The next day, the Emperor indeed dealt with Chu Shaoruan, but to save face, he did not make public Chu Shaoruan's false accusations against Chu Shaoling. He only said that Chu Shaoruan's words and deeds were improper and disrespectful to his elder brother. He was fined three years' salary, dismissed from his post in the Ministry of War effective immediately, and placed under house arrest at the Tanghe Palace to reflect on his mistakes, not allowed to return to the Imperial City without an edict.

Consort Li, having failed in her upbringing, was also to be punished. Effective immediately, her title of Consort Li was stripped and she was demoted.

The Emperor's handling was well within Chu Shaoling's expectations. As long as Chu Shaoruan did not infringe upon the Emperor's own interests, the Emperor would not truly take action against him. In the previous life, it was only when Chu Shaoling implicated Chu Shaoruan in a case of treason that Chu Shaoruan was truly brought down. It was still too early for that now.

Compared to Chu Shaoling's calmness, Wei Ji was unusually angered. After the eunuch came to deliver the Emperor's message, Wei Ji kept his lips tightly pursed and his hands clenched. Seeing Wei Ji's face turn pale, Chu Shaoling quickly pulled him to his side and coaxed, "What's wrong? Speak."

Wei Ji only felt that there were thousands of raging fires burning in his heart. He said in a hoarse voice, "Chu Shaoruan dared to plot against the legitimate prince, yet he is only placed under house arrest. He..."

"You expected the Emperor to have him executed?" Chu Shaoling had Wei Ji sit down, embraced him and gently stroked his back as he slowly said, "Do you still remember the matter of the imperial ploughing last year? Although it was not thoroughly investigated, it was actually Chu Shaoruan and the Zhen family who joined hands in an attempt to take my life. The Emperor is well aware of this, but what happened afterwards? The Emperor did not touch Chu Shaoruan at all, only stripping Zhen Jiaxin of his position as Minister of Personnel. Compared to that, this punishment is much harsher, also because many people witnessed it at the Linxi Pavilion, and the Empress Dowager personally presided over the trial. The Emperor had no choice but to deal with him. Think about it, how could the Emperor possibly take severe action to punish Chu Shaoruan?"

Wei Ji looked at Chu Shaoling, not fully understanding. If it were someone else, Chu Shaoling would not bother to explain further, but this was Wei Ji. Chu Shaoling did not have the slightest impatience, instead feeling pity in his heart. His poor Wei Ji, with such a simple mind, not understanding these matters. Chu Shaoling held Wei Ji's hand and explained in detail, "Look, among the current princes, who has the possibility to obtain the position of Crown Prince?"

Without thinking, Wei Ji said, "Naturally, it is Your Highness."

Chu Shaoling chuckled and ruffled Wei Ji's hair. "There's also Chu Shaoruan. Originally, Chu Shaoyang also had some hope, but the Emperor has already sent him off to his fief. As long as Chu Shaoruan and I are not dead, he has no chance."

"Your Highness must not speak such unlucky words!" Wei Ji couldn't help but interrupt Chu Shaoling. "Your Highness will naturally live a long and prosperous life."

Chu Shaoling smiled and continued, "Yes, now the ones with hope are just me and Chu Shaoruan. If the Emperor were to execute Chu Shaoruan or strip him of his noble status as a prince at this time, then among the princes, it would be your lord alone who dominates. The Emperor does not wish to see that."

"It's not just because the Emperor dislikes me that he does this. I have not been close to him since childhood, and he is very wary of me. He fears that after Chu Shaoruan falls, I will treat him as an opponent and directly seize his dragon throne. Now, it is his preference to see me and Chu Shaoruan in a standoff." Chu Shaoling sneered coldly, "He will not abandon Chu Shaoruan unless it's a matter of life and death. Last time, he let Zhen Jiaxin take the fall, and this time, he heavily punished Consort Li, sacrificing pawns to protect the chariot. He is still reluctant to give up Chu Shaoruan."

Wei Ji was stunned for a moment, then said after a long while, "So it will just be left at that?"

"Of course not." Chu Shaoling sneered coldly, "I remember it all. How could I let him off so easily? Although Chu Shaoruan is only placed under house arrest this time, it's enough to make him suffer. As long as I don't relent, the Emperor cannot easily allow Chu Shaoruan to return to the Imperial City. House arrest is nothing; it's not being able to participate in government that makes him anxious."

Wei Ji was still not over his anger. Chu Shaoling ruffled his hair and coaxed, "This is nothing. There will be many more such matters in the future. I'm not even angry, so you don't need to take it to heart. I will remember all these accounts. Alright, I didn't realize you had such a big temper! "

Wei Ji lowered his head and said after a long while, "As a minister, when the monarch worries, the minister toils; when the monarch is humiliated, the minister dies."

"What kind of talk is this!" Chu Shaoling scolded, "You are indeed loyal. That day, I glossed over the matter and didn't punish you, and now you're getting bold. After reading a few books of the Discourses of the States, you learned these words. When you return, I will speak with Zhang Lifeng. You are loyal enough; he should teach you less of these things in the future. Why be so resentful at such a young age?!"

Wei Ji pursed his lips and didn't say anything. He was still very indignant in his heart. He was angry at the Emperor's favoritism, angry that Chu Shaoruan dared to harm Chu Shaoling, and angry at himself for being powerless and unable to help at all.

Chu Shaoling also didn't want to show Wei Ji a displeased face. Instead, he said, "You just said that I might ascend to the position of Crown Prince. Are you willing to let me become the Emperor?"

Wei Ji nodded, "I am willing."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly and deliberately teased him, "Being the Emperor is very busy. There won't be much time to accompany you anymore. I will also have to take many consorts, filling the palace with women. Are you willing to accept that too?"

Wei Ji was stunned for a moment. He naturally did not wish for that, but he still nodded, "I am willing. If Your Highness cannot become the Emperor, regardless of which other prince succeeds the throne, they will not tolerate Your Highness."

Who said Wei Ji knew nothing? As long as it concerned his own matters, he understood very well. Chu Shaoling's heart warmed, and he said in a low voice, "I was just teasing you. Even if I become the Emperor, I will not take any consorts. You alone are enough to keep me busy. How could I have time for anyone else?"

Hearing this, Wei Ji smiled.

Chu Shaoling said in a low voice, "You were frowning for so long, but you smiled as soon as I said this. If I don't want anyone else, you will have to work harder. You alone will have to handle all the duties of the imperial harem."

With that said, he embraced Wei Ji and pressed him down on the bed, intending to get intimate. Wei Ji hurriedly tried to avoid him and urgently whispered, "It's still broad daylight. How can Your Highness..."

"What about it being daylight?" Chu Shaoling leaned down and kissed Wei Ji's forehead, his hand sliding down to gently caress the inside of Wei Ji's thigh. Moving his hand upward, he gave a forceful squeeze. He teasingly whispered in Wei Ji's ear, "It being daylight just means we can see more clearly."

Wei Ji's ears instantly burned. He didn't dare to outright refuse, but pleaded in a small voice, "Your Highness, don't... Eunuch Wang and the others are still outside! They can hear..."

"So what if they hear?" Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly, "There are more palace servants on night duty. Which time have they not heard? Why are you being shy today? Just endure it and keep your voice down."

Chu Shaoling no longer listened to Wei Ji's excuses. With a few tugs, he stripped off Wei Ji's clothes.

The Emperor originally planned to stay at the Tanghe Palace for half a month, but with the incident that occurred on the day of the ritual, he was no longer in the mood for leisure. Citing the pressing matters of state, he brought everyone back to the Imperial City the next day.

On the day of returning to the city, Chu Shaoling took his men directly back to the Qin Prince Manor. The Emperor and Empress Dowager returned to the palace. That very day, the Zhen household submitted a petition to the palace requesting an audience with the Emperor. After hesitating for a while, the Emperor approved it.

Zhen Jiaxin truly had no idea about this incident from beginning to end. Now hearing that Chu Shaoruan was detained at the temporary palace, both Zhen Jiaxin and Zhen Binwen were in a fluster. Knowing the Emperor had returned to the court, they hurriedly came to request an audience.

After learning the details, Zhen Jiaxin wept bitterly in front of the Emperor, pointing to the sky and ground while denouncing her own daughter's foolishness, wishing he could kowtow to death right there in front of the hall. Although Zhen Binwen was not as eloquent as his father, he also showed a face full of remorse as he supported his elderly father and repeatedly admitted his wrongs.

The Emperor's heart was moved to pity. He comforted them with a few words. Zhen Jiaxin beat his chest and stamped his feet, saying it was all due to his failure in properly educating his daughter, which led to instigating Chu Shaoruan to do such a thing. Only then did Zhen Jiaxin bring up today's purpose - pleading with the Emperor to severely punish his family, only asking to allow Second Prince Chu Shaoruan to return to the Imperial City soon and not let the imperial heir suffer outside.

Zhen Jiaxin understood very well that Chu Shaoruan could not be allowed to stay outside for too long. The longer the time, the fewer people there would be to support Chu Shaoruan, while during this period Chu Shaoling would have ample time to cultivate his own forces. If this continued, Chu Shaoruan would be left with only the title of prince and nothing else.

Zhen Jiaxin had fought for Chu Shaoruan for so many years and could not stumble at this juncture. He cried and pleaded, "If there is any crime, it is all this subject's fault. This subject petitions Your Majesty to remove from office all the males in this subject's entire family. I only beg to let the Second Prince return to the court soon. The Second Prince is not even twenty years old and was only instigated by the servants below to commit this grave mistake. Your Majesty..."

Zhen Binwen, who was beside him, shuddered in his heart upon hearing this. He did not want to lose his post for the sake of Chu Shaoruan.

The Emperor was also willing to let Chu Shaoruan return early, but thinking of the Empress Dowager and those like Marquis Zijun, he had no choice but to perfunctorily say, "Beloved minister, there is no need for such self-blame. Go back for now."

Zhen Jiaxin hit a soft nail at the Emperor's place, while Consort Li hit a hard one. She knew that she had almost gone mad after being demoted. She had been under house arrest in the temporary palace and was not allowed to see the Emperor. Now that she had returned to the palace, she had been seeking an audience outside the hall. The Emperor was already troubled and could barely say a few polite words to Zhen Jiaxin. As for Consort Li, he was too lazy to pay attention to her anymore. No matter how much Consort Li cried and made a scene, he refused to see her.

Consort Li made a fuss for half a day but was unable to make a plea to the Emperor. Instead, she was punished with ten strokes of the board by the Empress Dowager on the charge of "entering Chengqian Palace without a summons and disturbing state affairs."

Consort Li was no longer the Noble Consort Li who held the phoenix seal. With her son not by her side, the Empress Dowager could directly discipline her without asking the Emperor when it came to beating and scolding.

The Emperor did not say anything after hearing the news. He knew that the Empress Dowager's anger from that night at the temporary palace had not subsided, and now she was just taking advantage of the situation. The Emperor did not want to provoke the Empress Dowager's displeasure and had to pretend he did not know. He did not inquire further afterwards and did not go to see Consort Li.

The Empress Dowager, seeing no reaction from the Emperor, simply transferred four concubines from the overcrowded Wangyue Palace and Yurong Palace to the Linzhi Palace on the grounds of too many concubines. The Consort Li, who once enjoyed the Emperor's favor and occupied a palace alone, finally had companions. The four young and beautiful palace concubines chatted and laughed in the Linzhi Palace all day long, making it quite lively.

Having been in charge of the palace for twenty years, Consort Li suddenly fell from the clouds to the mud. The unpleasantness she experienced was imaginable. After realizing that she could not rely on her son and the Emperor, Consort Li had a good cry in her own bedchamber. However, having fought in the palace for so many years, Consort Li quickly collected herself. She had the palace servants help her dress up nicely, then took many good things from her private treasury and went to the Yongfu Palace of Consort Zhen.