In the palace, the Emperor laughed in disbelief, "What did you say? Princess Dunsu is punishing the Crown Prince? Have you gone mad?"

The Commander of the Imperial Guards had a bitter grievance he couldn't express. He repeatedly said, "Your Majesty, please understand, every word I say is true! Princess Dunsu personally went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to request the family law instrument, and brought many people with her in a grand procession. That was the whip used by Emperor Taizu to conquer the world back then. I really didn't dare to stop her forcibly, so... I let the Princess enter."

The Emperor was still somewhat unable to react. Dunsu would beat Qi Xiao? That's utterly ridiculous! Usually, if Qi Xiao lost even a single strand of hair, Princess Dunsu would be worried sick for several days. Now she would actually use the family law instrument on Qi Xiao? Has she gone crazy too?

Just as the Emperor was feeling doubtful, Fu Hailu walked in from outside, frowning and bowing, "Your Majesty, Prince Hui, Prince Chun, as well as Prince Jiaqing and Prince Fumao request an audience."

The Emperor frowned, "They... they came together?"

Fu Hailu nodded, glanced at the Commander of the Imperial Guards. The Commander understood and first knelt in farewell. After he left, Fu Hailu then said, "Your Majesty, this morning Princess Dunsu went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple. She... is the eldest princess after all. The keeper of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Bo Hou, didn't dare to go against her wishes, so he really let the Princess take out the family law instrument. That's not all. The Princess..."

"Who would have thought that the Princess didn't go directly to the Crown Prince's residence, but instead turned and went to the residences of these old and virtuous princes. She apologized to everyone, saying that she had not properly taught the Crown Prince, leading to today's disaster. The Princess told the princes that she won't turn a blind eye. If she really beats the Crown Prince to death today, she will go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and die to apologize to the previous Emperor. This..."

The Emperor became angry and said coldly, "What kind of nonsense is this! If she wants to beat, then beat. If she wants to die, then die. What's the meaning of alarming the princes?!"

Fu Hailu sighed, "Who says it isn't! The princes are enjoying their remaining years and haven't been involved in worldly affairs for a long time. The Princess really shouldn't have... shouldn't have gone to make a scene. That's not all. The Princess said, said..."

The Emperor frowned angrily, "Say it!"

Fu Hailu carefully looked at the Emperor's expression and hesitated, "She also said... no matter who tries to persuade her, it's useless. She won't listen. The Princess repeatedly told the princes not to come and plead with Your Majesty. This..."

The Emperor slammed the desk in rage, "She's afraid they won't come, isn't she!!"

No matter how angry, since the princes had come, the Emperor still had to see them. The Emperor ordered Fu Hailu to welcome them into the main hall, and said with a smile, "What time is it that has troubled you uncles? Fu Hailu! The elders are afraid of the cold. Quickly give the princes thicker fur cushions!"

Fu Hailu hurriedly made arrangements. Prince Hui waved his hand, "Your Majesty, there's no need to go to the trouble. We few old things can't sit for long either..."

Prince Chun was already a bit out of breath after walking all this way. Hearing this, he nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty. We are using our seniority. Let's not bother with those empty formalities! To speak of the main matter... Dunsu went to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to request the family law instrument today. Does Your Majesty know?"

The Emperor was greatly shocked, "Family law instrument? What does Imperial Sister want it for?"

Prince Fumao waved his hand and sighed, "Isn't it all because of the matter with the Crown Prince. Your Majesty, reasonably speaking, we shouldn't meddle too much in the affairs of the imperial court. It's just that now that things have gotten to this point, even the family law instrument has been brought out. As members of the imperial clan, we have no choice but to say a few words. We also heard about the Second Young Master of Lingnan secretly communicating with the Western barbarians and were also startled.

"Regarding this matter... the Crown Prince was wrong, but we must consider the circumstances. Although the Crown Prince was a bit arbitrary, he was also forced into a corner. If he had really obediently sent someone back to ask for Your Majesty's opinion, I'm afraid everything would have been delayed. In this regard, it can be justified."

The Emperor gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger, looking troubled as he sighed, "The Prince speaks rightly. That's why I did not punish the Crown Prince, only placed him under house arrest to quell the public outcry."

Prince Chun was already a bit muddled from age. Hearing this, he frowned, "Isn't it precisely this house arrest that caused the problem? Dunsu and that explosive temper of hers! She picked up a whip and went to find the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was placed under house arrest by Your Majesty in his manor. There's nowhere for him to escape to!"

Prince Hui shook his head and laughed, "Third Brother... that's not what we're talking about."

Prince Chun struggled to lift his eyelids, looking dazed, "Then what are we talking about? Isn't it about this matter with the Crown Prince? Sigh... Your Majesty, go persuade her. No matter what, your elder brother only left behind this one seed. You can't really let him die, can you?"

Prince Hui broke out in a cold sweat from that one sentence, feeling apprehensive. He regretted coming to wade into this muddy water. Afraid that Prince Chun would say anything more, Prince Hui quickly picked up a tea cup and handed it to Prince Chun, repeatedly saying, "Third Brother, have some tea. This tea is much better than the one in your manor..."

Prince Chun nodded, took it and drained it in one gulp. Holding the empty tea cup, he kept shaking his head and sighing. Prince Hui turned to look at the Emperor and forced a laugh, "Prince Chun is already muddled from age. These days he has difficulty even recognizing people. Please forgive his careless words, Your Majesty."

The Emperor's face was ashen. He forced a smile, "No matter. Third Uncle also isn't wrong. Imperial Sister has too hard a heart. Sigh... not to mention others, even I fear her."

Prince Hui had always been a person who kept himself out of trouble his entire life, never liking to get involved in disputes. Seeing that the Emperor's expression was already unpleasant, he didn't dare to stay seated any longer. He hesitated for a moment before smiling, "Then regarding the Crown Prince's matter..."

The Emperor shook his head and sighed, "Imperial Sister is too stubborn. Someone come! Immediately go to the Crown Prince's manor and tell Princess Dunsu that I said she is not permitted to act wildly anymore. The Crown Prince's health is tied to the fate of the nation. How can it be taken lightly?!"

Prince Chun had just gulped down the tea too vigorously and suddenly let out a burp, muddledly saying, "Also tell the Crown Prince... next time when being beaten, remember to dodge. Sigh, haven't seen the kid Xiao in a few years. Has he gotten even more foolish? Obediently letting someone beat him..."

The Emperor tightly clenched his fist inside his sleeve, unable to do anything. He added another sentence, "The Crown Prince has also learned his lesson now. Pass down my order, there is no need to continue the house arrest. Also, go to the Imperial Physician Academy and send the best imperial physician specializing in external injuries to go with them! The Crown Prince must be looked after properly. If anything happens to Xiao'er, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The Emperor's tone grew increasingly vicious. Prince Hui knew that the Emperor was enraged. Afraid of being implicated, he didn't dare to remain seated. Supporting Prince Chun, he took his leave.

Inside the inner courtyard of the Crown Prince's residence, whip marks crisscrossed Qi Xiao's body, not a single patch of skin was intact. Suddenly, an imperial decree arrived from outside. Princess Dunsu listened to the decree in a daze.

After the person left, tears instantly rolled from Princess Dunsu's eyes. She turned her head and cried out, "Quick! Let the Crown Prince down! Hurry!!"

Qi Xiao was covered in cold sweat. Hearing this, he raised his head, spat out a mouthful of blood, and smiled weakly.

The crowd carried Qi Xiao back to the inner chamber of the study. Princess Dunsu followed behind, shedding tears continuously. The imperial physician who came with her approached and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, let me examine the Crown Prince..."

"No need! I have my own effective medicine. You may leave!" Princess Dunsu's tears kept falling as she repeatedly asked her personal maid to bring out the prepared medicinal ointment. She took it with trembling hands, not allowing anyone else to touch it.

She removed the gold-plated, jeweled lid herself, cleaned her hands, and applied the ointment to Qi Xiao's wounds. Seeing the numerous scars on Qi Xiao's body, she finally couldn't hold back and wept, "My son! Does it hurt?"

Qi Xiao's face was pale, but he smiled slightly, "Only a little, it doesn't hurt much."

Princess Dunsu wiped her tears and continued applying the medicine to Qi Xiao, sobbing repeatedly, "My son, my own flesh and blood..."

Jiang Deqing was also released. The old eunuch hobbled into the inner chamber, and upon seeing Qi Xiao's injuries, he couldn't help but cry again, "What sin has been committed to deserve this..."

Qi Xiao said nothing, but Jiang Deqing could tell at a glance that he was thirsty. He quickly poured tea and offered it to Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao rinsed his mouth and drank a cup of tea, then said softly, "Eunuch, don't blame my aunt. She did this... to resolve my current predicament. Besides... the whip earlier was obviously restrained, only breaking the skin without injuring the muscles. It will heal in less than half a month..."

Jiang Deqing had also heard the Emperor's decree earlier and naturally understood. However, he still couldn't bear the heartache.

Princess Dunsu's face was streaked with tears as she gently stroked Qi Xiao's face, shaking her head and choking back sobs, "I knew you would understand... Xiao'er, don't blame me for being ruthless. Back then, my father, your grandfather the Emperor, also said to put Prince Jie under house arrest first and discuss further later. But that 'later' turned into thirteen years! In the end, Prince Jie hanged himself from a beam. The past events are still vivid in my mind, so I have to be cautious..."

Qi Xiao nodded, "I understand Aunt's painstaking efforts... Aunt, if you hadn't done this, I'm afraid that in order to break free from this predicament, I would have... hurt myself even more severely..."

Princess Dunsu's heart ached immensely as she wept bitterly, "When I received the news of your house arrest the other day, I nearly fainted. Why... why did you do this? What did I tell you before? Don't interfere in the matters of Lingnan anymore! Don't interfere in the matters of Lingnan anymore! Why won't you listen..."

Qi Xiao smiled, accidentally pulling at his wounds, causing his face to turn pale. Qi Xiao shook his head and chuckled, "Aunt... just consider me crazy..."

Princess Dunsu paused, crying even more intensely, "My foolish Xiao'er..."

Qi Xiao smiled faintly, "Aunt, don't worry. The suffering and humiliation I endured today, in the future... I will repay it tenfold, a hundredfold to him. I, Qi Xiao, am not... not someone who will be bullied by others for nothing..."

Qi Xiao was exhausted and said in a low voice, "Now I only hope that Bairen... that he will succeed in everything. Then my suffering... won't have been in vain."

Princess Dunsu was both heartbroken and worried. Upon hearing this, she anxiously said, "Not in vain? For his sake, is it worth it?"

"Great joy for the Crown Prince!" A young eunuch under Jiang Deqing, holding a letter, ran in and exclaimed repeatedly, "Great joy for the Crown Prince!! A letter has arrived from Lingnan. The Prince... the Prince has won!!"

Qi Xiao wiped the cold sweat from his face, laughed loudly a few times, and whispered, "It was worth it..."