The Virtuous Concubine

The prince has never treated me like this before! Could it be that with the help of Yonghe Palace, he wants to control me?

After a moment, his face was full of regret and self-blame. He bowed to the prince and said sincerely, "Your Highness is right. I was confused and almost ruined your plan because of my own selfishness. I am grateful for your timely advice. I will be careful in my words and deeds in the future and follow your lead."

The prince saw this and knew that he would never give in or change, but he still reached out his hand to help Suo Etu up, and said gently: "Uncle, please stand up quickly. To me, you are an elder in the clan and a key figure in the court. In the past, many matters were handled with your help. I will always remember and be grateful to you. I am grateful for your kindness."

After saying this, the prince walked away, leaving Suo Etu standing there, his face changing from blue to white constantly.

While Suo Etu and the crown prince were talking here, the fourth prince was not idle either, leading the fourteenth prince to the Yonghe Palace, exuding a cold and stern aura that kept strangers away. Seeing that he had a dark face and didn't say anything, the fourteenth prince asked Yinzhen recklessly: "Fourth brother, this time I can go to the northwest, the opportunity to make achievements is right in front of me, why aren't you happy for me?"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince Yinzhen paused in his tracks, his face became even gloomier, and he glared at the Fourteenth Prince fiercely, which made the Fourteenth Prince's heart tremble, and the second half of his words was instantly choked in his throat.

"You know nothing! How old are you? And how did you convince the prince to help you? Huh?"

After the Fourth Prince finished speaking, another more terrifying possibility flashed through his mind, and he became even more worried. He shouted at the Fourteenth Prince, "Did the Crown Prince take the initiative to find you and ask you to go, and you just agreed without even telling me?! You are as stupid as a pig, but you act like this, showing no respect for your brother!"

Yes, in his heart, being as stupid as a pig could still be saved, but not having him as his brother in his heart and actually listening to the prince's words was even more hopeless!

The Fourteenth Prince was so confused by this sudden scolding that he became furious. His eyes widened, his neck stiffened, and he shouted at the top of his voice: "Only you are my brother, so the second prince is not my brother? He at least still cares about me and gives me a chance, but you only know how to scold me!"

How could a prince be a good thing? He was deposed twice, his family background was far inferior to his, and he was not as favored as him, but he was still played to death, and Fourteenth Prince still wanted to follow him!

Yinzhen was extremely heartbroken. He was angry at the Fourteenth Prince's reckless credulity, and even more indignant that he himself was not trusted. Seeing that they were almost at the Yonghe Palace, he lowered his head and walked quickly to the gate of the Yonghe Palace. He kicked away the eunuch who came to pay his respects, and when the Fourteenth Prince also walked into the courtyard of the Yonghe Palace, the two of them started arguing.

"He's your brother? What kind of brother is he to you? You and I are from the same mother, and it's fine if you don't agree with me, but you're siding with outsiders?" The Fourth Prince's eyes seemed to be able to spit fire, and the veins on his neck were bulging. He roared at the Fourteenth Prince at the top of his lungs, "The Crown Prince bewitched your mind with a few sweet words. How old are you? I'm sending you to the northwest! You must have been colluding with him for a long time, but you never thought of talking to me or discussing anything?!"

Fourteenth became even angrier after hearing this. What did that mean? Did Fourth Brother still treat him like a child? He also got angry. A nameless rage shot up from the soles of his feet to his forehead. His blood was boiling. He simply overturned the water tank that was growing lotus flowers nearby. The water tank was heavy, but he easily pushed it over. It broke with a clang, and the water and mud inside flowed all over the floor.

"Do you think I'm a child? With your strength of four and a half stones, I really can't tell who is the child?!" After humiliating the Fourth Prince, the Fourteenth Prince raised his head and rolled up his sleeves, as if he was ready to fight the Fourth Prince to the death.

The palace maids nearby were so frightened that they ran inside to call the empress to come and mediate.

Yinzhen was not willing to show weakness. He breathed heavily and exchanged insults with the Fourteenth Prince.

Anyway, it's Yonghe Palace, and my mother is very strict in managing the palace, so the news can't get out.

"If you are just stupid, I, as your brother, can at least teach you slowly. With time, I can finally make you wise up and understand the ways of the court and the palace. But you totally ignore me as your brother and treat me as someone who is dispensable. You disregard brotherly love and wantonly trample on the respect of the young and the old. You are simply hopeless!"

The two were arguing fiercely and were about to come to blows when Malu, surrounded by a group of palace servants, hurried in from the inner hall.

As soon as she appeared, she saw the mess in front of her, the mud and water on the ground, the broken pieces of the water tank, and her two sons who were glaring at each other with their swords drawn. She sneered:

"Well, look at how capable you are! Just have a fight in front of me. It would be best if you kill one of us before stopping. Let me see what you are capable of and what the royal rules and brotherly love mean to you!"

The two men froze, the anger on their faces solidified instantly, and they quickly lowered their heads, like eggplants hit by frost, wilting, not daring to breathe.

"Why don't you quarrel? Look at all of you, you don't have the dignity, reserve and self-restraint of a prince. Have all the rules and etiquette and brotherly harmony that I taught you been eaten by dogs?"

Malu was so angry that he looked at the lotus on the ground with heartache.

Seeing that the two of them lowered their heads and dared not speak, Malu's expression eased a little, and he gently waved his hand, signaling the palace servants waiting on the side to start cleaning up the mess in the courtyard. He turned and walked into the main hall, and at the same time, without turning his head, called out: "You two, follow me in, let's talk inside."

It was the first time that the two brothers saw their mother so angry. They looked at each other and felt a little guilty.

They thought that their mother would persuade and enlighten them with kind words and act as a peacemaker.

But the way my mother spoke was too irresponsible to them!

Ma Lu saw all their little actions. Seeing that the two of them were arguing with each other again, Ma Lu snorted coldly: "You have really become very capable. On weekdays, you pretend to be well-behaved in front of your emperor. In front of the court officials, you know to be careful about what you say and do. But you come to my palace to act arrogantly! What's going on? If you don't explain clearly, I will let your emperor send you two to Rehe to grow lotus!"

The two knelt down tremblingly to admit their mistakes. The Fourth Prince stole a glance at Malu, and when he saw that her expression had eased, he complained with a dark face: "Mother, today's incident was all because Fourteenth Brother trusted the Crown Prince's recommendation and rashly agreed to go to the northwest without consulting me. When I asked him about it, he even contradicted me a lot. I was so angry that I lost my composure. I hope Mother will understand."

"It was me. I asked the prince to help me send Fourteen to the northwest."