The Enchanting Imperial Concubine (Book 3)

Chapter 426 - Inadequate Parenting

"Your Majesty..."

Seeing Ye Yun leave, Yi Zhaoyuan called out in a trembling voice.

At this moment, she looked utterly disheveled. Both of her cheeks were red and swollen, her hair was a mess, there were shoe prints on her shoulders, and dirt from her fall clung to her back.

Ning Chen glanced at her, his eyes filled with coldness.

He then turned to the side, beckoning to the Second Prince and Third Prince, who were standing at a distance.

"Chun'er, Han'er, come here."

The two boys approached warily, especially the Third Prince.

Having just witnessed his mother being slapped like that, he was terrified.

"Now tell me, why did you push your brother down?" Ning Chen asked sternly, fixing his gaze on the Third Prince.

Yi Zhaoyuan took a few steps forward on her knees, wanting to speak, but Ning Chen's gaze forced her back.

Seeing this, the Third Prince could only muster his courage and respond, "I didn't mean to push Fourth Brother down. It was just... a momentary lapse, an accident. Father, I truly didn't do it on purpose..."

"Shameless excuse!" Ning Chen was immediately angered, "Have the books you read all gone into the dog's belly? Do you still remember even a little about filial piety, brotherly love, and etiquette? Even without discussing these, you did something wrong and yet dare not take responsibility—how can that be tolerated?"

Having never seen his father so angry, the Third Prince, just a seven-year-old child, was immediately frightened to tears.

The Second Prince beside him also had a stiff expression, looking helplessly at Jing Xian Fei for help.

She gave him an encouraging glance, and gradually, the Second Prince recalled some of the things he learned normally, so he mustered the courage to speak.

"Father, please calm your anger. This matter is also my fault. As an older brother, I didn't take care of my younger brothers properly, and I didn't protect Fourth Brother well. Please punish me instead. Third Brother is still young; I ask Father to give him a chance to correct his mistakes."

Ning Chen glanced at the Second Prince, then turned to the Third Prince and Yi Zhaoyuan, his gaze becoming colder.

"He is still young; your Third Brother is only half a year younger than you. Yi Zhaoyuan, is this the kind of child you've raised for me?"

"Brother said he wants to be better than you, which means he sees you as a role model and thinks highly of you. As an older brother, you should set an example and encourage the little ones to study well. But you, on the other hand, want to harm him just because he said this? Go back to Ruyi Pavilion and think it over. During this time, you are only allowed to go to the study to read, and nowhere else," Ning Chen said coldly. He was still suppressing his anger, only scolding without resorting to violence.

He then turned to Yi Zhaoyuan, "As for you, three months of house arrest, a punishment of six months' salary, and during this period, you are to copy Buddhist texts daily to pray for the Fourth Prince."

"Yes, I obey," Yi Zhaoyuan did not dare to say more and immediately bowed her head.

Thinking of the Fourth Prince, Ning Chen finished dealing with Yi Zhaoyuan and her child before leaving. Jing Xian Fei, throughout the whole ordeal, did not say a word.

The Second Prince followed her to Zhong Cui Palace, his head bowed, hesitating to speak.

Unfortunately, Jing Xian Fei's mind was not on him at that moment, so she did not notice his unusual behavior, and the Second Prince remained silent, suppressing his feelings.