Those who want to watch the excitement are stupefied.
In Prince Yi's Manor, another expensive tea set is smashed to pieces.
Zhao Yi has mixed feelings.
On one hand, he can't figure out what kind of person Prince Beiding is, on the other hand, he is afraid of him because of how much His Majesty favors him.
What he couldn't bear the most is how partial the one that sits on the throne is.
If anyone else did what Prince Beiding did today, it will be a small punishment for that person to be dismissed from office and it could get him killed if the punishment is severe.
Deducting half of his salary?
Throughout Great Yan, everybody knows that Prince Beiding's Manor is no doubt one of the most well-off powerful families in the capital of Yan.
Why?
How did Prince Beiding's Manor build up its fortune?
War!
Ever since the ancient times, war has been the most convenient way of accumulating wealth.
In the past century, with one generation of Prince Beiding after another, nobody has any idea about how much fortune they've made so far.
That little punishment was nothing for Prince Beiding.
Zhao Yi is really jealous of Zhao Yin.
Though Zhao Yin has lost his mother when he was born but in exchange for that, he got the careful instruction and nurture of the emperor and the affection between father and son which no other prince dare to imagine in a royal family.
He has had a smooth journey so far. When other princes get married, Emperor Huizong has instinctively chosen for them wives from lesser families.
When it comes to Zhao Yin, however, he gets to marry Princess Chaofeng, the noblest girl in the capital of Yan.
He has all the good things in the world.
A maid by Zhao Yi's side comes up with a handkerchief and cleans for him but Zhao Yi waves her off, his hand firmly on the handkerchief, his face distorted.
"Prince Yan, Emperor Mingzong of Yan, I don't think I couldn't defeat you!"
The next day on court, just as expected, there are people who report on how Prince Beiding charged into the Imperial Household Department and beat a eunuch up with sheer arrogance.
Zhao Yi sits quietly in his seat.
He watches that assistant minister with cold eyes. It is one of Prince Fu, the second prince's men.
It seems that that idiot Prince Fu can't hold back any more.
Zhao Yi holds that brother of his in contempt from the start.
Prince Fu is bad at both literature and martial arts, besides, he isn't a quick person. What does he have to fight for the throne?
He is the eldest among the living princes and his birth mother is the Noble Consort who controls the imperial harem.
How could he end up where he is now with such a good hand?
What an idiot!
But it is good that someone as stupid as Prince Fu exists, so Zhao Yi can stand by and see what on earth does his father, the emperor, think of Prince Yan.
Emperor Huizong is sitting high on the throne, his expression so calm that nobody could tell what he is thinking about.
Emperor Huizong only opens his mouth after the assistant minister has finished his report and asks: "What do you think about what I should do with Prince Beiding?"
The assistant minister, thinking that His Majesty agrees with what he has just said, lifts his spirit and says hurriedly: "In my humble opinion, Prince Beiding has no regard for Heaven and Your Majesty and offends Your Majesty's heavenly authority. He deserves heavy punishment! Besides, former Prince Yan met with Prince Beiding at Palace of Happiness in private. I suspect that the two of them have banded together for self-serving purposes."
Nobody could tell whether Emperor Huizong is delighted or angry. He says: "Banding together for self-serving purposes?"
The assistant minister feels a little uneasy and steals a look at Prince Fu.
Prince Fu gives him a meaningful glance.
Then the assistant minister becomes more certain and speaks loudly: "Yes. Your Majesty, in my humble opinion, former Prince Yan shows no sign of mending his ways after he retreats to Palace of Happiness. I plead that former Prince Yan be sent to the imperial mausoleum. Let him pray for the blessings of late emperors and reflect on his own errors."
After he has said that, the court turns so quiet that one can hear the sound of a dropping needle.
Everybody is waiting for the emperor's response.
Zhao Yi, on the opposite, feels something is quite off.
He is already cursing Prince Fu secretly for acting with such undue haste.
No emperor likes a minister who has such an overbearing manner.
Emperor Huizong remains silent for a good while.
Uneasiness builds up in the assistant minister. Next chapter ↓↓ (External Link Below ↓↓)