The Crown Prince Was Betrayed

Qi Luo immediately charged down in a frenzy, startling everyone! Dan Tai Ji was about to raise his hand to stop her when a sudden strong gust of wind arose in the hall.
The sharp gust of wind, like a keen blade, swept across people's faces, causing pain and a whistling sound. County Princess Qi Luo, who was rushing towards Dan Tai Huang, was fiercely blown out of the hall by the wind. At this moment, County Princess Qi Luo was not far from Dan Tai Huang, which showed how profound the attacker's cultivation was!
"Ah!" A tragic scream, and another chopstick flew out.
"Thud!" A sound, hitting somewhere unknown, and outside finally fell silent!
The attack was domineering, showing no mercy. In this world, perhaps only that exceedingly evil and arrogant Bei Ming Crown Prince would act this way! Everyone in the hall thought, then slightly turned their heads, looking towards where the strong wind had originated.
At this moment, Jun Jing Lan's exquisite face carried three parts anger and seven parts impatience. His narrow, long eyes gleamed with bone-chilling coldness. He looked at the main entrance of the hall and spoke coldly: "What is it? Don't you see this Crown Prince is dining?"
Everyone was silent! The entire hall, except for Dan Tai Huang, everyone else thought he suddenly acted to defend Dan Tai Huang. Hearing his words, they instantly understood that County Princess Qi Luo had shouted too loudly upon entering, disturbing His Highness's meal!
Not a few people couldn't help but secretly grumble in their hearts. This hall was a tense standoff, yet only His Highness still had the mood to dine! They wondered if he simply didn't take the current situation seriously, or if he was so knowledgeable that he remained calm, unlike them, ordinary frogs in a well who got agitated at the slightest thing!
The imperial physician quickly rushed out. A moment later, he returned, his forehead covered in sweat, and reported: "Reporting to Your Majesty, County Princess Qi Luo's bones and tendons were already injured from the twenty heavy blows she received. She was then flung by Princess Qing Huang, breaking her left leg! Now, after being swept by the Bei Ming Crown Prince... her right thigh and right arm are also broken! And she was struck in a vital acupoint, rendering her unable to speak..."
Prime Minister Zhang had many daughters, but Qi Luo was the most outstanding and had always been arrogant. To be reduced to such a state today, losing all face, let alone becoming empress, even finding a suitable match now would be difficult. Prime Minister Zhang knelt down and spoke to Huangfu Xuan: "Your Majesty, Qi Luo is a County Princess of Dong Ling. Princess Qing Huang and the Bei Ming Crown Prince acting this way is truly disrespectful to Dong Ling! This old subject has been loyal to the monarch and patriotic his entire life, yet now his beloved daughter is bullied, and he is powerless. If Your Majesty is unwilling to speak justice for this subject, this old subject, the Prime Minister, has no face left to serve. I ask Your Majesty to decide!"
These words were vicious, enough to prove that the Old Prime Minister was deeply angered, even threatening the emperor with resignation!
Huangfu Xuan had not yet spoken when Dan Tai Huang spoke first: "This esteemed official, when this princess flung the County Princess out, everyone saw it. It was when this princess was retracting the stage curtain; this princess did it unintentionally! Furthermore, earlier, the County Princess was disrespectful to this princess. Did you not also say, esteemed official, that this princess and my royal brother could deal with it as we pleased? Even if this princess did it intentionally, not accidentally, this princess is a princess. Is it not blameless for me to seek a little justice for myself?"
These words were reasonable and logical. Let alone the Old Prime Minister, among the many national talents present, no one could refute her. Dan Tai Huang's status was not just one rank higher than Qi Luo's. A princess and a county princess—a single word difference, yet a world apart. The hall fell silent.
Immediately, Dan Tai Ji's elegant and magnificent voice rang out: "The Dong Ling County Princess received twenty heavy blows, yet remained unrepentant, daring to insult Huang'er. This prince has not even sought accountability, and the Prime Minister is already impatient?" After speaking, he looked at Dan Tai Huang with a hint of strangeness. That girl was behaving very unusually today; her recent presentation and analysis were not like something she could have said before.
Dan Tai Huang naturally caught his gaze, her expression calm, yet she felt a subtle nervousness.
The Old Prime Minister instantly broke out in a cold sweat. Seeing his beloved daughter suffer, his mind immediately became muddled, and he had forgotten that it was his daughter who was in the wrong first!
And as Dan Tai Ji was speaking, another voice rang out: "In Bei Ming, if anyone insults the Crown Prince, hmph, let alone a County Princess, even a Princess would not escape being flayed and deboned! County Princess Qi Luo merely broke her arm and leg; His Royal Highness has been polite!"
"Xiao Man, your words, are you saying this Crown Prince has a bad temper, is bloodthirsty and cruel?" Jun Jing Lan tilted his head slightly, asking as if not angered.
Xiao Man immediately shook his head and said: "Your Highness, you are the most compassionate person; it is just that your generosity is not understood by these foolish people!" These words were full of implicit meaning.
Jun Jing Lan heard this, nodded with satisfaction, and said: "This Crown Prince also believes his temper is very good. However, this Dong Ling Prime Minister is indeed quite interesting; he actually feels he has no face to be Prime Minister. If that is the case, Emperor of Dong Ling, do you have no one to choose as Prime Minister? If not, this Crown Prince would like to recommend a few people! Such as Minister Shang, Minister Chen, Minister Li..." As he spoke, his gaze swept over several capable officials of Dong Ling, one by one.
The master and servant, one leading, one following, almost caused someone's death! Now, they even named several officials. Anyone he named was met with Huangfu Xuan's suspicious and cold gaze, clearly already doubting their relationship with Jun Jing Lan. Otherwise, how would Jun Jing Lan recommend them, even knowing their names so clearly!
And Xiao Man secretly chuckled in his heart. His Highness's move was truly vicious, as the three ministers were loyal subjects of Huangfu Xuan. This not only mocked the Prime Minister but also sowed discord in the relationship between the Dong Ling monarch and his subjects!
And Dan Tai Huang, looking at Jun Jing Lan, felt a shiver in her heart! This man was truly terrifying; a few casual words from him could stir up a huge storm. To even think of opposing him, oh heavens, if the banquet didn't end soon, she should worry about packing up and fleeing for her life?
Fortunately, Huangfu Xuan was not foolish. After a brief moment of suspicion, he sobered up, understanding that this was someone's scheme to sow discord. But looking at the three ministers, he still felt a change, and his gaze towards the Prime Minister grew colder: "At the state banquet, Qi Luo showed no decorum. Who among Princess Qing Huang or the Bei Ming Crown Prince could she afford to offend? I would not hesitate to execute her, let alone merely break her arm and leg. Prime Minister, if you truly feel you have no face to be Prime Minister, I will not force you..."
The Prime Minister, who had already been drenched in cold sweat by Jun Jing Lan's words, completely sobered up under Huangfu Xuan's words! He quickly kowtowed and spoke: "Your Majesty! This old subject knows his crime, I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness!"
Other Dong Ling officials also quickly helped plead for him. Huangfu Xuan also took the opportunity to relent, pardoning him, but giving him a stern warning.
The grand hall fell completely silent, with only Zhong Li Han's groans of pain remaining. Huangfu Xuan then continued: "There was a thief in the grand hall who attacked the Dong Jin Princess. I will definitely catch them, so the Dong Jin Third Prince can rest assured!"
Everyone knew the thief was Dan Tai Huang, but Huangfu Xuan's words clearly indicated he intended to let this matter go, simply finding someone else to take the blame. Everyone merely looked straight ahead, minding their own business. Zhong Li Cheng almost clenched his hands until they broke, and Zhong Li Han was so angry she almost bit through her lip, but she could only temporarily suppress her anger, planning to seek revenge another day! "Then I trouble the Emperor of Dong Ling!"
"No need for formalities! It was my oversight!" Huangfu Xuan finished speaking, his golden eyes looking at Dan Tai Huang with a hint of coldness, gritting his teeth: "Princess Qing Huang was also frightened today!" This vile woman, he would settle accounts with her later!
"My Crown Princess does not need the Emperor of Dong Ling's concern!" A clear voice rang out, then he turned to Dan Tai Ji and said: "Mo Bei First Prince, please convey to the Emperor of Mo Bei that although Princess Qing Huang accepted the engagement token and saw this prince's body, this prince has no evidence. However, this prince is unwilling to swallow this bitter pill! If the Emperor of Mo Bei does not wish to marry his princess to this prince, this prince will go to Mo Bei and roll a thousand times before the main gate of your esteemed nation, making everyone in the world know that Princess Qing Huang blatantly betrayed this Crown Prince!"