Chapter 44.2
Others didn’t know, but Zong Hongjiu was aware, when the Third Imperial Brother was still alive, that fool Eighth Imperial Brother was very precious to him, which made him dare not go to trouble the other party at will.
After all, he was still young, and although he harbored evil intentions, he did not react quickly either. Now being stirred by Zong Chengsi a bit, he suddenly became very excited, feeling that he had finally caught Zong Luo’s handle. (TL: handle/(fig.) information that can be used against someone)
Pretending to have amnesia, and sneaking into the palace again, what is the intention behind it, a slight smear can extend to a good few. If this were to be known by the father emperor, capital punishment can absolutely be avoided, but live crime is difficult to escape.
(t/n: That person should live to suffer. Sometimes it is used for a prisoner on trial, which means that he will not be killed directly, but he will be tortured. Sometimes it means that people don’t have to die, but they have to bear pain and guilt in life (often to the person who made a mistake).
However, for the sake of safety, Zong Hongjiu still did not tell Zong Chengsi about this matter and what he had overheard before. Although the Fourth Imperial Brother was kind to him, it was a pity that his mother’s status was too humble and simply wasn’t worth mentioning in court. Zong Hongjiu never thought of betting the treasure on him.
“What did he do in the palace?”
As expected, Emperor Yuan put down his brush with an unexpected tone of voice.
Zong Hongjiu was overjoyed, and quickly added highly colored details. “Third Imperial Brother, he ran to find the Eighth Imperial Brother, and this son just happened to go for a walk there, thus saw it, it was unknown what they were talking about together, but Eighth Imperial Brother’s expression did not reflect his usual foolishness. At first glance, this son thought he was a mistaken, and that someone was impersonating the Third Imperial Brother, therefore hurriedly came to find Father Emperor.”
Entering the city, entering the palace, everyone has seen him, and yet he did not come to see Zhen.
Emperor Yuan snorted coldly.
Did not see Zhen, let it pass, but Zhen still needs to ask you!
Really courageous enough.
Zong Hongjiu didn’t hear any answer for a long time, so he raised his eyes carefully and glanced at him.
After seeing the tyrant on the dragon chair pick up his writing brush again and continue to review the memorial quickly and smoothly, he couldn’t help being a little confused.
Obviously just now Father Emperor still looked very unhappy, why did he not lose his temper.
“He even beat this son!”
Zong Hongjiu was a bit anxious, then said again, “It’s not that this son is unwilling to recognize the Third Imperial Brother, it’s just that this son saw the Third Imperial Brother twice, and was beaten twice by the imperial brother. Later, at the hunting ground as well, this son has lost a tooth.”
The writing brush in Emperor Yuan’s hand never stopped, “So to say, you came to Zhen to complain?”
Zong Hongjiu choked, and fine sweat began to ooze from his forehead.
A dense panic suddenly surged in his heart, always feeling that this matter seemed to be getting further and further away from the direction he had originally imagined.
Even the panic seemed to mock the psychological preparation he had made for himself earlier.
But it was only for a moment.
No, I am Father Emperor’s favorite prince.
He told himself this, and then took a deep breath. “Father Emperor, imperial brother is the imperial brother after all. But oppressing the younger imperial brother by virtue of age, is it right? Moreover, the Third Imperial Brother is deliberately pretending to have amnesia, otherwise he would not have….”
Emperor Yuan put down his writing brush heavily.
Zong Hongjiu’s heart suddenly jumped.
“Where did you learn these words from? The Fourth who just sent you back?”
Joy and anger were indistinguishable from Emperor Yuan’s voice, “You do not want to learn, Zhen agreed. However, Zhen did not expect you to come together with the Fourth, and play a few despicable means.”
“Father Emperor is mistaken!”
Zong Hongjiu was so frightened that he immediately knelt down with a thud. “This son just wants to share the worries of Father Emperor, and does not want Father Emperor to be kept in the dark.”
“Share worries?” Emperor Yuan sneered, “What idea is taken, you’re clear about it yourself.”
“The things you did, you really think Zhen doesn’t know? If it weren’t for your insistence on finding trouble with Zong Ruichen, would your Third Imperial Brother beat you?”
Zong Hongjiu trembled all over. “But Third Imperial Brother has been leading troops outside and has been practicing martial arts since he was a child! How can this son, who is so much younger than him, be able to fight him?”
“If you can’t fight, then why still go and provoke?”
Emperor Yuan said lightly, “Since it’s already done, be prepared to bear the consequences.”
Zong Hongjiu felt a chill in his heart.
He was afraid in his heart, and he seemed to be thrown back to the world from the clouds, confirming the answer he least wanted to hear.
“That day in Zhang Palace, what Father Emperor and Prime Minister Pei said, everything was heard.”
The young prince knelt on the ground, and tears were falling down, drop by drop. “Father Emperor is clearly biased to the Third Imperial Brother.”
“Enough.”
Emperor Yuan couldn’t bear it anymore, “Your Third Imperial Brother didn’t achieve it overnight either. Zhen has arranged so many teachers for you. Although they are not as good as the Ghost Valley Master, nevertheless, they are definitely enough. If you’re still unwilling to learn, then today, don’t blame your Third Imperial Brother for disciplining you.”
He looked at his youngest son with a disappointed gaze, “You say Zhen is biased, you don’t even ask yourself, can you afford Zhen’s favoritism.”
What you want to get, is what you have to pay for.
“Zhen treats you all the same, and has never harshly criticized you all. Zhen has also given you all the opportunity and leeway to choose.”
His heavy expectations and the future of this country were bound to be the most harsh and bumpy road.
This road, from beginning to end, only had one candidate.
“These are all the roads you all have chosen yourselves.”
Can you afford Zhen’s favoritism? Perfection.
I hope our MC realizes that his father loved him, and that something else was at play when he received the suicide edict.