I play the role of Jiajing in Zongwu: What crime have I committed?

I just don't know if he can withstand the mountain-like fatherly love from his father.

This just happened to force Xiao Jingxuan to rebel as well.

Then we can kill him with a legitimate reason.

Zhu Houcong suddenly asked, "I suddenly remembered that the Crown Prince hasn't gone to Cining Palace to keep vigil for the Empress Dowager these past two days."

"Yan Song, do you know what he's been busy with?"

Yan Song quickly replied, "Your Majesty, this servant truly knows nothing of what happened at the Eastern Palace. Perhaps the Crown Prince is overwhelmed with grief and unwell."

Zhu Houcong nodded slightly.

"I am also worried that the Crown Prince will be too sad and ruin his health."

"Go and make arrangements. I want to go to the Eastern Palace in person. Remember, there is no need to inform me beforehand."

"This servant obeys the decree."

Not long after, Zhu Houcong brought Yan Song to the Eastern Palace.

Before even approaching the main hall, one could hear the sounds of sheng and xiao playing inside.

Interspersed with the sounds of women's giggles and the clinking of cups.

"Your Highness, may I offer you another cup?"

"Come, let me fill Your Highness's cup!"

"Your Highness, please drink slowly."

"Your Highness has such a huge capacity for alcohol!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Houcong's face instantly turned ashen, and his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"The mourning period for the Empress Dowager has not yet ended, and I dare not let out a single sound of music in my Wanshou Palace. He is truly filial."

Just then, Xiao Jingxuan's drunken shouts came from inside the hall again.

"My father always says I don't practice virtuous governance, cough cough, but what about him?"

“Cai Quan is right, he’s a foolish ruler, indulging in extravagant construction projects…and supporting Prince Yu to fight against me…”

Zhu Houcong could no longer contain himself and kicked open the palace door, rushing inside.

"The traitor, the traitor!!"

Chapter 129 Captivity

Upon seeing Zhu Houcong push open the door and enter, chaos erupted inside the hall, with all the singing girls kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear.

Xiao Jingxuan slumped in the main seat, his eyes glazed with drunkenness as he looked at his father, the Emperor, who had suddenly appeared.

The wine glass in my hand fell to the ground with a "clatter".

"Father...Father Emperor!"

Xiao Jingxuan sobered up instantly, his face turning ashen with fright.

He tumbled and crawled off his seat and fell to his knees on the ground.

"You really are my good son!" Zhu Houcong said with a cold laugh, holding his sword.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan trembled and hurriedly scrambled to his feet at Zhu Houcong's feet.

His forehead slammed heavily onto the ground with a dull thud.

"Father...Father, spare me...Your son knows he was wrong."

His voice was trembling with tears, and he was now completely sober.

Zhu Houcong looked down at his adopted son from his high vantage point.

Then, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he kicked out with his right leg, striking Xiao Jingxuan hard in the chest.

The kick was powerful and heavy, and Xiao Jingxuan was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, his back slamming hard against the dragon pillar in the hall.

boom!

Xiao Jingxuan clutched his chest, his face deathly pale.

In an instant, a sweet taste rose in his throat, and a mouthful of blood gushed out.

"Are you aware of your mistake?"

"The Empress Dowager's body is barely cold, and you are indulging in sensual pleasures in the Eastern Palace."

"How dare you criticize the government and slander the emperor and father?"

“Even five fingers are not all the same length. I have only shown a little more favor to Jing Huan, yet you are so resentful.”

"You are my crown prince, aren't my favors enough?"

"Your subject knows he was wrong!"

Xiao Jingxuan suppressed the surging blood in his chest, ignoring the bloodstains at the corner of his mouth, and staggered forward.

His hands gripped the hem of Zhu Houcong's dragon robe tightly, his voice trembling with sobs.

"Father, please calm your anger. Your son will never dare to do it again."

Zhu Houcong abruptly shook off the Crown Prince's hand that was gripping his dragon robe, and shouted sternly, "Yan Song!"

"This servant is here!"

"The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs has drafted an edict stating that Crown Prince Xiao Jingxuan is morally corrupt, unfilial, and disrespectful to his elders, and shall be confined to the Eastern Palace from this day forward."

"No one is permitted to visit without my decree!"

"Father...Father Emperor."

Xiao Jingxuan was struck dumb, as if frozen in place, and collapsed to the ground.

"Your Majesty, I truly know my mistake. I beg for your mercy!"

Zhu Houcong didn't even glance at him, turning around and saying, "Not a single person here is to be spared!"

"Furthermore, the three tutors of the Crown Prince are responsible for his upbringing, yet they have indulged the Crown Prince in his extravagance and debauchery, which is truly unforgivable!"

"By imperial decree, the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Protector shall each be flogged thirty times and have their salaries deducted for half a year."

"As you command!"

Hundreds of agents from the Eastern Depot immediately bound these singers and eunuchs hand and foot and took them to the imperial prison.

Xiao Jingxuan kept pleading, but Zhu Houcong ignored him.

He walked straight to the table and lifted the lid of a gilded brocade box.

He tucked the golden seal, symbolizing his status as crown prince, into his sleeve and turned to leave.

In the following days, undercurrents were swirling in Nanjing.

Inside the study of Prince Yu's mansion, Xiao Jingting walked briskly through the door, unable to hide the joy on his face.

"Sir, this is wonderful news!"

"The Crown Prince is incompetent."

"He actually drank and made merry during his great-grandmother's mourning period and is now under house arrest in the Eastern Palace."

Zhu Houcong, controlling Zhu Qi, slowly set down his teacup and said with feigned profundity, "Your Highness, your chance has come."

What do you mean?

"The position of Empress is now vacant, and the Crown Prince has become so immoral."

Once deposed, His Highness will be the eldest prince according to the order of seniority.

"The position of Crown Prince should rightfully belong to His Highness, both in terms of sentiment and reason."

hiss~

Xiao Jingting gasped, his eyes burning with an intense desire for the position of Crown Prince.

He then asked, "But the Crown Prince is a matter of national importance; will Father really depose him?"

Zhu Qi gently stroked the teacup and slowly explained his plan.

"The affairs of the world depend on two things: the will of Heaven and the will of the people. The will of Heaven can influence the will of the people, and the will of the people can also sway the will of Heaven."

“Our Great Liang governs the world with propriety. If this matter is spread and the whole world knows that the Crown Prince is immoral, then it is a slap in His Majesty’s face.”

"At that time, under the influence of public opinion, His Majesty will have no choice but to depose the Crown Prince."

"this…"

Xiao Jingting's expression changed upon hearing this.

"If it's discovered that we were spreading rumors, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Zhu Qi shook his head and chuckled softly.

"It is more difficult to prevent people from speaking out than to prevent a river from overflowing."

"Rumors are like the wind; they're not so easy to investigate."

"Moreover, I'm certain that Prince Yu is currently pursuing the same plan, making it even more difficult to investigate later."

After listening to Zhu Qi's analysis, Xiao Jingting paced back and forth in the room.

After a long pause, he suddenly stopped, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"Sir, you're right. The bold get rich, the timid starve!"

"Let's do it this way!"

Soon after, within three days, news of the Crown Prince's misconduct swept through Nanjing like wildfire.

When the news reached the Imperial College, the students were outraged.

The students knelt before the palace gates, demanding severe punishment for the unfilial crown prince.

Meanwhile, Prince Yu's side also began to exert its influence, with the Ministry of Rites and the Censorate jointly submitting a memorial demanding that the Crown Prince be severely punished.

Rumors were also rampant in the city.

"Have you heard? The Crown Prince has been confined to the Eastern Palace."

"The news has spread throughout Jinling that His Majesty has even taken away the Crown Prince's golden seal."

"Tsk tsk, it seems that deposing the crown prince is only a matter of time."

...

These rumors spread like wildfire, from the south of the city to the north, becoming increasingly outrageous with each tale.

"Your Highness, rumors are circulating outside that His Majesty intends to depose you."

The palace attendant knelt before Xiao Jingxuan and recounted the rumors he had heard.

"Some even say that His Majesty has secretly summoned the cabinet to discuss the matter of establishing a new crown prince."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxuan abruptly pushed the table to the ground.

He lost a lot of weight during his confinement.

But at this moment, a mad light flashed in his eyes.

"Is Father Emperor truly so heartless?"

"It is absolutely true, Your Highness."

The next second, Xiao Jingxuan's face suddenly turned ferocious, his eyes filled with ruthlessness.

"Go, instruct the six commanders of the Eastern Palace to make preparations, and then secretly invite Zhuo Dingfeng to come for a discussion."

Once the footsteps of the palace attendant had completely disappeared, Xiao Jingxuan slowly drew the long sword from the side.

He forced out a few words through gritted teeth.

"Father, you forced me to do this."

"Since you disregard the bond between father and son, then don't blame your son for disregarding the duties between ruler and subject."