Let Them Go

Last night, the wind howled and the waves churned outside, yet Xiao Qianyu had slept soundly through it all.

When he woke at dawn, he could faintly hear birds chirping somewhere nearby. The faint fragrance of flowers drifted through the air, lifting his spirits.

Shumo had already been waiting outside with everything needed for washing up. At the first sound from inside, he immediately led the others in one after another.

Xiao Qianyu lifted the bed curtains himself, slipped on his shoes, and got out of bed. Shumo hurried forward to help him get dressed.

Smelling the incense on his clothes, Xiao Qianyu lazily yawned before saying to Shumo, "Didn't I tell you? You don't have to do these little things from now on. Just tell someone else to do them."

Shumo's eyes immediately filled with disappointment. "Ah, this servant doesn't feel at ease. Your Highness, please let this servant serve you for now. When this servant is no longer here, you can have someone else serve you."

As if! It had taken so much effort for His Highness to grow close to him. How could he bear to hand this plum job over to someone else?

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

Xiao Qianyu chuckled. "Suit yourself."

The little villain was rather adorable.

Shumo beamed with delight. He even snatched the hot towel from the young eunuch beside him and happily presented it to Xiao Qianyu, earning himself a discreet glare from the young eunuch.

By the time Xiao Qianyu had finished washing up, breakfast had arrived. There weren't many dishes, but they were exquisite and delicious, and he was quite satisfied with the meal.

Shumo watched the Crown Prince enjoy his food with a broad smile. Once the bowls and chopsticks had been cleared away, he personally presented him with a cup of tea.

Then he began reporting in a low voice. "Consort Guo went to kneel at Zhaode Hall herself last night. The Emperor summoned her afterward, and she didn't leave until this morning."

Xiao Qianyu raised an eyebrow. The Emperor had looked ready to collapse with anger yesterday, yet he'd still had the energy to dally with a concubine.

"Consort Xian—no, Consort Xianpin—secretly sent a palace maid out of the palace to deliver a message yesterday. Duke Kang came to the palace early this morning to request an audience with the Emperor."

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

"His Majesty is in poor health and has issued an oral decree canceling court today. He has also summoned several ministers to the palace to discuss state affairs."

Shumo picked out the details and reported them to Xiao Qianyu one by one.

Xiao Qianyu silently praised him. Shumo really was capable—someone who knew how to get things done.

He nodded. "Since Father Emperor is unwell, I should go pay my respects. Shumo, come with me. Qinxin, stay behind and look after the place."

Shumo answered with a delighted grin. "This servant obeys!"

After a night had passed, the palace attendants in the Eastern Palace had undergone a complete change in spirit. No longer listless, anxious, and helpless, they now had bright eyes, smiles on their faces, and strode along briskly.

Qinxin was registering and cataloguing the gifts sent by the various palaces. The consorts, from the Empress on down, as well as the other Imperial Princes and Princesses, had all sent gifts to congratulate the Crown Prince on clearing his name and returning to the Eastern Palace.

When she saw Xiao Qianyu come out, she hurriedly bowed and told him about the gifts from the various palaces.

Xiao Qianyu gave a faint nod. "Accept them, since they've been sent. Then pass along a message: by now, they should all know what I'm like. As long as they abide by the Palace Rules from now on, I'll be quite easy to get along with."

As long as they behaved and each minded their own business, he wouldn't go out of his way to cause them trouble.

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

The Crown Prince's presence had grown ever more imposing.

Still, she didn't suspect that Xiao Qianyu's soul had been replaced. She simply thought that after everything the Crown Prince had experienced, his temperament had changed greatly and he had cast aside his former gentleness and benevolence.

Emperor Yongchang wanted nothing more than to lie down and never get up again, but he couldn't. He had to decide how to deal with and sentence the Minister of Justice and the others who had been condemned by imperial decree, whom to promote to fill the posts they had left vacant, and how to face the furious clamor of public opinion throughout the realm. On top of that, Grand Princess and the Third Prince had been locked up in the Imperial Clan Court prison. Each matter pressed him to his feet.

He had meant to discuss things with the court officials yesterday, but Xiao Qianyu had been about to punish Grand Princess and the others. The Emperor had been so angered that his head spun, and he had returned to the palace to recuperate, with no desire to receive any ministers.

He could put it off no longer. Despite his illness, he forced himself to go to the Inner Study to receive the senior officials.

Prince Gong, Duke Chengen, Grand Tutor Gu, the Minister of the West, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, the Deputy Censor-in-Chief from the Office of the Censor-General, as well as Duke Kang and Duke Ning, had all come.

Not one person there was below the third rank, and every one of them was a minister Emperor Yongchang relied upon.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please take care of your health!" Seeing that Emperor Yongchang looked unwell, they were all worried.

Emperor Yongchang weakly waved a hand and sat down behind the desk. "I'm fine."

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

Duke Kang was Consort Xian's father and the Third Prince's maternal grandfather. He had finally had an Imperial Prince for a grandson. Even if the Third Prince had no chance of inheriting the throne, he couldn't stand by and watch him be executed like this!

Emperor Yongchang had issued the decree, but Xiao Qianyu had forced him to act, so he didn't deny it.

"It's true. Grand Princess and the Third Prince have already been confined in the Imperial Clan Court." He looked toward Prince Gong.

Prince Gong gave a slight nod. "I went to the Imperial Clan Court to see Grand Princess and the Third Prince before entering the palace. Your Majesty, rest assured, they're still safe and sound." Their throats were just hoarse from yelling, and their eyes were swollen from crying.

He had been startled when he received the news yesterday.