His old eyes were filled with murderous intent, terrifying and suffocating like those of a ferocious beast.
Seeing the Emperor's furious expression, Chu Chen remained calm and unhurried, showing no fear. He said indifferently, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. The Crown Prince brought this upon himself."
"Chu Chen!" Gong Chenyi could no longer contain himself and roared, "Chu Chen, stop pretending. I can see that you are deliberately provoking me!"
Chu Chen sneered, "Your Highness, I have no interest in provoking you. If you don't believe me, ask them. Did I hit you?"
"Yes, he indeed hit the Crown Prince."
"Mm, we also saw it with our own eyes."
"The Crown Prince was indeed beaten," several ministers chimed in, all agreeing with Chu Chen's statement.
Seeing that everyone supported him, Gong Chenyi was stunned. He looked at these ministers in disbelief, his heart churning like a stormy sea. They all supported Chu Chen?
What in the world was going on? The ministers who usually obeyed his every command were openly defying him today!
"You... are you all crazy! I am the Crown Prince of Donglin Kingdom!" Gong Chenyi roared in anger, refusing to believe any of it.
"Slap!"
Just as Gong Chenyi was raging, the Emperor slammed his hand on the table and stood up, glaring at Gong Chenyi. He said in a deep voice, "Rebellious son! You still have the audacity to call me Father Emperor!
I must have been blind to have given birth to such an unfilial son. You have truly disgraced the royal family! Do you know that you have disgraced Donglin Kingdom?"
"Father Emperor, I am being wronged!" Gong Chenyi quickly explained.
The Emperor coldly reprimanded, "I already knew you were arrogant and overbearing, but I never expected you to be so brazen as to dare bully Chu Chen.
Have you forgotten the rules I've taught you all these years!"
"I..." Gong Chenyi hesitated, feeling extremely wronged. Chu Chen was a good-for-nothing; why couldn't he hit him?
The more the Emperor thought about it, the angrier he became. He slapped Gong Chenyi hard across the face and roared,
"You scoundrel! I've raised you for so many years, and this is how you repay me?"
"Bang!" Gong Chenyi fell to his knees, stunned by the blow. "Father Emperor, your son is truly wronged. Chu Chen suddenly came looking for trouble.
Without a word, he attacked me. I was merely acting in self-defense; I did nothing wrong."
"You're spouting nonsense!" the Emperor roared in fury. "You dare to quibble!"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger," Chu Chen quickly stepped forward to support the Emperor and advised, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince is just young and impetuous, which led to his impulsive actions. Please do not be angry."
"I don't need your pretense," Gong Chenyi glared fiercely at Chu Chen and roared, "You despicable and shameless wretch, you dare to hit me, you're finished!"
"Your Highness, I did not hit you. You ran into me yourself," Chu Chen said with an innocent expression.
"Chu Chen!" Gong Chenyi, enraged, lunged at Chu Chen again, and the two began to fight once more.
"Crown Prince, you are not allowed to hit Young Master Chu Chen!" The guards quickly pulled Gong Chenyi away, protecting Chu Chen.
Seeing Chu Chen being beaten, Chu Chen's subordinates were furious. However, fearing imperial authority, none dared to speak. After all, Chu Chen was the eldest young master of the Chu family; who would dare provoke him?
"You scoundrel!" The Emperor grew more furious with each passing moment, trembling with anger. He stared at Gong Chenyi with disappointment, "You are simply a disgrace to the family!"
"Father Emperor, don't listen to his nonsense! I clearly saw him strike me just now!" Gong Chenyi said, exasperated.
He couldn't understand the Emperor's line of reasoning at all. How could he so easily believe Chu Chen?
"Chu Chen, tell me the truth. What exactly did you do to the Crown Prince!" the Emperor asked with a dark expression, his sharp gaze fixed on Chu Chen.
"Your Majesty, if you truly wish to know, then please have an imperial physician examine him. The Crown Prince is strong and healthy; he would not be so easily injured. This is clearly a deliberate provocation to frame Young Master Chu Chen," the Minister of Justice sneered, his sinister and venomous eyes fixed on Chu Chen, as if he had already determined Chu Chen's certain death.
"Imperial physician, examine the Crown Prince!" the Emperor commanded, waving his sleeve. A terrifying force swept out, directly pushing aside the Minister of Justice who stood in the way.
The imperial physician beside the Emperor quickly stepped forward to investigate, and soon, the results were in.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince only sustained superficial injuries and is not in serious condition," the imperial physician respectfully stated.
"Hmph! Since it's only a minor injury, then let the Crown Prince go back and reflect in seclusion!" the Emperor said coldly, his heart filled with extreme anger. His most beloved grandson...
was now beaten into a pulp. If this were to spread, wouldn't it make the Donglin royal family a laughingstock?
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The imperial physician immediately nodded and obeyed the order, then helped Gong Chenyi leave.
"Chu Chen, this matter is not over!" Gong Chenyi glared fiercely at Chu Chen, roaring in anger. A monstrous rage surged within him, wishing he could kill Chu Chen immediately.
Unfortunately, he lacked the ability to do so now.
The Emperor and Empress's gazes fell upon Chu Chen, their expressions complex and filled with emotion. This was Chu Chen.
No matter what happened, he never acted rashly, always maintaining humility and kindness. This was the quality a successor of a great family should possess.
"Chu Chen, what exactly happened?" the Emperor asked sternly, his eyes filled with intense killing intent.
He did not want the successor he had cultivated to be a cowardly and incompetent fool.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it's like this..." Chu Chen immediately recounted the entire incident in detail.
The Emperor's brow furrowed deeper as he listened. He was quite disappointed. It turned out Gong Chenyi had initiated the provocation, which explained why Chu Chen retaliated. If it were him, he would also have fought back.
"Hmph! I think you're just asking for a beating!" the Emperor roared. "Guards, escort the Crown Prince back to his residence and confine him to house arrest! He is forbidden from leaving for three months without my permission!"
"Yes!" Two guards immediately entered, and supported Gong Chenyi out.
"Let go of me, Crown Prince! Father Emperor! I am not convinced!" Gong Chenyi struggled and shouted, feeling deeply wronged and unwilling, but it was all in vain.
"Chu Chen, you just wait for me! I will definitely kill you!" Gong Chenyi snarled ferociously.
His eyes were filled with hatred and ferocity. He was determined to kill Chu Chen and avenge himself!
Gong Chenyi secretly swore that as long as Chu Chen was alive, he would find a way to make Chu Chen pay the price!
"Chu Chen, are you alright?" the Emperor asked with concern, his beautiful eyes flashing with worry. He knew that Gong Chenyi would never let Chu Chen off the hook.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. This humble minister is unharmed," Chu Chen replied, shaking his head and smiling faintly. "It's just that the Crown Prince is too arrogant and ill-mannered, and doesn't understand the rules. Therefore, this humble minister merely administered a slight punishment."
Although Chu Chen's tone was gentle and polite, his attitude appeared proud and distant, as if he were speaking to a stranger.
The Emperor's brow furrowed deeply. He felt that Chu Chen had changed quite a bit, but he couldn't quite pinpoint it.
"Alright, you may withdraw. I am tired and need to rest," the Emperor waved his hand, signaling Chu Chen to leave.