Chapter 281 (2/2)

The one that was not sensible… should be his Highness the ninth prince, right?

But the Empress had her own reasoning: “If the table broke, just bring in a new one. Everyone is still sitting down properly. What are you doing standing up so suddenly?”

Xuan Tian Ye looked at the Empress wide-eyed. What this something that a person could say?

The Empress lost it: “Ye’er!” Her voice suddenly rose, “Looking at this one like this, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to rebel?”

Thump! Xuan Tian Ye dropped to his knees “Son does not dare!” The Empress could say anything, but she clearly said rebel. He wanted to ask the Empress what she was doing. Unfortunately, he did not dare.

Everyone knew that the current Emperor and Empress had a very pleasant cooperation! The Empress was best at figuring out what was on the Emperor’s mind. So long as the Emperor gave a simple look, even if she did not ask in detail, she would know how to continue with the play.

Now that they saw the Empress express such an attitude, that meant it was also the Emperor’s attitude. If the Emperor had made his position clear, who else dared to say anything?

More importantly, the recent situation in the court made it very clear that the third prince would eventually be unable to receive the imperial will. Even in the two years prior, he had been placed in important positions by the Emperor plenty o times, but he did not receive many benefits or affirmation. More recently, the favored child, the eldest prince, was recognized time and time again by the Emperor. This also resulted in a loss of power for the third prince, as he had already become an abandoned child.

Xuan Tian Ye did not know that after that whip had been drawn, the people in his faction that had been observing the situation had already begun to drift away. Even Feng Jin Yuan began to hold reservations about continuing to support him.

He kneeled on the ground, his face burning hot, and he felt that this was a massive humiliation, but he did not have the power to fight back. From his childhood to this point, heavens knew how much he had suffered from being bullied by Xuan Tian Ming, but every time was the same as now. Everyone turned a blind eye and went to worry about Xuan Tian Ming, completely ignoring his feelings. Today was the same, on the first day of the new year, Xuan Tian Ming had trampled all over his dignity in front of the officials and their family members.

“Son recognizes his mistakes. Would mother Empress please hand down punishment.” He kowtowed deeply. A fishy sweet taste surged up his throat, but he forcefully pushed it back down.

“Un.” At the top of the stage, the Empress nodded, “It’s fine if you know your mistakes. This one looks forward to doing well. Ye’er, you especially must compete for consort Xu De!”

Hearing her mention consort Xu De, Xuan Tian Ye’s heart tightened. The fists hidden in his sleeves clenched tightly into fists. “Son will heed mother empress’ advice.”

“You may rise!” Finally, this matter with the Empress had been resolved, and the Emperor spoke up. “It’s the new year. Ming’er just needs to adjust to the atmosphere, but why do you seem so bored?”

Everyone began to roll their eyes. This Emperor and Empress were truly a pair. It was no wonder who the ninth prince’s personality resembled. It was completely like the Emperor’s.

Xuan Tian Ye stood up. With his hands lowered, he did not dare say another word. The palace servants to the side had already cleaned up the mess and brought in a new table. The Empress then added: “What are you still standing for? Sit!”

Only then did he dare sit back down. At this time, Xuan Tian Ye really wanted to turn around and see what sort of expression Xuan Tian Ming had. If possible, he really wanted to pick up a sword and fight a round with him. However, he knew deep down that even if he did this, he feared that he was not capable of being his ninth brother’s opponent. Moreover, the Emperor’s gaze was now on him. He did not even dare turn around.

After this small disturbance, the Empress’ speech continued, but nobody down below was in the mood to listen to the words that were said every year. Instead, everyone was thinking about why the ninth prince would suddenly take action against the third prince.

Someone quietly said: “Outside Fei Cui Hall, it seemed that his Highness the third prince had some conflict with county princess Ji An a little earlier. His Highness the ninth prince shouldn’t be venting anger for county princess Ji An, right?”

Someone else added: “It was more than just a conflict. I heard that his Highness the third prince was choking county princess Ji An’s neck.”

Once this was said, everyone looked towards Feng Yu Heng. Sure enough, they saw a clear sign of her having been strangled.

As for Feng Yu Heng, whether intentionally or unintentionally, she pulled her collar down by a bit. This allowed people to see the mark a little more clearly.

“His Highness the third prince went too far.” The situation in court had quietly changed over two months. Regardless of whether it was the officials in court or their women, everyone knew that the third prince, who had never received the Emperor’s favor, even seemed to have lost the Emperor’s trust. Thus they began to invent stories without any reservations. “Regardless of what enmity he has with his Highness the ninth prince, why has he gone to seek revenge with a girl?”

“That’s right! As I see it, he just could not beat the ninth prince, and that’s what caused him to fight with his future princess.”

“It’s a shame that my father once praised his Highness the third prince for acting in a stable manner and that he was a responsible person. Now, it seems that he is someone who only has the ability to argue with women.”

“Ah, be careful with what you say. What do you mean before. There is no before. Your father has never praised his Highness the third prince.”

With this, the face of the young miss, who had just spoken, turned white, as she repeatedly said: “Right, right, right. My father never praised him.”

Almost immediately, the third prince, Xuan Tian Ye, had become the god of plague that everyone dreaded and wished to avoid. He held his cup of tea and heard every word of what was said and engraved every single word into his heart. Sooner or later, a day would come for him to make up for the humiliation that he suffered today!

At this time, the Empress had finished her speech, and a eunuch at their side raised his head and announced: “The special envoy from Zong Sui, Li Kun will enter the court!”