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This imperial palace is magnificent and imposing, home to the empire's most noble and esteemed individuals.

They are supported by the populace, living lives of luxury and extravagance.

But no matter how beautiful the facade, it cannot hide the rot within, as if the very foundations have decayed.

Not to mention the palace consorts trapped within the inner chambers, scheming and harboring their own agendas, the princes and princesses they raise are each more wicked, cruel, and inhumane than the last.

The Grand Princess does not see palace maids and eunuchs as human beings, and neither does the Third Prince.

His actions are even more bloody and horrifying; not only does he whip palace servants to death on a whim, but he is also inherently cruel, even raising wild beasts. To witness their ferocity, he would push living people into beast cages, letting the beasts devour them as food.

If the Second Prince's actions were to become known, he would surely be criticized and even impeached by censors. But who could blame him when he has a mother who dotes on him like her own life?

Consort Xian, in order to cover up her son's misdeeds, kept his transgressions completely hidden. If not for a eunuch who, out of fear, risked everything to seek help from the Crown Prince, he would never have known that his own brother was a beast in human skin.

The Crown Prince was heartbroken and furious, beating the Third Prince severely. He ordered all the wild beasts to be killed and cursed the Third Prince, calling him not human, but a beast with a human face.

Emperor Yongchang found out and dealt with both parties equally. The Crown Prince's beating of his brother was unbecoming of a Crown Prince, and the Third Prince's cruel and inhumane actions also incurred Emperor Yongchang's displeasure, causing him to lose the Emperor's favor from then on.

This incident, if spread, would damage the Emperor's reputation. Emperor Yongchang ordered a gag order and brutally suppressed many people.

This caused the kind and benevolent Crown Prince immense pain and led him to doubt and distrust the character of his own family. What were they truly like in private, behind their smiling faces?

It can be said that the incidents involving the Grand Princess and the Third Prince directly sparked the Crown Prince's attention towards the lower-ranking individuals in the palace, making him aware of their harsh living conditions. This led to the later decree that palace servants could not be whipped or abused without cause, and that the Punishment Department would investigate any palace servant's death, punishing those who violated the rules.

As for murder requiring a life for a life, that was impossible.

A slave is a slave, and a master is a master. Moreover, they were members of the royal family. To them, everyone in the world was a servant, so how could they possibly pay with their lives for a lowly slave?

It was already quite remarkable that the Crown Prince could restrain them and make them have some scruples.

However, this action not only displeased the masters in the palace, but it also greatly angered Emperor Yongchang. A rift gradually formed between father and son, and their relationship was no longer as close as before.

The Third Prince, having fallen out of favor with the Emperor due to this incident, harbored an even deeper hatred for the Crown Prince, believing that the Crown Prince had framed and plotted against him with ulterior motives, completely failing to reflect on his own wrongdoing.

When the Crown Prince was imprisoned, the Third Prince seized the opportunity for revenge. Knowing that Qiyu was the Crown Prince's favorite, he brutally cut off Qiyu's flesh and fed it to the dogs, leaving not even bones behind.

In the entire palace, apart from the Crown Prince, there were no good people.

Shumo took a calming breath, suppressing his hatred, and turned to ask Eunuch Hai, "Huaying died in the Grand Princess's palace, and Qiyu died in the Third Prince's palace. They have offered no explanation to this day. What do you say, Eunuch Hai?"

Eunuch Hai inwardly grumbled: As if my words would make any difference.

He lowered his eyelids. "With the Palace Rules in place, naturally, we will proceed according to them. I will personally visit them to question them. Everything will be handled according to protocol."

The Grand Princess and the Third Prince were merely too proud to bow their heads to the Crown Prince. At most, they would push a palace servant forward as a scapegoat. At that time, they would naturally not oppose the Punishment Department.

Shumo gritted his teeth. "The Palace Rules stipulate that if there is evidence proving who the main instigator of the murder is, the penalty ranges from a lighter punishment of salary deduction and demotion to a heavier punishment of confinement and demotion to commoner status."

His eyes were fixed on Eunuch Hai.

Eunuch Hai's eyelids twitched. This man intended to bring down the Grand Princess and the Third Prince.

He chuckled. "The rules are the rules, but when it involves princes and princesses, the Emperor must make the final decision."

Would Emperor Yongchang confine and demote his own children to commoner status for a mere few palace servants? It was impossible to even think about it.

Even if the Emperor disliked the Grand Princess and the Third Prince, for the sake of royal dignity and reputation, he would not punish them so severely. At most, he would deduct some salary and confine them for a few months.

The same would apply to Consort Min and Consort Jing as it did to the Grand Princess and the Third Prince.

A fierce glint appeared in Shumo's eyes. Should the true culprits who killed Huaying and Qiyu be let off just like that, with a mere salary deduction that wouldn't even sting?

Xiao Qianyu changed into a clean set of clothes and sat in the study, examining some of the remaining letters and documents. He intended to use this opportunity to sort out the original body's interpersonal relationships and, at the same time, observe the handwriting so that he could imitate it later without revealing any flaws.

The furnishings in the study were too simple and plain, completely lacking the grandeur befitting a Crown Prince. Xiao Qianyu guessed that the valuable ornaments had been taken away, leaving only an empty study.

He idly played with the brush in his hand, pondering to himself, Could it be that the Crown Prince's treasury has been completely emptied?