青春期撞上更年期第1部

In a magnificent hall with a high ceiling, the Emperor angrily threw away the memorials near him, which happened to land around Prince Yue and Prince Zhou.

The two princes stood before the other officials, and the Emperor didn’t fling the few memorials far away. Therefore, they happened to drop right before them, and one even hit Prince Yue on his head.

Nevertheless, Prince Yue didn’t make any sound after being smashed, nor did he dare to touch his head. He just stood very still.

Did the Emperor bang the things on the two princes deliberately or accidentally? It was hard to figure out what he meant. What was more confusing was that Prince Cheng also came to the imperial court.

In the past, Prince Cheng seldom attended the imperial court. Why did he happen to come here today? Was it a coincidence or something else?

“Has Princess Chen been attacked? Why would anyone hurt Princess Chen?” Many officials were at a loss. Not all of them were well-informed, especially regarding things in the Palace.

Princess Chen was involved in the previous matter, but many officials didn’t know about it. Thus, they felt completely in the dark about this question and didn’t know the purpose of others targeting Princess Chen.

It was just a princess, and she was Prince Chen’s wife. Why would anyone harm Princess Chen when Prince Chen was not in the mansion? Did these princes intend to do something that couldn’t bear the light of day?

It would sound more reasonable if some people were plotting against Prince Chen. How would these people make such a mess only to deal with the harmless Princess Chen living in the inner court? In particular, it was heard that they had used heavy military crossbows. Ordinary people, who were not allowed to keep these crossbows, would be charged with a felony for collecting them. Based on what they learned, some people had stored up and used such powerful military crossbows, which deeply shocked everyone.

Were these people planning to rebel?

In a panic, these officials glanced at Prince Yue and Prince Zhou from time to time. Some looked at Prince Cheng. Frankly, Prince Cheng also looked suspicious, didn’t he?

Ordinary people couldn’t use so many powerful weapons. The others might haven’t figured out why they wanted to murder Princess Chen, but it didn’t matter. Nevertheless, one thing was sure: it must have been done by royal family members.

At present, the three people were indeed the most suspicious. Of course, it also might be Prince Xin, who was not in the imperial court now.

However, it was much less likely for Prince Xin to do that compared to the few princes in the imperial court.

“Tell me, why did you want to kill Princess Chen? If Prince Chen had been home, you would have turned to attack him instead, wouldn’t you?” The Emperor reproached them, pointing to his sons one by one in a frenzy of rage.

The Emperor received the report right after last night’s incident. Something had happened in the Prince Chen’s Mansion, and Princess Chen was wounded. She was in the room but happened to lower her head back then, so she luckily avoided the arrow. But still, she was hurt. When everyone was in the ensuing panic, someone rushed in and stabbed her. At this time, Princess Chen was still lying in bed, and her life was uncertain.

Thinking of this, the Emperor couldn’t help shuddering with anger.

“I’m still alive, and all of you can’t bear it. You can’t even put up with the Prince Chen’s Mansion. Who else can you tolerate? It would be best for you to kill all the other royal descendants after I die. Right?” The Emperor pounded on the table hard and growled.

Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou couldn’t stand the pressure anymore, and they knelt with a thud.

Prince Cheng looked at his two nephews and the Emperor, his furious brother sitting on the throne. Then he had no choice but to kneel. At present, they were the only ones in the court who were supposed to take the blame.

“Imperial Father, I left the Palace late yesterday, so I spent the night where I lived in the past.” Chu Liuyue explained.

“Imperial Father, I was out drinking with my friends yesterday, and someone can testify for me,” Chu Liuzhou said with a righteous look.

“Imperial Brother, I was listening to the sutras yesterday. Many people in the Huaguang Temple can prove it for me!” Prince Cheng sighed and said helplessly.

Their explanations could dispel others’ suspicions of them. In addition, they all had alibis and witnesses for last night.

But they all happened to be occupied with something yesterday and had people to prove it, which made others on the spot a little suspicious.

How could all of them have something to do last night and witnesses? Such a coincidence sounded overly deliberate. Could all three of them have intervened in it?

The officials kept their mouths shut but secretly guessed who did it. It must be one, two, or even three of them. Otherwise, how could it be so coincidental that all three of them had alibis? Usually, even if they were in their mansions last night, they might not have witnesses to prove it.

If their movements weren’t suspicious, they must have faked it on purpose.

The three princes also noticed the problem. With sullen faces, they looked at each other, feeling each other very suspicious. How could it be such a coincidence?

“Oh, lucky for you! All three of you have witnesses. Even better, your witnesses are not from your mansions. Did I blame you unjustly?” The Emperor sneered with a livid face.

“Imperial Father, I don’t dare!”

“Imperial Father, I decided on it long ago and didn’t act on impulse yesterday!”

“Imperial Brother, I’ve also made the appointment early with the monks in Huaguang Temple.”

Their contrived explanations were virtually the same in essentials. Even the most slow-witted officials could see that something was wrong: the three princes had some skeletons in their closets.

“I will find out the truth and won’t spare anyone who did this!” The Emperor snapped, “Guards! Send Prince Yue, Prince Zhou, and Prince Cheng back to their mansion and keep them under close surveillance.”

He intended to detain all the princes.

The officials knew they could no longer look on and do nothing. One after another, they knelt on the ground. Only two Prime Ministers remained standing before them.

“Your Majesty, please think it over. This incident might be a frame-up. Supervising and controlling all three princes can be exactly what the one behind this hopes for!” advised Prime Minister Zhang.

Prime Minister Wen also said, “Your Majesty, there are many questionable points. But in any case, Princess Chen isn’t in danger now. So, I suppose it’s inappropriate to confine the three princes because of her!”

“Please reconsider it!”

“Your Majesty, please think carefully!” All the officials kowtowed together.

In the main hall, the Emperor watched the officials kneeling on the ground coldly, his face clouding over and his gaze icy.

Derong, the chief eunuch responsible for writing documents, stood there motionlessly, keeping his eyes fixed on his nose. He didn’t dare to make a sound because the Emperor flared up. As a humble eunuch, he had better not get involved in it.

The imperial court was in a mess, and the imperial harem was also in chaos. The Empress knelt before the Empress Dowager, crying sadly. Beside her, Consort of Virtue also sobbed too bitterly to straighten herself up.

“Mother, this has nothing to do with the two princes. Prince Yue and Prince Zhou couldn’t be that crazy to hurt Princess Chen. What’s the good of harming Princess Chen? Why would they do that at all costs? Mother, please intercede with His Majesty for the two princes. His Majesty wants to lock them up.”

When the Empress begged for mercy, she especially mentioned Chu Liuyue.

The news that the Emperor exploded with rage in the imperial court quickly reached the imperial harem. This time, the Empress and Consort of Virtue, who had been going against each other, stood together and pleaded for the two princes wholeheartedly.

“Your Majesty, Prince Yue has been sensible and kind since he was a child. How could he dare to do such a thing? He appears cold-hearted because many women have been excessively enthusiastic about him. But in fact, he has a mild nature. Your Majesty, please investigate this matter. Don’t let His Majesty misunderstand the two princes!”

Consort of Virtue choked with sobs. Compared with the Empress, who occasionally became aggressive, Consort of Virtue looked much gentler.

Consort of Virtue was the biological mother of the Emperor’s first son, which made her more important than the other imperial consorts. Later, in the leading place among the four consorts, she was favored by the Empress Dowager.

At this moment, she prostrated herself before the Empress Dowager, crying too hard to get up.

“Mother, Prince Zhou and Prince Yue are innocent. Please save them and don’t let them get involved in these things. Princess Chen is fine. I heard that she was much better!” The Empress said as she wiped her tears.

“Your Majesty…” Consort of Virtue wept out.

“Okay, stop talking!” The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table heavily, her gloomy eyes sweeping across the faces of the Empress and Consort of Virtue.

What happened last night was so unexpected that the Empress Dowager still couldn’t believe it. How could anyone use such powerful weapons merely to deal with Shao Wanru? Were they planning to rebel?

Who could get and hide such heavy and mighty crossbows? They were killing machines several times more destructive than ordinary arrows. When the Empress Dowager thought that Princess Chen was nearly killed last night, her heart still fluttered with fear.

“If Shao Wanru were dead, what would happen to Chen’er? He might not accept the grievous news and die. Did these people merely want to kill Princess Chen? No, they obviously wanted Prince Chen’s life.” With this in her mind, a wave of fierce wrath rolled up in her.

Consort of Virtue, who had given her a good impression, became an eyesore. The Empress Dowager didn’t believe it had nothing to do with the other princes.

“Why can’t you tolerate Chen’er? You can’t stand him even though he is in such poor health! This time, Princess Chen is injured. Would Prince Chen be your next target?” The Empress Dowager reached out to point at the Empress and Consort of Virtue and scolded them angrily.

“Imperial Mother, I didn’t.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Anyone? Come here and take the Empress and Consort of Virtue back. Before this matter is settled, they should temporarily stay in their own places. As for all the affairs in the Palace, I should let…” The Empress Dowager thought for a while and continued, “Let Consort Ming take charge of them with two elder imperial consorts.”

The Empress Dowager announced her decision.

“Imperial Mother…” The Empress whined. She had always been managing the affairs in the imperial harem. To her great dismay, such an incident deprived her of her power. How could she take such a consequence lying down?

“All of you should leave now. Let’s talk about it after we find out the truth!” The Empress Dowager said sharply. She had already made up her mind. The Empress and Consort of Virtue must be kept under observation in the Palace lest they should conspire with her two grandsons outside the Palace and stir up more trouble. Although Consort Ming was also a suspect, she was much less suspicious than them.

It was best to let Consort Ming replace the Empress for the time being and perform her duty of managing the imperial harem.