Chapter 197 I'm here, the sky won't fall.

Princess Ning was even angrier after hearing this: "Since you know that the Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are going to interrogate him, you should understand the seriousness of the matter! Your interference in Magistrate Ye's embezzlement case will implicate the entire Prince's Mansion. It will be troublesome if our family is suspected of having any connection with Magistrate Ye!"

Xiao Qingyuan frowned: "I didn't think that much about it. The innocent are innocent. We have no connection with Magistrate Ye, so it's no use for anyone to suspect us. But Mother, don't worry. Even if there is any trouble, I will take responsibility for my own actions and will not implicate you and Father."

Princess Ning looked at him in disbelief: "What are you saying? What do you mean by 'you're responsible for your own actions'? If something happens to you, do you think your father and I can escape? You say you won't be implicated?"

Xiao Qingyuan was displeased: "Then what exactly does Mother mean? Does she expect me to stand idly by and watch people die? You are all cowardly and afraid to save people from dire straits, but I am not!"

Princess Ning was dumbfounded, so angry she could barely speak: "You, you, you...you scoundrel!"

“Miss Ye said that her father was wronged. I need to go to the palace to see the Crown Prince and ask him to order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to release Magistrate Ye.”

Princess Ning nearly coughed up blood: "No! You can't go into the palace to see the Crown Prince!"

“I already promised to help her in front of many people at the Fazhen Temple, and I can’t go back on my word.”

Xiao Qingyuan warned with a righteous expression, "While I am in the palace, Mother, please do not secretly drive Miss Ye away. Miss Ye is already pitiful enough. Mother, please do not be too selfish and only care about protecting yourself, refusing to lend her a helping hand."

“She has nowhere to stay now, and there are plenty of empty rooms in the mansion. Let her stay for a couple of days. Once I rescue her father, she will naturally leave.”

Princess Ning's face turned from ashen to pale. She suddenly laughed sadly: "Did you all hear that? This is the good son I raised. I didn't let him save the corrupt official, and he actually said I was selfish?"

"Very well! You want to go to the palace to plead with the Crown Prince to release Magistrate Ye? Then I'll go to the palace with you! I'll kneel down in the Hall of Mental Cultivation today and beg the Emperor to lock you up with that Ye Chongli!"

Xiao Qingyuan was shocked: "Mother! Why did you do this?!"

"Don't call me mother. How could someone as selfish and cowardly as me be worthy of being the mother of a great hero like you? I don't think you should even have the surname Xiao. You should take Ye Chongli's surname. Compared to the prince, he's more like your real father!"

"What nonsense are you talking about, Mother? I just wanted to help Miss Ye. How did you make such a big deal out of it?"

Princess Ning sneered, "Stubborn fool! Guards, help me change my clothes, I want to enter the palace immediately!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the curtain was lifted and Prince Ning walked in.

When Princess Ning saw him, her eyes immediately reddened: "Your Highness, you're finally back! I can't control Yuan'er anymore. He's clamoring to go to the palace to plead with the Crown Prince to release Ye Zhongli! I'm going to the palace to find the Emperor and just lock Yuan'er up to prevent him from causing even more trouble!"

Ignoring the crowd watching, Prince Ning stepped forward, patted her back to comfort her, and then wiped her eyes: "Don't cry, I'm here. The sky won't fall. I'll discipline our son. I'll talk to your brother. You don't need to go."

Princess Ning could no longer hold back. She buried her face in his shoulder and burst into tears: "I'm scared! How could Yuan'er get involved in something like this? He could lose his life in the blink of an eye!"

Prince Ning knew that his wife was a strong-willed person; she would never have cried like this in front of so many people unless she was extremely heartbroken and frightened.

He reached out and embraced his wife, gently coaxing her, "It's alright, Yingzhen. Although I don't have any real power as a prince, I am still a direct descendant of the royal family. My brother trusts me quite a bit. No matter how much trouble Yuan'er causes in the future, my brother will not take his life for my sake."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Xiao Qingyuan and coldly reprimanded him: "Look how scared you've made your mother! Why don't you kneel down and admit your mistake!"

Xiao Qingyuan turned his face away: "I didn't do anything, I just wanted to help Miss Ye with a small favor. Who knew my mother would react so strongly, as if I had committed some serious crime? It makes me feel really uncomfortable."

Prince Ning was nearly driven mad with anger: "You still have the nerve to talk back, Yancheng!"

Yancheng immediately stepped forward: "Your subordinate is here!"

"Tie up the young master and throw him into the woodshed!"

"yes!"

"Father!"

"Also, tie up that Miss Ye he brought back! I'll deal with her after I get instructions from the palace!"

"yes!"

"Father! You can tie me up, but why tie up Miss Ye? What did she do wrong?"

"Her mistake was that she was blind and heartless, trying to drag my Prince Ning's Mansion down with her! Ye Zhongli colluded with court officials, embezzling millions of taels of silver for canal repairs, causing the deaths of countless innocent people. The Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have interrogated him in turn. There is no way he can escape his crimes! You think you can beg the Crown Prince to release him? You're dreaming!"

After Prince Ning finished speaking, he waved to his guards.

Yancheng then unceremoniously tied up Xiao Qingyuan and forcibly pushed him out.

The room quieted down. Prince Ning wiped away the tears from the Princess's face, helped her to sit on the chaise lounge, and then turned to look at Shen Wantang.

“Yuan’er has taken in the daughter of a disgraced official without permission. I must go to the palace immediately to apologize. You take good care of your mother at home. You also keep an eye on Yuan’er and make sure he doesn’t sneak out. When I’m not here, you are in charge of all matters at home. If there’s anything you can’t handle, send someone to the palace to deliver a message to me.”

Shen Wantang respectfully replied, "Father, rest assured, your daughter-in-law will remember."

Prince Ning truly trusted his daughter-in-law; with her in charge of the palace, he had no worries.

He quickly left with his men.

Shen Wantang stayed with her mother-in-law, talking to her and comforting her until a smile finally appeared on her mother-in-law's face, at which point she breathed a sigh of relief.

After laughing, Princess Ning, influenced by Shen Wantang, also began to comfort herself: "Actually, I'm quite blessed. Although my son is unruly, my daughter-in-law is like a warm and reliable cotton-padded jacket. People should be content and ignore that scoundrel's words. I'm doing quite well."

Shen Wantang smiled and said, "You not only have a reliable daughter-in-law, but also a reliable husband! Mother is truly blessed. There are very few men in the capital as dependable as Father. You have married the right person!"

Princess Ning smiled and took Shen Wantang's hand, saying, "That's true. The prince has both status and looks. He treats me well and respects me in everything he does. However, he is too fond of studying celestial phenomena. He is always at the Imperial Observatory, looking at the sky and stars day and night, as if he is obsessed."