Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

Inside the dilapidated temple, the boy took out a string of copper coins and waved them in front of a group of disheveled little beggars.

The "clinking" sound made the eyes of the group of little beggars light up, their eyes fixed on the boy as if bewitched, swaying back and forth with his movements.

A slightly older child swallowed hard and looked up to ask.

"Big brother, if we help spread the word, will you really give us this string of coins?"

Sixteen smiled and said, "Is this even a lie?"

He abruptly withdrew his hand, feigning seriousness, "But this is a reward for doing a good job. If you don't do a good job, you won't get a single penny."

"If it goes well, not only will you get this string of cash, but I'll add another one."

Upon hearing this, a group of beggar children immediately began to chatter, discussing how many steamed buns could be bought with those copper coins.

A little beggar counted on his fingers, muttering incredulously, "I can buy one, two, three... so many!"

The boy in the lead coughed twice to calm the group of little beggars, then turned and straightened his small, bamboo-like body. He patted his chest, looking quite smug.

"Big brother, don't worry, leave this to us. We guarantee that within three days, everyone in the capital, from high-ranking officials to scoundrels and lazybones, will know about it."

"Then I'll wait for your good news."

Sixteen walked out of the dilapidated temple with her head held high, crumpled the empty aphrodisiac packet in her arms, and casually tossed it aside.

Overjoyed, he hurried toward the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

"Your Highness, good news! The tasks you entrusted to me have all been completed."

"Hmm." Xiao Lie calmly took a sip of tea. "Well done. Your monthly pay will be doubled this month."

"real?"

Xiao Lie glanced at him leisurely. "Do you think the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion can't afford your meager reward?"

"Hehe," the boy scratched his head, grinned, and his eyes gleamed with even more joy.

……

Affairs of passion are inherently easy to attract attention, and with the added publicity of a group of beggars going from street to street, impeachment petitions piled up like snowflakes in less than three days. To make matters worse, this time there was both witness testimony and physical evidence. Many regular customers of the restaurant confirmed that unspeakable noises were coming from the private room where the two were, which could not be denied.

An old minister stepped forward, holding his tablet, and spoke passionately, his face full of pain.

"Your Majesty, Prince Kang has been harassing my wife, showing no respect for propriety. He is no different from a barbarian. If he is not severely punished, his behavior will become a widespread trend, and the country will descend into chaos."

"In this way, how can a ruler be a ruler, and how can a subject be a subject? When ruler and subject are at odds, this is a sign of the downfall of the country."

The old minister, tears streaming down his face, suddenly knelt before the imperial steps. Behind him, a group of ministers knelt down one after another, echoing his sentiments in unison.

"Your Majesty, please punish Prince Kang severely!"

"Your Majesty, please punish Prince Kang severely!"

"Your Majesty, please punish Prince Kang severely!"

In the main hall, the Kangwang faction stood rooted to the spot, hesitant and unable to move. They could find no words to defend themselves and could only lower their heads to conceal themselves, trying to minimize their presence.

The emperor looked around once, then issued an edict with a stern face.

"In that case, Jiang Heng will receive a year's salary as a warning to others. As for the Lin family, who are dissolute and disregard etiquette, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion shall be ordered to set up a separate Buddhist hall so that she may purify her mind and reduce her desires by copying scriptures for three years in order to set a standard for public opinion."

Upon hearing this, the emperor turned and hurriedly left.

A group of ministers were left behind, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"this……"

"well……"

The prince's salary deduction was too lenient in the face of this matter. However, the emperor's attitude clearly indicated that he did not want to punish the emperor severely, but only wanted to give an attitude and quickly end the matter. A group of officials, especially those from Prince Jing's faction, saw through this and could not help but shake their heads and sigh.

A golden opportunity to bring down Prince Kang was squandered by the emperor.

Does Your Majesty truly wish for Prince Kang to succeed to the throne? Otherwise, why would you show such favoritism?

Prince Jing stood to the side, his face gloomy. He stared intently at the now empty dragon throne, his eyes filled with resentment, his fists clenched tightly.

Father...does he really like my third brother that much?

They are all of imperial blood, his own sons, so why should they be treated differently?

……

Along with the imperial edict, a seasoned palace maid was also brought down.

She was strict and rigid, and knew the rules best. After Lin Wan'er received the imperial decree, she stepped forward and slapped Lin Wan'er twice.

With two sharp "slaps," red, swollen handprints immediately appeared on Lin Wan'er's cheeks. Seeing her eyes blazing with anger and her mouth agape as if about to explode, the head maid stepped forward and bowed. Her cold, rigid voice instantly extinguished Lin Wan'er's burning rage like a handful of ice and snow.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness, before I left the palace, His Majesty gave me these instructions. People value their reputation most. Only by knowing shame can one respect etiquette, and only by respecting etiquette can one uphold chastity. Since Your Highness does not value your reputation and does not know shame, then this method will be used to wake you up and prevent you from being confused for three years without knowing your mistakes."

Lin Wan'er choked, her face flushed red and hot, unable to speak for a long time. The scrutinizing gazes of the maids and servants around her felt like knives scraping against her, and Xiao Lie's indifferent attitude made her feel even more aggrieved and frustrated.

She turned her head and angrily scolded the servants, "What are you looking at? Get out of here right now! Do you think you're someone important just because you've been in the Duke's mansion for a while and have a few seniorities?"

"Those lowly creatures of different ranks, once a slave, are slaves for life, and in their next life they will be destined to serve others."

Lin Wan'er vented her anger with her veiled insults, but they did not stir up the slightest ripple on the calm face of the head palace maid.

Like a pebble that falls and misses its target.

Lin Wan'er paused, snorted, and turned to leave.

The head palace maid spoke up with a nonchalant tone, offering a reminder.

"Princess Consort, there's something else I didn't say. His Majesty felt that one lesson might not be enough for you to learn proper etiquette, so he instructed that if you are willing to endure the humiliation and admit your mistake after being punished, and devote yourself to Buddhist practice, then the slapping punishment will be stopped."

"If that doesn't work, then punish her every day, in excruciating pain, so that the Crown Princess may truly awaken."

"you!"

Lin Wan'er suddenly fell into the ditch. She glared angrily and was about to speak when her gaze suddenly stopped when it fell on the dark green palace maid's dress with bamboo and crane patterns that represented seniority.

Remembering the lesson she had just learned, she knew that this palace maid represented the emperor's face and could not be offended. Finally, she gritted her teeth, snorted angrily, and coldly turned away.

Xiao Lie coldly watched the whole thing, his gaze lingering on the head palace maid, a hint of admiration appearing in his eyes.

He tapped the paper fan against his palm, feeling satisfied.

The old emperor did do one good deed, sending over a capable and efficient palace maid, which made him feel much better.

However, the arrival of such a person at the Duke's mansion is probably not just to punish Lin Wan'er, but also to take the opportunity to monitor him.

His thoughts shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he was escorted by Xiao Lie. He stepped forward and smiled faintly.

"May I ask how to address this aunt?"

The palace maid lowered her eyes and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Highness may call me Jinzhu."