Chapter 967: 448 The Wrath of the Emperor (Two More Chapters) Chapter 967: 448 The Wrath of the Emperor (Two More Chapters) Many things, if not seen, might remain undiscovered until the day one dies.

How high the Emperor’s expectations of Prince Ning once were, at that instant, equaled the extent of his disappointment.

With all his strength, laden with infinite shame and fury, he struck Prince Ning, causing blood to flow from the corner of his mouth!

Gu Jiao felt that the Emperor had never exerted himself as much even when fleeing for his life.

Prince Ning had been in a panic ever since the Dragon Shadow Guard appeared, but after being slapped, he somehow calmed down.

He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, sneered at Gu Jiao, then turned to the furiously enraged Emperor and said with scorn, “Father doesn’t even ask what happened, and just assumes it’s my fault. Is Father teaching his own son here, or is he maintaining his imperial dignity in front of outsiders?”

The Emperor was not so vain.

He admitted that being seen by the young physician was deeply embarrassing, but had the young physician not witnessed it, would he not still be embarrassed?

His eldest son actually thought he was only upholding his imperial dignity?

His eldest son had committed fratricide, what dignity was left for him?

After delivering that slap, the Emperor’s strength was essentially drained, and after being talked back to by this rebellious son, he almost collapsed on the spot.

He struggled to maintain his composure and looked at him with disappointment and anger, “Regardless of the true nature of the incident, I will inquire. But no matter your difficulties, they do not justify drawing a sword on your brother!”

Prince Ning clenched his fists.

He looked at Gu Jiao, who seemed to enjoy the commotion, and with a sarcastic curl of his lips, said, “Are you satisfied with the situation now?”

The Emperor naturally heard this as well and frowned.

Gu Jiao looked candidly at the bruised and swollen Prince Ning and said, “It’s alright; if you had fallen harder, it would have been better.”

Prince Ning and the Crown Prince were taken back to the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor had Gu Jiao accompany them to treat the Crown Prince’s severe injuries.

The Crown Princess was also brought back.

The Emperor, having arrived at the scene, only saw Prince Ning attacking the Crown Prince and was unaware of the complications between the three, but he would soon find out.

Gu Jiao would treat the Crown Prince with utmost dedication.

Prince Ning was locked up in Huaqing Palace by the Emperor, who didn’t question him right away, not out of reluctance, but because the Emperor collapsed upon returning to the palace.

He did not pass out completely, but was suddenly spent by the shocking events and could no longer support his own body.

Steward Wei lovingly helped the Emperor onto the Dragon Bed, “Your Majesty, don’t be sad, don’t let the anger harm your health.”

But these were just empty words of comfort; with his two sons at such odds, how could he, as their father, not grieve? How could he not be angry?

“Even though I have long understood that in the Imperial Family brotherly affection is flimsy and there is no true siblinghood, I still hoped their brotherhood could have a bit of the common people’s sibling affection. Is it too much to expect?”

The Emperor closed his eyes in agony.

In just half a day, he seemed to have aged by decades, his entire being enveloped in the twilight of his years.

Steward Wei sighed, “Your Majesty…”

Familial love in the Imperial Family was never just that–love between brothers, or between husband and wife… even between father and son.

Steward Wei swallowed these useless words and said bluntly, “Your Majesty, better to discover it early than late.”

The Emperor was in his prime. If a feud arose between brothers, he could find a way to resolve it; if he were gone, one son would ascend the throne and another might rebel, leaving no chance for intervention.

How did the former dynasty fall? Was it not because Prince Su was dissatisfied with the Crown Prince’s ascension, rebelled, and indeed killed the Crown Prince, yet also severely weakening himself, ultimately allowing the founding Emperor of our dynasty to take advantage and reap the rewards?

“The realm should not perish in my hands; you are right, there is still room to maneuver.”

As for what that meant, the Emperor did not say, and he himself was unsure.

“What about the Empress Dowager…”

After a pause, he said, “Let’s not tell her yet, wait until I have investigated clearly and then tell her myself.” He sighed, “Summon Prince Ning.”

…

In the East Palace, Gu Jiao finished treating the Crown Prince’s wounds. The Crown Prince had woken up once, became overly agitated, and Gu Jiao injected him with a sedative; he was still on the drip.

She didn’t allow anyone to disturb them until the drip was finished and she packed up her things to leave.

The Crown Princess had also sustained some injuries, but they were only minor.

She had been waiting outside all this time.

Chun Yin was nowhere to be found.

After the second time of betraying her.

She should have guessed earlier that if Chun Yin could be bribed by Ning Wang, she wouldn’t be difficult for others to bribe.

“Was it you?” the Crown Princess looked at Gu Jiao, who came out holding the first-aid kit, and asked.

Gu Jiao looked at her strangely, “What was me?”

The Crown Princess said coldly, “It was all you. You knocked me out, and it was you who bribed Chun Yin, making her lead the Crown Prince over.”

She disappeared near the tea house, and if Chun Yin really wanted to send a message, she would go to Ning Wang, given their secretive relationship. It cannot be ruled out that she was taken away by Ning Wang.

But Chun Yin went directly to the Crown Prince instead, wasn’t this clearly giving the Crown Prince a chance to catch her with Ning Wang?

“If that’s what you think, then so be it,” Gu Jiao said, indifferent to these accusations.

It was she who had knocked out the Crown Princess, but she hadn’t bribed Chun Yin–that was Yuan Tang; it was Yuan Tang who handled Ning Wang’s subordinates too.

Ning Wang’s actions had resulted in Liu Yisheng’s finger being chopped off; Yuan Tang was determined to get revenge no matter what.

The Crown Princess ground her teeth and said in a low voice, “Don’t act like it wasn’t you. What kind of drug did you give me? Why did I end up saying those things?”

Gu Jiao was somewhat curious about what she had said.

The drug she had given the Crown Princess was a hallucinogen, which could indeed make someone more brazen and shameless than usual because a person in a sober state would have rationality and a sense of shame.

However, this kind of drug couldn’t create something out of nothing.

In other words, no matter how explicit the things Wo Linlang had said were, they were indeed thoughts she had truly harbored in her heart.

Gu Jiao stopped paying her attention and stepped down the stairs.

The Crown Princess pinched her fingers, “Doctor Gu! How have I offended you to warrant such targeted hostility from you?”

“I’m targeting you?” Gu Jiao was almost dumbfounded by the question.

She had never deliberately targeted Wo Linlang from the beginning, even now, had it not been for the need to take down Ning Wang, she couldn’t care less about who Wo Linlang was involved with.

The Crown Princess hesitated for a moment, looking into Gu Jiao’s eyes, she said, “It seems like you didn’t like me from the start.”

The woman was simply nonsensical.

Gu Jiao asked, “Why must I like you? Is it targeting you if I don’t like you, what kind of spoiled attitude is that?”

The Crown Princess was left speechless.

No one had ever spoken to her that way before.

As a child, she’d gotten her hands on a piece of Chestnut Cake, reserved only for her brothers, by being sweet-tongued. Since then, she had realized how important it was to win over others’ favor.

And she seemed to have a talent for it too–if she wanted to, there was no one she couldn’t charm.

But this Marquis Residence’s daughter who grew up in the countryside, always gave her looks of disdain.

She was overthinking it; Gu Jiao wasn’t just like that with her–she was that way with everyone.

But Gu Jiao didn’t care whether people liked her or not.

The Crown Princess said, “Are you jealous that I was once betrothed to Ahen? Ahen was once very kind to me.”

Gu Jiao: “Oh.”

She didn’t care, she didn’t care at all!

The Crown Princess looked at her incredulously, unable to understand how she could be so indifferent?

Could it be she still didn’t know Xiao Liulang’s true identity–
Gu Jiao turned her head to look at her, her expression grave: “I care about him, and I care about the people he cares about, but among the people he cares about, you are not included.”

The Crown Princess’s heart felt like it had been brutally stabbed!

Gu Jiao walked a few steps, then paused, “Ah, and another thing, don’t call him ‘Ahen’ anymore, you’re not worthy.”

The Crown Princess stood frozen in place.

…

The Emperor’s interrogation of Ning Wang wasn’t going smoothly. Ning Wang could easily pin the blame on the Crown Princess, claiming she seduced him or even that she mistook him for Xiao Hen.

But Ning Wang didn’t do that.

As a man, he could be ruthless and unscrupulous, but he wouldn’t go so far as to push a woman out to take the fall for him.

Ning Wang knelt on the ground, silent throughout.

The Emperor said angrily, “You think if you remain silent, I won’t be able to find out the truth? Once the Crown Prince wakes up, a single question will reveal all!”

Ning Wang said despondently, “Then let Father Emperor go ahead and ask, after all, Father Emperor no longer believes his son.”

The Emperor was infuriated by this son of his; before this incident, he had been completely obedient, and now that this scandal had broken, he couldn’t even be bothered to keep up appearances?

The Emperor looked at him with disappointed rage, “If you won’t speak up, how do you expect me to believe you?”