It was clearly Jiang Chengyu who hit the eldest prince recklessly, but he had to stand up and take the responsibility. He didn't even explain when he was hit by mistake, and just suffered in silence.
Concubine Ju and her son were still complaining beside them, watching Tianjia's brows change from frowning to relaxing, and then relaxing to frowning again.
"Zhu Changyu, what's going on?" He shouted loudly and looked at the heir who had barely paid attention to him.
The second prince pursed his lips and said in a bitter voice, "My son met the eldest brother by chance on the way. I didn't know what happened. I only knew that the eldest brother opened his eyes and called me..."
"I saw you when I opened my eyes. Who else could it be if it wasn't you?" The eldest prince choked out almost immediately.
The second prince raised his hand innocently, but finally lowered it weakly.
The feeling of being unjustly accused and slandered, but unable to defend myself, struck everyone present.
The corners of some ladies' eyes felt unbearable, and pity emerged in their hearts. Even the carefree Qi Yue looked a little ashamed.
Jiang Sheng's heart skipped a beat.
She seemed to understand that the second prince was trying to show his pity and win the sympathy of the lady, and maybe he also wanted to take advantage of this to seek a good marriage.
This man was very scheming, but he actually helped several girls, such as Yao Siqing and Dou Jingyi, who saw through the truth without showing contempt for him.
Lizi, face, all earned.
The price is a beating.
If Jiang Sheng didn't have a fifth brother whom he yearned for, he might have sympathized with the second prince and even couldn't help but admire him.
She pursed her lips and was hesitating whether to remind Chang Yan.
Concubine Ju who was complaining seemed to have thought of something, and asked alertly, "Hong'er, can you see clearly, is it really the second prince who beat you?"
Not to mention that they were targeting the daughters of the Jiangdou family. Even if they were to fight against each other, it would not be the timid and taciturn second prince's turn.
The eldest prince seemed to be stopped by the question and hesitated for a moment.
First, he was hit directly on the back of the head by a sneak attack. He was already dizzy when he fell to the ground, and then he was slapped so hard that he couldn't open his eyes. He really couldn't see the person clearly and could only vaguely hear the girl's voice.
But to put it bluntly, not only could he not explain why he appeared in the side hall, but even if he couldn't beat the girl, he would become a laughing stock, so it was not worthwhile to think about it.
It would be better to rely on the displeased second prince to cut off the ignorant boy's desire to compete.
The eldest prince did not hesitate for too long and nodded decisively, "That's him!"
"Your Majesty." Concubine Ju immediately turned around and cried, "They are obviously brothers, how can they kill each other? At this special concubine selection banquet, it is really difficult to control the concubine."
These words put some eye drops on the second prince.
First, fratricide is a taboo in the royal family, which proves that this person has no tolerance and is not suitable for the dragon throne.
Second, making a fuss on the day of concubine selection will not only disgrace the family, but also make the ministers laugh.
Finally, use the sentence "Uncontrollable" to kick the problem away and get away calmly.
Just by looking at Tianjia's heaving chest, he knew that the second prince was probably going to be punished.
"You...go back to your own prince's palace to reflect, and don't come out for half a year. Leave the matters of Fengtian Mansion to others, and we will talk about it when you figure it out."
In one sentence, the second prince's official status, which he had worked hard for for several years, was wiped out.
The young man was obviously no more than seventeen years old. At this moment, his hands were hanging by his side, his eyes were dim and lifeless, "My dear... My dear, I obey."
He bowed in salute and retreated in embarrassment in full view of everyone.
Even though they are all princes, how come some people have so much preference, while others are so humble as dust?
Jiang Sheng hid in the crowd, not knowing whether the second prince would lose or win this time.
Many court ladies couldn't bear to say that he lost, especially the girls from the Yao and Qi families in Jiangdou, who felt a sense of debt in their hearts.
If he wins, his livelihood will be gone. If he is so openly ignored, it will be even harder for his officials to support him in the future.
Especially when Concubine Ju found a handkerchief on the eldest prince's body, and after careful inspection she discovered that it was a girl from the Min family, the situation became increasingly unfavorable for the second prince.
"Why is the girl's veil on Hong'er's body?" Concubine Ju was surprised, and then smiled, "If Hong'er is serious, you might as well speak out in front of everyone."
The eldest prince hesitated and glanced at Dou Jingyi from the corner of his eye. After confirming that there was no response, he lowered his eyelids in disappointment and said, "My heart is full of joy for the girl from the Min family."
In the distance, the little cousin of the third princess was already rummaging all over her body in panic, and almost collapsed to the ground after confirming that her veil was really lost.
It seems that after Concubine Ju and her son lost the target of the Jiangdou family, they set their sights on the Min family, which was the best choice.
With the third princess and Concubine Min struggling to make ends meet under Concubine Ju, and with the handkerchief used as physical evidence, the Min family may be forced to take sides this time.
Why do women have to be sacrificed every time to win over power and support?
Jiang Sheng didn't want to look anymore, turned away from the crowd, and returned to the deserted banquet hall.
Xu Mo seemed to have had a premonition and was standing tall in the center waiting.
"Brother." She rushed over in a few steps, "Why are you here?"
"I just finished talking to the young master of the He family." Xu Mo touched her head, "How are you? Do you have a little sister who can protect you?"
Jiang Sheng smiled and said, "I only protected the Dou family sister, but I couldn't protect the other girls."
Judging from the appearance outside, it seems that they are going to get married.
Under the premise that the three Yao families in Jiangdou were out of reach, Fang Zhutao was in his own camp, the Chu family's status was unclear, and the He family had no girls of the right age, the Min family was indeed the only choice.
The eldest prince's binding to the Min family is equivalent to binding the third princess, and also binding the third princess' future consort's family, which can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
As for the sensitive girl who lost her veil, who cares.
"No matter what, the eldest prince is the most likely to ascend the throne." Xu Mo comforted softly, "The Min family must have the desire to push things along, otherwise they will always find excuses to shirk the responsibility."
This is true, but if the third princess and Concubine Min were not in the harem, and without the veil as an inducement, the Min family might not take the initiative to hook up with the eldest prince.
After all, Concubine Ju was good at calculating and chose the right one.
Everyone outside Yanhui Pavilion returned slowly. Concubine Ju was beaming with joy and holding the girl from the Min family's hand, as if she was trying to make amends.
The second prince had already retired, and the marriage was postponed to the third princess.
But she was a girl after all, and she might have been angry about what happened just now, so she lowered her head and pretended to be shy.
Concubine Min said at the right time, "Your Majesty, today the main task is to select the concubine."
So the matter fell back to the fourth prince. Just when the concubine's brows were slightly raised and she was about to say something, the fourth prince suddenly knelt on the ground and said, "I don't want to get a wife. I just want to be alone. I beg my father. Complete."
Tianjia's eyebrows were astonished, and he glanced at the Yao family's father and daughter from the corner of his eye, and finally frowned.
"Ah Heng, get up quickly." The princess was also a little anxious, "Today is a special concubine selection banquet. It is the emperor's concern and care for his children."
"I know that I am grateful to my father, but I have made up my mind not to marry. I hope my father will forgive me." The fourth prince responded in a dull voice.
Tianjia, who was sitting on the dragon throne, looked unhappy, but just when he was about to get angry, the fourth prince's clothes slipped off, revealing his mutilated and deformed lameness.
His expression suddenly froze, and it took him a while to find his voice, "If you don't want to marry me, don't marry me."
