Jing Yunzhou could already foresee what he would encounter next in front of the Emperor.

Walking into the Imperial Study Room, Jing Yunzhou kneeled down, placing his head on the ground.

"Such flaws in your conduct, how can you be worthy of being the Crown Prince of Great Zhou?" The Emperor’s first sentence was this, his voice intimidatingly loud, "I entrusted this matter to you, and this is how you handled it?"

The Emperor had already formed an idea of how to deal with this matter in a short time.

Someone needed to take the fall for this, and the Crown Prince was the most suitable candidate. Since he caused the issue, it’s only natural he should conclude it.

If it weren’t for his lack of foresight, none of these troubles would exist today.

Jing Yunzhou’s face turned pale; he realized the Emperor’s intentions: "Father..."

"Crown Prince, this issue is indeed due to your negligence." The Emperor’s tone suddenly softened, yet it chilled Jing Yunzhou to the core; was his father planning to abandon him?

"The issue at hand today stems from Lin Xinghuai’s arranged marriage. Last time, you failed to retain people, allowing them to exploit this gap. I planned to handle it quietly, to avoid causing a big scandal, which would bring Great Zhou numerous troubles and easily sway the people’s hearts."

"Indeed, women are just women, with narrow vision, only considering the Lin Family’s grievances without considering the stability of Great Zhou. If she talks like this, what if Great Zhou is thrown into chaos, wouldn’t that make the lives of Great Zhou’s people unstable and uneasy?"

Jing Yunzhou could not refute; these words made sense, yet the Emperor said so much merely to make him willingly take the blame.

Furthermore, he had no choice but to take the blame.

"Now that things have blown up, it needs to be settled, and you are the most suitable person for that. For the stability of Great Zhou, only you can handle this matter. You are the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, and the people’s dissatisfaction with you will not incite chaos in Great Zhou. If I were to shield you from this matter, that would truly lead to turmoil."

Jing Yunzhou’s palm on the ground clutched the floor tightly; his fingernails seemed ready to rip off.

He bit his lip until it broke, quickly swallowing the blood with its metallic taste: "Your son admits fault."

The Emperor felt satisfied inside, verbally promising many benefits, yet Jing Yunzhou was not happy at all.

If nothing unexpected happened, his role as Crown Prince was over.

But, he was truly unwilling.

The one who ordered him to eliminate the servants of Prince Ling Mansion was his father.

Now that the matter was exposed, he was to take the blame.

Even if he was the Crown Prince, the future heir, his father felt no mercy. Didn’t it indicate that the Emperor’s heart cared little for him as a son, and more about the throne?

Indeed, his father had so many children; abandoning him meant nothing.

He couldn’t oppose this decision, only agree to take the blame, laying low and planning slowly. He aspired to control life and death as the Emperor could.

He didn’t want to feel so humiliated; no matter what, he would seize that position. Jing Yunzhou kept his head down, his eyes a blood-red hue, filled with boundless hatred.

What of father and son?

"Send the third son’s wife back to her previous residence; even though the matter is exposed, her contributions still deserve recognition, placing her in the Eastern Palace is no longer appropriate. When the time comes, I will reward her." The Emperor paused, "I will compensate you in the future, you will not be treated poorly."

Jing Yunzhou gritted his teeth in agreement, it was utterly laughable.

At this moment, he did not care at all whether Qiann Yan stayed in the Eastern Palace or not; the humiliation he faced, and the anger rising in his heart, had already washed away his feelings for her.