Ten Million Lifelines

Qiming Palace.

"What did you say?" a furious roar erupted, and the Third Prince fumbled and knocked over the teacup in his hand.

A eunuch knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head, and quietly repeated what had happened in 'Qionghua Palace'.

"Publicly beaten eighty times, stripped of her title, and demoted to a commoner. How dare the Crown Prince? What right does he have?" The Third Prince, Xiao Qianchen, his face contorted, his fear undeniable.

He stood up and kicked the tea table heavily, spitting out resentful words between his teeth: "She is a princess of the realm! How precious is Father Emperor's bloodline, how can it be compared to those lowly commoners? The Crown Prince actually allowed the Imperial Sister to be punished in public. Does he even have Father Emperor in his eyes? Does he care about the dignity of the royal family? He slaughters his own siblings, he is heartless and unjust. He is not fit to be the Crown Prince at all!"

"He is just using official means for personal revenge and eliminating his rivals!" Xiao Qianchen said through gritted teeth, but he couldn't hide his inner fear.

The Grand Princess, Xiao Yuan, was targeted by Xiao Qianyu because she had offended the Crown Prince's personal eunuch.

What about himself?

He had also killed that personal eunuch named Qiyu. Would Xiao Qianyu retaliate against him in the same way?

Would he also punish him and demote him to a commoner?

"Father Emperor, Father Emperor will not allow him to do this. This is deceiving the Emperor." Xiao Qianchen paced frantically around the hall, "Yes, I must go and find Father Emperor immediately."

He was not yet old enough to leave the palace and establish his own residence. Consort Xian was in the inner palace and it was inconvenient for her to enter the princes' living quarters. She usually only sent servants to pass messages and deliver things.

He had no one to consult with at the moment. Fortunately, he was young and quick-witted, and knew to seek out the most powerful figure in the palace.

Before Xiao Qianyu could come looking for him, the Third Prince fled with his entourage.

Where was Emperor Yongchang at this time?

He was in the Empress Dowager's chambers.

Because the Empress Dowager had fainted immediately after Xiao Qianyu left.

Even though Emperor Yongchang was in a hurry to meet with his ministers and discuss how to handle the miraculous event that had descended from the heavens, he could not be unfilial and ignore the Empress Dowager's health.

He had accompanied the Empress to send the Empress Dowager back to her palace and summoned imperial physicians for treatment.

Fortunately, after the imperial physicians' treatment, the Empress Dowager regained consciousness, but she was mentally exhausted, looking as if she had aged several years.

"Mother, you must take care of your health. If anything were to happen, it would be my unfilial fault." Emperor Yongchang stepped forward with concern.

The Empress Dowager sat up, managed a weak smile, and took Emperor Yongchang's hand, saying, "This Dowager is fine. It's just... Yu'er probably resents this Dowager. This Dowager's heart aches."

Emperor Yongchang breathed a sigh of relief. Before the case of the false Crown Prince broke out, the Empress Dowager had doted on Xiao Qianyu like her own child. It was indeed possible that she could not accept Xiao Qianyu's cold and heartless demeanor.

Just as he was about to comfort the Empress Dowager, he heard a eunuch announce that Duke Chengen was requesting an audience. His expression darkened for a moment.

Immediately, Emperor Yongchang put on a smile, so quickly that it was as if his darkened expression had been an illusion. "Please invite my uncle in."

He turned to the Empress Dowager and said, "Uncle is probably worried about your health, he came as soon as he heard the news."

The Empress Dowager's gaze was already impatiently fixed on the door curtain. A palace maid lifted the beaded curtain, and Duke Chengen's tall figure strode in.

"Uncle is here!" Emperor Yongchang greeted him energetically.

Duke Chengen was not merely a simple maternal relative; he also held a noble title, that of Marquis Dingyuan.

The Marquis Dingyuan's household had served as generals for generations, guarding the border. Duke Chengen himself had once commanded an army of 300,000, striking awe on the frontier. Now, having relinquished his military power, he remained a trusted minister in Emperor Yongchang's court.

Emperor Yongchang also held great respect for this uncle.

Duke Chengen performed his courtesies meticulously. After standing up, his gaze immediately fell upon the Empress Dowager, his concern evident.

Because he had spent time accompanying the Empress Dowager and Duke Chengen, Emperor Yongchang received the news a little later.

When Defu anxiously reported the events at 'Qionghua Palace', Emperor Yongchang could not wait to give instructions. He left the Empress to attend to the Empress Dowager and rushed off.

Duke Chengen frowned and reassured his sister: "Empress Dowager, please focus on recuperating. Your brother will handle everything."

The Empress Dowager nodded wearily, her eyes filled with worry. She gave Duke Chengen a deep look: "This Dowager knows. Brother, you should go and see as well."

After Duke Chengen left, she looked at the restless Empress: "This Dowager is fine. I am also worried about the Grand Princess. You go too, don't let the Emperor get too angry."

The Empress was moved. Seeing the Empress Dowager's firm tone, she immediately instructed her palace attendants to take good care of the Empress Dowager and set off for 'Qionghua Palace'.

Emperor Yongchang encountered the Third Prince halfway there, and then bumped into Consort Xian, who was worriedly following her son. The group gathered together and headed en masse towards 'Qionghua Palace'.

By the time Emperor Yongchang arrived, Grand Princess Xiao Yuan had already received thirty heavy planks. Her beautiful face was pale, her nose and tears mingling. Her cries, curses, and pleas for help had rendered her throat hoarse.

For these thirty planks, the eunuch carrying out the punishment, out of consideration for her royal status, did not dare to strike with full force. He feared that if anything went wrong, he would suffer a dismembered fate. Therefore, he used only three parts of his strength, and the Grand Princess did not faint.

"Xiao Qianyu, may you die a horrible death! I am a princess, and you humiliate and trample me like this. You might as well kill me! If you have the guts, kill me! I will haunt you even as a ghost." Xiao Yuan cursed Xiao Qianyu with the most vicious words.