"The Qiao family committed treason; all the males were beheaded, and the women were exiled. The crown prince in the palace is now a mere figurehead, and Prince Zhao has spent years cultivating his trusted men around him. I reckon he won't last another few years."
"It is said that after Prince Zhao's personal troops entered the imperial palace, Noble Consort Qiao and the Empress hanged themselves side by side at the palace gates in utterly miserable states. His Majesty died a sudden death in bed. In the inner palace, Consort Rong suffered a miscarriage from the fright, and the Second Prince ran a fever. Who knows how he is doing now?"
The news of the Second Prince running a fever would surely be exploited; even if he wasn't sick, they'd make sure he was reduced to a fool.
Chapter 223