The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 496: Chapter 496: Can It Be Kept?

Prince Liang provoked public outrage by slaughtering innocent civilians, causing entire families to perish.

He even sent people to pursue the killings, exhibiting exceedingly vile behavior.

At that time, the entire people of Nanxia, upon hearing of the incident, were watching intensely. If Father Emperor does not severely punish him, it will be hard to silence the widespread voices of condemnation.

Although he murdered Prince Cheng’s Heir, it was targeted solely at one individual, who was also a descendant of the Imperial Family.

The common people simply do not care about Royal matters.

Old Fifth is far away in Yunzhou; previously he was too nervous, which led him to believe the return of Old Fifth. Upon reflection later, it was downright impossible.

Moreover, those industries openly have no connection with him. Perhaps everything is merely a coincidence.

Now, he does not dare to admit that those are his industries at all.

Because these past few years have been poor harvests, disasters struck everywhere, the Court needs to allocate silver for relief, amidst various other expenses. For the past two years, the National Treasury has been continuously empty. Those private properties have fattened the Crown Prince Mansion, with the combined annual income from those private properties, almost equivalent to half a year’s National Treasury revenue.

If Father Emperor were to find out, all of these belong to the Crown Prince’s estate. During the time when the National Treasury was so empty and unable to make ends meet, not a penny was taken out by him for filling in. His salary, he just took away the full amount without a deduction.

As the Crown Prince, to indulge oneself and hold no sense of responsibility for the country, would only cause greater dissatisfaction from Father Emperor. In any case, those industries have already been destroyed, it’s hence now all buried deeply within, swallowing the dumb loss. As long as the green hills are kept intact, there’s no fear of running out of wood for burning!

Regarding Huangfu Chi’s injury, he has already sent people to ”Manting Fang,” once he learns which three top escorts were originally accompanying whom. Who had a conflict with Huangfu Chi? It should ascertain whether it’s a case of jealousy or has another hidden motive.

As for Huangfu Wei, the matter is more severe, coming to the Crown Prince Mansion to abduct people, it goes beyond mere audacity.

The Crown Prince has even thought about it; if Father Emperor’s Holy Decree chastises him for a while and confines him. He will make Huangfu Wei’s disappearance and Huangfu Chi being beaten an affair for this Chief Eunuch to report to Father Emperor.

If Father Emperor learns, amidst his punishment and confinement, that his sons are facing one dead, one injured, and one missing, a respectable Crown Prince being bullied to this degree, Father Emperor will certainly rescind the decree and promptly dispatch people to search for Huangfu Wei.

The Crown Prince brought along individuals from the Crown Prince Mansion to kneel and accept the decree.

Today, the decree is being announced by the Chief Eunuch by the Emperor’s side, Eunuch Feng. He glanced at the incense table already set up, with people from the Crown Prince Mansion kneeling on site, and cast his gaze upon the Crown Prince’s face, before unfolding the Holy Decree.

”On behalf of Heaven, delivering by the emperor’s order, I have taken on the legacy from the great ancestor, diligently working, empathizing with ministers, nurturing the populace, paced by maintaining order across the land... Crown Prince Hanyu, my third son, unlawful and unvirtuous, not adhering to my teachings, engaging in deceitful acts, lacking benevolence and righteousness, embracing wicked ideologies, violating the teachings, suspecting kin. Indulging in wickedness and cruelty, little magnanimity, cannot accommodate tribute and ministers; emotionally cold and indifferent, conducting vile acts against his own nephew! Such misdeeds, how can one hold onto lineage and inheritance, and uphold the duty of the Seven Temples... Thus, the position of Crown Prince Hanyu, Third Prince of Huangfu, is revoked, and reverted to Prince Zhuang, immediately relocated from the Eastern Palace! Duly noted!”

The Crown Prince initially listened attentively, thinking that scolding words seemed overboard for the decree. But gradually, a sense of unease grew as he listened.

He exclaimed in shock, ”Eunuch Feng, how can Father Emperor issue such a decree to my palace? Was there a mistake?”

No, surely not, that can’t be right, Mr. Gongyang clearly said he was Heaven’s ordained individual.

Ah, yes, Mr. Gongyang also mentioned there would be minor calamities within the month. Could this minor calamity correspond to this? If these minor calamities are unresolved, it would affect his Heaven’s ordainment.

No way, he must find a way to meet Father Emperor.

Eunuch Feng: ”...”

He’s merely reading the decree, couldn’t he estimate whether there’s a mistake or not?

The decree has even mentioned names, revoking Third Prince Huangfu Hanyu’s position as Crown Prince, with it clearly in black and white. This Holy Decree was personally handwritten by the Emperor.

When he heard this decree, he felt uneasy accepting it. Has he never considered that while personally writing this decree, recording the disowning of the Crown Prince, wouldn’t the Emperor himself feel grieved?

Prince Liang is defiant, and Prince Zhuang no lesser.

One son causing trouble, other sons causing more, the most heartbroken one, isn’t it the Emperor?

Being a child, he only thinks about why his Crown Prince position is gone, without considering how much this act has heartached his Father.

Thankfully, he is merely a eunuch, and he has no sons.

If he had such defiant sons, sooner or later it would lead to being worked up to death.

Eunuch Feng handed over the decree, saying: ”Your Highness, our household merely came to read this, such questions your household cannot answer. Your Highness should receive the decree!”

Prince Zhuang noticed Eunuch Feng’s distant tone embedded within his words, immediately squeezed out a few tears, took the decree, rose from the ground with a face full of sorrow asking: ”Eunuch Feng, is Father Emperor’s health still well?”

Eunuch Feng noticed that he still inquired about the Emperor’s health, his expression softened slightly, sighed, and said, ”After all, the Emperor is getting advanced in age. For his Highness’s matter, he spat out a mouthful of blood again, slightly depleted these days in energy!”

Prince Zhuang said, ”Eunuch, has this decree already been proclaimed?”

Disowning the Crown Prince doesn’t merely involve reading it once and directly proclaiming, the process is very intricate, needing to go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for proclamation first, then it would be read to officials at Longyu Hall, and after that, announced to the world.

In these past days, he was in his mansion ”pondering behind closed doors,” hearing the news somewhat delayed. He is unaware of what procedures have already been undergone when this decree reached him.

Eunuch Feng said, ”Holy Decree has been issued, what difference does it make whether it’s proclaimed or not?”

With the Emperor’s golden words and noble promises, once the Holy Decree is issued, it is an unchanging fact.

Prince Zhuang’s gaze flickered briefly, sincerely asking: ”Eunuch, please enlighten.”

Eunuch Feng thought it wasn’t such a big matter, so he said: ”The Emperor has drafted the decree, stamped it, then ordered our household to read it!”

Prince Zhuang’s heart filled with joy, since the decree was just drafted and stamped then proclaimed, the other procedures naturally haven’t been done yet.

Proclamation at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, is not possible in the afternoon and at night, as it would be disrespectful towards ancestors. Thus it should be tomorrow. The day after is when it would be read at Longyu Hall, when read at Longyu Hall, this issue would be known to all.

But as even the proclamation at the Imperial Ancestral Temple is tomorrow’s matter, he has time!

Prince Zhuang clutched the decree tightly in his hand, no, he absolutely cannot become a disowned Crown Prince, this position he’d only held for two years, he is Heaven’s ordained man, destined to be the future Emperor, how could he become a disowned Crown Prince?

He still has a chance!

Now, as long as the decree is in his hands, while the proclamation at the Imperial Ancestral Temple hasn’t happened, while the ancestors aren’t aware; Longyu Hall hasn’t proclaimed, the Court ministers aren’t aware. Then those who know are within an extremely limited scope, if Father Emperor rescinds the decree, everything can still be controlled.

Originally, the matter of him ordering the assassination of Huangfu Jingchen was discovered, it already is indefensible, irrevocable.

But Old Fifth gave him the opportunity.

Or rather, it was his two sons who created the opportunity for him, letting him possibly retain this position as Crown Prince!