The affair of Prince Ning was of great importance and had shamed the entire Imperial Family. The Emperor made every effort to suppress the news, even resorting to a combination of grace and intimidation with Yuan Tang, hoping he would keep his lips sealed about the incident.
Yuan Tang verbally agreed, but what he did secretly was beyond the Emperor's control.
Unless Yuan Tang was killed, there would be no certainty in sealing this breach; however, the Emperor was not a tyrant and was far less cruel and ruthless than Empress Dowager Zhuang and the late Emperor.
The Emperor instructed the King of Rui and his wife to also keep their mouths shut. The couple, always honest, agreed not to speak out and truly kept their word.
Afterward, the Emperor had the Dragon Shadow Guard arrest Ning Wang's trusted servant, Qi Fei, and handed him over to Eunuch Wei for interrogation. Whether through severe torture or intimidation and bribery, they had to find out what happened four years ago.