A huge commotion came from the Prince's Mansion.
The commander of the Imperial Guards stormed out, gripping his sword, and stood before the surrounded members of the Prince's Palace, shouting, "What's going on at the Prince's Palace?"
The people in the Prince's mansion looked at each other, unsure of what was going on inside.
Ning Xi'er stood aside, neither surprised nor concerned.
The commander of the Imperial Guards remembered that before entering the mansion, the eunuch Xu, who was in charge of greeting people, simply stepped over the crowd, grabbed Xu by the collar, and pulled him out.
"Speak! What happened?!"
He slammed Eunuch Xu hard to the ground, and Eunuch Xu fell to the ground, his palms bleeding.
People from the Prince's residence all wanted to step forward, but were stopped by the Imperial Guards who surrounded them.
"Commander, what is it you wish to ask?"
The Imperial Guard commander, too lazy to waste words with him, grabbed him by the back of his collar and dragged him directly into the Prince's residence...
After about half a cup of tea's time, it was taken out again.
Despite the vast difference in strength, Eunuch Xu was utterly powerless against the Imperial Guard commander...
But his face did not show the slightest hint of pleading or flattery; instead, it revealed a sense of dignity that could not be coerced.
Judging from Eunuch Xu's expression, he must also have many questions.
It's unclear how the once beautifully decorated Prince's mansion could have been ruined like this.
"Someone come here!"
The commander of the Imperial Guards roared angrily, seemingly intending to torture Eunuch Xu in public.
Ning Xi'er bypassed the Imperial Guards, who dared not stop her, but only kept a close watch on her movements.
"Commander, what is it that warrants such a large mobilization? If you're just showing off, the people are watching!"
The ransacking of homes to this extent is a serious matter.
The commander of the Imperial Guards was in a difficult position to explain himself, and he no longer cared about the feelings of Marquis Dingyuan and Prime Minister Shen, so he stopped giving Ning Xi'er a friendly look.
"I advise Your Highness not to bring trouble upon yourself!"
If she were an ordinary princess or principal wife, not to mention the commander of the Imperial Guards, even the Prefect of the Capital would have to serve her with utmost care.
Unfortunately, Ning Xi'er's husband is Prince Cheng, a target of suppression by the royal family, and is now the subject of confiscation of his property and imprisonment.
The arrogant and threatening tone of the Imperial Guard commander caused the people present to whisper among themselves.
Ning Xi'er was not afraid at all. She stepped forward and helped Eunuch Xu up, then helped him back to the crowd of people in the palace who were surrounded by the Imperial Guards.
The commander of the Imperial Guards coldly observed her movements.
Following the route taken by Eunuch Xu, Ning Xi'er toured the Prince's mansion.
The commander of the Imperial Guards followed behind with a gloomy face, and then came out again.
"Does Your Highness have anything to say? If not, don't blame me for being impolite to the others!"
"What happened today couldn't have happened out of thin air. Someone has to explain the loss of the Prince's property and belongings!"
The commander of the Imperial Guards threatened in a deep voice.
Ning Xi'er raised the corners of her lips, looked at the Imperial Guards present and the surrounding onlookers, and slowly said:
"Alright, before that, I'd like to ask the Commander, was the City Prince's Mansion like this when you first entered the manor?"
"When Prince Cheng got married, the people gathered to watch. Apart from the wedding sedan chair coming in and the people led by the commander entering the mansion, did anyone see anyone from the Prince's mansion taking anything out?"
Although the common people were unaware of the situation, judging from the words of the Imperial Guard Commander and the Princess, it seemed that the Prince's residence had been robbed, and the confiscated property had disappeared...
They all shook their heads, and the common people testified that no one from the Prince's residence had gone out...
The commander of the Imperial Guards narrowed his eyes.
Ning Xi'er continued, "Before Your Highness returned to the manor, and even before the wedding procession returned, your men must have already secured the area around the manor..."
This is standard procedure to prevent the escape of the Prince's residence staff.
"Before entering the manor, and just now during the search, your men completely surrounded the palace; not even a fly could get out..."
"I'd like to ask you, Commander, why was the once impregnable Prince's mansion reduced to ruins after your men raided it, leaving nothing behind?"
This is a veiled criticism of the Imperial Guards for embezzlement, almost naming names.
The Imperial Guard Commander's face suddenly turned cold. Before he could lash out, Ning Xi'er added:
"Although Prince Cheng is now a prisoner, His Highness is still His Majesty's nephew. Perhaps one day His Majesty will remember their uncle-nephew relationship and discuss today's situation..."
"His Highness Prince Cheng is currently unconscious. As his consort, I'm leaving this message here on his behalf..."
"Everything in the Prince's mansion was obtained at the Emperor's behest. His Majesty ordered its confiscation and recovery, and we willingly accepted it. We won't take a single copper coin..."
“But if someone frames me or maliciously slanders me, even if I can’t appeal to the emperor, I will still make a good appeal when I see my father and maternal grandfather!”
In the midst of the stalemate, suddenly a pair of imperial guards on horseback galloped towards them...
The commander of the Imperial Guards suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.
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