Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Deposition
Lu Zhan nodded calmly. "Indeed." With that, he knelt. "Emperor, this cousin of mine is not yet married and has always been virtuous and proper. But now, because of the Crown Prince... I fear she will have difficulty finding a husband in the future. I implore you, Emperor, to seek justice for my cousin."
Hearing this, the Emperor’s suspicions subsided. "Rise. The Crown Prince was indeed immoral in this matter. As for your cousin, since her reputation was ruined because of him, I will decree that she be betrothed to the Crown Prince as a Lady, and I will order him to treat her well in the future."
At these words, a flicker of sarcasm passed through Lu Zhan’s lowered eyes.
’As expected,’ he thought. ’The Crown Prince’s lewd behavior in the temple, while enraging the Emperor, isn’t enough to make him resolve to dethrone him.’
"Thank you, Emperor." Lu Zhan rose to his feet.
This incident of the Crown Prince’s lewd behavior in the temple left several ministers deeply unsettled.
’With the Crown Prince being so immoral, will the Emperor reconsider appointing a new heir?’
’But he is the son of the late Empress and has always been highly valued by the Emperor. The Emperor will probably let this incident slide.’
At this thought, the ministers grew worried.
’If the Crown Prince dares to act so wantonly in a sacred and solemn place like a temple, one can only imagine he will become a debauched and tyrannical Monarch in the future.’
Wei Jinyi, supported by her maid, went to the meditation room to compose herself.
Thinking of what had just happened, she burst into tears again.
Her maid wiped away her own tears as well.
Who could have imagined that her perfectly fine young lady would encounter such a terrible fate, just by coming to a temple to pray for a good marriage?
The thought of praying for marriage reminded the maid of that morning’s events.
A few old women, with nothing better to do, had been chatting about the temples in the suburb of the capital.
They spoke of which temple was best for praying for a son, and which was best for praying for a good marriage.
Her lady had overheard and taken it to heart.
Thinking of her recent run of bad luck, her lady had immediately decided to come to this temple to pray for marriage and to clear her head.
But unexpectedly, after she had offered incense and prayed, while she was resting in the meditation room, that damned Crown Prince had suddenly burst in, grabbing her lady in an embrace, calling her "beauty, beauty," and scaring her so badly she went limp.
The Crown Prince seemed to realize he had the wrong person, but seeing her lady’s beauty, he refused to stop.
The more her lady struggled, the more excited the Crown Prince became, spouting an endless stream of filth.
She had desperately rushed forward to save her, giving her lady a chance to escape from the meditation room.
But she herself was knocked unconscious by the Crown Prince’s attendants, so she didn’t know what happened afterward.
Thinking back, if her lady hadn’t overheard those old women’s idle chatter, she never would have come to this temple and suffered such an unprovoked disaster.
But what was done was done. There was no use in regret.
Wei Jinyi cried until her eyes were red and swollen.
When she had composed herself and stepped outside, a eunuch approached her.
"Miss Wei, you have had a fright today. I am here by the Emperor’s decree to escort you back to the capital."
Wei Jinyi, who had been in a daze, was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor upon hearing this.
She remembered her cousin was also at the temple, so she bit her lip and said, "I wish to see my cousin."
"Mr. Lu must attend to His Majesty and cannot get away. However, Mr. Lu did ask me to relay a message to you, Miss," the eunuch said.
Hearing that her cousin had sent a message for her, a spark of light instantly appeared in Wei Jinyi’s lifeless eyes. She quickly asked, "What is it?"
"Mr. Lu said that you have been wronged today, Miss Wei, but you are not to worry. He has already petitioned the Emperor on your behalf, and His Majesty has agreed to have the Crown Prince take you into the Eastern Palace and name you a Lady." After speaking, the eunuch congratulated her, "Congratulations, Miss Wei."
Wei Jinyi looked as though she had been struck by lightning. The little color that had returned to her face drained away, leaving her as pale as a ghost.
The image of the Crown Prince’s lecherous, savage face flashed in her mind, and everything went black as she fainted.
"Miss Wei must be overjoyed," the eunuch chuckled, helping the maid carry her onto the carriage.
In the meditation room, Lu Zhan played two games of chess with the Emperor.
After the vegetarian meal, Duan Ling returned with his men.
A massive crowd of people filled the temple to the brim.
Hearing the commotion, the Emperor, accompanied by several ministers, left the meditation room and went to the temple’s front courtyard.
When they arrived, they saw dozens of scantily clad young women huddled together in the vast courtyard, trembling with vacant, lifeless eyes.
On the ground nearby, more than a dozen thuggish-looking men were hogtied and thrown together in a pile.
"Emperor, I was fortunate enough not to fail my mission. All the young women have been rescued," Duan Ling said, stepping forward to salute and report.
Seeing so many innocent women brutalized like this, the Emperor flew into a rage. He pointed at the thugs and roared, "Beat them! Make them confess who is behind this! If they hide anything, they will be torn apart by five horses!"
Duan Ling hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I also captured one other person."
"Who is it?" the Emperor asked in a low voice.
"Men, bring Feng Ziliang forward," Duan Ling ordered, turning around.
Immediately, a tall, burly man with his hands bound was brought forward.
When the ministers saw the man’s face, they began to mutter amongst themselves. ’Isn’t that the Crown Prince’s trusted guard?’
The Emperor obviously recognized him as well, and his face turned livid.
"Feng Ziliang, confess everything! Tell us how you abducted women from all over and trafficked them to brothels everywhere to make a profit!" Duan Ling said grimly, yanking the gag from the man’s mouth.
When Feng Ziliang saw the Emperor, he collapsed to the ground. The Emperor’s deathly stare scared him out of his wits.
The stench of urine filled the air.
Everyone covered their noses and looked to see a puddle forming beneath Feng Ziliang.
With looks of disgust, they all backed away.
The Emperor’s hand trembled as he pointed at Feng Ziliang. "You damned slave, who ordered you to commit such a filthy act?"
Feng Ziliang’s face was ashen. "It was... the Crown Prince."
Although the Emperor had already guessed the answer, hearing it confirmed with his own ears still made him sway and nearly collapse.
"Emperor!" the eunuch cried out in alarm, rushing to support him.
The Emperor shoved him away and looked at Feng Ziliang through gritted teeth. "Why would the Crown Prince do this?"
Feng Ziliang pressed his forehead to the ground. "The Crown Prince needed to... grease some palms. There were many expenses that required silver, so he ordered me... ordered me to procure beautiful women and send them to brothels everywhere..."
The Emperor’s face was livid. He turned to Commander Shen and said, "Go and bring the Crown Prince here yourself. I want to question him personally."
"Yes, sir."
Soon, the Crown Prince, who had been confined to a meditation room, was brought over.
When the Crown Prince saw the scantily clad women in the courtyard, his heart sank. When he saw Feng Ziliang, it plummeted to the depths.
Xuanyuan Hongjun clenched his sweaty palms and knelt before the Emperor. "Father Emperor."
"What is the meaning of those women?" the Emperor asked in a low voice, pointing at them while suppressing his fury.
"I do not know," Xuanyuan Hongjun said with his head bowed.
"You do not know?" The Emperor’s eyes filled with disappointment as he pointed at Feng Ziliang. "Are you saying that Feng Ziliang is slandering you?"
"It is this damned slave who is slandering me! I implore you to see the truth, Father Emperor!" Xuanyuan Hongjun said hurriedly.
The Emperor shook his head. If he hadn’t personally witnessed him forcing himself on a woman in the temple earlier, he might have believed that Feng Ziliang was slandering him. But now...
The Emperor closed his eyes, then kicked the Crown Prince to the ground, roaring, "You animal! As the Crown Prince of a nation, you have defied the law and disregarded the court, committing such a depraved act! If the Great Chen Kingdom falls into your hands, it will surely be ruined!"
Hearing this, Xuanyuan Hongjun ignored the pain in his body, scrambled up, and clung to the Emperor’s leg. "Father Emperor, I know I was wrong! I know I was wrong! Please give me a chance to turn over a new leaf! I promise I will never do something like this again!"
The Emperor looked down at him for a moment, his face a mask of disappointment. He spoke two cool words, "Too late," and kicked him away again. "Guards! Hear my decree! The Crown Prince is immoral and unworthy of being the heir. As of today, he is stripped of his title and is to be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court!"
