She was deeply touched that even underage sisters in the palace wished to stand up for her.
Her gaze shifted to the outside of the window, where she saw the tall and handsome younger brothers. In the end, she felt that this imperial family still held some affection. At least when she was wronged, they would be willing to stand up for her.
She didn't care about the mix of emotions in this affection, as it was better than a biological brother who had betrayed her and forced her to endure.
Even if it was for the sake of the imperial family's reputation, at least they would not mistreat her after they ascended to power.
"Eldest Brother, why didn't you call me?" The Third Prince rode his horse closer to the First Prince and the others.
"Does Third Imperial Brother not know that the consort keeps a mistress?" the First Prince asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I, I know," the Third Prince said with an awkward smile.
"Then why would we call you?"
The First Prince's mocking gaze made him feel as if he had nowhere to hide.
He looked at his other brothers, and their gazes were all filled with mockery.
It was then that the Third Prince realized he had made a wrong move.
When he first discovered that the consort was keeping a mistress, he had also been angry and wanted to beat him up, then have him apologize to his elder sister.
But later, seeing the affection between his elder sister and the consort, and wanting to use this leverage to get the Duke of Zhuang's mansion on his side, he had not spoken out and had even covered for the consort.
Otherwise, this mistress would not have been kept hidden for so long. Now, he felt that it would have been better to expose it back then. Now, all his siblings were good people, and only he had become the bad guy who betrayed his sister.
His elder sister must hate him to death now.
The Third Prince looked at the Eldest Princess's carriage, a sense of regret rising in his heart.
Upon arriving at the imperial palace, all the adult princes and princesses knelt before the Emperor.
The Emperor appeared to be diligently reviewing the memorials before him, paying no attention to his children below. He merely instructed someone to bring seats for his daughters, while his sons remained kneeling.
After a long while, he finally spoke, "I heard you struck the Eldest Consort?"
"Yes, I was the instigator of this matter. I beg Father Emperor to punish me!" The Second Prince took all the blame.
"Father Emperor, we also took action," several other princes said, bowing together.
The Eldest Princess then realized how the Eldest Consort got the injuries on his face. She had to admit, knowing this made her feel even more at ease.
"I heard you also went to the Duke of Zhuang's mansion to demand an explanation?"
"Father Emperor, this matter has nothing to do with my imperial brothers and sisters; it is all because of me..." The Eldest Princess got up from her chair, about to kneel and beg for leniency.
"Ting'er, you don't need to speak. Go and rest on the side," the Emperor gestured to a nearby palace maid to help the Eldest Princess back to her chair.
This was his first daughter, and also the daughter for whom he had taken more pains. Because her birth mother's rank was not high, she had also suffered some hardships.
But she had relied on his favor to protect her mother and younger brother in the harem. She was only a few years old then.
"Replying to Father Emperor, going to the Duke of Zhuang's mansion was my idea. I beg Father Emperor to punish me!" The First Prince also bowed.
Seeing his two sons taking the blame, the Emperor suddenly smiled.
"What is wrong with you protecting your siblings?" Although the Emperor had his brothers take action against him, he still liked to see his children get along well.
As soon as these words were spoken, all the princes and princesses in the hall, except for the Third Prince, breathed a sigh of relief. They had gambled correctly. The Emperor, who always valued his children, would absolutely not allow anyone to wrong his daughters.
As soon as the Emperor's words finished, tears began to stream down the Eldest Princess's face. She cried very restrainedly, but the continuously falling teardrops seemed to be washing away all the grievances of the past half month.
"Father Emperor!" The Eldest Princess looked at the Emperor with eyes full of filial affection.
"However, you have overstepped. It would be difficult for me to appease the public opinion if I did not punish you. You shall be fined for one year's salary and confined for half a month."
"Thank you, Father Emperor!" All the princes bowed and thanked the Emperor.
"As for the Third Prince, you did nothing wrong this time, so you may return to your mansion on your own."
The Third Prince had looked up when the Emperor called him separately. Upon hearing his Father Emperor say this, he immediately understood that he had disappointed the Emperor this time.
"Father Emperor, I..."
"All of you may withdraw, Ting'er, you stay behind."
The Emperor interrupted what he was about to say and waved them away.
After everyone had withdrawn, the Eldest Princess knelt before the Emperor.
"Your subject begs Father Emperor to uphold justice for me." She bowed deeply, her forehead touching the ground.
"If it weren't for your younger brothers and sisters standing up for you this time, would you have just endured it?"
"Your subject has disappointed Father Emperor."
Looking at his daughter's sorrowful state, although the Emperor was angry, he also knew it was not her fault.
"Then what do you intend to do?"
"Your subject..."
The Duke of Zhuang and his son had been waiting at the entrance of the hall. The Emperor had not called them in, but they dared not rush him.
While they were extremely anxious, they saw a group of princes and princesses emerge from the main hall. Judging by their expressions, the Duke of Zhuang understood that His Majesty had not reprimanded them.
It seemed that His Majesty was on the side of the Eldest Princess and her siblings. He had to think about how to respond.
The Eldest Consort also looked in that direction and noticed that the Eldest Princess was not with them. He immediately looked at the Third Prince and saw the Third Prince shake his head at him. Moreover, the Third Prince's dejected expression was completely different from that of the other princes.
He very much wanted to stop the Third Prince and ask about the situation in the hall, but he also knew that this was not a place where he could act rashly.
After another while, a eunuch came out from the hall to invite them, father and son, in.
As soon as the Duke of Zhuang stepped forward, he almost fell. The Eldest Consort quickly came to support him.
"Father?"
"It's nothing, my legs just went numb." Since he had inherited the title of Duke, it had been a long time since he had been kept waiting at the door like this.
Once they entered the hall, both of them bowed to the Emperor.
"Duke An, please rise," the Emperor's voice revealed no emotion.
"Your Majesty, it is this old subject who has failed to discipline my son. I am ashamed before Your Majesty." The Duke of An did not rise and bowed again, his forehead heavily touching the ground.
The Eldest Consort also did not dare to look up, kneeling behind his father, like a child who had made a mistake in any ordinary family.
"Duke Zhuang, please rise," the Emperor gestured to the attending eunuch to help the Duke of An up.
"We are in-laws, there is no need for such ceremony. Moreover, the Duke has worked hard for the court for so many years and has made great contributions."
"This subject is humbled!"
"Ting'er is my first daughter, naturally I indulged her a bit. Marrying into your family must have caused your family considerable difficulty, otherwise, in less than two years, the consort would not have taken a mistress.
Ting'er's condition after falling into the water as a child affected her ability to bear children. If your family minded, you could have entirely refused such a marriage. My daughter would not have had trouble finding a husband!"
The Emperor's tone was unhurried, as if he were not angry at all.
But the Duke of An, who had been helped up, was drenched in sweat by this time.