After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 473 Judgment
Murong Xu's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, slowly settled down after hearing Cen Yingfan's words. When he looked back at Cen Mingzhu, his eyes held a hint of pity and mockery that was hard to detect. "Cen, the child in your arms really has nothing to do with me. I swear to heaven, if this child is my flesh and blood, may I be childless and without descendants!"

Murong Xu spoke with absolute certainty, and even the emperor was shaken by his unwavering gaze.

The Empress was overjoyed and wept, saying, "Your Majesty, I knew the Second Prince wasn't the kind of person to act recklessly."

Before she could finish speaking, Cen Mingzhu put the child down and slammed her head hard onto the ground.

"Ah!" the Empress screamed in fright.

The emperor quickly shielded the empress behind him.

Cen Yingfan broke down and rushed over to pick up Cen Mingzhu, only to meet her eyes, which were filled with resentment and looked like she had died with her eyes wide open.

The emperor roared, "Guards! Seize Cen Yingfan! Court adjourned!"

The ministers left the palace looking terrified.

The second prince wanted to go to the inner palace, but was stopped by the guards. He walked out of the palace in a daze.

The Grand Tutor had been waiting outside the palace gates for quite some time.

After they boarded the carriage together, the Grand Tutor shook his head with disappointment and said earnestly, "Second Prince, it's best to keep a low profile this time and not make a fuss. Wait until the Emperor's anger has subsided before making any moves."

He didn't press further, and Murong Xu had no desire to explain.

Upon returning to the Second Prince's residence, Murong Xu noticed Cen Mingxue and her two servants sitting in the back room as soon as he entered the gate. His brows furrowed involuntarily. "What are you doing here?"

Cen Mingxue quickly stood up and bowed, "Your Highness, the Second Prince's Consort has not yet figured out how to settle me, so please let me wait."

"Absurd! If Zhao Wanyi can't even do this much, then the position of Second Prince's Consort can be given to someone else!" Murong Xu roared.

The steward immediately trotted over, "Your Highness, the Princess Consort has arranged accommodations for Consort Cen. I will take Consort Cen there now."

Murong Xu said with dissatisfaction, "Cen's allowance is the same as that of a concubine."

Cen Mingxue and the housekeeper were both taken aback.

The housekeeper snapped out of his daze and quickly went to make arrangements.

When Zhao Wanyi learned of this, she smashed a room full of porcelain in a fit of rage and was about to confront Murong Xu when she was stopped by her maid.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

Because the emperor was judging Murong Xu and Cen Mingzhu in the main hall, the news spread quickly.

When Zhao Wanyi learned what had happened from her maid, her heart sank to the bottom.

At the same time, Shen Tian also learned from Murong Chen everything that had happened in the main hall.

He sighed and shook his head. "Cen Yingfan truly lives up to his reputation as a general with a large army and decisive actions. He really mastered the art of sacrificing a pawn to save the king in a critical moment! However, he probably never expected that his precious daughter would have such a fierce side, actually committing suicide on the spot in the main hall. In this way, the matter can be considered resolved. However, Father and Mother will never trust Murong Xu again, and Cen Yingfan as well. He took all the blame, and Father will definitely not let him off easily. Demotion and exile will be the least of his worries; he may very well have his property confiscated and beheaded."

He took a big gamble this time.

Murong Chen looked at Shen Tian with admiration in his eyes, "My sweetie is getting more and more amazing. What you said is all correct, but there is one thing you are wrong about. Father Emperor will not kill Cen Yingfan. The border war has only been going on for a few years. The war he established can save his life."

Besides, Father Emperor also has to consider Cen Yingfan's subordinates; he can't kill him all at once. Completely crippling Cen Yingfan will take time.

Shen Tian shook her head. "These things have nothing to do with us, but even tigers don't eat their cubs. The Second Prince can even abandon his own son, which shows how ruthless he is. You need to be careful and watch out for him."

Momo Rongchen grinned and lay down lazily. "What are you afraid of? I'm just a prince without any real power. If you're worried, I won't go out. I'll stay in the manor with you."

"You smooth talker!" Shen Tian gave him a coquettish glance and then snuggled into his arms.

Two days later, the punishment for Cen Yingfan was announced: sixty strokes of the cane, a three-year salary deduction, and demotion to a sixth-rank patrol guard.

After Cen Mingzhu died, Zhu Yixuan was also given sixty strokes of the cane and was sent back to the Cen family along with Cen Yingfan.

Madam Jiang, heartbroken, wailed incessantly beside Cen Yingfan's sickbed, "Why did you slander Mingzhu like this? Now that Mingzhu is dead, she's still being cursed and defamed! She was our most precious daughter! Waaaaah!"

Cen Yingfan was in pain both physically and emotionally. His eyes were bloodshot, and he clenched his fists and pounded the bed, gritting his teeth. "Do you think I wanted this? That's my daughter, whom I've watched grow up with all my love and care. I would give her my life for her!"

But I can't let dozens of people in the Cen family die because of her! Regardless of whether she's with the Second Prince or not, the Emperor and Empress will not let her live! That child is also destined to remain hidden from public view!
I took the blame to uphold the royal family's reputation and protect the Second Prince. Only in this way can we save the Cen family! What do you, a mere woman, know?

How could Mrs. Jiang not understand these principles? But she just couldn't accept that her beloved daughter was gone.

Thinking of the child Cen Mingzhu left behind, Madam Jiang sniffed and choked up, "What about that child? Mingzhu went through so much to give birth to that child, and you won't even acknowledge him?"

Cen Yingfan paused for a moment, then dismissed all the servants in the room and had Madam Jiang step forward. He whispered, "That child was switched by Yixuan long ago. Mingzhu gave birth to a daughter, who is being raised by Mingxue. Shh! This matter must not be made public!"

Mrs. Jiang was stunned. She was relieved that the child was not her grandson, but she was also heartbroken that she could not recognize her own granddaughter.

Cen Yingfan gripped Jiang's hand tightly and asked, "I just got back and I'm out of touch. I only know that the Sixth Prince sent people to arrest Mingzhu and Yixuan. Why did the Sixth Prince arrest them?"

Cen Yingfan couldn't understand the intricacies of the situation, but seeing the flicker in Jiang's eyes, it was clear that she did.

"What's the point of hiding anything now?"

Jiang had no choice but to answer truthfully: "It is related to the Sixth Prince's concubine, Shen. Shen was originally a poor girl from Moshi Town, Zhaohua County. She worked in the home of the Marquis of Yong'an's adopted son."

Mingzhu led a group to cause trouble, injuring Shen Shi and her elder brother. The Sixth Prince likely had people watching the Zhu family to avenge Shen Shi, and this gave him leverage over them.

"You mean that woman became the Sixth Prince's concubine?" Cen Yingfan was extremely shocked.

A concubine is different from a regular concubine; she is equivalent to a wife of equal rank. She is included in the royal family genealogy and can be buried with her husband. Given his previous rank, his daughter wouldn't even be qualified to be a prince's concubine. How could a poor girl possibly qualify?
Jiang nodded, clenching her fists in resentment. "They say it's related to the abbot of the Buddhist temple. The abbot said that Shen is blessed and that she and the Sixth Prince are a match made in heaven. The Emperor has issued an edict to grant them a marriage."