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King Jin felt both aggrieved and choked with frustration, murmuring through the pain unclearly, "Nonsense, they hit me even after I said I am King Jin."

"How come? Jin Zijin, you did that on purpose," the Empress angrily said.

Jin Zijin sneered, "So if you say you are, you are? Does that mean anyone can claim to be some king and just bring men to storm into my residence?"

The Empress and King Jin were at a loss for words.

After a moment, King Jin, still enduring the pain, added, "Also, this punch on my face was from you."

The Empress looked at Jin Zijin in shock and angrily said, "You are brothers; how could you bring yourself to do this?"

Jin Zijin hesitated for a moment, then a short while later said, "Sorry, my hand slipped."

"You..." the Empress was beside herself with frustration and turned to address the silently seated Emperor, "Your Majesty, look at the attitude of the Crown Prince; he has beaten King Jin to this state, what do you think should be done?"

The Emperor then shifted his gaze to Jin Zijin and asked him, "What do you think should be done?"

Jin Zijin smiled and said, "Didn’t I already apologize to him just now? My apologies."

"You...you think an apology is enough to settle this?" the Empress insisted urgently.

Jin Zijin said, "Of course, it can’t just be settled like that. After all, King Jin led men into my residence, and many people saw it. My own people were also injured; I have to give them an explanation, right?

Let’s do this, as brothers after all, we are family.

Let’s dismiss the personal grudges with an apology to avoid awkwardness.

Since King Jin brought men into my house, the dignity of the Crown Prince Residence must be upheld, no matter what, and the injured guards also need to be consoled; how about.

.. let King Jin compensate them with eight or ten thousand silvers and then confine him in Zongrenfu to reflect properly? "

Hearing Jin Zijin’s words, the Empress nearly fainted from anger.

What kind of talk is this?

King Jin gets beaten, and an apology is supposed to be enough, lest it becomes awkward.

But King Jin still has to pay reparations and be confined to Zongrenfu?

Confinement in Zongrenfu, is face no longer a concern?

The Empress and King Jin were so stunned they were momentarily lost for words.

The Emperor glanced at them and said indifferently, "Then let it be so. Bringing men to barge into the Crown Prince’s residence is indeed inappropriate. Empress, go to Zongrenfu with him and personally discipline him."

What?

The Empress couldn’t believe her ears. Has the Emperor gone mad? How could he treat her like this?

Jin Zijin said with a light smile, "Father Emperor’s decision is extremely fair; your son is grateful."

Jin Zijin left with ease, triumphant.

The Empress and King Jin slumped in the main hall of Qianqing Palace, their minds buzzing.

The Empress asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, do you think your concubine is useless, that’s why you..."

"Silence," the Emperor reprimanded loudly: "Do you also fail to distinguish right from wrong like Xiaoran? Think for yourself why he led men into the Crown Prince Residence. For a woman, a woman cast out by her family, a King Jin loses his senses and order.

What would the people think? What would the court officials think of such a person? To say nothing of the Crown Prince, if he weren’t my son, he wouldn’t even be qualified to be King Jin.

This time, we’re just teaching him a lesson in manners, to understand what he should and shouldn’t do. If there’s a next time, you might as well not be King Jin."

The Empress was momentarily dazed and overwhelmed; upon reflection, what King Jin did this time was indeed too much.