Chapter 453: Peace
Under the influence of the Empress Dowager and the Public House, the Emperor decided to lift the confinement of the Empress and the Crown Prince.
However, he sternly cautioned the Empress, "The harem should not involve itself in politics, let alone conspire against a prince! Remember my words."
"If such a situation arises again, do not blame me for taking drastic measures."
"Starting today, you will be confined to the harem for three months."
The Empress did not dare to voice any objections. She understood that her and the Crown Prince’s exoneration this time was largely thanks to the Empress Dowager and the Public House.
Their actions this time had not been coordinated with the Public House in advance, and as a result, she faced severe censure from her father and brother. They cautioned her that, should such a situation occur again, they would not shield her.
Their primary concern was the protection of the Crown Prince.
The Empress harbored her own grievances as well. She concealed this from the Public House for two reasons. Firstly, she did not want her family to learn about the fifth princess’s disgraceful actions, which were far from commendable.
Secondly, she was deeply swayed by the Crown Prince’s influence. The Crown Prince had persuaded her that Cheng Feng’s confession was sufficient to implicate the Third Prince while minimizing the consequences for the fifth princess.
As a mother, she cherished her daughter immensely, leading her to readily accept the Crown Prince’s words. She now grasped the Crown Prince’s true intentions, which involved implicating her in a false narrative to secure the full support of the Public House and the Empress Dowager.
They believed that, with the unwavering backing of the Public House and the Empress Dowager, they might succeed in entirely eliminating the Third Prince.