left over from the previous day, something you'd be afraid to throw away for fear of getting your hands dirty.
The Emperor's face regained some color, and he said, "Qi'er, have this unfilial son taken away. I will make a decision another day."
He's too angry today; he needs to calm down.
However, the Prince of Jin seemed to think otherwise.
He said, enunciating each word clearly, "Father, he intends to rebel today."
The implication is that the crown prince deserves to be killed on the spot.
The Emperor was furious today, and slammed his fist on the table, saying, "What, do you also want to defy me?"
Ren Yingying whispered, "You're only just realizing? You've gotten so old, you should make room for the younger people."
If the Prince of Jin becomes emperor and Tangbao becomes empress, then I can do whatever I want.
Disagree?
Release Tangbao!
Thank goodness, after being dealt a terrible hand, she found a powerful best friend who could set the rules and flip the table.
Nanxing remained silent, but Pei Shen said meaningfully, "Fool."
Ren Yingying wanted to start a fight, but she found that his gaze was fixed on Prince of Jin and he wasn't looking at her at all.
Alright, let's just say he was cursing the Prince of Jin.
The Prince of Jin coldly replied, "If Father considers this disobedience, I have nothing more to say."
The implication was that he had defied them to the very end.
With a wave of his hand, the imperial guards dragged the crown prince and his entourage out.
The emperor watched intently, his lips moving continuously, but no sound came out.
At this moment, Tang Mingfan suddenly stood up and said, "Your Highness, you mustn't do this! Have you forgotten the roles of ruler and subject, father and son?"
Tang Zhuyun: Dear father, can't you keep pretending to be deaf and dumb?
You're holding your son-in-law back!
"Your Highness, please reconsider. Even if the Crown Prince is in the wrong, it should be the Emperor's decision."
Tang Zhuyun couldn't help but say, "Father, you..."
"Shut up!" Tang Mingfan roared, "Your father taught you to be gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and modest, and you've forgotten everything you've learned?"
Tang Zhuyun: "..."
Oh no, her father has never said anything so harsh to her before. Did she get traumatized and transform?
The Prince of Jin did not participate in the conflict between the father and daughter. He simply stood there with a deep expression, as if waiting for some outcome.
"Your Highness," Tang Mingfan said with deep sorrow, "People leave their names behind, geese leave their calls in flight. Even if you achieve your wish today and force the Emperor to abdicate, how will people view you a hundred years from now?"
Ren Yingying whispered, "After I die, who cares about the deluge! How pedantic!"
Nanxing was a little nervous, unconsciously gripping the cup tightly, the veins on the back of her hand throbbing faintly.
Ren Yingying: "Don't panic, don't panic, we're very capable!"
That's a rather strange statement.
Nanxing couldn't help but look at her.
Ren Yingying then whispered in her ear, "I secretly gave the tiger tally to the Prince. He said it's very useful, and he might be waiting to use it now!"
Tangbao is stupid; she won't accept any good things.
Ren Yingying secretly met with Prince of Jin alone and gave him the tiger tally without saying a word.
She now stands very straight.
She must have been a great help today!
"Your Highness, pull back from the brink!" Tang Mingfan said.
Meanwhile, the imperial guards who had taken the crown prince out have returned to report.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
suicide?
You're carrying their heads when they commit suicide?
So, suicide can involve cutting off your own head?
The people in the main hall fell silent, trembling with fear.
That Prince of Jin is really daring!