Clinging to a Powerful Thigh

The Third Prince's heart trembled. Only when Xiao Qianyu looked away did he finally let out a huge breath.

That single glance had already drenched him in sweat, like a mouse caught beneath a cat's stare, his liver and gallbladder splitting with terror.

Though he did not know why Xiao Qianyu had spared him instead of settling accounts on the spot, the Third Prince was scared out of his wits and dared not remain any longer.

He needed to leave the palace at once and find somewhere—anywhere—to hide first.

If he had known Father Emperor's arrival would be useless, that he could not save anyone from Xiao Qianyu's hands, he would never have come along.

But who could have imagined it? Xiao Qianyu had overstepped his bounds and authority, arbitrarily dealing with a royal princess, yet when the Emperor himself arrived, not only did he fail to punish him, he could not even save the Grand Princess, and had to personally grant her death through gritted teeth.

It was simply earth-shattering, absurd beyond measure, unheard of!

Taking advantage of no one paying attention, the Third Prince quietly edged backward through the crowd.

The Third Prince's birth mother, Consort Xian, was pale with worry. Yet mother and son were of one heart; the moment she saw him move, she immediately understood what he intended.

Consort Xian's eyes shifted. She knew her son was a scoundrel, and with Xiao Qianyu around, the palace was now no different from a dragon's pool or tiger's den.

It was good for her son to leave the palace. So long as he was not caught red-handed and formally convicted, there would still be room to turn things around. Once outside, he could also contact friends and old acquaintances; if anything happened, they could submit memorials to protect the Third Prince.

At once, she subtly shifted her body, concealing the Third Prince as he sneaked away furtively.

Consort Guo was carried back to her own palace by the attendants, while the Grand Princess was escorted to the Punishment Department. Emperor Yongchang's head throbbed violently, and just as he was about to flick his sleeves and return to his palace, Xiao Qianyu spoke.

The instant he opened his mouth, Emperor Yongchang had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, Xiao Qianyu fixed his gaze in one direction. "Third Brother, where are you going?"

Like a bolt from the blue, Emperor Yongchang sucked in a sharp breath. How had he forgotten? He had encountered the Third Prince on the way and brought him along. Earlier, the third had seemed to be begging him for help.

The Third Prince froze with one foot raised in midair, cold sweat beading on his forehead. The Crown Prince was toying with him—he was definitely toying with him, wasn't he?

He had clearly seen him earlier but said nothing, only to shatter his beautiful dream when he was about to slip away. He did it on purpose. He had to have done it on purpose.

Xiao Qianyu spread his hands. He truly did not recognize the Third Prince, but someone beside him did.

The moment Shumo saw the Third Prince trying to sneak away, he immediately reminded him. So now he knew.

The crowd parted, instantly exposing Consort Xian and the Third Prince behind her, who had been making as if to leave.

The Third Prince, Xiao Qianchen, was a spoiled brat—one without a heart, yet still a person in power who held the lives and deaths of those beneath him in his hands and lorded it over them. Thus, the servants in his palace suffered terribly.

He took pleasure in tormenting and abusing palace servants to death. The original owner had rebuked him several times, and upon learning that he fed living people to wild beasts, had personally beaten him and cursed him as a beast wearing human skin.

Even the Emperor detested his absurdly cruel and violent behavior. Of all the princes, he treated him with the greatest coldness.

Rather than reflect on the fact that he was not even acting like a human being, the Third Prince instead resented the original owner for meddling in his affairs.

So once the original owner fell into misfortune, lost his power, and became a fake, he immediately got his hands on the people by his side and tortured them to death.

The one thing he had never expected was that even after the original owner had mounted the Execution Platform, he could still turn defeat into victory at the brink of death—and even become one beloved by the gods.

Now, faced with Xiao Qianyu's half-smiling expression, the Third Prince shuddered. Throwing all concern for his dignity aside, he let out a howl and lunged several steps forward, wrapping himself around Xiao Qianyu's leg as he begged, "Crown Prince, Crown Prince Brother, I was wrong! I'll never dare again! From now on, I'll listen to everything you say. If you tell me to go east, I won't dare go west. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do. From now on, I'll be your most loyal dog. Other than you, I won't listen to anyone. If I'm lying, may Heaven strike me with five thunderbolts! Crown Prince Brother, please give me one more chance to mend my ways."

Everyone present was stunned by the sight, then thoroughly disgusted.

Heavens! The Third Prince was, at the very least, imperial nobility, a prince of exalted status. Did he have no self-respect at all? He could actually say he wanted to be the Crown Prince's dog.

Emperor Yongchang was even more enraged, gritting his teeth. Unfilial brat! He would listen only to the Crown Prince's words—where did that leave him, his imperial father?

The imperial family had produced talents since ancient times.

The Third Prince's view was that face meant nothing. He did not possess such a thing as self-respect. If he could not survive, he would lose even his life—what use would face and self-respect be then?

"A scholar may be killed but not humiliated"? The Third Prince called bullshit. If he died, how could he continue enjoying wealth and glory, spending money like water?

He had finally been reborn as a prince. Why should he die so easily?

Those who thought face was greater than the heavens could become princes first, then talk.

As for Emperor Yongchang, what was the point of having a father who could not protect his own son?

It had to be said that the royal family was full of good-looking people.

The Grand Princess, Xiao Yuan, was charmingly innocent and radiant. The Third Prince was only sixteen; his handsome, delicate features still carried a trace of childishness, while his lively eyes gleamed with cunning, making him pleasing to behold.

At this moment, he tilted his head up at Xiao Qianyu with a pitiful expression. Two tear tracks still hung on his jade-white skin, and he looked so innocent and obedient that he resembled a lapdog wagging its tail and begging for favor.