In the emperor's eyes, the Prince of Chuxiang was his cousin who grew up with him, a man of both literary and martial prowess who valued loyalty and righteousness, and was utterly devoted to him. Furthermore, the Prince of Chuxiang having no heirs put the emperor's mind at ease and made him highly trusting.
If someone else had presented evidence of a prince's crimes, he might have wondered if there were other ulterior motives involved. But he had no such reservations regarding the Prince of Chuxiang. Because of this, after reading the confessions and evidence and learning of Prince Kang's various actions, the emperor believed it without the slightest doubt. He immediately sent the Prince of Chuxiang with the Imperial Guard to arrest him.
This was not the first time Mu Chongyan had been tasked with dealing with the fallout from his brother's problematic sons. Acting with practiced efficiency, he swiftly mobilized the imperial guards and proceeded directly to Prince Kang's residence. They apprehended Prince Kang completely by surprise, before he even realized what was happening.
Prince Kang was unaware of any crime he had committed. The Prince of Chuxiang, acting under direct imperial orders, had deployed troops to surround the estate. Prince Kang, along with his family members and personal attendants, were all taken into custody. News of this dramatic event spread rapidly throughout the capital.
It was all too sudden. People were shocked upon hearing the news and found it hard to believe. Jiang Chenghan, who knew the inside story, had no trouble believing it, though he was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the Prince of Chuxiang to be more decisive than he imagined and to enjoy even greater trust from the emperor than he thought. However, this was ultimately a good thing for them.
Although people in the capital found it hard to believe Prince Kang was arrested, the fact that his residence was surrounded by the Imperial Guard was undeniable. During the court session the next day, when court officials and imperial clansmen inquired about Prince Kang, the emperor did not deny it. However, mindful of the imperial family's dignity, the emperor did not mention Prince Kang's collusion with Bei Di. He only announced Prince Kang's other crimes, such as forming cliques for personal gain, corruption and accepting bribes, and raising a private army. Finally, he convicted Prince Kang of treason.
Perhaps because he had so few sons left, the emperor ultimately did not impose the death penalty on Prince Kang. He only stripped him of his title, demoted him to a commoner, and placed him under house arrest within Prince Kang's residence.
However, the emperor showed no mercy towards Prince Kang's subordinates and the court officials who had colluded with him. Those who should be arrested were arrested, those whose homes should be confiscated saw them confiscated, and those who should be executed were executed. Outside the Meridian Gate, the ground was once again soaked with blood.
After the New Year celebrations, Jiang Chenghan had been busy investigating Prince Kang's affairs, with almost no time to rest. He was even busier than he had been in Ningcheng and had little time to spend with Yan Jingshu and the children.
Now that everything was settled, he could finally relax and stay home for a long time.
Throughout the investigation into Prince Kang's crimes, Jiang Chenghan had contributed significantly. However, Prince Kang remained alive and retained some lingering influence. Concerned that the prince might leverage his remaining power to seek revenge against Jiang Chenghan, and considering Prince Kang's status as a member of the imperial family—despite the emperor's current fury, there was no guarantee he wouldn't later resent Jiang Chenghan's role in his son's downfall—Mu Chongyan made a strategic decision.
When recommendations for meritorious service were presented, Mu Chongyan deliberately omitted Jiang Chenghan's name. This was to shield him from potential future political retaliation and protect his career prospects. Jiang Chenghan, who had never been motivated by fame or personal gain, understood this reasoning completely. His priority was the safety and security of his family, which far outweighed any official recognition or reward.
However, what Jiang Chenghan didn't know was that the Prince of Chuxiang always believed in eradicating the root to prevent future trouble. Especially concerning the safety of Jiang Chenghan, Yan Jingshu, and their family—he absolutely could not tolerate Prince Kang's continued existence.
So, two months after Prince Kang was deposed, just as the turmoil caused by him had begun to calm down, another piece of news struck like a thunderbolt, stunning everyone.
Prince Kang was dead. It was said he died from accidentally falling into water.
Upon learning of his son's death, the Emperor was enraged and immediately ordered the execution of all servants responsible for Prince Kang's care. However, the prince's servants, anticipating this fate after their master's demise, had already taken their own lives. They chose death by fire within the prince's residence, not even leaving behind intact corpses.
The unexpected death of his son stirred a sense of pity in the Emperor's heart toward Prince Kang's surviving family. Although he did not restore Prince Kang's title, he granted substantial compensatory rewards to Prince Kang's wife and his son. These provisions ensured they would live in comfort and security despite their fallen status.
Regarding Prince Kang's matter, Mu Chongyan had not informed Jiang Chenghan before acting. But when Jiang Chenghan had his suspicions and asked him, he did not deliberately hide it either.
Jiang Chenghan knew that Mu Chongyan had taken this risk for him and Yan Jingshu. He immediately thanked Mu Chongyan. When he returned home, he also told Yan Jingshu about it.
Yan Jingshu fell silent for a long time after listening, finally saying, "The Prince of Chuxiang has done this... I don't even know how to thank him..."
Although he said this, Yan Jingshu also knew what the Prince of Chuxiang truly wanted most in his heart. However, even though he was mentally prepared, when it came down to it, he still felt somewhat hesitant and at a loss.
Jiang Chenghan, thinking of something he heard colleagues discussing at the Inspectorate that day, suggested to Yan Jingshu: "The Prince of Chuxiang's birthday seems to be coming soon. The people at the Inspectorate were discussing pooling money to prepare a birthday gift for him. It's not much, but it's the thought that counts. How about you also prepare a gift for the Prince of Chuxiang? It can be a way to express our gratitude to him."
"Birthday?" Yan Jingshu blinked, thought for a moment, and said, "I don't know what the Prince of Chuxiang likes. Tomorrow, the imperial grandson invited Jiajia to the Commandery Prince of Rui's residence to watch acrobatics. I'll discuss it with Dad when I see him."
"Alright," Jiang Chenghan nodded, finding it agreeable.
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