From what I know (There is no major spoilers in what i’m about to say) He did love her but there was an incident where now his concern is to have a successor and he just has a dumb plan for it but he does it doesn’t excuse what he has done or did he is just an idiot
Bruuh sometimes i get the slight feel that the prince is good inside and loves the empress but those are far and few in between ┑( ̄Д  ̄)┍