Just as everyone was getting anxious, a shout came from outside the door: "The Crown Prince is here! We're saved!"
The Emperor frowned deeply and grabbed Niu Niu: "Sweetheart, we must not fall for this rebellious son's trick. This rebellious son has long harbored ulterior motives and will not kindly rescue us."
Niu Niu blinked her eyes. She had already heard about this matter when she was in the palace. The eldest prince and the empress were in cahoots, and the empress was also secretly colluding with the prime minister. This time, she was definitely not here for anything good.
Niu Niu blinked her eyes: "No, Big Brother wouldn't do such a thing. I believe Big Brother. As for the matter between Mother and the Prime Minister, I have heard some things, but now is a critical moment. These people outside must not have been sent by the First Prince. If they really were brought by the First Prince, why would he have come all this way?"
Liang Shuyan nodded softly: "Yes, that's right. Princess Sweetheart is absolutely right. If that's the case, the First Prince wouldn't have gone alone. We should see what he's up to first."
The Emperor trusted Liang Shuyan's words completely. He nodded heavily and said, "Yes, I'll listen to you. Let's see what the First Prince is up to first. Go out now and see what he has to say."
How could Liang Shuyan not understand this principle? When Jin Erniu saw that his mother was about to go out alone, he said, "Mother, why don't we go out and see what's going on?"
Liang Shuyan knew exactly what Jin Erniu meant. She glanced at Jin Erniu and said, "It's alright. I believe the Crown Prince isn't a bad person. But the people surrounding us aren't necessarily good people either. You should focus your attention on these people."
Outside the gate, the eldest prince slowly dismounted from his horse and pointed at a man holding a large sword, saying, "Who gave you permission to come here? You've surrounded us so tightly. What are you trying to do?"
The leading guard hesitated for a moment, then said, "Your Highness, we are acting under orders. Her Majesty the Empress has instructed us to protect His Majesty at all costs!"
"Nonsense! Protecting the Emperor? The Emperor has come to Daling Village. When has he ever needed your protection? With you here, the Emperor will not be safe. Now get out of here right now!"
"But Her Majesty the Empress instructed us not to leave the Emperor no matter what happens. We haven't even seen the Emperor yet, how can we leave without permission?"
"Get out! Do you think my words are just empty words? What is this place? This is Jing'an County, which was personally designated by the Emperor. How dare you cause trouble on the territory designated by the Emperor? Are you tired of living?"
Upon hearing this, the leading guard hurriedly nodded: "Alright, in that case, I'll have to leave now. If Her Majesty the Empress asks, just say it was His Highness's order, is that alright?"
"Yes, that's exactly what I said." The Emperor said, then a thought suddenly flashed through his mind about what Liang Shuyan had mentioned in her letter. He shouted again, "Stop right there! If anything happens to Daling Village, or if anything happens to the Jin family, I will make sure you all come back with your heads!"
The leading guard nodded hastily in agreement, then waved his hand and led his group away in a hasty retreat.
Standing at the village entrance, Liang Shuyan saw the First Prince and said, word by word, "May I ask what brings the First Prince to our Daling Village? Is he making such a fuss to arrest everyone in Daling Village and bring them to the capital?"
Liang Shuyan's seriousness puzzled the eldest prince. He hadn't expected her to react this way. He then said, "No, that's not how it is. The people surrounding Daling Village have nothing to do with me. I came here to rescue the Emperor and the Princess. I hope Lady Qingcha understands. Look, I've evacuated all these people around here. What else is there that you don't believe?"
Liang Shuyan said with a stern face, "Why are you saying such nice things now? Wasn't that guard who left just now because he listened to you? Why do you have to make it sound so nice?"
The eldest prince said somewhat helplessly, "We do know him, and the Empress ordered us to come and protect the Emperor. What's wrong with that?"
"What, you still don't believe me? Look, if I had that intention, why would I have come to save the Emperor and Princess all by myself?"
Liang Shuyan then believed the eldest prince and brought him to the emperor and princess. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the eldest prince has come alone to rescue you and the princess. Please don't be nervous, Your Majesty. All the people outside have already been dismissed at the eldest prince's order."
Niu Niu saw the eldest prince and grabbed his arm, saying, "Brother, are you really here to save us?"
"Isn't that right? Look, when my brother learned that you and Father were both in danger, he rushed to Daling Village without stopping. What, you don't want to believe that my brother really came to save you and Father?"
Niu Niu was so naive. Hearing the eldest prince's words, she was about to rush over happily, but the emperor grabbed her arm and said, "Your brother is no longer your brother. He can't wait for us to die so he can become emperor. Then the world will be his, and he won't care about family ties anymore."
The Emperor's words caused the eldest prince's heart to clench: "Could it be that the Emperor has learned something? Otherwise, why would he say such a thing?"
Upon hearing the Emperor's words, the eldest prince knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "Father, I am innocent. In the past, I did indeed hold such a mindset. In Father's heart, the one who could be the crown prince was my third brother. I am brave but not wise, and I have never been the one Father favors the most since childhood. I know this very well. But since I found Princess Sweetheart, my brother and I have been deeply in love. Between power and affection, I would rather give up power and be an unfilial son to Mother than let my sister be happy and Father be pleased."
The Emperor was very pleased to hear the eldest prince's words and immediately helped him up: "Alright, since you have such filial piety and the heart of an elder brother, I am satisfied. I will reconsider the position of Crown Prince."
The eldest prince hadn't expected that his sincerity would change the emperor's mind so quickly. He was so excited that he didn't know what to say.
The Emperor continued, "The main reason for this is because of Lady Cha's kind words to me. In any case, I think it is necessary to reconsider the position of Crown Prince."
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