Troublemaker Prince C37
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 37
After the unpleasantness between her daughter and the Crown Prince, the Grand Princess had confined her daughter to the residence to learn proper etiquette and forbade her from going out. As for herself, after failing to arrange a marriage alliance with the Third Prince, she had been selecting various beauties, preparing to invite You Fengyun to her Princess's Mansion someday to sit and watch song and dance performances.
Today, the Grand Princess felt that the singing girls and dancers in her residence had been trained sufficiently, so she took her carriage out to the palace to invite her imperial brother to visit her residence and strengthen their sibling bond.
However, what the Grand Princess hadn't expected was that on this outing, she would happen upon the Princess Consort Yan, who had fled from the Prince Yan Mansion in disheveled clothing.
The Grand Princess had only attended the Third Prince's wedding banquet yesterday and had merely sent some casual gifts to the Eldest Prince. She had not yet heard about what happened at the Prince Yan Mansion. She had only wanted to find some fault with Li Xiyue's disheveled state, never imagining she would uncover such a scandal of favoring a concubine and destroying the wife.
According to the Great Jing's laws, favoring a concubine and destroying one's wife was an extremely serious crime. If it occurred in an ordinary household, it warranted imprisonment. If it occurred with an official, it meant losing one's position. And on his wedding night, Prince Yan had pushed down his properly wedded wife, causing her to miscarry, all to go dote on a woman who didn't even have proper status—even though You Yuyi was a prince, this was enough to give him serious trouble.
"How could he treat you this way?" The Grand Princess pretended to be furious. "Favoring a concubine and destroying his wife, causing you to miscarry—he really has some nerve. No matter what, you are a young lady born of a prestigious family, not someone for him to trample on at will. No matter what, your maternal aunt will seek justice for you."
At this moment, Li Xiyue had not yet discerned the meaning behind the Grand Princess's words. She was only very moved that someone was willing to protect her at this time.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Grand Princess," Li Xiyue said tearfully.
In Xuande Hall, You Fengyun had rarely prepared to go out for a stroll, but unexpectedly, Prince Yan, You Yuyi, suddenly entered the palace to confess his crimes.
You Fengyun couldn't help but press his temples. Ever since the Spring Banquet, his eldest son had been continuously making foolish mistakes. Today's visit probably didn't bode well either.
"Let him in," You Fengyun said.
Eunuch An Hai, standing outside, said to You Yuyi, who had now become Prince Yan, "Your Highness, please enter."
You Yuyi nodded upon hearing this, then arranged his expression before walking into Xuande Hall with his best posture.
Xuande Hall still burned with the sandalwood incense the Emperor favored most—noble yet cold, as if reflecting the feeling the Emperor gave people.
"Speak. What is it?" You Fengyun said, looking down at You Yuyi. "Instead of serving tea to your mother consort, what are you doing here?"
You Yuyi quickly knelt down and said, "This son has committed a crime and has specially come to confess to Father Emperor. Please punish this son, Father Emperor."
You Fengyun frowned slightly upon hearing this. He said, "What crime have you committed?"
Just then, the Grand Princess's voice came from outside. "Of course he's committed a crime! Favoring a concubine and destroying his wife, causing his newlywed wife to miscarry—how is that not a crime!"
"Your Highness the Grand Princess!" Eunuch An Hai hurriedly stretched out his hand to block the Grand Princess who wanted to barge inside.
Seeing the imperious Grand Princess, Eunuch An Hai couldn't help but mutter to himself that no matter how domineering the Grand Princess was, Xuande Hall was not a place to barge into at will.
"Let her in," You Fengyun's voice came from within Xuande Hall.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Eunuch An Hai responded, then said to the Grand Princess, "Your Highness, please proceed."
The Grand Princess snorted coldly at Eunuch An Hai, then dragged the haggard and destitute Li Xiyue into Xuande Hall.
The Emperor in Xuande Hall was already leaning against the back of his chair, his expression relaxed, as if waiting for something. Meanwhile, Prince Yan, You Yuyi, kneeling to one side, showed an expression of shock upon seeing Li Xiyue.
"Why have you come?" You Yuyi asked.
"Why shouldn't she come? You've harmed her to this extent—if she hadn't encountered me, she probably wouldn't have been able to leave the Prince Yan Mansion alive," the Grand Princess loudly accused.
You Fengyun picked up the tea cup at hand and took a light sip of tea, appearing unconcerned with the farce before him.
"Your Highness the Grand Princess must not make slanderous accusations," You Yuyi immediately retorted.
"If you didn't favor your concubine and destroy your wife, then was it not you who abandoned your newlywed wife on your wedding night to go to another woman?" the Grand Princess questioned.
"I did not," You Yuyi refuted.
The Grand Princess snorted coldly and said, "Whether you did or not is not for you alone to decide."
After speaking, the Grand Princess turned to look at Li Xiyue beside her and said, "Come, Xiyue, tell me—was it not him who abandoned you last night to find another woman, then pushed you down, causing you to miscarry?"
"Yes," Li Xiyue said in a tearful voice.
You Yuyi looked at Li Xiyue with shock and anger on his face, nearly asking, "Are you insane?"
What good would come from exposing this matter and accusing him of favoring a concubine and destroying his wife in front of everyone? Could she not see that the Grand Princess was using her?
You Yuyi had known Li Xiyue was foolish, but he hadn't expected her to be this foolish. However, he also hadn't considered that if Li Xiyue weren't so foolish, how could he have gotten her pregnant with his child?
"Father Emperor, there must be some misunderstanding in this matter," You Yuyi immediately looked toward You Fengyun sitting on the dragon throne.
At this moment, You Yuyi had no choice but to exonerate himself. After all, being branded with the label of favoring a concubine and destroying his wife would not only cause scholars from humble backgrounds to criticize him, but he would also be looked down upon in the court.
"Misunderstanding?" You Fengyun raised an eyebrow.
You Fengyun had once thought the Eldest Prince had some capability, but unexpectedly, the affairs of his own residence had been spread until everyone knew about them. He couldn't even keep watch over one woman and had actually let the Grand Princess bring her before him.
You Fengyun's current thought was that while he knew his son was worthless, he hadn't expected him to be worthless to this degree.
"What misunderstanding? This is the truth," the Grand Princess walked before You Yuyi and said mockingly. "There is also a witness to last night's events. Imperial Physician Cui Yan was present at the time—it was he who saved Princess Consort Yan's life."
"If Imperial Brother does not believe Princess Consort Yan's testimony alone, you may summon Cui Yan to come and clarify the circumstances of the matter," the Grand Princess turned to say to You Fengyun sitting on the dragon throne.
You Fengyun lifted his eyelids slightly and said, "Then, summon Cui Yan."
Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess curved her lips into a smile showing she was certain of victory. Cui Yan was the Crown Prince's man—if nothing unexpected happened, Cui Yan should help her confirm the fact that the Eldest Prince favored his concubine and destroyed his wife.
Thus, while You Yusui was thoroughly enjoying watching this drama unfold, people from Xuande Hall came to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace saying they wanted to invite Cui Yan to testify.
"Does Your Highness want to go take a look?" Cui Yan asked, looking down.
Looking at Cui Yan's appearance, You Yusui seemed to see a big fox extending an invitation to him—want to go watch the excitement?
You Yusui narrowed his eyes and said, "This prince naturally must go."
When they were unhappy, he was happy, so he naturally had to go watch them suffer.
Thus, the little eunuch from Xuande Hall not only brought Imperial Physician Cui, he also brought the Crown Prince along with him.
"This son pays respects to Father Emperor," You Yusui said after entering Xuande Hall, performing a courtesy to You Fengyun, then observing You Fengyun's expression.
Not angry at all—in fact, he was even watching the show.
You Fengyun, on the other hand, used his gaze to ask You Yusui why he had come.
"This son heard that such a major incident had occurred and was worried about Eldest Imperial Brother, so came to take a look." After speaking, You Yusui coughed violently several times.
You Fengyun didn't believe You Yusui was worried about the Eldest Prince—he was more like he had come to watch the Eldest Prince's humiliation.
"If only you had this much enthusiasm for attending morning court," You Fengyun said indifferently.
Don't think he didn't know that old codger Gu Shen hadn't been properly teaching the Crown Prince at all—he'd just been taking the Crown Prince fishing and cockfighting.
You Yusui: ...He'd better shut up.
The Grand Princess over there asked, "Imperial Physician Cui, you must recount honestly and completely what happened at the Prince Yan Mansion last night."
"Naturally," Cui Yan said neither humbly nor arrogantly.
What happened at the Prince Yan Mansion last night was that Prince Yan had a quarrel with the Princess Consort, and Prince Yan pushed the Princess Consort to the ground, causing a miscarriage. In the future, Princess Consort Yan would probably have difficulty conceiving again.
As for favoring a concubine and destroying his wife—sorry, he didn't know about that.
After hearing this, the Grand Princess couldn't help but glare at Cui Yan and the Crown Prince. Could they not see this was a good opportunity to target the Eldest Prince?
"Are there any other witnesses?" You Fengyun asked.
Li Xiyue said, "There's also an old nanny who came from the Imperial Noble Consort's palace. It was she who told His Highness to go to the other woman."
You Fengyun frowned. How was the Imperial Noble Consort involved in this?
"Someone, go bring that old nanny here."
Soon, the old nanny that the Imperial Noble Consort had specially sent out of the palace with her son to torment Princess Consort Yan was brought over.
"This princess asks you—did you tell Prince Yan to go to another woman last night during his wedding night with the Princess Consort?" The Grand Princess walked before the old nanny and said.
"I didn't harm the little imperial grandson! I didn't harm the little imperial grandson! I didn't!" The old nanny had been scared out of her wits when palace people came to arrest her. Now hearing the Grand Princess's question, she only kowtowed and repeated this one sentence.
The Grand Princess frowned, her face revealing some irritation. She directly kicked the old nanny and said, "This princess is asking you a question."
"It was the Imperial Noble Consort who told me to do this! It was the Imperial Noble Consort who told me to do this!" the old nanny hurriedly said.
Upon hearing this, You Yusui and You Fengyun couldn't help but gasp. Twenty years later, Imperial Noble Consort, how could you still be like this?
The Grand Princess over there, however, laughed. She pointed at You Yuyi and said, "Prince Yan, if this isn't favoring a concubine and destroying your wife, what is it?"
"When princes break the law, they are treated the same as commoners. Please, Your Majesty, impose punishment on Prince Yan to serve as a warning to others!" the Grand Princess said resoundingly.
You Fengyun played with the tea cup in his hand. After a moment, he said, "Then his stipend shall be reduced by half for half a year."
"Imperial Brother," the Grand Princess stamped her foot. How could it be such a light, insignificant punishment?
The Eldest Prince couldn't help but breathe a long sigh of relief upon hearing this. As long as it didn't delay his attending morning court, it was fine. However, the Eldest Prince looked at the confused and helpless Li Xiyue—he could no longer allow this woman to appear in public.
"Fengxue," You Fengyun's gaze swept coldly over the Grand Princess, containing a warning.
Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess lowered her eyes, then changed her tone and said, "Fengxue's family has received several singing girls and dancers from the south. Their dances and songs are somewhat novel. If Imperial Brother has time, he could visit Fengxue's residence."
"Good." After speaking, You Fengyun looked toward You Yusui. "Will the Crown Prince go?"
You Yusui said weakly, "Father Emperor, I need to recuperate."
"Oh, you have the ability to go fishing and cockfighting, but now you can't even appreciate song and dance?" You Fengyun said meaningfully.
"Begin attending morning court starting tomorrow," You Fengyun said indifferently.
"Father Emperor, but this son cannot stand for that long."
"It doesn't matter, you'll be granted a seat."
"How embarrassing."
"You are the Crown Prince."
"Oh..."
You Yusui: ...He hadn't expected that watching the show would get himself caught up in it.
Coming out of Xuande Hall, the Grand Princess mercilessly abandoned Li Xiyue, whom she had righteously assisted. The Eldest Prince coldly and forcibly dragged Li Xiyue onto his carriage.
Huo Xiling, accompanying You Yusui's side, watched all this and couldn't help catching a falling flower from the sky as he asked You Yusui beside him, "Your Highness, can princes who break the law truly be treated the same as commoners?"
"It doesn't matter—this prince will help you," You Yusui said.
In the previous fifteen lifetimes, he had never encountered Huo Xiling and didn't know whether he had succeeded in his revenge or not. But now he would help him. The power in his hands—Huo Xiling could take it all.