Releasing the Person

Last night the wind was fierce and the waves were high outside, but Xiao Qianyu slept soundly all night.

When he woke up in the early morning, he could faintly hear the crisp chirping of birds from somewhere, accompanied by the faint floral scent in the air, which refreshed his mind and spirit.

Shumo was already waiting outside with washing supplies. Hearing the movement, he immediately led people in single file.

Xiao Qianyu proactively lifted the bed curtains and stepped out of bed in his slippers. Shumo quickly and eagerly stepped forward to help him dress.

Smelling the incense on his clothes, Xiao Qianyu yawned lazily and then said to Shumo, "Didn't I tell you? You don't need to do these little things anymore. Just order someone else."

Shumo's eyes immediately showed disappointment. "Ah, this servant is worried. Your Highness, please let this servant serve you first. When this servant is not around, then let someone else serve you."

Joking, His Highness has finally become close to me, how could he bear to give this enjoyable task to someone else?

Unless, he had to leave His Highness's side for some reason.

Xiao Qianyu chuckled, "As you wish."

The little villain is quite cute.

Shumo smiled with surprise and snatched the hot towel from the young eunuch beside him, happily presenting it to Xiao Qianyu. He received a subtle eye-roll from the young eunuch.

After washing up, breakfast was also served. The dishes were not numerous but were exquisite and delicious. Xiao Qianyu ate with great satisfaction.

Shumo watched with a beaming smile as His Highness the Crown Prince ate heartily. After the bowls and chopsticks were cleared, he personally offered a cup of clear tea.

Then, he began to quietly report, "Last night, Consort Guo personally went to kneel at Zhaode Hall. Later, His Majesty summoned her, and she didn't leave until this morning."

Xiao Qianyu raised an eyebrow. Yesterday, the Emperor looked so angry he was about to collapse, he didn't expect he still had the energy to favor his concubines.

"Consort Xian, no, Consort Xian, yesterday secretly sent a young palace maid to deliver a message outside the palace. This morning, Duke Kang came to the palace early to request an audience with His Majesty."

Xiao Qianyu understood. Duke Kang was likely the backer behind Consort Xian and the Third Prince.

"His Majesty's health is not well. He has issued an oral decree to dismiss the court today and has summoned several ministers to the palace for discussions."

Shumo recounted the events one by one to Xiao Qianyu.

Xiao Qianyu secretly praised him, Shumo was indeed capable and a person of action.

He nodded, "Since Father Emperor is unwell, I, as the Crown Prince, should go and pay my respects. Shumo, you will accompany me. Qinxin will stay behind to guard the residence."

Shumo giggled and replied, "This servant obeys your command."

After a night, the demeanor and spirits of the palace staff in the Eastern Palace had changed dramatically. They were no longer listless and helpless, but their eyes were bright, their lips curved in smiles, and they walked as if carried by the wind.

Qinxin was currently registering the gifts sent from various palaces. From the Empress down to the concubines, as well as other princes and princesses, all had sent gifts, supposedly to congratulate His Highness the Crown Prince on clearing his name and returning to the Eastern Palace.

Seeing Xiao Qianyu emerge, she quickly bowed and reported the matter of the gifts from various palaces.

Xiao Qianyu nodded faintly, "Accept the gifts, and convey a message to them. They should know my temper by now. As long as they abide by the Palace Rules in the future, I am still easy to talk to."

As long as everyone behaved and lived peacefully, he wouldn't be so idle as to cause them trouble.

Qinxin held her breath, lowered her head, and replied, "Yes."

His Highness the Crown Prince has become even more majestic.

However, he did not suspect that Xiao Qianyu had been soul-swapped. He merely thought that the Crown Prince's temperament had greatly changed after the ordeal, abandoning his former gentleness and benevolence.

Emperor Yongchang wanted to lie down and not get up, but he couldn't. The Minister of Justice and others who had been decreed to be punished needed to be dealt with and sentenced. Who would fill the vacant positions? How to respond to the public outcry? And the matter of the Grand Princess and the Third Prince being imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court's jail – every single item forced him to get up.

He was supposed to discuss this with the court officials yesterday, but Xiao Qianyu's intention to deal with the Grand Princess and the others angered him so much that he felt dizzy and returned to his palace to rest, having no mind to meet with ministers.

He couldn't delay any longer today. He forced himself to endure his illness and went to the Imperial Study to meet with the important ministers.

Prince Gong, Duke Chengen, Grand Tutor Gu, Minister of the West, Vice Minister of the Grand Court of Judicial Review, Deputy Director of the Office of the Censor-General, and Duke Kang, Duke Ning, among others, had also arrived.

None of the people present were below the third rank, and they were all ministers trusted by Emperor Yongchang.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you must take care of your health!" Seeing Emperor Yongchang's unwell complexion, they all expressed their concern worriedly.

Emperor Yongchang waved his hand feebly and sat down behind the desk. "I am fine."

Duke Kang was the first to step forward and knelt. "Your Majesty, this humble subject heard that yesterday the Crown Prince had the Grand Princess and the Third Prince escorted to the Imperial Clan Court, intending to have them executed. Is this true?"

Duke Kang was Consort Xian's father and the Third Prince's maternal grandfather. He had finally gotten a grandson of royal blood. Even if the Third Prince had no chance of ascending the throne in the future, he couldn't just watch him be executed!

It was Emperor Yongchang who issued the decree, but it was Xiao Qianyu who forced him to deal with them this way. Therefore, he did not deny it.

"This is indeed true. The Grand Princess and the Third Prince have already been imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court." He looked at Prince Gong.

Prince Gong nodded slightly. "Before coming to the palace, I went to the Imperial Clan Court to see the Grand Princess and the Third Prince. Your Majesty, please rest assured, they are still well." It's just that their voices were hoarse from yelling, and their eyes were swollen like peaches from crying.

When he received the news yesterday, he had been startled.