Chapter 465: Chapter 257: Granting Marriage to the Fourth Prince_3
The Fourth Prince listened, a look of realization appeared on his face, but then immediately turned into a look of confusion.
"What about the Princess of Annan, what does it have to do with me?"
"Old Fourth, the Princess of Annan had her eyes on you, but our noble Prince Zheng intercepted, forcing her to become Prince Zheng’s consort."
The Fourth Prince furrowed his brows, his face looking rather unsightly as he said, "Father, your son has had no dealings with the Princess of Annan." He couldn’t even remember who Prince Zheng’s concubine was.
"You are a gentleman, but you can’t stop others from casting malicious intentions on you." The Emperor cast a disdainful look at Prince Zheng, "You had the capability to forcibly marry the Princess of Annan, but couldn’t make her love you in her heart?
Prince Zheng’s face flushed crimson with shame. He wanted to say something but didn’t know what to say.
"It is your son’s fault, I ask Father to punish me."
"The princess came to beg me, asking me to agree to her divorce from you. What do you think of that?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Zheng was so shocked that he looked up abruptly at the Emperor: "Father, your son refuses to agree, your son will never divorce her." Although Prince Zheng was long tired of the Princess of Annan, he couldn’t divorce her and still had to keep her around.
"Didn’t realize you were such a devoted lover, so deeply attached to her." The Emperor’s words were full of sarcasm, once again making Prince Zheng’s face flush red.
With his head lowered and biting his lip, Prince Zheng said, "Your son... your son... does not wish to divorce." If it weren’t to gain the iron mines, gold mines, and silver mines of Annan, he wouldn’t have married that vile woman as a consort. "Father, your son begs you, your son does not wish to divorce her."
"You don’t wish to, but she wants to divorce you." As the Emperor spoke, his expression turned cold, and his tone also became icy, "The princess said if she can’t divorce you, she’ll take her own life. Do you think I can refuse?"
"Father, please give your son another chance, your son will definitely make her change her mind." Prince Zheng anxiously pleaded with the Emperor, "Father, I beg you to give your son another chance!"
The Emperor looked at Prince Zheng without speaking.
The Fourth Prince, kneeling beside Prince Zheng, also said nothing. This matter had nothing to do with him, so he saw no need to plead for Prince Zheng.
"Father, it is your son’s fault, I shouldn’t have hit Fourth Brother, please punish your son, but I beg you not to agree to the Princess of Annan’s divorce request, Father, I beg you..." He absolutely could not divorce that vile woman.
Sun Kui hesitated for a moment, but decided to remind the Emperor: "Your Majesty, it’s time for the morning assembly."
The Emperor stood up, looking down at Prince Zheng from above.
Prince Zheng looked pitifully at the Emperor: "Father, I beg you."
"I’ll give you one chance, if you can’t make the Princess of Annan change her mind, I’ll let her divorce you."
"Thank you, Father, your son will definitely make the princess change her mind." Prince Zheng breathed a long sigh of relief inwardly.
"As for the matter of you hitting Old Fourth..."
"Father, your son is willing to accept punishment." Prince Zheng said sincerely, "I beg Father to punish me."
"Go back and reflect in seclusion for a month." The Emperor said, kicking Prince Zheng over.
This kick was neither heavy nor light, causing a momentary look of pain on Prince Zheng’s face.
"Thank you, Father."
"Get out."
Prince Zheng slowly stood up and left the dining hall.
"Old Fourth, let’s go."
"Yes, Father."
This bruised and swollen appearance of Prince Zheng was not suitable for attending court. After leaving the dining hall, he hurriedly left the Imperial Palace.
The fact that the Princess of Annan was begging the Emperor to agree to divorce was not known to Prince Zheng. He now had to go back and appease the Princess of Annan, or his father would definitely agree to that vile woman’s request to divorce him. If that vile woman went with Old Fourth, the Annan Royal Family would side with Old Fourth.
In the main hall of Chengguang Hall, the morning assembly had already begun.
The Emperor had not yet opened his mouth to reprimand Marquis An Yang, when Marquis An Yang took the initiative to plead guilty before the Emperor, saying he hadn’t stopped Prince Zheng and that as an uncle, he hadn’t taught Prince Zheng well enough.
Upon hearing Prince Zheng say this, the Emperor waved his hand at him and said it was not his fault, but rather he as a father had not taught his son well, that it wasn’t related to Marquis An Yang.
This statement made Marquis An Yang’s face turn pale with fear, he hurriedly pleaded with the Emperor, saying that wasn’t what he meant...
The Emperor interrupted Marquis An Yang, who dared not speak any further and obediently returned to the ranks.
The ministers with matters to present came forward one by one to speak. They were mostly minor matters, nothing major.
"Oh right, Old Fourth is soon to come of age, I forgot to arrange a marriage for him."