met free Chapter 406 The Emperor's Son 2
Chapter 406 The Emperor's Son 2
What happened in the Imperial Study today could not be kept secret from those who were interested.
The emperor was furious and declared that he would execute the crown prince. Upon receiving the news, the empress immediately went to the Eastern Palace.
When she saw that the Crown Prince was safe and sound, she breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The crown prince's expression, however, was not pleasant.
"Heng'er, what exactly happened?" the Empress asked anxiously.
Pei Heng took a deep breath and recounted everything that had happened in the Imperial Study.
Upon hearing this, the Empress turned deathly pale. "Just because of a dream, His Majesty is so cruel?"
Pei Heng clenched his fists. "Your Majesty, I don't know what to do either. Your Majesty has ordered me to kill Wen Tangtang at the Qionghua Banquet tomorrow."
“But I don’t even know who she is. Father is simply absurd and ridiculous.”
The Empress frowned, pondered for a moment, and said:
"Heng'er, no matter what, kill that woman tomorrow and give your father an explanation. You must not do anything foolish."
Pei Heng nodded, "Your subject understands, but Your Majesty's distrust of me is truly aggrieved."
The Empress gently patted his shoulder, "Your father is getting old, and it's inevitable that he'll become more suspicious. You must be patient."
Pei Heng lowered his eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
The following day, the Qionghua Banquet was a lively and bustling affair.
The banquet had not yet started, and people were chatting in small groups.
Pei Heng, dressed in fine clothes, moved through the crowd with a cold expression.
He spotted the woman at a glance.
She was dressed in a light pink dress, smiling gently, like a fairy in a painting, with a playful and lively look in her eyes and brows.
His heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
He asked the person next to him, "Do you know who that person is?"
The attendant followed his gaze and replied, "Your Highness, that is the illegitimate daughter of the Imperial Censor—Wen Tangtang."
"It was her."
At that moment, the crown prince wavered.
He felt that what his father said was probably true.
For some reason, the moment he saw her, he felt that she was different from others.
So bright, so beautiful.
Wen Tangtang seemed to notice his gaze and turned her head. Their eyes met, and Pei Heng's heart inexplicably raced.
He recalled his father's words, and looking at the innocent woman before him, his heart was filled with struggle.
When Wen Tangtang saw that the Crown Prince was staring at her, she was slightly taken aback, then smiled and curtsied to him.
Pei Heng snapped out of his daze, nodded reluctantly, and then turned and left.
His mind was in turmoil. His father's orders, his mother's instructions, and that fleeting glimpse he had just caught all made it difficult for him to calm down.
"Your Highness, the banquet is about to begin. You should take your seat," a servant whispered.
Pei Heng took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and strode towards the main seat.
After the banquet began, there was singing and dancing, and people were toasting each other.
Pei Heng, however, had no interest in appreciating the scenery, his gaze occasionally glancing in the direction of Wen Tangtang.
She was eating pastries on her plate, her cheeks puffed out, and her eyes and brows full of liveliness and cuteness.
"How could such a woman be a scourge to the country? And how could I possibly usurp the throne for her?" Pei Heng thought to himself.
Pei Heng gripped the wine glass tightly, his knuckles turning white.
He looked up at Wen Tangtang, and she happened to be looking back at him as well.
Their eyes met, and she looked at him with a hint of curiosity and scrutiny, completely lacking the shyness of a young lady from a noble family.
Halfway through the banquet, Pei Heng finally made up his mind.
He got up and left his seat, walking towards Wen Tangtang.
Upon seeing this, everyone turned to look and whispered among themselves.
Just when everyone was wondering why the Crown Prince had become interested in a concubine's daughter.
The Crown Prince spoke.
"Men, seize him!"
The guards moved at the command and surrounded Wen Tangtang in an instant.
The pastry in Wen Tangtang's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
She opened her eyes wide and looked at Pei Heng blankly: "Your Highness... what does this mean?"
Pei Heng's expression was icy, his gaze fixed intently on her: "Wen Tangtang, do you know your crime?"
The surrounding guests were in an uproar. The Imperial Censor's wife's face changed drastically, and she hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down: "Your Highness! I don't know if my daughter has offended you in any way. I hope Your Highness will forgive her!"
Pei Heng raised his hand to stop her, his voice cold and stern: "Madam, there is no need to panic. This matter has nothing to do with you."
Wen Tangtang finally snapped out of her shock. She frowned slightly, but instead of being humble or fearful, she looked directly at Pei Heng:
"Your Highness, if you want to punish me, you must have a reason, right?"
Pei Heng sneered: "Reason? Disrespect for this Crown Prince, is that reason enough?"
Wen Tangtang blinked, then suddenly laughed: "This humble woman is foolish and truly did not know when she had been disrespectful to the Crown Prince."
Her smile, bright as spring, made Pei Heng's heart tremble slightly.
He suppressed his momentary hesitation and said coldly, "Stop making excuses, seize him and execute him."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked.
The censor's wife was so frightened that her legs went weak, but she dared not utter another sound.
She was just a concubine's daughter; her death is no big deal, as long as it doesn't implicate the family.
Wen Tangtang could no longer laugh.
She was certain that she had never met the Crown Prince before, and the original owner of this body had no connection with him.
So what's the situation now?
Is this crown prince a madman?