Not You!

Prince Gong rubbed his ears. With this move, the Crown Prince had won the loyalty of most of his personal guards.

Only Yu Shumo secretly turned his face away, his gaze dark and gloomy. The Crown Prince's private treasury had not yet been recovered—former Crown Princess Yu Zhixue, whatever she took from the Eastern Palace, every stitch and thread, must be returned.

Xiao Qianyu smiled at Prince Gong and said, "Thank you for waiting, Uncle-Grandfather. Shall we go to the Imperial Clan Court now?"

Prince Gong sighed inwardly, also smiling gently, "Good, let's go."

Xiao Qianyu instructed Huo Zhizhou, "Commander Huo, take half the men with me out of the palace. The other half will remain at the Eastern Palace. I will have tasks for you later."

Huo Zhizhou, newly appointed and given a mission, was invigorated. He must not disappoint the Crown Prince.

He respectfully cupped his fists, "Yes, your subordinate will arrange it now."

Only after Xiao Qianyu nodded did he withdraw and go to select men to accompany him out of the palace.

Once arrangements were made, Xiao Qianyu left the imperial palace with Prince Gong.

However, at the palace gate, Xiao Qianyu had Yu Shumo take one hundred personal guards, leaving only fifty for himself.

Huo Zhizhou felt uneasy. There were more personal guards following Eunuch Yu than following the Crown Prince. Could this work?

Xiao Qianyu looked at him calmly, "Commander Huo, go and make your arrangements!"

Huo Zhizhou gritted his teeth, "Yes." His duty was to obey the Crown Prince's wishes.

He carefully selected fifty of the most capable, skilled, and trustworthy personal guards, led by himself to protect the Crown Prince. The others were handed over to another small captain, to obey Yu Shumo's commands.

Thus, they split into two groups. Yu Shumo, with one hundred Eastern Palace personal guards, first headed for the Duke of Chang's mansion, where Yu Zhixue had married.

The small captain beside him regretted not being chosen to stay by the Crown Prince's side. What merit could be gained by following a eunuch?

Yu Shumo saw their unwillingness and sneered dismissively, "Alright, let's go. You'll get your share of benefits later." It was practically a gift to them.

Prince Gong, meanwhile, led Xiao Qianyu to the Imperial Clan Court.

Upon hearing of His Highness the Crown Prince's arrival, all the other officials of the Imperial Clan Court rushed out to greet him.

Honestly, after yesterday's divine miracle at the execution ground, Xiao Qianyu was no different from a living deity in their eyes.

In all of history, how many people had personally witnessed someone favored by heaven?

They even believed that His Highness the Crown Prince was definitely a blessed individual, and perhaps by getting close to the Crown Prince, they could borrow some of his good fortune to benefit themselves and their families.

In fact, the situation outside was even more exaggerated. These officials, at least, held official positions and knew reverence. No matter how eager they were, they wouldn't dare offend the Crown Prince. Many ignorant citizens in the capital had already surrounded the execution ground, treating it as an altar, offering incense day and night, praying for divine protection.

They even knelt and bowed towards the imperial palace with incense, and even attempted to storm the palace, but were driven away by the garrison troops.

Prince Gong displeasedly dismissed the crowd, "Don't crowd around here, go back to your work." He then turned to Xiao Qianyu, "Does Your Highness wish to have a cup of tea with this old minister?"

Xiao Qianyu refused, "Thank you, Uncle-Grandfather, but I'll pass on the tea. Let's go pick up the Heir's Consort first."

Prince Gong stroked his beard, "Very well, Your Highness, please follow this old minister."

He personally led the way, while Huo Zhizhou, with a vigilant expression, selected ten men to follow closely behind the Crown Prince.

The Imperial Clan Court was not as grim and terrifying as one might imagine. After all, those qualified to be imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court were all imperial relatives, possessing the bloodline of the founding emperor.

Who knew when they might receive the emperor's pardon and be released? Therefore, it wasn't a series of cells, but individual courtyards. They were confined within and deprived of freedom, their environment simple and crude, with plain food and rough tea.

However, even with individual residences, there were good and bad. The place where the Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort was imprisoned was the worst and most remote.

To reach the courtyard where the Prince Jiujiang's Heir's Consort was held, they had to pass by the Grand Princess's and the Third Prince's.

Each of their courtyards had guards stationed at the entrance. Xiao Qianyu initially didn't know who was imprisoned inside, but it was because they were shouting too loudly.

Listening to the endless stream of vicious curses, Xiao Qianyu stopped. Prince Gong's face turned purple with anger—he had specifically instructed people to ensure they were treated well, yet they not only showed no remorse but had the energy to curse, and coincidentally, the main party heard it. They truly had a death wish.

However, Prince Gong soon thought about it. The Crown Prince had already handed over the evidence to him. They wouldn't have lived much longer anyway.

"The ones imprisoned inside are the criminal Grand Princess and the Third Prince?" Xiao Qianyu asked, tilting his head.

Prince Gong sighed, "It is them."

Xiao Qianyu said, "Since we're here, I'll take a look at them."

He didn't mind kicking someone when they were down at all.

Prince Gong hesitated. Perhaps meeting them would stir the Crown Prince's fraternal affection. Fratricide within the royal family was ultimately not a good thing.

In just one day and one night, the Grand Princess Xiao Yuan looked like a flower that had lost its moisture, withered and haggard.

Her hair was disheveled and cascaded down her back, her clothes were stained with dust and no longer bright, her lips had lost their luster, and her complexion was pale.