"WAAAH! Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you have to help us!" Ye Qianning’s defiant little face crumpled as she burst into tears.

"My dear girl, don’t cry. I’m here."

"Little one, don’t cry. When you cry, it makes this old great-grandpa want to cry too." Gu Lao said, already looking as if he might start wiping at his eyes.

Madam Zhan said nothing, but she was already dabbing at her tears.

"...That’s enough." The Beili Emperor was thoroughly annoyed.

Ye Qianning wriggled free and ran to the Emperor’s side. "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince and the Seventh Prince were bullying us! They were bullying us!"

"Go and stand aside. Do not speak. Once I have a clear understanding of the situation, I will pass judgment." The Beili Emperor was afraid that if he spoke one more word, he might not be able to resist the urge to have this child killed.

Assaulting the Crown Prince was a crime punishable by the execution of one’s entire clan, yet she had the audacity to be the first to complain.

Although he didn’t know which of the Four Great Families the child belonged to, she had already stirred up trouble among them.

Gu Lao had brought Gu Shuo to the palace to resign from their positions as imperial merchants, an act that was, to some extent, related to Ye Qianning.

Ye Qianning stood her ground, sniffling and sobbing.

"Qian Ning, come here." Madam Zhan pulled her close, squatting down to shelter the little one in her arms.

Looking at the child’s small, bruised face, she was filled with immense self-blame. ’If only I had stayed with her, she wouldn’t have had to suffer like this.’

"Seventh," the Beili Emperor’s gaze swept across the room before landing on Sang Rui. "I recall that you were confined to the Cold Palace. Why are you here?"

A violent shiver ran through Sang Rui. He knelt on the floor, not daring to speak.

"Eighth, you tell me what happened." The Beili Emperor’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Sang Zhi.

From the back of the group, Princess Chu Yue of East Shu watched Sang Zhi with a detached air.

Sang Zhi knelt in salute. "I do not know."

"You don’t know? Then why did you get into such a state fighting the Crown Prince? Are you aware of the crime you’ve committed by assaulting him?"

"When I said I do not know, I meant I do not know why the Crown Prince blocked my path and assaulted me," Sang Zhi replied, unafraid. His voice was dispassionate and steady.

"The injuries on the Crown Prince’s face are no less severe than yours."

"The Crown Prince assaulted me. It was only natural that I fight back."

"’Natural’?" The Beili Emperor was greatly displeased. "Eighth, do you have no regard for station?"

"In terms of station, I naturally cannot compare to the Crown Prince. But in terms of brotherhood, I am his elder brother." Sang Zhi raised his head, his expression neither servile nor defiant.

The Beili Emperor was taken aback as he met his son’s eyes. He realized it had been a long time since he had truly looked at him; he didn’t know when the boy had changed so much.

His words had hit their mark.

"Nonsense! You were clearly the one who acted with insubordination!" Sang Qi retorted angrily.

Sang Zhi turned his head. "Then perhaps the Crown Prince can tell us what I did to be accused of such insubordination?"

"You..." Sang Qi sputtered, furious.

"It was the Crown Prince’s fault!" Ye Qianning shouted at the top of her lungs, full of righteous anger. "We were minding our own business, but not only did you block our path, you mocked the Eighth Prince for not being able to get into Lou Mountain! You even said the Emperor made the Eighth Prince withdraw on purpose so he wouldn’t stand in your way!"

The moment she said this, the Beili Emperor’s expression turned utterly grim.

Consort Yuan’s expression froze as well.

The Empress was inwardly delighted.

Princess East Shu scoffed inwardly. ’It seems the Bei Emperor truly loathes that little bitch, to degrade her child to this extent.’

"You’re lying," Sang Qi glared at her.

"Who’s lying? It was you! You told the Eighth Prince to know his place! Everyone heard you! For the great Crown Prince to not even admit his own words... You’re just a filthy liar! How shameful! Shameful!"

"You’re lying!"

"Let the Emperor ask them himself and see who’s lying!" Ye Qianning pointed her small finger at Mr. Li. "You, speak up! You were all there."

Singled out, Mr. Li hurriedly stepped forward.

The Beili Emperor said, "Speak."