Jiang Chengyu recklessly hit the Eldest Prince, but he insisted on taking the blame even though he was the one wrongly beaten. He did not explain and silently endured.
The Ju Noble Consort and her son were still complaining beside them. The Imperial Court's frown turned from tight to relaxed, then tight again.
"Zhu Changyu, what exactly is going on?" He yelled, looking at this seldom noticed son.
The Second Prince pursed his lips, his voice bitter, "Your son happened to see Eldest Brother on the way. I did not know what had happened. I only knew that as soon as Eldest Brother opened his eyes, he hit me..."
"As soon as he opened his eyes and saw you, who else could it be?" The Eldest Prince retorted almost immediately.
The Second Prince innocently raised and lowered his hands.
The feeling of being wrongly accused and slandered yet unable to defend himself afflicted everyone present.
Some young ladies' eyes brimmed with distress and pity emerged in their hearts. Even the easygoing Qi Yue showed some shame.
Jiang Sheng's heart thumped.
She seemed to understand that this Second Prince was soliciting the young ladies' sympathy and perhaps even seeking a good marriage opportunity.
This person's schemes were quite deep, yet he had truly helped several young ladies like Yao Siqing and Dou Jingyi see through the truth. They did not show contempt for him.
He had gained face, status, everything.
The price was a beating.
If Jiang Sheng did not have her beloved Fifth Elder Brother, perhaps she would also sympathize with the Second Prince, and even admire him against her better judgment.
She pursed her lips, hesitating whether she should remind Changyuan.
The currently complaining Ju Noble Consort seemed to think of something as well and warily asked, "Hong'er, are you sure it was the Second Prince who hit you?"
Forget that they were targeting the Jiang and Dou families' daughters. Even if it was to stand up for them, it was not the timid and soft-spoken Second Prince's place.
The Eldest Prince seemed to be stumped by the question and hesitated for a moment.
First, he was caught off guard and struck on the back of the head, falling to the ground already dizzy. Then he was slapped by a big slap that he could not open his eyes. He really did not see clearly who it was, only vaguely hearing a girl's voice.
If he said it outright, not only would he be unable to explain why he appeared in the side hall, but being unable to defeat a girl would also become a laughing stock. No matter how he thought about it, it was not worth it.
It was better to blame the unpleasant Second Prince to nip that ignorant brat's competitive heart in the bud.
The Eldest Prince could not hesitate for too long and decisively nodded, "It was him!"
"Your Majesty," the Ju Noble Consort immediately turned around and appealed, "They are blood brothers after all. How could they harm each other, especially at this special concubine selection feast? Your servant finds it really hard to restrain them."
Her words gave the Second Prince two black eyes.
First, harming one's siblings was a big taboo for the imperial family, proving that this person did not have the tolerance to be fit for the dragon throne.
Second, making trouble on the day of selecting concubines not only made the Zhu family lose face, but also made the ministers laugh.
Judging from the Imperial Court's heaving chest, the Second Prince was afraid he would be punished.
"You... Go back to your prince's residence to reflect. Don't come out for half a year. Hand over the affairs of the Clouds and Sun Pavilion to others. We'll see when you figure things out."
With one sentence, the Second Prince was stripped of the official position he had worked hard on for years.
The youth was only seventeen years old. At this moment, his hands hung at his sides, his eyes dull and lifeless. "Your son obeys orders."
He bowed and awkwardly retreated under the public gaze.
How was it that some people enjoyed so much favor while others had to be so humble as to be beneath the dust?
Jiang Sheng hid among the crowd, unsure whether the Second Prince had lost or won this time.
It could be said that he lost. Many court ladies' eyes brimmed with distress, especially those from the Jiang, Dou, Yao and Qi families. They felt guilty in their hearts.
It could also be said that he won. He lost his livelihood. Receiving such cold treatment, it would be even more difficult for him to gain subjects' willingness to support him in the future.
Especially after the Ju Noble Consort found a handkerchief on the Eldest Prince and upon closer inspection, discovered that it belonged to a young lady from the Min Family, the situation became even more unfavorable for this Second Prince.
"How did this Min family young lady's handkerchief get on Hong'er?" The Ju Noble Consort looked surprised and smiled again. "If Hong'er is interested, why not say it outright in front of everyone?"
The Eldest Prince hemmed and hawed, glanced at Dou Jingyi, and drooped his eyelids dejectedly after making sure there was no response. "Your son is fond of the Min family young lady."
Far away, the Third Princess' young cousin had already panicked and turned her body inside out. After making sure that her handkerchief was indeed lost, she almost collapsed to the ground.
It seemed that after losing their targets from the Jiang and Dou families, the Ju Noble Consort and her son had set their sights on the most easily manipulated Min Family.
With the Third Princess and the Min Consort under the Ju Noble Consort, and the handkerchief as evidence, the Min Family was afraid they would be forced to take sides this time.
Why did appeasing those in power always require women to be sacrificed?
Jiang Sheng was unwilling to watch any longer and turned away, returning to the deserted banquet hall.
As if having expected this, Xu Mo was standing tall and upright in the center waiting.
"Big Brother!" She rushed over in three or two steps. "What are you doing here?"
"I just finished talking to the young master of the He Family," Xu Mo stroked her head. "How are you? Were you able to protect your young mistresses?"
Jiang Sheng pulled up the corners of her mouth in a smile. "I only protected Eldest Young Lady Dou. I couldn't protect the other young ladies."
Judging from the situation outside, they should proceed to the marriage arrangements.
With the Jiang, Dou, and Yao families untouchable, the Fang, Zhu, Tao families on their side, the Chu family's stance ambiguous, and the He family having no suitable young ladies, the Min Family was indeed the only choice.
The Eldest Prince binding the Min Family was equivalent to binding the Third Princess, as well as binding the Third Princess' future son-in-law's family in the future. It could be described as killing two birds with one stone.
As for the Min young lady who lost her handkerchief, who cared?
"In any case, the Eldest Prince looks most like he will ascend to the throne." Xu Mo comforted in a low voice. "The Min Family must have the intention to ride the tide. Otherwise they would always find excuses to refuse."
While what he said made sense, if not for the Third Princess and Min Consort in the harem, without that handkerchief as enticement, perhaps the Min Family would not have taken the initiative to join the Eldest Prince either.
After all, the Ju Noble Consort was skilled at scheming and chose an easy target.
The people outside Yanhui Pavilion gradually returned. The Ju Noble Consort was delighted and even held the Min family girl's hand, seemingly trying hard to compensate.
The Second Prince had retreated. The marriage arrangements were thus postponed to the Third Princess.
But after all, she was a lady from a good family, perhaps also angered by the previous incident. She kept her head lowered shyly.
The Min Consort then said at the right time, "Your Majesty, concubine selection should still be the main event today."
So the matter slid back down to the Fourth Prince. Just as the Consort Chu's brows moved, seemingly about to say something, the Fourth Prince suddenly knelt on the ground. "Your son does not want to marry. Your son only wishes to remain single. Please grant your son this wish, Father."
The Imperial Court's expression froze in shock, glanced at the Yao father and daughter, and finally frowned.
"A Le, get up," the Consort Chu urged somewhat anxiously as well. "Today is specially set for the concubine selection feast. It is His Majesty's care and pampering of the princes and princesses."
"Your son knows all this and is grateful to Father. But your son has made up his mind not to marry. Please understand, Father." The Fourth Prince responded in a muffled voice.
Displeasure showed on the face of the one sitting on the dragon throne, but just as he was about to get angry, the Fourth Prince's robe slipped, revealing his crippled, deformed lame leg.
His expression froze instantly. After a long while, he found his voice again, "If you won't marry, then you won't. Forget it."
