Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 228 Granted Suicide

"Back then, you refused to summon a doctor because of this matter, and even strongly resisted it. Wan Niang was clever, so she took the opportunity of taking your pulse to ask the imperial physician from outside the palace to treat you. A year before you married Wan Niang, one night you lied and said you were going out to meet friends, but you spent the night with the courtesan at Zui Xian Lou. After getting drunk, you stumbled out and fell into the moat! It was the dead of winter, and to avoid suspicion, you didn't bring any guards. You were left in the water for most of the night before the guards who came out to look for you pulled you out. Although you were lucky enough to survive, you have been unable to have children since then!"

Seeing the Second Prince's agonizing state, Lord Qin felt a surge of satisfaction. Perhaps at this moment, he also harbored resentment towards the Emperor, whom he had always been loyal to. Why, knowing his son was so unruly, did the Emperor still think of finding a virtuous woman to discipline him? If the Emperor himself couldn't teach his child well, why should he expect his daughter to?
What kind of good ending is it for someone who frequents brothels before marriage?! And yet they pretend to be such upright gentlemen, it's utterly disgusting!
"That's not all. After the investigation, Wanniang said that if you treated her well, she would be willing to bear the infamy for you. But what did she get in return? In the past five years, so many women around you have not conceived. Don't you realize who is responsible? Yet you let the rumors run rampant and even fueled them behind the scenes, saying that the reason your Second Prince's residence has no children is because the Princess Consort is jealous and doesn't want anyone to give birth to the eldest son before her! Bah! With your abilities, do you think people don't know whether you can have children or not?"

"Wan Niang endured all this silently, unwilling to let your reputation be tarnished, only to be met with such chilling murderous intent! But I am not afraid! My wife and I didn't have a daughter until we were thirty-five, and we cherish her like a precious jewel. We hold her in our hands so tightly that we're afraid she'll melt. If you don't like her, just give her back to us. Why did you kill her?! What right do you have to kill?! What right do you have?!"

In the main hall, Lord Qin's roars echoed continuously. He was now an old man in his fifties or sixties, his hair gray, his face dejected, looking like he was on his deathbed, yet he still forced himself to speak out for the wrongful death of his daughter. The ministers in the court were also born of parents, and had daughters and children of their own. Seeing Lord Qin in this state, they couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

Especially those like Minister Qin, who also have beloved daughters at home, came out to lend their support.

"Your Majesty, as the saying goes, even the emperor is subject to the same laws as commoners. The Second Prince, as the heir to the throne, murdered his first wife; this is utterly unforgivable. We beg Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

"Minister Qin's words are quite correct! I beg Your Majesty to punish him severely!"

"Your Majesty, please punish him severely!"

It's always the case that when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. In addition, the Second Prince's behavior was so disgusting that everyone disregarded His Majesty's feelings and jumped out to request that the Second Prince be severely punished.

Furthermore, what's the point of supporting a prince who is destined to be childless? Lord Qin has all the witnesses and evidence. If it were known privately, it would be fine, as it would be easy to manipulate. But now that so many people know, how can anything be done? It would be better to quickly remove the Second Prince from the throne so that the only remaining Fourth Prince can be brought up.

If the Fourth Prince finds out that I once spoke up for the Second Prince and befriended him, wouldn't that be embarrassing?

Experiencing firsthand how his previously alluring ministers had instantly turned against him, the Second Prince was utterly stunned. "No, you've just abandoned me like this?! I'm the Second Prince! Father's eldest son! You...you dare abandon me?!"

The Second Prince swept his sinister gaze across the assembled officials, thinking it would be effective, but little did he know it would only further alienate them. How could someone so petty and narrow-minded be of any use? They had already offended him today; if he were to regain power later, wouldn't he settle scores with them? They immediately intensified their accusations, not only listing various crimes but also implicating Consort Mo, with the first target being the book "Admonitions for Women." Previously a highly valued book, it had now become the source of all evil.

Watching her courtiers so fickle, Jiu Que closed her eyes. She finally understood why Emperor Jingtai, as the founding emperor, always felt powerless. These officials weren't concerned for the people; every word and action was driven by self-interest. No wonder there were always man-made disasters. Half of these officials were remnants of the previous dynasty. They had defected to the new dynasty to save their lives, but now they were secretly plotting for wealth and power. In the final years of the previous dynasty, truly virtuous officials either died resisting the rebel northern barbarian armies or died for their country. Those left behind were mostly scoundrels, and since the Great Jing Dynasty was newly established, it lacked talent and had to rely on these officials. By the time Emperor Jingtai finally had time to spare from his various affairs, the path for commoners to rise through the ranks—the imperial examinations—was firmly under their control. In recent years, every official selected through the imperial examinations had powerful backers. There wasn't a single truly poor scholar among them!

It's not surprising that such a situation would occur in such a court.

It's a pity for Emperor Jingtai. He finally conquered the country, only to have his homeland stolen. No wonder he was always angry.

In short, the second prince is finished.

Looking at the silent faces of his ministers, Emperor Jingtai could already guess what they were thinking. He was just the second prince, a good-for-nothing prince, and besides, there was still the fourth prince, wasn't there?
Looking at the second prince's dejected and defiant expression, Emperor Jingtai initially felt pity for his misfortune and anger at his lack of resistance. However, thinking of the innocent Second Prince's wife who had died, he felt he had no right to say such things. How innocent was the Second Prince's wife? She managed the household affairs and even took on the burden of the Second Prince's infertility herself; she had already done more than enough. Precisely because of this, the second prince's actions were utterly heinous!

"Issue an imperial decree: The Second Prince has murdered his wife, sowed discord in the court, and plotted treason..."

The second prince nervously swallowed, thinking that his father probably wouldn't kill him because of his wife. Although these officials always said that the emperor was subject to the same laws as commoners, if they were truly subject to the same laws, what would be the point of being royalty?
It's nothing more than temporarily stripping him of his princely status. It doesn't matter; as long as he lives, he can rise again. He's not as foolish as his elder brother to commit suicide. When you die, you lose everything. Why die? Can't he just live a good life?
As long as he lives, he'll make that old bastard pay! He's never been any help to him before, and now he's humiliated him in front of so many people! He didn't even look down on the Qin guy for being useless and just a lowly fifth-rank official, and the other guy is taking advantage of him...

"He is granted the right to commit suicide."

what? !

Before the second prince could even voice his questions, he heard Qin Yuanwailang's joyful voice, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you, Your Majesty! Your Majesty's keen insight is a blessing to our Great Jing!"

(End of this chapter)