Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 159: Holding His Net Firmly

Zhao Huaixiang frowned when he heard the voice and thought: Is he using the same old trick again?

Emperor Sheng raised his eyebrows and glanced at Prince Rong and his son, then said calmly, "Announce."

Pei Shiyin hurriedly turned her head and looked back, and saw Concubine Chun walking towards her in palace dress, without any sign of panic and helplessness as she had just shown.

"Mother concubine."

When Concubine Chun walked past, Pei Shiyin couldn't help but call her.

She was... a little scared.

Because her mother looked too calm, and she guessed that her mother had actually known about what A Xiang had done for a long time.

Concubine Chun paused for a moment, lowered her eyes to glance at Pei Shiyin, and a very gentle smile appeared on her usually elegant and dignified face.

The next moment, she walked into the hall without stopping, and came between Zhao Huaixiang and Zhao Huaizhang, then saluted Emperor Sheng:

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you."

Emperor Sheng's expression was indifferent, and he said calmly, "Stand up."

He and Concubine Chun really had no feelings for each other.

When he was still in the mansion, he favored a maid who served in the study after drinking, but he didn't take it seriously.

Because of her average appearance, there was no intention to make her a concubine, and she was given contraceptive soup the next day.

Unexpectedly, more than a month later, the maid was found to be pregnant.

How could he, a prince, have a child with a maid? He immediately asked Fushun to execute the person.

Unexpectedly, the maid was also smart and found an opportunity to escape to the princess and seek refuge.

The princess was kind-hearted. Ji'er was only a year old at the time, and she couldn't bear to commit the sin of killing him, so she made the decision for him and promoted the maid to be his concubine.

Later, the maidservant always stayed by the princess' side, and even the princess personally arranged her childbirth.

Thinking of this, Emperor Sheng raised his eyes to look at Concubine Chun in front of him.

The maid of the past has become the concubine of today.

If she had not always been by the Queen's side, had not been influenced by the Queen's temperament, and had not had the Queen's preference for her, I would never have allowed her to climb to this position.

Concubine Chun was never indifferent to him, but fortunately, her son was smart and was the most like him among his three sons in both temperament and methods.

Emperor Sheng was in a state of confusion when he saw Concubine Chun suddenly roll up her sleeves and call out softly, "Xiang'er."

Zhao Huaixiang looked up when he heard that.

Snapped--

Concubine Chun actually slapped Zhao Huaixiang in the face in front of Emperor Sheng!

Everyone was shocked, and Pei Shiyin even cried out in surprise.

Zhao Huaixiang was caught off guard and was knocked to the side. When he raised his head again, his cheeks were red and his eyes were full of disbelief.

"Mother...Mother?"

"Empress Chun, you are so outrageous!" Emperor Sheng also cried out in shock and anger at this moment.

Even though Concubine Chun was Prince Xiang's biological mother, she had no right to teach Prince Xiang a lesson in front of the emperor!

Concubine Chun turned a deaf ear to Emperor Sheng's angry rebuke. She knelt down and saluted, saying in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, it is Xiang'er who murdered the Crown Princess at the flower viewing banquet."

When these words were spoken, not only Emperor Sheng and Prince Xiang, but even Prince Rong's eyes widened in disbelief.

The ancients often said that a mother's status is determined by her sons, and this is even more true in heaven.

Anyone in this world could stand up and testify against Prince Xiang, except Concubine Chun.

Because she is the biological mother of King Xiang, the two of them will prosper and suffer together. Moreover, what mother in the world would be willing to ruin her child's future?

Zhao Huaixiang looked up at his mother in a daze. He had been able to argue confidently in the face of Zhao Huaizhang's accusations just now, but now he couldn't utter a word.

At this time, Concubine Chun suddenly lowered her eyes and her gaze fell on Zhao Huaixiang's face.

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, and her smile was so gentle, but it also revealed an unshakable determination and ruthlessness.

"Your Majesty, I know full well that the royal dignity cannot be violated, and the justice of the state law cannot be violated."

"As Xiang'er's biological mother, I failed to fulfill my responsibility in educating her, causing her to make such a grave mistake. I deeply regret this and cannot escape blame."

"Therefore, I request to be deposed from my position as consort and to enter a nunnery for the rest of my life. I will pray for Your Majesty and the country day and night to atone for the sins of me and my son!"

"Mother concubine!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Huaixiang and Pei Shiyin's expressions changed suddenly.

Pei Shiyin took a few steps forward on her knees, and Zhao Huaixiang had already raised his hand to grab Concubine Chun's sleeve, and his usual calmness and composure were no longer there.

"Mother, why do you have to do this? Even if...even if I have to punish you..."

Having said this, a trace of dejection appeared on Zhao Huaixiang's face and his shoulders slumped.

He shook his head slightly, and actually raised the corners of his mouth at this moment, but his smile was full of bitterness.

The righteous will have many supporters, while the unrighteous will have few. Not to mention others, even Ayin and his mother, whom he loves the most and is closest to, cannot stand on his side. What chance does he have of winning?

He had anticipated countless endings, and he would probably lose miserably, with a bloody head, but he never thought that he would lose to a gentle knife.

At this time, Zhao Huaixiang couldn't help but look up and looked at Emperor Sheng gently.

This was the first time he saw shock and surprise on his father's face, as well as anger and confusion at the situation being out of control.

He suddenly felt a strange sense of relief in his heart.

This emperor who was high and mighty and in control of everything was finally defeated!

At this moment, Zhao Huaixiang had already guessed who was behind the plot.

First, he tried to lure the second brother away and clear the place.

Then he joined forces with Huai Zhang, lured in A Yin, and finally persuaded his mother. Without even having to produce any so-called evidence, he gradually broke down his defenses and fighting spirit.

If he guessed correctly, the reason why his mother decided to end everything today was because... she saw Ye'er who had left long ago?

After lunch, Ye'er felt sleepy and left the table early.

He had known for a long time that Ye'er was a smart child.

My mother has always been grateful to the late queen and has always loved Ye'er very much. If Ye'er asks for help, and with the kindness she received in the past, I believe my mother will be able to make this decision.

Furthermore, his mother did not agree with him competing for that position, and she hated his cruel and vicious methods.

The one who could control people's hearts, take the overall situation into consideration, string everything together, and weave a dense net to hold him tightly, there is no doubt that it could only be Jiang Xun.

The emperor tried every possible means to push Jiang Xun forward and make him stand on the side of the still young Ye'er to restrain and train him and his second brother.

But who would have thought that this "grindstone" was angular and sharp, and it was a sharp weapon in itself, and it was not something that could be easily held in the hand and played with.

Has your Majesty ever thought that one day he would shoot himself in the foot?

Thinking of this, a genuine smile appeared in Zhao Huaixiang's eyes, but the smile was full of sarcasm and a hint of joy.

It only takes a moment to complete the journey of the heart.

Zhao Huaixiang seemed to have made some kind of decision. He first looked back at Pei Shiyin, then looked up at Concubine Chun, and finally returned to his usual gentle appearance.

He smiled and said, "Mother, if you have to punish me, it should be me. I was simply deceived by my disguise."

This statement was tantamount to a clear admission that it was he who framed the Crown Princess at the flower viewing banquet.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Sheng suddenly closed his eyes, hiding the extreme disappointment in his eyes.

The son he thought was most like him was just like this.

If he really looked like me, he shouldn't be restrained by Concubine Chun at this moment. As long as he refused to admit it, he couldn't be convicted without evidence.

Unfortunately, being so emotional made him unable to handle the important task, which made him extremely disappointed!

Pei Shiyin stared blankly at the backs of Concubine Chun and Zhao Huaixiang, tears already streaming down her face.

Prince Rong and his son looked at each other calmly, but they could not hide the sighs in each other's eyes.

Although they didn't know why Concubine Chun stood up and identified Prince Xiang, what they had to do next was to completely protect their Prince Rong's Mansion from the hands of the emperor!

Zhao Huaizhang's eyes were filled with unshakable determination, and he nodded slightly to his father.

At this time, Concubine Chun slowly knelt down, looked directly at Zhao Huaixiang in front of her, and said in a gentle voice:

"Xiang'er, in this world, people can pursue fame, chase after profit, and have their own selfish thoughts, but they must never forget their conscience, must not overstep their bounds, and must not make the same mistake over and over again."

"You can blame Mother for being naive, stupid, and cruel, and blame Mother for ruining your future."

When Zhao Huaixiang heard this, he shook his head repeatedly.

Seeing this, Concubine Chun's eyes were filled with tears. She raised her hand and gently stroked Zhao Huaixiang's red and slightly swollen cheek, then leaned close to his ear and whispered softly:

"Xiang'er, if it weren't for the Empress, not only you, but even your mother... would have been reduced to dust."

"People, you must not forget your roots. Your mother will bear this sin with you."

When Concubine Chun said this, she turned around without hesitation and knelt before Emperor Sheng, saying in a deep voice:

"I implore Your Majesty to strip Xiang'er of his title of King Xiang, to uphold the law and serve as a warning to others!"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Sheng stood up suddenly, and could no longer maintain his usual dignity and composure.

"Princess Chun, this is your son!"

Concubine Chun raised her head, met Emperor Sheng's gaze without flinching, and nodded, saying, "Because Xiang'er is my son, I must sacrifice my own family for the greater good, uphold the royal dignity for Your Majesty, and protect the reputation of the royal family!"

Emperor Sheng's breathing quickened slightly, and as his chest rose and fell, he looked at Concubine Chun again, only to feel that he had never known this unfavored concubine.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, Zhao Huaizhang, who was standing by, suddenly took two steps forward on his knees, kowtowed to Emperor Sheng, and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, I feel I have committed grave sins and cannot continue to enjoy the luxury of honor. I would like to go to the imperial mausoleum, guard the mausoleum, reflect on my mistakes, and atone for my sins."

"Day and night, I will serve you respectfully to show my sincere regret. I hope Your Majesty will grant me your approval!"