"Princess, trouble! The First Prince has suddenly barged in!"
A maidservant hurried over, her eyes filled with panic and a sense of foreboding.
"Why is Brother here!"
Shen Ye Hong's brow furrowed. She quickly headed towards the front hall. If he found out Lu Fan was in the palace, it would likely cause unnecessary trouble.
After all, the decree to hunt Lu Fan was issued by their father. If there was even the slightest misstep, Lu Fan's life would be in peril.
As soon as she arrived at the front hall, Shen Ye Hong saw Shen Zhan Guo admiring flowers, appearing quite leisurely.
"Brother, what wind blows you here?"
Shen Ye Hong smiled and asked, "You never used to visit my palace. Is there something going on?"
"I just came to take a look!"
Shen Zhan Guo chuckled, "Aren't you supposed to have returned to Tongtian Academy? Why are you still in the palace?"
"I was planning to go back, but then I thought it wouldn't be too late to stay in the palace for a while before returning to Tongtian Academy!" Shen Ye Hong said directly, "After all, I don't know when I'll be able to return once I leave."
"You're still lying to me!"
Shen Zhan Guo gave her a side-eye. "Don't think I don't know he's in this palace. Do you know that if Father finds out, even you will be implicated."
"Brother, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand," Shen Ye Hong said, her brow furrowing slightly. She clearly hadn't expected Shen Zhan Guo to know about this.
"You still want to hide it from me?"
Shen Zhan Guo said coldly, "Your sudden, secret return to the palace wouldn't be so simple. I suspect that kid is heavily injured and recuperating in your palace!"
"Brother, I had no choice. No matter what, he is a member of Tongtian Academy, and I cannot let him be harmed in any way," Shen Ye Hong stated frankly.
"You child. Although he is from Tongtian Academy, killing a Saint of the Gu family makes him an enemy of the Taiyan Dynasty!"
Shen Zhan Guo said coldly, "How could Father let this slide? What you're doing will only embarrass Father!"
"He killed a Saint of the Gu family, not a Saint of the Shen family."
Shen Ye Hong said righteously, "Why should Father make things difficult for him? If Father insists, then I will go with him!"
"You are too bold! You won't even listen to me!" Shen Zhan Guo frowned. "I came to warn you. Go and inform Father about this matter immediately, and you can absolve yourself. Otherwise, if you get caught up in it, even Father will be in a difficult position!"
"Brother, please, I beg you, don't tell Father. Once his injuries heal, I will take him away myself!"
Shen Ye Hong pleaded, "If anything happens to him, I won't want to live!"
"Do you perhaps like him?" Shen Zhan Guo asked, slightly surprised.
"Last time at Shenji Mountain, that old man told me he is the person destined for me!"
Shen Ye Hong stated, "Now I have no doubt. Please, consider it a plea from your little sister."
"Alright, since you are so insistent, I can only comply with your wishes!" the First Prince said helplessly. "But this matter must be kept secret. Don't let it leak out, or even I won't be able to protect you!"
"Thank you, Brother!"
Shen Ye Hong nodded quickly, her face lighting up with joy. With Shen Zhan Guo's word, she felt completely relieved.
Not long after, Shen Zhan Guo left the palace, feeling helpless. As the Crown Prince of the dynasty, he was supposed to fulfill his dynastic duties. However, he had a soft spot for Shen Ye Hong.
Moreover, he knew very well that the Taiyan Emperor did not truly intend to harm Lu Fan. He was merely giving the Gu family an explanation. Not being able to capture Lu Fan was the best outcome.
Not long after, in another palace, an old man reported, "Second Prince, this is absolutely true. The First Prince just left the Princess's palace, and the person hidden within the Princess's palace is indeed the one who killed the Saint of the Gu family!"
"This matter cannot be taken lightly!"
Shen Tian said coldly, "Where did you get this information?"
"This information naturally came from the East Palace," the white-haired old man nodded. "There is no mistake about this. If this news leaks, Princess Ye Hong will surely believe it was the First Prince's doing. Then they will fall out, which would be of great benefit to the Second Prince."
"That's a good idea!"
Shen Tian nodded. "In that case, leak this information and have the Gu family come to the palace as soon as possible. This way, my little sister will know who she should stand with!"
"Your subordinate will attend to it at once!"
The white-haired old man cupped his fists slightly and then left the palace.
Not long after, outside the palace, many experts from the Gu family suddenly assembled and surged into the palace. Soon after, they arrived outside Shen Ye Hong's palace.
"Your Gu family is truly audacious, daring to trespass into the Princess's residence!"
Shen Ye Hong's aura was imposing as she looked at the Gu family disciples, her gaze unfriendly.
"Please hand over the culprit, Princess!"
A man from the Gu family spoke, "We have shed blood and sweat for the royal family, and we are all members of the royal family. Now that the Gu family has been wronged, the royal family should stand on our side."
"I don't know what you are talking about, but you had best leave quickly and not cause trouble here. Trespassing into the palace is a serious crime," Shen Ye Hong said coldly.
"If the Princess does not hand over that person today, we will never leave," the Gu family members all declared, projecting an imposing aura without any intention of retreating.
At this moment, Shen Ye Hong's face turned pale. She hadn't expected things to turn out this way. The First Prince had only just left, and the Gu family had come knocking, catching her off guard.
At this very moment, the First Prince, upon returning to the palace, learned that the Gu family had gone to the Princess's residence. His brow furrowed, and he even felt as if he had been set up.
"Princess, do you really intend to protect a wanted criminal!"
The man from the Gu family questioned again, his gaze unfriendly. The Gu family had no other path at this point.
"How dare you! This is my Princess's manor, and it is not a place for you to run amok!"
Shen Ye Hong said coldly, "If you do not leave, I will report this to Father and have him deal with you!"
"You need not threaten us, Princess. If you do not hand over the person today, we will force our way in!" the Gu family members stated directly. "We hope the Princess will reconsider!"
"You dare!"
Shen Ye Hong's expression turned grim, clearly not expecting these people to be so aggressive and completely disregard her status as a princess.
"They dare not. See if I dare?"
At this moment, a cold voice sounded, and the Taiyan Emperor appeared.