With the help of a host of fierce warriors from the Wa Kingdom, the Third Prince successfully broke out of prison.
The First Imperial Prince and Xue Yuanyu also escaped through the dog hole.
For the sake of their former brotherhood, the Third Prince delivered the First Imperial Prince into the hands of his guards.
After so many years of building his influence, the First Imperial Prince had some connections.
After he was imprisoned, his advisers and personal guards had not been purged. Although he was stingy, his men were reasonably loyal and had been running themselves ragged on his behalf all this time. Now that he had been rescued, his advisers finally had their pillar of support back.
Seeing the First Imperial Prince dressed in Night Clothes, an adviser asked in confusion, "Your Highness, what exactly did you do to anger His Majesty?"
Did he try to assassinate the emperor?!
After the First Imperial Prince was imprisoned, he had been stripped of his title of Commandery Prince. Emperor Deyuan had ordered him confined to the sandy wastes of the northwest, never to leave for the rest of his life without an imperial decree.
Assassination was a capital offense punishable by beheading. Since the First Imperial Prince had not lost his head, he probably had not tried to assassinate the emperor. But what was with the Night Clothes?
Had he been caught stealing from the Imperial Palace?
The advisers knew the First Imperial Prince was stingy, but surely he would not stoop to stealing?
The First Imperial Prince removed his Night Clothes and let out a long sigh. "Imperial Father is getting old. His suspicions grow heavier by the day..."
He really could not bring himself to admit that he had been caught stealing exam papers from the Imperial Study.