The Emperor and Empress loathed Shen Mingya with a passion. Had she only committed the crime of deceiving the monarch, perhaps she wouldn’t have implicated her entire clan. However, she had struck the Emperor and Empress’s reverse scale. This woman and Han Ze had clearly never shared a bed, yet she dared to slander Han Ze by claiming her wild seed was his. This was essentially forcing a green hat on Han Ze; dying a hundred deaths would not be enough.
Emperor Mingzheng’s dragon countenance was filled with rage. “Guards! Throw them into the Imperial Prison to await their sentence!”
The Marquis and his son panicked. Shen Mingya looked at Han Ze and pleaded desperately, “Prince Chun, save me!”
Han Ze looked at the Emperor frantically and said in a panic, “Dad, why are you locking Miss Shen in prison? That’s where criminals go.”
Shen Mingya felt a surge of hope. Han Ze was a fool; his thoughts and logic were different from ordinary people. Although he hadn’t admitted they had a relationship earlier, he also hadn’t said he wouldn’t save her. Since Han Ze adored her, he surely wouldn’t watch the Emperor lock her away in the Imperial Prison.
Shen Jiaqing’s stiff body relaxed slightly. Han Ze was obsessed with Mingya; he certainly wouldn’t watch them be imprisoned.
The Marquis of Yongchang, however, was not as optimistic. It was precisely because the Emperor doted on Prince Chun that he could not tolerate them humiliating him. Even if the Prince pleaded for them, it would be useless.
Emperor Mingzheng looked at his innocent and naive son with a headache. He looked toward the Empress, who gestured for Han Ze to come to her side.
Han Ze looked at Shen Mingya hesitantly before slowly shuffling to the Empress’s side. He said, “Mom, why lock Miss Shen in prison? Isn’t that only for people who make mistakes? Miss Shen didn’t make a mistake.”
Facing her youngest son, the Empress’s attitude was extremely gentle. She asked, “Aze, do you think your Dad would make a mistake?”
Han Ze knit his brows in thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Xiaoxing said Dad is the Emperor, and the Emperor doesn’t make mistakes.”
The Empress glanced at Shen Mingya and asked again, “Then do you think your Dad would lock Miss Shen in prison for no reason at all?”
Shen Mingya’s heart was in her throat as she stared at Han Ze, waiting for his answer.
Han Ze said without a second thought, “No.” After thinking it over, he added, “Dad is the Emperor; how could he make a mistake?”
Shen Mingya’s face turned various shades of green and white—it was quite the spectacle.
The Empress smiled and said, “Your Dad locked Miss Shen in prison because she definitely made a big mistake. Otherwise, your Dad wouldn’t have done it.”
Han Ze gave an “Ah” and scratched his head, looking sad. “Then… then what mistake did Miss Shen make?”
The Empress’s smile froze. As a mother, how could she tell her son that this woman wanted to marry him not because she liked him, but to plot against him—to cuckold him and make him raise someone else’s child? If she spoke the truth, how heartbroken would her son be?
Han Wei, watching from the side, gave a soft sigh. He knew his parents couldn’t bear to hurt Aze. Since they didn’t want to be the bad guys, he would be. He said sternly, “This woman is pregnant, and the child isn’t yours.”
“What?”
Han Ze stared blankly at Han Wei, his gaze confused as if he didn’t understand.
Since Han Wei wanted his brother to see the woman’s ugly face clearly, he had the patience to explain to the confused boy: “The Miss Shen you want to marry as your Princess Consort is carrying a child that isn’t yours. Didn’t you say you were ‘pure’ with her? Since you are pure, then the baby in her belly definitely isn’t yours.”
Han Ze blinked and suddenly said, “Miss Shen has a baby in her belly?”
Han Wei: “…” Was it possible that after all that talking, his silly brother still didn’t get the point?
The Empress’s lip twitched. “Yes, Miss Shen has a baby in her belly.”
Han Ze said as if suddenly realizing something, “Oh, oh, oh! The doctor said that just now. I forgot! Hehe…” After speaking, Han Ze looked happy. “That’s good! Babies are so cute. Xiaozhu and Xiaoxing are very cute too.”
The Empress: “…”
Han Wei said crossly, “No matter how cute a baby is, it isn’t your baby. Why are you so happy?”
Han Ze frowned. “Then whose is it?”
Han Wei rubbed his temples, his voice almost a roar. “You said you are pure with Miss Shen! No matter whose child it is, it can’t be yours! Miss Shen lied to you! She lied to Dad! Dad is the Emperor, the Sovereign. She committed the crime of deceiving the monarch and must be punished!”
As for the specific punishment, it was better not to let this silly boy know so he wouldn’t be frightened.
Han Ze stood there dazed. The gaze he turned on Shen Mingya was a bit sad. After a long while, he said unhappily, “You lied to me?”
Seeing that Han Ze couldn’t save her, Shen Mingya stopped caring about him. She was no longer willing to act sweet or curry favor and said nothing.
Han Wei added, “Aze, Shen Mingya said the baby was yours and wanted you to raise someone else’s baby. Do you think she wanted to steal your gold?”
Han Ze’s eyes widened abruptly. “The gold in my house belongs to me, Xiaoxing, and Xiaozhu! It can’t be given to others!”
Han Wei smiled. “Exactly. It can’t be given to others.” He then looked at the Empress. “Mom, Aze was born in the year of the Ox. I remember you have a Gold Ox in your palace. Weren’t you going to give it to Aze?”
The Empress realized his intent. “Right, right! There is a Gold Ox…”
Han Ze smiled. “Mom, let’s go look at it right now!”
The Empress looked at him and said slowly, “Help me up.”
Han Ze gave a dutiful “Eh!”
Mother and son walked out of the Hall of Clear Hearts, talking and laughing. Han Wei looked at the Emperor with a smile in his eyes. “It seems we worried too much. Aze has the heart of a child; he doesn’t understand ‘love’ at all. In his eyes, no matter how much he likes a woman, she probably isn’t as important as gold.”
Emperor Mingzheng nodded with relief. Loving gold is good. Loving gold is much better than loving that disgusting woman.
Shen Mingya collapsed on the floor, her face devoid of joy or sorrow. She allowed the guards to seize her and lock her away in the prison.
…
Han Ze returned to the Prince’s Mansion clutching the Gold Ox and went happily to his courtyard. Hearing their father was back, Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu rushed over. Xiaoxing asked, “Dad, what did Imperial Grandfather want with you in the palace?”
Hearing the question, Han Ze’s shoulders slumped. He said indignantly, “Miss Shen lied to me! And I thought she was a good person! She actually lied to me and wanted her baby to steal our family’s gold!”
Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu looked at each other. Wasn’t Miss Shen about to marry Dad as the Princess Consort? How did this happen? Can she still be the Consort?
Xiaoxing asked hurriedly, “What did Imperial Grandfather say?”
Han Ze said sadly, “Your Imperial Grandfather locked them in the big prison.”
Xiaoxing wasn’t surprised by the outcome, but he was surprised by one thing: “Dad, you didn’t plead for Miss Shen?”
Han Ze frowned and said in a difficult tone, “I’m your Imperial Grandfather’s son; I’m definitely on his side. Miss Shen lied to me. She said she was on my side, but she lied. Everything she said must be fake! And… and she actually wanted her baby to steal our gold. Too wicked!”
Xiaoxing: “…” Dad said so much, but that last sentence was the main point, wasn’t it?
Xiaozhu asked curiously, “Dad, didn’t you like Miss Shen?”
Han Ze rubbed his head, his face turning red as he stammered, unable to speak.
Xiaozhu pressed on, “Does Dad still like her now?”
Han Ze roared angrily, “She actually lied to me!”
Xiaozhu wanted to ask more, but Xiaoxing tugged at her arm, signaling her to stop. Although their father hadn’t explicitly said he still liked Miss Shen, his expression made it clear she would never marry him. As long as she didn’t join the family, their father would eventually forget her.
…
The news that the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Yongchang had plotted to force her wild seed onto Prince Chun spread like wildfire through the capital. For a time, whenever Han Ze went out, people who knew him would look at him with strange expressions.
“Oh, if it isn’t Prince Chun?”
Han Ze turned around. The man before him wore a flamboyant purple robe and held a folding fan. He looked at Han Ze with a mocking, loungy expression—the very picture of a profligate son of a wealthy house.
Han Ze searched his memory for the identity: Chen Junxiong, the nephew of Consort Hui.
He asked, “Why are you calling me?”
Chen Junxiong gave an evil laugh. He didn’t respect Han Ze at all. He walked closer, licked his lips, and provocatively scanned Han Ze from head to toe. “Why isn’t Prince Chun wearing his green hat today? The color is so bright and looks so good; remember to wear it next time.”
Han Ze pointed at him. “Wearing a green hat is a way of cursing people. Are you cursing me?”
Chen Junxiong clicked his tongue. “How rare! You actually know I’m cursing you? You’re not stupid, are you?” He burst into laughter.
Han Ze frowned. “You dare to curse me! I’m going back to tell my Imperial Father.”
Chen Junxiong laughed again. “Go ahead and tell him. Let’s see if the Emperor believes the words of a fool.” He shot Han Ze a disdainful look and strode away arrogantly.
The other young noblemen following him were a bit worried. They had heard Prince Chun was very favored. Is it really okay to mock him like that?
Han Ze looked at his retreating back and gave a cold laugh in his heart. He turned and ordered, “We’re going to the palace.”
The young eunuch asked, “Prince, it’s almost noon. We’re still going?”
Han Ze snorted. “That man cursed me. I’m going to tell my Dad.”
The eunuch was delighted. If someone dared to curse the Prince, the Emperor should be told so he could deal with it. He helped Han Ze into the carriage and ordered the driver to the palace.
Upon entering the palace, Han Ze didn’t go to the Kunning Palace but went straight to the Hall of Clear Hearts, only to find the Emperor had gone to Consort Hui’s Changchun Palace.
Han Ze said, “Let’s go to the Changchun Palace.”
Emperor Mingzheng was dining with Consort Hui and the Fifth Prince. The Fifth Prince was eight years old this year but had been frail since birth; he had no appetite for most foods. Every meal, his nannies had to coax and persuade him to eat anything at all.
The Emperor doted on his youngest son and often worried. He was currently coaxing the boy to eat. Hearing Han Ze had arrived, he was surprised but said with a smile, “Why is the boy in the palace at this hour? Let him in.”
A flash of coldness appeared in Consort Hui’s eyes, but she looked up and said gently, “He likely hasn’t eaten yet. Why not have him dine with us?”
The Emperor shot her a look, his gaze unreadable. “Let him eat with the Empress.”
Consort Hui’s heart tightened. She was about to speak when Han Ze strode in boldly.
The Emperor said with a smile, “Why are you at the palace?”
Han Ze snorted. “Dad, someone cursed me!”
The Emperor’s brow furrowed. “Who dares curse you?” He hadn’t expected that after the Marquis of Yongchang incident, there were still people bold enough to target Aze. It seemed he hadn’t “slaughtered enough chickens.”
Han Ze said loudly, “His name is Chen Junxiong. He’s the cousin of my Fifth Brother.”
Consort Hui was stunned and said hurriedly, “Could Prince Chun be mistaken?” Her heart was racing. She knew her nephew’s character all too well. Every time she asked her brother to discipline him, there was an excuse. Now he actually had the audacity to curse Prince Chun.
Han Ze glared at her unhappily. “It was him! He asked me why I went out without my green hat! He told me not to forget to wear it next time. Big Brother told me that ‘wearing a green hat’ is a curse. He was cursing me!”
Emperor Mingzheng’s face turned grim.
Consort Hui knew things were going poorly. Seeing the Fifth Prince beside her, she reached out and gave him a sharp pinch. The Fifth Prince burst into tears.
The Emperor looked at the Fifth Prince. “What’s wrong?”
Consort Hui said hurriedly, “Your Majesty, Jun’er is frail and cannot eat. He is crying from hunger—he’s starving.”
The Emperor frowned. “This cannot go on. The kitchen must find a way to make food he can eat.”
Consort Hui smiled. “The kitchen is already working on it.”
Han Ze chimed in from the side: “Why can’t he eat just because he’s frail? When I was starving, I even ate tree bark! When Xiaoxing and Xiaozhu’s mother was having them, she had a difficult labor and they were born frail too, but since there was no food at home, Grandma boiled wild vegetables for them to eat. Now they eat everything! There’s so much delicious food on your table, yet he can’t eat? You really do have a lot of gold.”
Consort Hui’s smile froze.
Emperor Mingzheng glanced at Consort Hui, then suddenly set down his chopsticks with a “clack.” He stood up. “Aze, let’s go see your Mother.”
Consort Hui grew anxious and stood up, calling out, “Your Majesty!”
The Emperor ignored her and strode out. Han Ze followed close behind. “Dad, that Chen Junxiong cursed me. How are you going to punish him?”
Consort Hui heard the Emperor’s voice trailing back: “How about fifty strokes with the boards?”
Han Ze said happily, “Good! Let’s see if he dares to curse me again.”
Consort Hui’s face turned dark as she clenched her fingers. What a silly Prince.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152