Pregnant Before the Royal Marriage-Chapter 872 - General Protects His Child_1

Chapter 872: Chapter 872 General Protects His Child_1

Jiang Mubai spoke with indifference, “The Empress claims no one has mistreated my niece. Despite this claim, she fell ill from vexation. If she had been mistreated, I fear my niece’s life would have been in danger.”

The Empress found herself in an awkward situation.

The Emperor then spoke, “Did you come here today to hold us accountable, General?”

“I dare not,” Jiang Mubai glanced at the Prince of Wutong, “The noble Prince came to seek justice for Princess Ling’an. Being an uncle, it is therefore my duty to protect my niece. I am a general who leads troops into battle. If I can’t even protect my own family, how then can I safeguard the people?”

Prince Wutong frowned, “General Jiang, by all accounts, it was the Princess Consort who had my daughter beaten. Why are you now raising a complaint?”

“If I hadn’t coincidentally come to the palace to report on military affairs, you would have deflected blame and smeared the Princess Consort, insinuating that she was at fault!” Jiang Mubai said bitterly, “The Princess Consort, who resides peacefully in the East Palace, becomes the target of your daughter’s chaos at the Crystal Clear Manor. Have we forgotten all decorum within these palace walls?!”

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“Princess Ling’an did err, she does deserve punishment…”

“If so, why then did you come to the Emperor and Empress bemoaning your daughter’s fate?” Jiang Mubai smirked. “Princess Ling’an first violated her superiors, offending the Emperor, the Empress, and Concubine Shu. Then at the East Palace, she rejected discipline and wreaked havoc at the Crystal Clear Manor, causing illness to the Princess Consort. Every single incident only leads to a mere three strokes of the cane, and yet you find this unjust? In my opinion, a harsher penalty is warranted!”

Under the force of his energy, the Prince of Wutong found himself unable to retort. He knelt down and pleaded: “May Your Majesty punish me for my mistakes. Please consider that my daughter is young and naive, and spare her this once.”

The Emperor heeded his plea and stated, “It is indeed appropriate to punish you. After all, a parent’s fault lies in the failure to discipline their child. You did not bring up Princess Ling’an well.”

“I am at fault,” he conceded.

“In that case, let’s have the Prince of Wutong forfeit his salary for three years and remain confined at home for self-examination for three months. As for Princess Ling’an, she will stay in the East Palace temporarily. However, if she misbehaves again, we shall punish her severely.”

The Prince of Wutong dared not argue, but still implored, “The mother of Ling’an has repeatedly fainted from worry and longing. I beg Your Majesty to allow her to visit her daughter once in the palace.”

The Empress, who was distantly related to the Princess Consort of Wutong and maintained a good relationship, naturally spoke on her behalf: “Your Majesty, as a mother myself, I can truly empathize with her feelings. Please grant her this request.”

She, too, had once lost a child.

The Emperor, thinking of the Eldest Prince, and the orphaned Li Tingqian, felt a tinge of melancholy, and eventually agreed.

Prince Wutong quickly thanked the Emperor and withdrew.

Jiang Mubai added, “The mother of the Princess Consort must also worry for her daughter.”

The Emperor immediately replied, “If the wife of Prime Minister Jiang wishes to visit the palace, she is naturally welcome at any time.”

The Empress inwardly sneered.

After all these years, every time Lin Zizi was mentioned, the Emperor would become addled, forgetting everything.

Only then was Jiang Mubai satisfied. He turned to the Crown Prince, “I have matters to discuss with the Crown Prince.”

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Li Hongyuan thus followed him to a side hall to discuss matters, leaving the Emperor and Empress to converse alone.

The Empress had little to say to the Emperor nowadays. The incident had tilted in favor of the Princess Consort, making her feel uncomfortable. However, thinking of the Prince of Zhao whom she was most concerned about—who was still far away—she softened her tone, begging the Emperor to look after the Prince of Zhao.

While the Emperor and Empress were conversing, a eunuch brought in the divination sticks, inviting the Emperor to draw lots as per routine.

The Empress’s smile faded at the sight of this.