21 Crown Prince Impermanence

“Your Majesty, what I say is true. The Crown Prince arrived late and now even dares to insult me,” Consort Xin said with a look of grievance as she glanced up at Emperor Shang sitting above. She wanted to decide the fate of the emperor’s throne, but little did she know that her disrespectful words had changed the expressions of many in the great hall.

Emperor Shang did not respond to Consort Xin’s words, nor did he blame her. Yet this very disregard almost brought tears to her eyes. Fortunately, having lived in the palace for so many years, she quickly composed herself and continued, “How can the Crown Prince, so lacking in manners, be entrusted with such a great responsibility?”

As soon as these words were spoken, even the third prince, Shang Chengying, son of Consort Xin, gave his mother a meaningful glance. But unfortunately, Consort Xin was blinded by her own jealousy and clouded judgment. She truly loved Emperor Shang sincerely, but sadly, the emperor never had eyes for her. That didn’t matter much since Emperor Shang loved no one. However, ever since Empress Qiu arrived at the palace, she had seen the emperor’s tenderness and indulgence. How could she not be jealous? Now, seeing the crown prince who bore some resemblance to Empress Qiu, she wished she could kill the prince.

The main hall fell silent, everyone shocked by Consort Xin’s words. Many were eager to see the outcome, watching to see whether the emperor would punish the crown prince or defend him.

Shang Wuxin’s originally lazy expression turned cold and sharp, a strange, eerie light reflecting in his deep phoenix-like eyes. He hadn’t expected a mere concubine to dare accuse him in the hall. It seemed this crown prince truly lacked authority.

Shang Wuxin’s aura shifted, and the first to feel it were Huan Mo Che and Leng Yufeng. Both, looking at the cold and imposing crown prince, thought Consort Xin was truly a fool. Whether the crown prince was favored or not was not something a concubine could comment on. Meanwhile, Huan Mo Che was curious to see how the crown prince would respond.

“Who are you?” Shang Wuxin picked up the teacup on the table and slowly sipped, speaking calmly.

Consort Xin did not expect her provocation to be met with such a question, causing her beautiful face to almost lose its composure. She extended a finger coated with rouge, pointing at Shang Wuxin and said, “I am your elder. Is the Crown Prince really so arrogant and disrespectful?” As she spoke, she glanced at the many ministers, letting them see the Crown Prince’s lack of manners.

“Hmph!” Shang Wuxin lazily raised his eyes to look at Consort Xin. “Elder? A flattering term for nothing more than one of the Emperor’s concubines. In truth, just a servant wife, yet you dare call yourself an elder? Or do you intend to seize the position of the late Empress and become the Empress yourself? Perhaps then I would acknowledge you as an elder!”

Consort Xin’s face turned pale, and even the other concubines and ministers were somewhat alarmed. Everyone knew that in the Emperor’s eyes and ears, Empress Qiu was a taboo subject. Anyone who dared mention her would meet a bad end. So, even though the Emperor had not yet appointed a new Empress, no minister dared to speak up. Now that the Crown Prince accused Consort Xin of trying to replace her, one could imagine the consequences for Consort Xin.

As expected, the Emperor Shang’s gaze instantly turned cold, and the look he gave Consort Xin was filled with disgust and murderous intent.

“You, you are talking nonsense!” Consort Xin looked at Emperor Shang fearfully. “Your Majesty, I did nothing wrong; it is the Crown Prince who is speaking nonsense!”

“I detest more than anything being accused, and I loathe even more someone challenging my authority. Yet, Consort Xin, you have done both. Tell me, what do you think I should do?” Shang Wuxin put down the teacup in his hand, his tone filled with a deadly seriousness.

“Fearless, slap him!” Shang Wuxin ordered. “Fearless, Consort Xin’s fingers are truly unpleasant!”

As soon as Mu Xin finished speaking, Wu Wei and Wu Ju stepped out from behind the Crown Prince and stood beside Consort Xin, both with wicked smiles curling at the corners of their mouths. This Consort Xin actually dared to treat the Crown Prince like this—they had been holding back for a long time.

“You dare,” Consort Xin said fearfully, but unfortunately, Shang Wuxin didn’t even have the interest to respond.

Although Wu Wei and Wu Ju were only maids, they only obeyed the Crown Prince’s orders. At this moment, Wu Wei came up to Consort Xin, stretched out her palm, and with all her strength gave Consort Xin two slaps, “smack smack!” It must be said that Wu Wei’s strength was quite great. Consort Xin felt so much pain that her teeth seemed a bit loose. Before she could cry out in pain, Wu Ju came up to her face, stretched out her hand, and directly broke the index finger that Consort Xin had just pointed at the Crown Prince.

With a “crack,” Consort Xin’s index finger drooped strangely; it turned out that Wuju had broken the bone in her index finger, making it impossible for even the imperial physician to reattach it.

“Ah!” Consort Xin cried out in pain, and all the civil and military officials in the hall were shocked by the Crown Prince’s ruthless methods. Such a Crown Prince was neither incompetent nor cowardly; even the maidservants around him were so cruel, so one could only imagine how the Crown Prince himself must be.

“Mother!” Grand Princess Shang Qinmi rushed to Consort Xin’s side, looking at her suffering mother and shouting angrily at the Crown Prince, “How can you treat Mother like this!”

Regarding the accusations from Grand Princess Shang Qinmi, Shang Wuxin calmly said, “Consort Xin, a mere concubine, actually dares to sow discord between me and Father Emperor. Such behavior deserves punishment. The harem must not interfere in politics, yet Consort Xin even tries to persuade Father Emperor to depose me from the position of Crown Prince. More importantly, Father Emperor is deeply devoted to Mother Empress, and now Consort Xin wants to take the Empress’s place. Sister, tell me, how can I not give Consort Xin a small punishment for this?”

Shang Qinmi was speechless. Even though she knew the Crown Prince’s words were baseless, she could not refute a single word. More importantly, this matter involved Empress Qiu, so how could Father Emperor not support Mother Consort, and might even punish her?

“Father, do you think I did the right thing?” Shang Wuxin looked at Emperor Shang, who was seated above, seemingly unafraid of the emperor’s sharp gaze. In the eyes of the crowd, the crown prince’s aura was even more fierce than the emperor’s.

“The crown prince can share my burdens, and I am greatly comforted!” Emperor Shang said indifferently. With that, the matter was settled, and Consort Xin was helped down by the eldest princess, ignored by everyone else. The crowd still could not discern the emperor’s true intentions, nor could they clearly read his attitude toward the crown prince. But one thing many had realized was that the crown prince’s former self was likely a disguise; now that the mask was lifted, this was the true crown prince. From now on, they would have to pay much closer attention to him.