The fourth prince left very suddenly, and Lu Chi and the others were confused.
"Your Highness, what's going on?" Sheng Xuan frowned, as if talking to himself: "Is it because Concubine Li is not happy about being punished and grounded?"
Other than that, there is no more reasonable explanation.
Lu Chi's engagement was also a happy event. As a good friend, the fourth prince should be happy for Lu Chi. How could he not be happy about this?
Li Mo was obviously a little dissatisfied with his future brother-in-law. He didn't say much, and his expression showed some displeasure.
Since the four of them were classmates and friends, there should be no discussion of status when getting along. He was also the fourth prince's future uncle, and the fourth prince turned away without saying a word, without any regard for his uncle's face...
Lu Chi's voice sounded: "His Highness is in a bad mood, we just need to bear with him a little more. I will be the host tonight. How about inviting you to Dingxiang Tower for a few drinks?"
Li Mo calmed down and agreed with Sheng Xuan with a smile.
…
The fourth prince returned to the palace with a gloomy face.
Even the maids with eyes could tell that His Highness the Fourth Prince was in a depressed mood today, and no one dared to step forward to make up for it.
However, while others could hide away, several personal servants could not and did not dare to hide. They stepped forward to serve him cautiously. They all braced themselves for fear of being angered.
The fourth prince's handsome face was filled with coldness, and he said in a deep voice: "Follow me to Jingxiang Palace."
One of the chamberlains mustered up the courage to remind: "Your Majesty, the Queen has issued an order that Concubine Li should be suspended for self-reflection, and no one is allowed to visit..."
Before he finished speaking, there was a scream.
The fourth prince suddenly kicked him, and the young and handsome chamberlain was kicked to the ground. I don't know if his leg was broken by the kick. He was so painful that his face turned white and he was sweating. He screamed miserably, and he didn't even bother to open his mouth to beg for mercy.
The fourth prince snorted coldly, turned around and left the palace.
Several chamberlains had no time to pay attention to the kicked chamberlain and hurriedly followed him.
After the fourth prince left the palace, a bolder chamberlain came forward and helped the kicked chamberlain sit up: "His Highness is in a bad mood and wants to visit Concubine Li. How dare you pour cold water on His Highness?
You are asking for trouble."
"Yes, Mr. An, you have to be careful in the future."
The kicked servant, whose surname was An, was the fourth prince's personal servant. He was usually trusted and respected by the fourth prince, so he dared to speak out to dissuade the fourth prince.
However, the fourth prince was ruthless and would always kick him when he was angry.
Mr. An was in tears and extremely embarrassed. When he moved a little, he felt a terrible pain in his left leg.
As a chamberlain, he was naturally not qualified to ask for an imperial doctor. If he was injured, he could only find some medicine to apply in private.
Eunuch An had tears and runny nose. He was quite pitiful and lost all his usual dignity: "I shouldn't talk too much. Please help me go back to the house and rest for a while."
Then, he reminded in a low voice: "His Royal Highness will definitely not be able to enter Jingxiang Palace today. I don't know how angry he will be. You guys should also be more careful in your duties."
…
Mr. An's expectation was good.
The fourth prince came back after hitting a wall, his handsome face was like a cloud covering the sun, and it was terrifyingly cold.
That night, a waiter accidentally broke a tea cup while serving tea and was beaten to death with a slap on the face.
An Gonggong was injured in his leg and could not serve him closely, but he escaped.
Every year in the palace, there are "sudden deaths" of chambermaids due to various reasons, ranging from four or five to more than a dozen a year. No one has ever gotten to the bottom of such matters. Even Queen Yu turned a blind eye.
Close one eye.
This time, Queen Yu was uncharacteristically different. After learning about this incident, she immediately summoned the fourth prince to Jiaofang Hall and gave him a severe scolding.
"...As a prince of the Tian Family, you should be broad-minded and tolerant to the servants around you. If a mere teacup breaks, how can you kill a servant for such a trivial matter?"
"You have read so many books by sages, where have they gone?"
Emperor Jianwen, who was sitting next to Queen Yu, also had an angry look on his face: "I usually praise you for your bravery and decisiveness, but it turns out that all your bravery and decisiveness are used here!"
"Although the chamberlain is humble, he is still a living person. If he makes a big mistake, you can only punish him like this. If he breaks a tea cup, you will order him to be beaten to death!"
"It's so cruel and cruel that it's shocking and chilling!"
Being scolded by Queen Yu had already caused the fourth prince to lose his face.
Emperor Jianwen's thunderous wrath even made the four princes feel cold.
Concubine Li was locked up in the palace, unaware of the outside world, and unable to plead for her. Empress Dowager Li had already rested, and no one dared to send a letter to Cining Palace to alert Empress Dowager Li.
He was the only one facing the outpouring anger from the Empress of Qi.
He had no choice but to kneel down and admit his mistake: "My son, I was impulsive and willful and made a big mistake. I beg my father, the emperor and my empress to punish me!"
Queen Yu said nothing.
Emperor Jianwen said coldly: "Kneel here all night, reflect on it, and take some punishment. If you act so wantonly and waste human life again in the future, I will never forgive you lightly!"
Queen Yu did not fan the flames, but instead interceded: "Although the weather is getting warmer, kneeling like this all night will inevitably hurt your body. It is better to ground him for a few days."
Emperor Jianwen snorted and said: "Let him kneel down! No one can intercede!"
Then, get up and leave.
Queen Yu also stood up, and before leaving, she glanced at the fourth prince lightly.
There was a hint of sarcasm and coolness in that glance.
…
The fourth prince felt a chill in his heart, and immediately, raging flames of anger surged into his heart.
Empress Yu's series of tactics were clearly aimed at their mother and son.
First he angered Empress Dowager Li, and then angrily denounced Concubine Li for "making a lot of trouble out of nothing". How could he not be angry when Concubine Li was grounded? When angry, people will lose some of their rationality and make mistakes easily. This happened to be the case.
In the hands of Queen Yu, he should be dealt with openly and openly...
One ring within another, and in the end, the plan made the mother and son jump into the pit.
No matter when she turns around in the future, at least for now, Queen Yu has firmly gained the upper hand.
And his father, who had always loved him, was uncharacteristically not on his side this time... For him, this was the most dangerous and terrifying signal!
The matter of establishing the crown prince has never been decided. Emperor Jianwen's attitude was vague and he never made up his mind.
But now, the balance has clearly tilted towards Queen Yu, which means that the third prince has completely gained the upper hand.
He thought that by marrying the Li family and showing favor to the Empress Dowager Li, he would be sure of victory. Now the fourth prince was shocked to realize that their mother and son had underestimated Empress Yu. Empress Yu would never back down just because he wanted to marry the Li family's daughter, and she had even already
Thinking of countermeasures...
The night was long and unbearable. The fourth prince straightened his back and knelt upright on the solid ground paved with jade. His knees turned from pain to numbness and gradually lost consciousness.
It was almost early summer and the nights were not cold.
The chill in the heart of the fourth prince was like the harsh winter of March 9th.
