Chapter 187: A Chain of Traps

Xiao Youlan was very patient, asking, "Regarding the so-called lack of virtue in a prince, which aspects specifically does this refer to?"

The head of the Imperial Observatory answered truthfully, "For instance, abuse of power, accepting bribes, forming cliques for personal gain... and so on. When a prince commits such acts, the heavens cannot tolerate it, and the Emperor's dragon body has been implicated and damaged as a result."

Abuse of power?

Accepting bribes?

Forming cliques for personal gain?

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Zong and Prince Kang both looked at Xiao Mingyu in unison.

Xiao Mingyu:...

No, why are you looking at me?!

Nan Xueyin also glanced at him, thinking to herself, this is what you call a reputation.

Who in the world doesn't know that Xiao Mingyu is rotten to the core? It's just that he hadn't infringed upon their own interests, so they couldn't be bothered to care.

Now, the Emperor is in a coma, the Imperial Physician says they don't know why, and the Imperial Observatory says it is because of him.

Thus, Xiao Mingyu has been pushed to the forefront of the storm.

Virtuous Consort suddenly realized at this moment that it was no wonder the news of the Emperor's coma reached her ears today, and no wonder she and Xiao Mingyu were able to enter the bedchamber so smoothly.

So, Xiao Youlan had been waiting for the two of them, mother and son, right here!

She caught her breath and said, "Not to mention that Mingyu has always been a filial child and cannot be considered to have any lack of virtue at all... Even taking a step back, if Mingyu truly committed some fault, he is in Lianzhou, so far away from Fengdu, how could he possibly have offended the Emperor?"

A faint, elusive smile appeared on the corner of Xiao Youlan's mouth: "Virtuous Consort, no one said that this prince with a lack of virtue is the Fourth Brother."

Virtuous Consort was suddenly stunned.

Xiao Youlan's tone was flat: "It seems that no one knows a son better than his mother; Virtuous Consort truly understands the Fourth Brother very well. As soon as a prince with a lack of virtue was mentioned, you knew it was the Fourth Brother and immediately came out to protect him."

Virtuous Consort's complexion turned ugly to the extreme.

She never expected—she truly never expected—that she would fall into Xiao Youlan's trap time and time again!

"However, what Virtuous Consort says is not without reason," Prince Kang cleared his throat, "There are quite a few princes with various minor faults, after all!"

Xiao Youlan looked sideways: "But according to Virtuous Consort's statement, the Fourth Brother is far away in Lianzhou and cannot exert influence; the other princes are even further from Fengdu, aren't they? Xiao Qingling is still in Tingzhou, which is the border; he can influence the palace even less."

Virtuous Consort blurted out: "Isn't there still the Crown Prince? His Highness the Crown Prince is in the Eastern Palace; that is the closest!"

Once these words were out, she felt a bit of regret herself.

Prince Kang also looked at her with great sympathy.

Xiao Youlan let out an "Oh?" and asked, "Then why doesn't Virtuous Consort explain how I have a lack of virtue? Have I accepted bribes, formed cliques for personal gain, or abused my power?"

Virtuous Consort was unable to speak for a long while.

It wasn't that she didn't know; this Crown Prince before her wouldn't even accept a single coin from his subordinates, nor would he allow his subordinates to accept bribes.

Back then, a distant cousin of hers wanted to enter the palace to work in procurement, as there was plenty of profit to be made.

But the procurement positions were already full, so her cousin said, why not just find a reason to replace the person who was there before?

This procurement position was under the jurisdiction of the Eastern Palace, so Virtuous Consort specifically sent people to the Eastern Palace to put in a good word, and even sent over many gold and silver treasures.

But those were all sent back.

The reason given by the other party was: "The procurement officer has been in this position for over ten years and has always handled his duties very well. Furthermore, he has a son and daughter; his daughter is about to be married, his son is determined to pass the imperial examinations, and he has an elderly mother whose health has always been poor, relying on medicinal soups to keep her spirits up. If he were to lose this job, his elderly mother would not live until the end of the year, and his family would certainly be unable to sustain themselves."

After that, Virtuous Consort knew that this Crown Prince was someone who did not understand the ways of the world.

Yet, in the current situation, the Crown Prince happened to be completely flawless.

"Has Your Highness the Crown Prince forgotten the time you had a huge argument with the Emperor over a woman?" Xiao Mingyu suddenly spoke up.

Xiao Youlan looked over.

"Does this not count as a lack of virtue? Your Highness the Crown Prince is over twenty years old, yet you have neither married nor have any heirs; this, too, is a lack of virtue."

Xiao Youlan nodded: "Fourth Brother is right."

Before Xiao Mingyu could be happy about finally turning the tables, Xiao Youlan added: "Then, I shall accept an investigation together with the Fourth Brother."

Xiao Mingyu was taken aback: "Investigation? What investigation?"

Xiao Youlan said: "As it stands now, it seems that both I and the Fourth Brother have a lack of virtue. Since it is unclear whether it is I or the Fourth Brother who harmed the Emperor, then let us investigate together to see whose lack of virtue is more severe."

Xiao Mingyu:...

He couldn't imagine, even if he racked his brains, that the conversation could turn in this direction.

"Could it be that the Fourth Brother is unwilling to be investigated?" Xiao Youlan asked deliberately.

Nan Xueyin added from the side that he simply couldn't withstand an investigation.

How many lives had been lost under his command, and was there a single person under him who hadn't accepted bribes or bribed others?

These things would be confirmed the moment they were investigated.

And compared to Xiao Youlan liking a woman and arguing with the Emperor over her, it was not at all the same level of severity.

Therefore, Xiao Mingyu's face turned ashen.

Xiao Youlan's gaze landed coldly on his face, "It seems the Fourth Brother is willing. Then today, in front of the Emperor, Grandmother Empress Dowager, Uncle, and Virtuous Consort, it is settled: starting from today, the Fourth Brother will continue to stay at Jiaoyuan and accept an investigation together with me. In the end, we shall see whose fault is greater, and who truly harmed the Emperor."

Xiao Mingyu was internally extremely resistant, but at such a time, in front of so many people, he couldn't say a word of refusal.

He finally understood that tonight was a chain of traps.

He also realized that the Changshi from Qingzhou who had run to Fengdu to report Xiao Mingyu had likely already been in contact with Xiao Youlan, and those proofs of crime would eventually turn into sharp swords stabbing at Xiao Mingyu.

"Then for today, let us leave it at this," Xiao Youlan maintained the initiative throughout, "Grandmother Empress Dowager, Uncle, the Emperor is not in any serious danger; you two should go back and rest."

"Very well."

Prince Kang and Empress Dowager Zong nodded slightly; the general situation was decided, and it was not convenient to stay long.

Prince Kang left the palace directly.

Xiao Youlan accompanied Empress Dowager Zong back to Baoci Palace. On the way, Empress Dowager Zong held Xiao Youlan's hand and whispered to him: "Your father still cares for you; even with all your ability, without your father's tacit approval, you would not have the power you have today."

Xiao Youlan remained composed and only said: "I know."

Empress Dowager Zong sighed deeply.

She understood that once the relationship between this father and son was broken, it could never be repaired again.

Having delivered the message, Xiao Youlan bid farewell to Empress Dowager Zong and set off to leave.

"Youlan."

Empress Dowager Zong suddenly called out to stop him.

Xiao Youlan turned his head, "Is there anything else, Grandmother?"

Empress Dowager Zong's face was sorrowful: "Had I known, I should not have ruined the marriage between you and that Nan Xueyin back then. If she had become your Crown Princess, you and your Imperial Father would not have reached this point."

Xiao Youlan did not respond, only saying: "Grandmother, go to sleep early; it is getting late."