ushernet Chapter 553: Commandery Prince
Chapter 553: Commandery Prince
When Huangfu Wei and Eunuch Feng were out of sight, the Emperor grabbed the paperweight on the table and threw it at Prince Zhuang.
Prince Zhuang’s face had long turned ashen; at this moment, he dared not dodge and was hit squarely by the heavy paperweight, causing his head to bleed profusely.
Prince Zhuang lay prostrate on the ground, trembling and speaking rapidly, "Father Emperor, let me explain, your son has words to say, Father Emperor..."
The Emperor shouted angrily, "What more do you have to say?"
Prince Zhuang, tears streaming down his face, sobbed, "There are many doubts about this matter; I am truly wronged. Father Emperor, think about it, Wei’er is only ten years old, how could I bear to let him go through any trials? He was truly abducted; the servants in my mansion can all testify. Father Emperor, just call the servants from Meilan Pavilion where Wei’er lived and ask them, and you will know."
The Emperor, looking down coldly at him, would not believe any word Prince Zhuang said now.
He only believed in evidence, only in facts!
He seemed to be suppressing the anger in his heart, and after a moment, he said, "Someone come!"
Eunuch Feng hurriedly came in.
The Emperor said, "Bring in the Chief Secretary!"
Shortly after, the person came, and the Emperor said slowly, "Draft an edict: Prince Zhuang, Huangfu Hanyu, for being an unfilial son, an unrighteous brother, an unkind father, acting obsessively, attempting to deceive the Emperor, is demoted to Commandery Prince!"
It was as if Prince Zhuang had heard thunder on a clear day.
Even though it’s a princely title, there are two ranks. According to Nanxia’s system, a Prince is rank one, a Commandery Prince is rank two. And the position of Crown Prince can never be bestowed from a Commandery Prince.
In other words, if he ever wanted to become Crown Prince again, he would first have to work his way back to Prince.
He had already lost his position as Crown Prince, and now he lost his princely title as well; this was thunder on a clear day to him.
Didn’t Mr. Gongyang perform rituals to ward off misfortune for him? Was there no effect whatsoever?
Or is his current tribulation so great that even blessings could not dispel it?
When he was Prince Zhuang, he had the fief of Qingzhou Shiyuan County; when he became Crown Prince, of course, he no longer had any fief. Now demoted back to Prince Zhuang, the Emperor had not granted any vassal land; now as a Commandery Prince, he lost not only a princely title!
With the Holy Decree drafted by the Chief Secretary, once issued, there’s no room for maneuver.
He couldn’t understand it; clearly, he was the wronged one, Old Fifth and his wife had been intimidating and persecuting him all along, so why was he the one punished in the end?
He was indignant!
He shouted, "Father Emperor, Father Emperor, I am indignant; clearly, it was all Old Fifth’s doing, why am I punished and not Old Fifth?"
The Emperor was furious, "Get back to your Prince Manor now?" You unworthy son, even now, you still want to shift the blame onto others. If you hadn’t acted against someone’s son first, would all this have happened later?
He still accused others as the villain, does he truly believe his father is old and senile, allowing him to deceive and mock him?
Seeing the Emperor’s eyes filled with fierce cold murderous intent, Prince Zhuang was so frightened he had no temper left.
He also suddenly realized something.
Even though all those memorials he submitted were true, and he had indeed experienced those things, and Huangfu Wei was indeed abducted...
But now, with Huangfu Wei actually appearing at the outpost, personally retrieved by King Kang and the Capital Guard Commander, every word he had said, Father Emperor would not believe even one letter.
Not only that.
Since Father Emperor now disbelieved him, those memorials he previously submitted were now viewed by him as fabrications—a deception of the Emperor!
Father Emperor was convinced he had deceived the Emperor!
The crime of deceiving the Emperor is unforgivable, even if he is a prince!
Therefore, the murderous intent in Father Emperor’s eyes was palpable; the reason he hadn’t acted on it was possibly due to the father-son bond, but he understood very well how thin the father-son bond under heaven’s authority would be worth nothing compared to imperial power; if he dared to utter one more word, Father Emperor might change his mind.
Realizing this, Prince Zhuang’s face was ashen, and he dared not say another word, kowtowing heavily on the ground, hurriedly rising to exit the hall.
House arrest! Surely now this is something he should feel fortunate for.
He glared at Prince Cheng with hatred, never expecting that what he thought was a simple brute would have such calculations.
Very well!
This debt, he will certainly reclaim in the future!
After driving Prince Zhuang away, the Emperor suppressed his anger and looked at Prince Cheng, this son... suddenly feeling somewhat guilt-ridden!
Look at the wretch that is Old Third, sparing no means, trying to kill his son, framing him in various ways, even going as far as to use his legitimate son to frame Old Fifth, who had originally lost his son, without hesitation for the crime of deceiving the Emperor.
He was extremely disappointed with Old Third.
And understood the grievances Old Fifth had borne these days.
However, although there were grievances, they were inflicted by Old Third, and he, as Father Emperor, was only slightly harsh in a situation where the truth was unclear. Just now heavily reprimanding Old Third and demoting him to Commandery Prince can also be seen as venting Old Fifth’s anger.
Thinking of this, the Emperor’s tone softened, "Old Fifth, the situation is now clear to me; you’ve been through a long and tiring journey, go back to your mansion and rest! As for Jingchen..."
Prince Cheng heavily kowtowed and said, "Father Emperor, your son believes that Jingchen will not die so easily. Since that person’s appearance is unidentifiable, I do not believe he is my son. I will search all over the Capital City to find Jingchen!"
The Emperor hesitated, pondered, then slowly said, "Very well, if Huangfu Jingchen is indeed not dead, and you bring him back intact, I will make him a Commandery Prince; even if..."
"Please retract that order, Father Emperor!" Before the Emperor could finish speaking, Prince Cheng had already interrupted.
The Emperor was slightly displeased, being the emperor, his words should not be interrupted, especially since he was about to bestow a title to Old Fifth’s son. It’s worth noting that Old Fifth is only a prince, and making his son a Commandery Prince is treatment reserved for a Crown Prince’s son.
But it was only to console Huangfu Jingchen for being innocently persecuted by Old Third, and the Emperor had somewhat believed Old Third at the time, being unjust to Old Fifth, so he wanted to compensate.
When Prince Liang was Crown Prince, he was average in ability, and the legitimate eldest grandson Huangfu Hongyi was similarly unworthy, only engaging in cockfights and horseplay, indulging in luxury, so granting him a Commandery Prince title would equate to establishing him as the Imperial Grandson, which the Emperor would be cautious about, not easily bestowing.
When Prince Zhuang was Crown Prince, although he had adult sons, and they were quite talented, Huangfu Jing decisive and brave, Huangfu Chi clever and resourceful, they were all born of concubines, and the only legitimate son Huangfu Wei was too young, therefore also had no title.
Now, saying to make Huangfu Jingchen a Commandery Prince was not because Old Fifth held a high place in his mind or prepared to put him in an important position. Based on the situation at the time, the on-site investigation was conducted by the Capital Governor and Ministry of Justice experts, and was the conclusion made after comprehensive investigation, that Huangfu Jingchen was most likely dead, and the Commandery Prince title was more of a consolation than a compensation for his innocent death.
Yet Prince Cheng actually refused?