Ming Dynasty: Empress Ma and I swapped clothes!

Chapter 103 The Lonely King, Zhu Shuang

"It wasn't you, it wasn't you either, so it really was just Xiao Er who did it alone?"

Ma Wenxiang's sharp eyes swept over the three men, finally settling on Zhu Shuang.

Zhu Shuang stared wide-eyed, his eyes like copper bells, staring straight at Zhu Gang and Zhu Di as if he wanted to devour them alive.

If there's a problem, everyone should share the burden. But now it's all his fault?

Is this even possible?!

Zhu Shuang was clearly dissatisfied. Even if he had to be punished, he wanted to drag those two down with him so that he wouldn't lose out.

"Mistress, mistress. Second brother, I really didn't expect you two to be this kind of people."

Zhu Shuang also launched an emotional offensive, her voice trembling with tears, "This was something we all agreed on together, but now you're making me take the blame alone. How could you do this to me?"

However, his emotional appeal seemed to have no effect on Zhu Di, or Zhu Gang, who had already made up his mind to protect himself.

"Second brother, what are you talking about?"

Zhu Gang blinked, a wronged look on his face. "The third brother doesn't understand. It's really too difficult for the younger brother. I never thought that one day I would have to take the blame for you, my second brother."

"Normally it would be fine, but now, the mistress really doesn't want to lie to her mother."

Zhu Gang had always been Zhu Shuang's lackey in the palace, so his words of putting righteousness before family seemed particularly convincing.

Immediately afterward, Zhu Di spoke up again, taking the moral high ground: "Second Brother, you're wrong. If you've done something wrong, you should admit it. How can you drag others down with you?"

"This is truly shameful and deeply disappointing for Mother."

The two of them, speaking in unison, left Zhu Shuang speechless with bitterness and unable to express his grievances, trembling with anger.

"Hahaha!!!"

Just as Ma Wenxiang was about to reach a conclusion and the situation was about to be settled, Zhu Shuang suddenly burst into laughter, a sly glint in his eyes: "You two are indeed cut from the same cloth."

"Luckily, I was prepared, otherwise I would have fallen into your trap today."

He shouted towards the outside of the hall, "Crown Prince, come out! I knew it! Only you and I are truly on the same side, not you scoundrels!"

Zhu Shuang spoke smugly, but after calling for a long time, there was no sign of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.

……

Inside the Wenhua Hall at this moment.

Zhu Biao looked out the window and muttered to himself, "Waiter, waiter, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that this matter is a murky mess. If I get even a little bit involved, I might get caught up in it too."

"In that case, you'll have to suffer in silence. But I promise you, I will clear your name in the future."

"Of course, we'll have to wait until Mother calms down. After all, that basin of black dog blood was quite frightening."

Zhu Biao smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth unable to be turned up.

Without a doubt, it was during the day when they splashed black dog blood.

He was also there, and he chose the best viewing spot, watching with great interest.

……

The scene shifts back to Kunning Palace.

Zhu Shuang called out for a long time, but the Crown Prince never appeared. He felt as if he had been struck by lightning, as if he had been hit by three bolts of lightning, his body charred and his head buzzing.

"The Crown Prince...didn't come?"

It's over, completely over.

He was betrayed by his elder brother, the Crown Prince.

From then on, he would be banished to the cold palace by his mother, never to receive her favor for the rest of his life.

"It's over, I'm finished. My life has been a complete failure."

Zhu Shuang couldn't help but wail in her heart. Finally, her eyes reddened, and she no longer cared about saving face. Without hesitation, she rushed towards Ma Wenxiang, grabbed his leg, and cried out, "Mother, Mother! Xiao Er has really been wronged! He has really been wronged!"

"It was a plan we discussed together with the Crown Prince; he was involved as well."

But by this time, Ma Wenxiang was already burning with rage.

That basin of black dog blood.

But he saw Zhu Shuang rush over and splash him with his own eyes, so how could he easily believe this kid's sophistry?

Just for this moment!

Seeing Zhu Shuang's hysterical and wailing state, Ma Wenxiang didn't want to go too far, so he could only say, "Alright, Xiao Er, you can go back now. Mother's anger has subsided a bit."

"You'll be fine when you wake up tomorrow, really."

Ma Wenxiang's words of comfort, however, only caused a buzzing in Zhu Shuang's ears.

In his view.

"Double affirmation" is actually "double negation".

His mother had completely abandoned him.

It's over, it's over.

Afterwards, Zhu Shuang left Kunning Palace dejectedly, like a walking corpse.

From afar, it looked as if the whole world had abandoned it; its lonely silhouette was heartbreaking.

Seeing this, Ma Wenxiang didn't pay much attention.

Kids' emotions come and go quickly. A good night's sleep, a bath, and a nice meal will make them behave perfectly.

But this scene was particularly bleak in the eyes of Zhu Di and Zhu Gang, who were also children.

"Xiao Si, haven't we gone a bit too far?"

Zhu Gang touched his own buttocks, feeling a little uneasy.

"Third Brother, the struggle for the heir apparent has always been like this."

Zhu Di's tone was calm, yet carried a coldness beyond his years: "It's either you or me who dies; it's either you who gets a spanking, or your second brother who gets a spanking."

"Third Brother, you choose one."

Upon hearing how cruel the struggle for the crown prince position was, Zhu Gang silently clutched his buttocks and steeled himself to make a decision.

"Second brother, it's not that Xiao San doesn't want to help you, nor is it that I, as the younger brother, have to be heartless. It's just that some things are more important than brotherly affection. Like protecting your own backside."

After the children had all left, Ma Wenxiang picked up the remaining bundle from Zhu Shuang, and with a gentle flip, a peach wood sword and a string of copper coins fell out.

In the blink of an eye, he understood Zhu Shuang and the others' intentions.

They actually brought the methods of exorcising demons from the storybooks into reality, wanting to help their "mother" get rid of evil spirits.

"She's quite smart."

Ma Wenxiang couldn't help but smile slightly; his earlier anger had vanished without a trace.

He belatedly looked at Sun Miaoran and Su Qing'er, and asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Did I really go a bit too far just now?"

Both of them shook their heads and said in unison, "There's nothing excessive about it."

"Let alone you, any mother in the world would handle this situation the same way; it would be abnormal not to do so."

Sun Miaoran explained softly.

"Spoiling a child is like killing a child; he won't listen unless he's disciplined. Tomorrow, I'll just make the Second Prince his favorite pork stew with vermicelli; that'll surely appease him."

Ma Wenxiang nodded, then frowned: "But I'm afraid my identity as Empress will be exposed by these boys sooner or later. When I have some free time, I'll have to ask His Highness the Crown Prince if I can tell them about the body swap."

"At worst, we can just be more polite to each other in the future and see each other less often."