"Chongyang, take the young master back." The eldest princess looked at Chongyang and instructed him.

Chongyang immediately stepped forward and extended his hand to Gu Zhixing: "Master, let's go."

Gu Zhixing glanced at the Princess again, and seeing that there was no room for maneuver, he could only nod and walk out with Chongyang.

His figure gradually disappeared into the distance under the princess's gaze, carrying a hint of helplessness, yet also revealing his stubbornness.

After Gu Zhixing left, the princess's gaze fell on the plaque of the Imperial Study. She narrowed her eyes slightly and then stepped inside.

Inside the imperial study, the emperor was so angry that his face turned ashen, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

The servants beside him carefully patted his back to help him catch his breath, not daring to make a sound.

The emperor was breathing heavily with anger when he saw the eldest princess walk in. His expression softened slightly, but his tone still carried a hint of displeasure: "Eldest sister, what brings you here?"

The eldest princess snorted coldly and walked straight up to the emperor, her voice filled with intense anger: "If I hadn't come, I wouldn't even have known if you had beaten my son to death."

Her gaze was like a sword, staring straight at the emperor, as if trying to see through him: "Last time, because of the Xie family's matter, you beat him thirty times. He was bedridden for more than a month, and he had just recovered a little when you listened to slander and made him be whipped again."

"Now, you still want to fight? Are you only satisfied when you've killed him?"

Hearing this, the emperor sighed. He knew that the princess was worried about her son, and he understood. However, a country has its laws, and a family has its rules. If someone does something wrong, they must be punished.

The emperor tried to explain, "Elder sister, you don't know this, but Tuizhi is really audacious. Last night, he not only beat the crown prince, but he also didn't spare the court officials. If he is not disciplined, he may cause a terrible disaster in the future!"

"Trouble? No matter how big the trouble he caused, is it bigger than the trouble your son caused?"

The eldest princess sneered, her voice laced with sarcasm, and said, "My son seems quite obedient and knows his limits. Those people he beat up, didn't they all deserve it? Beating them was too lenient; given what they did, it's a miracle they weren't killed!"

The emperor frowned, knowing she was referring to the Crown Prince's collusion with the Ministry of Revenue in embezzlement, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.

He was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Elder sister, don't be angry. I was only doing this for his own good..."

The eldest princess didn't give him a chance to explain at all. She said coldly, "Everyone loves their own son! The crown prince did something that ruined the foundation of the court for centuries, and you turned a blind eye to it, didn't you? How come you're putting on airs like an emperor just because my son beat up a few people? Don't forget how you got your throne!"

Her words were merciless; every word was like a sharp arrow, piercing straight into the emperor's heart.

The emperor's face instantly turned extremely ugly. He gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles turning white, but in the end, he said nothing more.

The study was completely silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window, as if telling the story of the complexities and helplessness within the palace walls.

The emperor remained silent for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, a mixture of anger and helplessness, or perhaps a struggle with something.

He slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced around the hall a few times. Each step seemed heavy and slow, as if he were weighing something.

The atmosphere inside the hall grew increasingly heavy, as if the air itself had frozen. Everyone breathed cautiously, afraid of breaking the oppressive silence.

"Elder sister, your words are a bit too much." The emperor finally spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness and restraint, as if he were trying to suppress his anger. "The crown prince is, after all, the heir apparent and cannot be moved without permission. There are rules for court affairs. Although Tuizhi is your son, he is also my nephew. How could I not feel sorry for him? However, he must consider the consequences of his actions and cannot act so recklessly."

"Rules? What's the point of rules if they're trampled underfoot?" The princess sneered, unyielding. Her voice was as cold as ice, yet it carried an undeniable firmness: "If we're talking about reckless behavior, the Crown Prince colluding with foreign officials and murdering loyal ministers, aren't these things that are undermining the foundation of the court? If you can't treat everyone equally, then you might as well abdicate as soon as possible, mind your own business, and enjoy some peace and quiet."

Her gaze was like a sharp sword, staring directly at the emperor, as if she wanted to see right through him.

The eldest princess is usually very measured in her actions, but now she's arguing with him without considering the consequences, which shows she's really angry.

Gu Zhixing was her lifeline; even the slightest bump or scratch would be a major incident.

The emperor's face grew increasingly grim. He gritted his teeth and finally sighed, his voice tinged with weariness: "Elder sister, I know you feel sorry for Tuizhi, but this matter has far-reaching implications, and there is already much discussion in the court. If we don't give everyone an explanation, I'm afraid it will cause even greater turmoil."

The eldest princess sneered, her gaze as sharp as a sword fixed on the emperor: "Turbulence? Hmph, this court is long overdue for turmoil! Those incompetent officials should have been purged long ago. Tuizhi merely did what you dared not do. If you are truly worried about turmoil in the court, you should investigate the Crown Prince's collusion, not make things difficult for my son here!"

The emperor was speechless after hearing the princess's words. His lips moved slightly, but he ultimately did not utter a word.

He remained silent for a long time, his gaze lingering on the princess's face for a moment, before finally sighing, his voice tinged with weariness and helplessness: "Elder sister, take Tuizhi back first. I will think this matter over carefully and give you an explanation."

The princess's expression softened slightly, but her cold snort still carried a hint of disdain: "Consider? I hope you're not just paying lip service."

"Furthermore, I will personally handle Tuizhi's matter in the future," the eldest princess turned to the emperor and said, word by word, "If he suffers any more injuries, I, as his aunt, will also take good care of the crown prince. If he ends up missing an arm or a leg, you'll have to deal with it yourself!"

She turned and walked out of the hall, her steps firm and powerful, her back still carrying a hint of anger.

Everyone in the hall lowered their heads, not daring to meet her gaze, while the emperor stood still, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, as if he were thinking about something, or struggling with his decision.

Yanzhou.

As the New Year approaches, a time that should be filled with the joy of family celebrations, Yanzhou is devoid of any festive atmosphere. Instead, there is widespread mourning, with people looking ashen-faced and their eyes filled with despair and helplessness.

On the street, the cold wind howled, stirring up clouds of dust, as if even the air itself was filled with a heavy sense of oppression.

The houses were dilapidated, and many doors were tightly shut. Occasionally, the cries of children could be heard through the cracks in the doors, making the scene all the more desolate.