That very day, the Second Prince, Li Hao, was released without charges.
As for the Fifth Prince, Li Yan, he remained locked in a cell at the Ministry of Justice, with no telling when he would see the light of day again.
Upon returning to the palace, Li Hao immediately went to his father, the Emperor, to ask for forgiveness.
"It is all my fault for being careless and causing such a major blunder. If I had been more meticulous, perhaps this would never have happened."
The Emperor was in a foul mood, and his spirits were low as a result.
Still, he roused himself and gave Li Hao a stern lecture.
He only had so many sons in total.
The Eldest Imperial Son and the Crown Prince were already gone. The Fourth Prince's birth mother was of low status and not presentable, so he was not worth mentioning. The Fifth Prince was a fool, and the Sixth Prince was still too young. Now, only the Second Prince was left to place any hope in.
