If she had only stolen Yu Linglong’s prescription.
Then, after Yu Linglong had treated Prince Xuan and the Emperor had calmed down, Chu Qianli would have at most been reprimanded.
At most, she would have received a few dozen lashes.
But she dared to escape from prison!
Escaping from prison, and from the imperial prison at that!
That was absolute contempt for the imperial family, a blatant provocation!
If Prince Xuan were to meet with any misfortune, Chu Qianli would definitely be doomed to death.
No wonder even the Duke and the Marquis of Dingbei had to personally come to beg for mercy.
The Empress Dowager was so worried about Prince Xuan that she had no mind to deal with this matter.
The Emperor was so angry he had no words left!
He used to have some respect for the two elders, but now, only anger remained in his heart!
“If it’s truly Xuan’er… if…”
The Emperor, furious, slammed the imperial chair, gritting his teeth, and said, “I will not spare Chu Qianli! I will have her torn apart by five horses!”
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
Outside, a young eunuch rushed in again, his face full of anxiety.
“The Princess of Xuan has been brought back!”
… Chu Qianli had been brought back.
The one who brought her back was Feng Jinrui.
“Guards! Seize this vixen and beat her to death with sticks!”
The Emperor, at this moment, hated Chu Qianli to the bone.
He didn’t care who brought her back or why she was brought to this place.
His worry was almost becoming an illness, and if he didn’t find something to vent on, he himself would fall ill from anger!
“Your Majesty, spare her life!”
Upon hearing this, Long Ye suddenly kowtowed with a thud.
“Your Majesty, Li’er is still a child. She committed such a grave mistake due to her youth and ignorance!”
“This subject is willing to bear all the blame for her. I beg Your Majesty to retract the order!”
When Chu Qianli entered, she saw a large blood blister on her maternal grandfather’s forehead.
Her heart was suddenly shaken.
Her memories of the original host’s maternal grandfather were mostly of his helplessness and sighs.
It was because the original host was truly a hopeless case, unlearned, and her behavior was erratic and malicious.
It was said that the original host’s mother, Long Qianyue, was the most talented woman in the imperial city during her lifetime.
She excelled in both literary and military arts, as well as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
She was very famous in the imperial city.
Yet her daughter, born under such brilliant circumstances, was worlds apart from her mother.
Her maternal grandfather had always wanted to teach her well, but she not only refused to appreciate it but also spoke harshly to him at every turn.
The relationship between the original host and her maternal grandfather had always been very poor.
Later, the original host wouldn’t even visit her maternal grandfather during festivals.
Chu Qianli thought that her maternal grandfather’s feelings for her must have long since faded.
Yet, at the brink of death, her maternal grandfather was willing to endure such humiliation for her.
Her maternal grandfather was already over sixty years old.
He had achieved great military exploits; even when facing the Emperor, when had he ever knelt and bowed like this?
Duke Chu Buqu also knelt upright, glared at her, and said angrily, “Wicked girl! Why aren’t you kneeling down quickly to beg for the Emperor’s forgiveness!”
Chu Qianli did not kneel.
Her paternal grandfather Chu Buqu’s cold voice was still so clear in the original host’s memory.
He had always liked to reprimand the original host, filled with resentment for her not living up to his expectations.
But Chu Qianli did not expect that after reprimanding her, Chu Buqu also kowtowed to the Emperor with a thud.
“Your Majesty, Little Seven is young and ignorant. It is all the fault of this old minister for not teaching her well since childhood.”
“Little Seven’s crime today is entirely this old minister’s fault! If Your Majesty intends to sentence Little Seven to death, then this old minister shall bear it for her!”
Chu Qianli’s heart suddenly ached!
Her maternal grandfather and paternal grandfather had always seemed to dislike her.
Yet, at this critical moment of life and death, they were both willing to risk their lives for her.
How much had the original host failed to cherish!
She was truly blessed but did not know it!
She took a step forward, did not kneel, but simply bowed slightly and said indifferently:
“This subject is not convinced that Your Majesty would mete out punishment without distinguishing right from wrong!”