Chapter 075: It Is Both a Lifeline and a Deadly Weakness

Chapter 075: It Is Both a Lifeline and a Deadly Weakness

As soon as these words left his mouth, the hall fell so silent that even the drop of a needle could be heard. The previously amiable Emperor turned cold, his face darkening. "Nonsense! How can you expect me to retract my imperial edict?"

Ji Lingchuan stood frozen, his expression stiffening.

Seeing the Emperor's anger, Ruan Qinghuan knelt down. "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. Chu Li was seriously injured recently and has not yet fully recovered. Added to the long journey, she became confused. This humble subject will assist her in leaving at once."

"Very well, since she is confused, she should return to her residence and rest."

As they walked towards the door of the hall, the Emperor called He An to stay behind. "Lord He, remain here. I have something to discuss with you."

The Emperor ordered Chief Secretary Xu to offer He An a seat and pondered for a moment before speaking. "Lord He, what is your opinion on my decision regarding the Lu City matter?"

He An replied, "Your Majesty is wise."

The Emperor was not surprised by this answer. Under the heavens, no one dared to tell him he was wrong. However, this time, his decision had indeed been flawed.

There were only three adult princes in the imperial family, with the youngest being only three years old and the older one seven. The future of the Dongzhao still rested on the shoulders of the Crown Prince and his brothers.

"The Crown Prince certainly erred this time. However, his abilities are mediocre, and his strategies are lacking. Given that no significant harm was done, I've decided to offer him another opportunity. Nevertheless, punishment is necessary. Lord He, what do you think would be an appropriate penalty?"

Upon hearing this, He An's expression remained unchanged, and after a brief moment of thought, he replied, "In our kingdom, maintaining private troops is considered treason, punishable by the annihilation of nine generations."

"He An, He An, you’ve finally shown your true colors," the Emperor, with a stern expression, suddenly smiled, though it was a smile tinged with disappointment. "I admire your tenacity."

What disappointed him was the Crown Prince. Despite all the imperial favors, he harbored wolfish ambition.

Still, as a prince, the Emperor wanted to give him one last chance.

He An sighed deeply. "Your Majesty is wise to minimize the risks of this matter. The disarmed soldiers were all conscripted into the military. The outcome can be considered somewhat satisfactory."

The Emperor stood up, his hands behind his back, and the two walked out onto the corridor outside the hall. "The Second Prince has recently acted improperly, forming factions and engaging in personal schemes. His household is in disarray, and he lacks the ability to manage his family. He is to be confined for a year, and his stipend is to be withheld for three years. All concubines in his household, except for the Crown Princess, are to be dismissed."

He An understood that this was the Emperor's message to him. Confining a prince for a year was already a severe punishment, and disbanding his concubines was the Emperor's way of showing that everything concerning the prince was under his control.

More importantly, some court officials were about to face trouble.

In the Chu Chun Hall, Consort Qi, her face etched with shock, could hardly believe what she had just heard. "How dare you keep private soldiers?"

Over the years, Consort Qi had indeed accumulated wealth from Lu City, preparing for the day her son would depart the capital for his own domain. She never imagined he would use this wealth to maintain a private army.

That was a crime punishable by the extermination of one's family.

Living deep within the palace, Consort Qi had relied on her subordinates to handle matters in Lu City. It was only this morning that she learned both of her brother's sons were dead, and the entire Wu family had been wiped out. She had thought it was the work of bandits, but now…

With exasperation, Consort Qi looked at her son, feeling as if she could hardly catch her breath. Consort Qi's spirit was shattered, and her maid hastened to pat her back and rub her chest. "Your Highness, you must not collapse at this moment. Everything should still prioritize the prince."

With a sorrowful expression, Consort Qi forced herself to stand and approached the kneeling Crown Prince. She raised her hand and slapped him hard. "Now you know to be afraid. Both of your cousins are dead, and not a single member of the Wu family escaped."

Not only that, but even some distant relatives were not spared.

The Emperor’s methods were truly merciless. This was a warning to the Crown Prince, but wasn’t it also a warning to her?

Consort Qi knew in her heart that without the Emperor's consent, no matter how powerful He An was, he would not dare to cause such a commotion. The Wu family was gone, under the guise of a bandit raid.

He An was credited with great achievements in suppressing bandits, but she had risked the entire clan's future.

Ever since the death of her father, the Wu family had fallen into decline. After much effort, they had established some foundation in Lu City, but now, everything had been squandered by her own son.

The Crown Prince said anxiously, "Mother, you must save me. Please go and plead with Father Emperor. It might be too late if we wait any longer."

The shocked look in Consort Qi's eyes refocused. "What do you mean by too late?"

"When I entered the palace, the Crown Prince and He An were already there. They are probably in the imperial study by now." He thought that this news would prompt his mother to rush and see the emperor.

Unexpectedly, Consort Qi only waved her hand dismissively, steadied herself, and sat down in a chair. "Forget it, it's useless to plead now. If your father really wanted your life, would he have let you live until today? In the end, you are the emperor's son, and he is unwilling to let go."

The Crown Prince, however, was not so sure. His father had been a warrior for half his life, decisive and ruthless, never showing mercy.

Consort Qi, holding her forehead, sighed deeply. "But this punishment is inevitable. If you're truly scared, face it with dignity."

As soon as she finished speaking, Chief Eunuch Xu arrived. Noticing Consort Qi's distressed expression, he quickly surmised the situation. He first greeted her, "This servant greets Consort Qi."

"Why is Chief Eunuch Xu here at this time?"

"The emperor ordered this servant to deliver the imperial decree."

Upon hearing this, Consort Qi rose to kneel, but Chief Eunuch Chang quickly stepped forward to symbolically support her. "Your Highness does not need to do this. The decree is addressed to the prince. You just need to listen."

This was a punitive decree and did not mention the consort, so Chief Eunuch Chang did not dare to make her kneel to listen.

"By the mandate of heaven, the emperor declares: The Crown Prince's conduct is improper, and he has formed cliques for personal gain. Rumors in the streets accuse him of bullying men and women, tarnishing the royal reputation. Starting today, all members of the Crown Prince's household, except his primary consort, will be expelled. He is to be confined for one year and have his stipend docked for three years. If any further improper conduct occurs during this period, the punishment will be doubled."

Consort Qi breathed a silent sigh of relief. A one-year confinement was better than being demoted to a commoner.

The Crown Prince bowed his head, his face looking grim, but he still accepted the decree. "I, your subject, receive the decree."

After delivering the decree, Chief Eunuch Xu added, "The emperor asked me to give you a message, Your Highness. This one year is both an opportunity and a death trap."

Just as Consort Qi had stood up, she fell back into her seat.

Gripping the decree tightly, the Crown Prince felt a deep sense of frustration. All his meticulous plans had been ruined by He An, and now he faced a year of confinement. A whole year—how much could he have accomplished in that time?

At the palace gate,

Ruan Qinghuan grew increasingly anxious as she waited. In the original story, He An was indeed highly favored, but accompanying a monarch was like accompanying a tiger. A single misstep could lead to irreversible disaster.

He An emerged, noticing Ruan Qinghuan's worried look. He smiled gently. "Has my lady been waiting anxiously?"

Glancing at the city gate guards, Ruan Qinghuan helped He An onto the carriage. As soon as they were inside, she couldn't wait to ask, "Was the emperor harsh on you?"

"No."

"Then why did it take so long?"

He An's expression showed a hint of disappointment. "As a monarch, he always has to give his subjects a reasonable explanation."

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

The matter of the second prince raising a private army had finally been resolved. With matters concluded, the rest could be left to the Ministry of Justice, and she could finally focus on the situation with the Ruan family.