Chapter 312: The Crown Prince Returns to the Eastern Palace? Turmoil at Prince Yun's Mansion!

Li Qingluo heard this and secretly gasped.

"Why, why? Why are you so certain, Your Highness, that he will surely die?"

Although he indeed deserves to die, but if he dies in a plot, can the rest of the Li family escape?

Although Li Qingluo hates Old Madam Deng for causing her grandmother suffering with her witchcraft back then.

Over the years, she has also stirred up the entire Jiangjun Fu into utter chaos.

But all this is the fault of Old Madam Deng; the majority of the second and third branches say they ultimately haven't done any major wickedness, and I have no deep grudge against them, and Grandmother wouldn't blame them for Old Madam Deng's deeds, nor would I wish them to really die because of being implicated by Li Chao Jing.

Also there are Madam Lou, Huan Jieer, and Madam Liu.

Li Qingluo will certainly do everything she can to rescue them.

Duan Rongshi hadn't yet explained the reason when De Shu arrived.

Duan Rongshi immediately put on his mask and then sat down at the side.

Li Qingluo naturally wouldn't keep him waiting; she had De Shu come in quickly and served him tea.

De Shu only glanced at Duan Rongshi, then immediately lowered his eyes, not daring to look around, and said: "Miss, the Jiang family side has had no stir lately. However, the Jiang family's concubine's son has already returned to the Eastern Palace with the Crown Prince."

Li Qingluo: "The Crown Prince? Returning to the Eastern Palace?!"

She couldn't help but glance at Duan Rongshi.

Upon seeing that he had no reaction, she then knew it was true.

Li Qingluo then recalled that yesterday was Prince Yun's birthday.

Yesterday Li Qingluo was also busy at the Jiangjun Fu, busy dealing with Old Madam Deng and exposing her birth mother's true nature.

After waking up and facing such a major incident, she still hasn't clarified whether anything happened at Prince Yun's Mansion yesterday.

She hurriedly leaned forward, ignoring Prince Su who was there, and asked: "Quickly tell me, did something happen at Prince Yun's Mansion yesterday? How did the Crown Prince suddenly return to the Eastern Palace with proper justification?"

De Shu: "Miss, you don't know yet, but Prince Yun's Mansion indeed had a major incident yesterday."

Speaking of which, after Prince Yun lost one eye, it was obvious he was no longer qualified for that position for the rest of his life; his spirit was broken, and he had no heart to host a birthday celebration at this time.

Moreover, Emperor Yan leaked the news, saying he would also go to Prince Yun's Mansion that day together with the Empress.

Besides his desire as father emperor to personally celebrate the birthday of his legitimate second son, he also wanted to console Prince Yun's devastated spirits.

Prince Yun therefore had no choice but to grit his teeth and have the Princess Consort make the arrangements.

However, Prince Yun still couldn't bring himself to feel happy.

Because his elder brother, the deposed crown prince and second prince Duan Rongyin, would also return to celebrate his birthday.

His own eye had been blinded by the Lotus Sect, yet coincidentally, his eldest legitimate brother managed to capture and destroy a Lotus Sect nest.

How could Prince Yun Duan Rongxuan not feel jealous and resentful?

Both being legitimate princes, the father emperor and empress must have already been comparing them in their hearts.

Nevertheless, no matter how much he hated it, he could only swallow this bitterness in his heart.

And he pretended to be very happy to welcome Duan Rongyin's arrival.

No one knows how long Duan Rongyin will stay this time under the pretense of celebrating his younger brother's birthday.

Although Prince Yun's Mansion was lively yesterday and indeed went all out with the preparations, Prince Yun himself remained terribly low-spirited.

He wore a black veil over his eye, fatigued and listless, constantly seated in the place of honor; although people came and went to offer birthday greetings, he couldn't force a smile.

His face remained grim until Emperor Yan and the Empress, followed shortly after by the Deposed Crown Prince Duan Rongyin, arrived.

Only then did Prince Yun rise respectfully to greet them, and he struggled to force a hint of a smile.

What Prince Yun truly thinks in his heart, no one knows.

Anyway, ever since Duan Rongyin appeared, the Empress has been pulling her beloved eldest son, tears in her eyes, to show concern and ask after his well-being; meanwhile, Duan Rongxuan simply stood to the side with his hands behind his back, listening.

The emperor seemed to pay no attention to this long-unseen legitimate eldest son, but Duan Rongxuan knew that he hadn't missed a word of the conversation between the empress and the older brother.

But clearly, today is his own birthday.

Not even the father emperor and empress had asked him a single word about whether his injured eye still hurt.

And on this birthday, is he even happy?

In their eyes, there is only Duan Rongyin.

Prince Yun alone in the corner drank many glasses of bitter wine.

When he sobered up, he found he had already returned to the inner court.

Moreover, beside him knelt a young lady sobbing softly.

Prince Yun only felt a sudden headache; just as he sat up, the door was kicked open with a bang.

It turned out that during the period when Prince Yun had gone missing after drinking too much, a great chaos erupted in the front courtyard.

The dancing girls and musicians who were to perform had colluded, intending to assassinate Emperor Yan.

A long sword was hidden beneath the guqin.

A short dagger was strapped to the leg beneath the dancer's skirt.

The two of them, working together, charged at Emperor Yan to assassinate him, shouting: "Dog emperor, you slaughter my Lotus Sect followers, dreaming of destroying my Lotus Holy Sect! Our Lotus Sect shall endure forever, never to be defeated——"

"Go to hell——"

The Deposed Crown Prince Duan Rongyin fearlessly threw himself forward to shield Emperor Yan.

"Father emperor, empress, be careful——"

Although the guards immediately rushed out to block the attack and quickly cut the two down amidst the chaotic blades,

but the Deposed Crown Prince was still struck in the arm by a flying dagger.

The entire birthday feast instantly descended into chaos.

Emperor Yan and the Empress both rushed over in panic, surrounding Duan Rongyin and shouting in distress.

"Imperial physician! Imperial physician, quickly summon the imperial physician!"

The Yan Emperor flew into a great rage, and the Imperial Guard hastily brought the imperial physician over.

Although Duan Rongyin suffered no serious harm, his recent actions deeply moved both the Yan Emperor and the Empress.

They were also still frightened and felt very scared.

If Duan Rongyin were to suffer any mishap today, they would surely be heartbroken beyond bearing.

Seeing how concerned his father and mother were, Duan Rongyin, besides looking moved, also had red eyes and tears as he said, "Your subject previously committed a grave error, was confined and imprisoned for these years, and only now does he realize how foolish he was before; it was he who hurt the hearts of father and mother, and also disappointed them."

"I never expected to still have a chance to show loyalty and filial piety before father and mother; even if I were to truly die today, it would be worth it."

The Empress wept in a most unbecoming manner.

"My child…… are you trying to take the Empress's life?"

"If you truly suffer any mishap, the Empress would truly follow you to death……"

The Yan Emperor nodded repeatedly, eyes red, and said, "Yin'er, Father is greatly gratified to see you display such filial piety today."

In contrast, Prince Yun had vanished without a trace at this moment!

The Princess Consort of Prince Yun, looking anxious, ordered someone to go look for him at once.

The Yan Emperor: "Hah, this unfilial son! On his birthday, he has disappeared without a trace."

"He still doesn't have the bearing of a prince, let alone an imperial son!"

"With all the guests filling the mansion, even I and his mother are still here, yet after such a major incident he hasn't shown himself—what on earth is he doing?!"

"Today these Lotus Sect infiltrators have sneaked into Prince Yun's Mansion and even intended to assassinate me—could it really have nothing to do with him?!"

When the Son of Heaven is angered, corpses pile up by the millions.

Everyone in Prince Yun's Mansion, even the guests of the past few days, upon hearing the Yan Emperor's wrath, instantly fell to their knees with a thud, not daring to raise their heads.

Prince Yun's Mansion is probably doomed……

The Yan Emperor's beard trembled with anger, especially since Duan Rongyin had been wounded, which made him feel extremely uneasy.

He immediately decided to go in person to see what good deed that worthless fellow Duan Rongxuan was up to.

However, as the Yan Emperor intended to personally look for his son, all the guests in the mansion could only follow along, wandering about aimlessly.

Unfortunately, the Princess Consort of Prince Yun could not immediately find Prince Yun Duan Rongxuan.

It was the Empress's attendants who were the first to arrive.

Seeing the situation inside the room, the Empress had no doubt about what was happening.

She immediately rushed in, frustrated beyond measure, and slapped Duan Rongxuan across the face.

"You wretched thing! Do you not know what has just happened to your father and your elder brother?!"

"Right here in your mansion, your own people dared to assassinate your father."

"You don't even know that traitors of the Lotus Sect are hidden here—utterly clueless!"

"Your elder brother entertained the guests for you and even suffered grave wounds protecting your father—don't you have anything to say?"

"You have utterly disappointed this palace!"

"Useless good-for-nothing!"

The Empress's successive rebukes and reprimands left Duan Rongshi momentarily unable to react.

Only when he saw the Yan Emperor rushing over, furious, and Duan Rongyin with his arm already bandaged, did Duan Rongxuan's face turn completely ashen.

"Your subject, your subject knows nothing…… Father, Mother, your subject really did nothing……"

"Your subject, your subject also doesn't know how this happened……"

"Empress, please save your subject, save your subject——"

He normally would never be like this today, and he has no recollection whatsoever of what happened.

Even if he had drunk, he would never dare, just from a little drink, to commit such an heinous act of abandoning his father and mother!

However, the Yan Emperor no longer wanted to hear his explanations.

At this moment, his eyes were as cold and sharp as if they had been quenched in ice.

"Fourth Prince, Prince Yun Duan Rongshi, unfilial and lacking virtue, failing to detect the assassins hidden in his mansion who intend harm to Your Majesty the Emperor. Effective immediately, strip him of his princely title, leaving him merely as the Fourth Prince……"

From now on, Duan Rongxuan is merely the Fourth Prince.

No longer Prince Yun.

And Duan Rongyin, for his merit in guarding the emperor, was immediately restored by the Yan Emperor to his position as crown prince, and ordered to move back to the Eastern Palace effective today……

One morning's rise, one morning's fall.

Prince Yun watched as the Yan Emperor and the Empress mercilessly took Duan Rongyin away.

The guests in the mansion also instantly dispersed……

"Miss, I heard that Prince Yun—no, the Fourth Prince—after the guests dispersed yesterday, he sat alone in his room until dawn without moving."

"The Fourth Prince's consort feared he had died and went to check on him several times."

"They say he might have gone mad, that he cannot bear it and will become insane, so today they even went to beg the imperial physician, but there has been no movement in the palace, and the Empress has still not appeared."

Li Qingluo instantly understood many things in her mind.

"So, the son the Empress truly intends to support… could it actually… have been the deposed crown prince all along……?"