4023

Chapter 4023: Empress Liu's Pain

The eunuch tumbled to the ground in front of Empress Liu, crying out, "Empress, please calm your anger, please calm your anger."

"What exactly happened to the Crown Prince?" Empress Liu, frantic with worry, didn't notice the faint, dark glint that flashed in the old eunuch's eyes.

The old eunuch bowed his head low, stammering, "Empress, this servant heard that His Highness the Crown Prince snuck out of the palace tonight and went to the Huachu Pavilion."

Empress Liu froze, then sharply asked, "What kind of place is that?"

Huachu Pavilion? It doesn't sound like a reputable place at all!

The old eunuch kept his head down, repeatedly muttering, "It's... it's a male escort establishment!"

"What??" Empress Liu's eyes widened in horror.

The Crown Prince went to a male escort establishment, and now even her personal eunuch knew about it. What did that mean?

It meant that this matter regarding the Crown Prince was absolutely impossible to hide!

And that wasn't all. The old eunuch continued in a low voice, his head still bowed:

"His Highness the Crown Prince... got into a fight over a courtesan with another patron at the establishment... he lost the fight and was carried back to the palace, bleeding from his head. This servant heard... he even caused a scene demanding to redeem a pure male courtesan from the establishment. Now... the entire court and common folk know about it!"

Empress Liu's body went limp, collapsing to the ground.

The eunuch crawled to the Empress's side, whimpering mournfully, "Empress, please take care of your health! Don't worry too much just yet. Perhaps... perhaps these sources of information are mistaken."

Empress Liu struggled to get up, screaming sharply, "They must be mistaken! It must be rumors spread by others! How could my Li'er possibly do such a thing?"

She knew her son best; he was a man of great self-restraint.

For years, with no primary consort established, Empress Liu had been carefully selecting suitable candidates who could help her son solidify his position as Crown Prince.

Her son, unless his brain was completely addled, would never run off to some male escort establishment and fight over a courtesan.

It must be a rumor, a rumor, a rumor!!!

Empress Liu clutched her chest in anger, shrieking, "It's Old Fourth! It must be that devil Old Fourth who did this! I'm going to see His Majesty! I'm going to ask His Majesty to judge fairly! Let him see what kind of trouble his good son causes all day!"

As Empress Liu rushed towards the palace door, she was immediately stopped.

"Empress, His Majesty has decreed that you are confined to your palace for one month and may not leave."

A sharp glint appeared in Empress Liu's eyes. "Get out of the way! I want to see His Majesty."

"Forgive us, Your Majesty, but we are under His Majesty's orders to guard Renchuan Palace. Until His Majesty orders the restriction lifted, Your Majesty may not take half a step out of Renchuan Palace."

Empress Liu let out a shriek, clutching her disheveled long hair, and looked at the two guards standing at the palace entrance with a deathly gaze. She said, word by word, "You all, just wait for this Empress."

The old eunuch followed behind Empress Liu, his head bowed, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Her Majesty truly cannot see the current situation clearly.

What is she waiting for?

Her maternal family's backing has long since collapsed, and her family members are all dead.

Does she think she still has a chance to rise again?

Heh heh, let's not joke around.

Empress Liu, unable to leave Renchuan Palace, could only pace back and forth in the vast palace.

All the furnishings in the palace that could be smashed had already been shattered by her.

Now, fragments lay scattered everywhere, and several young palace maids were kneeling on the ground, tidying up.