As Princess Zhaoyang's nonsense began to pull the conversation off track, Gu Qingyu quickly stepped forward. With a graceful bow to the Emperor and Empress, she intervened.
"Your Majesties, I believe this is all a misunderstanding caused by my brother's youthful impulsiveness," she said. "It is true that he foolishly bought that slave, A Nu, from the market. However, the man's identity was suspicious, so my brother intended to hand him over to the authorities. When A Nu heard this, he grew terrified and fled the manor."
She paused and looked toward Ye Qiong. "I take the liberty of speaking for my brother. He never intended to offend the Princess. He only heard that the runaway slave was at Prince Duan's Manor and feared the man might harm her. In his haste and concern, he lost his composure. This entire matter arose from my brother's lack of foresight. I ask the Emperor and Empress to see the truth of the matter. I also hope the Princess can find it in her heart to be generous and not hold a grudge against him."
Gu Chengyang realized what she was doing and immediately followed her lead. "Yes, yes! I was too rash. I beg the Princess to forgive me!"
With a satisfied nod, Consort De watched her niece turn the situation around in just a few words. She then turned to the Emperor.
"I heard the Princess accidentally injured her head at the hunting grounds half a month ago and has forgotten many things since she woke up," Consort De said. "Perhaps her health has led to some lapses in managing the manor's servants, or... perhaps she simply doesn't remember if an outsider entered her home. But as Qingyu said, that runaway is of unknown origin and could be a threat to Prince Duan's Manor. To ensure the Princess's safety, I hope Your Majesty will allow the Gu family to take him back and handle the matter."
On the way here, Gu Qingyu had gripped her sleeve with an anxious expression, insisting that this slave named A Nu would be of great use and must be brought back to the Gu family. Although Consort De was full of doubt and didn't understand why her niece valued a nameless slave so highly, she chose to trust her.
After all, ever since the girl had saved the Emperor at the Royal Hunting Grounds half a month ago, she had not only been titled a County Lady, but had also raised the status of the entire Gu family. Even more surprising was that every decision she had made since then had been perfectly accurate, as if she could see into the future. She had helped the Gu family avoid several disasters and had earned Consort De a great deal of respect and praise from the Emperor. Her niece's words now carried significant weight in her heart.
[Host, she's calling you brain-damaged!] the system chimed in, stirring the pot.
Ye Qiong touched her forehead where the donkey had kicked her. Her acting skills kicked in instantly. She ran straight to the Empress, grabbed her legs, and began to wail loudly.
"Waaaah! Auntie! Gu Chengyang brought a whole mob to block the gates of Prince Duan's Manor and threatened to beat my father! My guards were so scared they didn't even dare to fight back. If Eunuch Fu hadn't arrived in time, I would have been beaten to death!"
"The three of them are teaming up to bully me! They called me uneducated, said I was brain-damaged, and now they want to snatch away my servants! I'm so miserable... I have no mother, no sisters, and no aunts to love me. Only you can help me, Auntie! I'm not like the Gu family; they have relatives all over the Capital. Waaaah! Where is Grandmother? I want to find Grandmother!"
High-level palace intrigue often required the most basic of tactics. With a sharp twitch of his lips, the Emperor watched the brat throw her tantrum.
What did she mean by saying only the Empress could help her? Had he not spent years cleaning up her messes? The little ingrate!
"I am right here. Who would dare bully you?" the Emperor barked. "Besides, it's just a slave. There's no need to cry like a lunatic!"
The Empress didn't share the Emperor's irritation. With a look of genuine pity, she watched Ye Qiong howl while clinging to her legs. She had watched this child grow up and treated her like her own daughter. Though the girl acted out sometimes, she wasn't one to start trouble on purpose.
The Empress looked at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, Zhaoyang has never been one to lie. She likely saw Gu's third son blocking her gates with so many men and was simply frightened out of her wits. That is how this misunderstanding started."
She then turned a stern look toward Consort De. "Prince Duan's Manor is a royal residence with hundreds of servants. Why would they bother stealing a nameless runaway from the Gu family? I believe you have simply misunderstood the situation."
Consort De felt a surge of anger. The Empress was clearly lying through her teeth to spite her and was implying she had slandered Princess Zhaoyang. She couldn't hold back any longer. "Your Majesty, we can find out if the slave is there with a simple search!"
"Enough!" the Emperor interrupted with an impatient expression. "It is just one runaway slave. Is there any need for such a commotion?"
His eyes swept over the Gu siblings, his voice dripping with displeasure. "Just because the Gu family lost a slave, you want to search the home of Prince Duan? Do you have no respect for the Prince? Where do you place the dignity of the Royal Family?!"
With a wave of his hand, he spoke with undeniable authority. "All of you, leave!"
Realizing she had overstepped, Consort De felt a chill run down her spine. She didn't dare say another word and hurried out, pulling the Gu siblings with her. Once they were gone, the Emperor looked at Ye Qiong.
"Alright, tell me the truth. What is going on with that slave?"
He didn't believe for a second that Gu's third son had actually threatened to beat Prince Duan. However, the Gu family had been too prominent lately, acting with an arrogance that threatened to overshadow the other noble houses. He had seen the way the Gu boy looked at Zhaoyang with such disrespect. If it weren't for the fact that this foolish girl had been obsessed with Lord Gu in the past, he would have disciplined that family long ago.
Seeing the Emperor's look, Ye Qiong pulled a bill of sale from her sleeve with a smug grin.
"I really didn't steal him. I saw that Gu boy was going to beat him to death and I felt bad for him. I saved the man, but then he refused to leave. I just decided to be a good person and let him stay."
The Emperor frowned. "A man of unknown origin staying in your manor is a safety risk."
Ye Qiong took the opportunity to push further. "Then you should give me a strong guard to keep an eye on him. That way I'll be safe."
The Empress added, "Your Majesty, didn't you appoint Zhaoyang as the Patrol Envoy of the Capital? She might suffer if she doesn't have a skilled guard by her side."
The Emperor thought about it and found it reasonable. He called out to the space outside the hall, "Pei Yan."
"I am here."
With a deep and powerful voice, a man in black martial attire and a cold expression entered the room.
The Emperor looked at him and spoke slowly. "Go and pick one of your best men—someone skilled and steady—to serve the Princess." He paused before adding, "They must stay by her side at all times to ensure her safety. If anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible."
"As you command," Pei Yan replied without hesitation. With a respectful bow to the Emperor, Empress, and Princess, he silently withdrew.
The Emperor turned back to Ye Qiong. "With a member of the Brocade Guard following you, perhaps you'll behave yourself. Now go home. Don't come to the palace for a while; I don't want to see your face."
Ye Qiong rubbed her nose and said shyly, "Uncle, can I have that man from just now as my guard instead? He's very handsome."
"Get out!" the Emperor roared.
"On it!"
Ye Qiong immediately scrambled out and headed back to Prince Duan's Manor.