Chapter 1369: Apology
Editor:Ā Henyee Translations
Honored Princess Mei wiped away her tears, her pretty face reflecting a blend of sorrow and shame, intermingled with a touch of relief and admiration. She gently held the hand of the young palace maid and stood up unsteadily.
The Emperorās investigation and Honored Princess Meiās account didnāt unearth much of a source. The Fourth Prince had instructed those who secretly looked into the matter to harbor resentment against the Crown Prince for previous punishments, prompting them to use their influence to exact revenge and falsely implicate the Crown Prince. He had also been the one clandestinely spreading the rumors.
Ironically, his efforts to frame the Crown Prince had backfired, almost leading to his own downfall. Recognizing that framing the Crown Prince would leave him with no escape, he ultimately took his own life.
As the year drew to a close, this incident was far from honorable. With the Qingdi diplomatic delegation also in attendance, as Honored Princess Mei had predicted, the Emperor was disinclined to exacerbate the situation or involve the royal brothers in the feud.
Hence, when Honored Princess Mei implored for clemency with tears in her eyes, he chose not to delve further into the matter.
Consequently, this outcome was realized.
Honored Princess Mei had already accepted responsibility for the Fourth Prince on his behalf, signaling his recognition of his transgressions. After receiving a rebuke and a lesson, the matter would conclude.
What alternative did he have? To conduct an exhaustive inquiry? Not only would it unleash a storm, ensnaring numerous individuals and leading to dismissals, but it would also embroil countless families in investigations and penalties.
Furthermore, if the Fourth Prince were embroiled in the investigation, how would the Emperor handle his own son? Did he desire his own childās life?
The Emperor would never entertain such an idea.
The Fourth Prince, too, breathed a sigh of relief.
Much like Honored Princess Mei, the Fourth Prince had temporarily set aside his grievances after the ordeal. However, as soon as the matter was resolved, he couldnāt help but harbor indignation and resentment.
Yet, he didnāt dare to defy his fatherās decree.
In order to present an appearance of apology, he instructed his subordinates to select a substantial assortment of precious antiques from the palace warehouse. These items included various pieces crafted from gold, silver, jade, and porcelain. While these treasures would be considered rare and valuable in most households, within his own favored princeās residence, they held little significance. He wouldnāt feel any heartache even if he gave them away.
In fact, he decided to present these items as gifts without a single tael of silver.
The Fourth Prince arrived with a considerable quantity of gifts to offer as an apology. The Crown Prince, not one to let such an opportunity pass, made a few remarks during their exchange. He advised, āDonāt let your subordinates deceive you and damage our brotherly relationship!ā, āAvoid such actions in the future!ā, and āIf you have any doubts, you can always ask me directly. We are brothers, and thereās nothing we canāt discuss!ā The Fourth Prince nodded with a forced smile.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, the matter was considered resolved, even though an underlying tension hung in the air.
The Crown Prince was eager to keep the gifts, but the Fourth Prince couldnāt bear to stay any longer. He feared that if he remained in the presence of the Crown Princeās āgentle and elegantā faƧade, he might lose control of his emotions and hit him right on the face.
Though he managed to force a smile, the Fourth Prince couldnāt help but feel a seething anger as he looked at the Crown Princeās deceptive exterior. He longed to confront him.
After struggling to contain his feelings, he finally mustered a smile. If the Fourth Prince decided to stay, the Crown Prince would treat him courteously and keep him company. However, he wouldnāt insist if the Fourth Prince chose to leave.
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