Chapter 184: Better Dead Than Crippled

Quan Aoyu turned his head abruptly, the murderous intent in his eyes as he stared fixedly at Quan Tianyi intensifying.

The Fifth Imperial Prince, Quan Tianjiao, sat to the side, the smile curling his lips looking so eyesore that it made one want to reach out and shatter it.

He gently swirled the wine cup in his hand, unable to hide the schadenfreude in his eyes.

His birth mother had fallen on hard times, demoted to a Noble Lady and locked away in the Cold Palace; if he was having a miserable time, why should others have it easy?

Quan Tianjiao could not suppress the joy in his heart and was just about to speak up in agreement when he was glared back by the Seventh Imperial Prince, Quan Tianwu, who had no interest in the delicacies today.

Though he was young, he would not tolerate anyone spouting nonsense at such a critical moment for his savior.

Quan Tianwu stood up, his still-youthful face full of solemnity. His gaze swept over Quan Tianyi, filled with an unquestionable air of dominance, as he said to Quan Tianyi:

"Third Brother, do not speak nonsense. Sister Jun is kind-hearted and blessed with great fortune; she will certainly be fine."

Quan Qiming swallowed a mouthful of saliva, forcing the words that had reached his lips back down.

Quan Tianyi let out a cold snort but said nothing more.

The First Imperial Prince, Quan Qirui, who was obsessed with business, and the Second Imperial Prince, Quan Qiming, who was obsessed with women, sat there quietly. Their eyes were indifferent, their faces wearing a faint air of detachment, as if the matter had nothing to do with them.

Imperial Consort Gao watched the reactions of the crowd, especially those of the Empress and the Crown Prince, which gave her a great sense of satisfaction.

She grew increasingly smug, and instead of restraining herself, she became even more unscrupulous.

"Oh, Seventh Prince, you are young and inexperienced. Now that such a tragedy has occurred at the Jun estate and the Princess of Qingping has been missing for many days, even if she is found, her reputation is surely ruined. The Crown Prince cannot even protect his own fiancée; I suspect even the Heavens feel this marriage is improper."

Her voice was crisp but carried a sharp edge, sounding particularly jarring within the hall.

Quan Wuji’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits; the Empress was so angered that her vision went black, and she clutched her chest, coughing incessantly.

These words not only thoroughly enraged the Empress but also thoroughly enraged Quan Aoyu.

His eyes turned bloodshot, and he stood up abruptly, drawing the long whip from his waist.

"Vixen! How dare you be so insolent!"

He roared, and the long whip in his hand, like a bolt of black lightning, struck toward Imperial Consort Gao with the force of a thunderbolt.

With a crisp "crack," the long whip lashed fiercely against Imperial Consort Gao’s body.

Imperial Consort Gao’s body was sent flying by the whip, landing squarely on Quan Tianyi’s table.

With a "crash," the exquisite table snapped in two, wood splinters flew, bowls and dishes shattered across the floor, and Quan Tianyi jumped up in shock.

He looked back and his eyes nearly split with rage; he saw Imperial Consort Gao, who had smashed the table, with blood spilling from the corner of her mouth. Her face had turned as pale as paper, as if she were about to breathe her last.

Everyone was shocked. The dancers, who had been lost in the music and dance, were terrified; their fans and silk ribbons fell to the ground, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably, yet they remained frozen in place, not daring to flee.

The melodious sound of strings and bamboo instruments stopped abruptly, as if time had frozen at that very moment.

The entire palace hall fell into a deathly silence, so quiet that one could clearly hear a needle drop on the floor.

Only the painful moans of Imperial Consort Gao sounded particularly shrill in this deathly silence.

"Mother!"

Quan Tianyi was overcome with grief, his eyes filled with fear and resentment.

He rushed to Imperial Consort Gao’s side like a madman and pulled the severely injured, unconscious Imperial Consort Gao into his arms.

"Father Emperor, the Crown Prince has committed murder in public, treating human life like grass! I beg you to seek justice for your son and my mother!"

Quan Tianyi’s face was covered in tears, which streamed down like a bursting dam, looking somewhat like a delicate beauty in distress. His voice was choked with sobs as he pleaded desperately to the Emperor sitting on the dragon throne.

Quan Wuji sat on the supreme dragon throne, his gaze as cold as thousand-year ice.

The evil deeds Imperial Consort Gao had committed in collusion with the Gao family flashed through his mind like a film.

Prime Minister Gao had been convicted and executed, and Imperial Consort Gao had subsequently kept a low profile.

Originally, out of consideration for the fact that she had borne an Imperial Prince, if she could have stayed quietly in the palace from then on, her life would at least have been secure.

But she insisted on harboring evil intentions; now, she had brought this upon herself.

Quan Wuji was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the hall like a torch, before he spoke slowly:

"Hmph! Imperial Consort Gao, relying on the status of the Gao family and your position as an Imperial Consort, you have committed many wrongs in the past, and today you have stirred up trouble here again. Although the Crown Prince acted impulsively, he has punished you on my behalf. I will not pursue your insolence further. From this day on, you are confined to the Liuli Palace; you are not to take a single step out without my decree! Prince Yi, you should go and settle your mother properly. As for the Crown Prince..."

Hearing the Emperor mention him, Quan Aoyu cupped his hands in a perfunctory salute:

"Father Emperor, your son was momentarily angered; I am willing to accept punishment."

Quan Wuji waved his hand.

"Enough. Your salary will be docked for one month; let this not happen again."

Quan Wuji’s voice was flat, as if he had merely dealt with a trivial matter.

Hearing this, Quan Tianyi’s eyes widened, and he looked at the Emperor in disbelief:

"Father Emperor! How can you be so biased toward the Crown Prince? Even if my mother was wrong, her crime does not warrant death! The Crown Prince treated my mother so cruelly in front of so many people; if you do not punish him, how will you command respect in the future?"

Quan Wuji’s eyes narrowed dangerously, clearly enraged, and he spoke bluntly:

"Prince Yi, are you questioning me? Your mother colluded with the Gao family and attempted to disrupt the court. I did not mention this, giving her enough face because she had borne an Imperial Prince, yet she did not repent, acted perversely, and provoked others first. Now, she has brought this upon herself. If anyone else attempts to stir up trouble and disrupt palace order using this matter, do not blame me for being ruthless."

Quan Tianyi was filled with resentment. He wanted to say more, but seeing the Emperor’s cold gaze, he swallowed his words. He knew well that opposing the Emperor at this moment was like throwing an egg against a rock.

After this commotion, the Emperor and Empress, who had no interest to begin with, could no longer stay, and the two rose together and left.

Leaving only the people in the hall to look at each other in dismay.

Imperial Consort Gao was left at death's door, yet the culprit was only docked a month's salary—wasn't that barely a scratch?

At the last palace banquet, the Princess of Qingping crippled Consort Xin, and today, the Crown Prince beat an Imperial Consort until she had only one breath left.

The Emperor clearly intended to shield the Crown Prince and the Princess of Qingping, but who would dare to say anything?

Quan Tianyi did not know what others were thinking, but he was so angry his eyes nearly split. He stared fixedly at Quan Aoyu with snake-like eyes, gritting his teeth, and thought to himself:

Trading his mother’s life for Jun Ziqin’s life wasn't too much of a loss; we shall see who has the last laugh.

The palace banquet ended in chaos, and the guests dispersed.