"Princess, something's wrong! The First Prince has barged in!"
A maidservant rushed over, her eyes wide with panic, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
"Why is Big Brother here?"
Shen Ye Hong's brows furrowed. She hurried towards the front hall. If he found out Lu Fan was in the palace, it would undoubtedly cause unnecessary trouble.
After all, the pursuit order had been issued by her father, the Emperor. Any misstep could endanger Lu Fan's life.
Upon arriving at the front hall, Shen Ye Hong saw Shen Zhan Guo admiring the flowers, appearing quite leisurely.
"Big Brother, what wind blows you here?"
Shen Ye Hong said with a smile, "You never used to visit my palace. Is there something on your mind?"
"I'm just here to take a look!"
Shen Zhan Guo chuckled, "Aren't you supposed to have returned to Tong Tian Academy? Why are you still in the palace?"
"I was planning to return, but then I thought it wouldn't be too late to stay in the palace for a while before heading back to Tong Tian Academy!" Shen Ye Hong stated frankly, "After all, who knows when I'll be able to come back once I leave."
"You're still lying to me!"
Shen Zhan Guo rolled his eyes. "Don't think I don't know. He's in this very palace. Do you know that if Father finds out, even you will be implicated."
"Big Brother, what are you talking about? I don't quite understand?"
Shen Ye Hong spoke, her brows slightly knitted. She clearly hadn't expected Shen Zhan Guo to know about this.
"Do you still intend to hide it from me?"
Shen Zhan Guo said coldly, "Your sudden secret return to the palace, how could it be so simple? I suspect that brat is heavily injured and recuperating in your palace!"
"Big Brother, I had no choice. No matter what, he is from Tong Tian Academy, and I cannot let him suffer any harm," Shen Ye Hong stated directly.
"You foolish child, although he is from Tong Tian Academy, killing a Saint of the Gu family makes him an enemy of the Tai Yan Dynasty!"
Shen Zhan Guo said sternly, "How can Father let this slide? Your actions 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!"
"How dare you, you won't even listen to me!" Shen Zhan Guo frowned. "I came to warn you. Go and inform Father about this matter now, and you will be absolved. Otherwise, if you get entangled, even Father will be in a difficult position!"
"Big Brother, I beg you, please don't tell Father. Once his injuries heal, I will take him away!"
Shen Ye Hong pleaded, "If anything happens to him, I won't live!"
"Don't tell me you like him?" Shen Zhan Guo was slightly surprised.
"Last time at Shen Ji Mountain, that old man told me he is my destined person!"
Shen Ye Hong stated frankly, "Now I have no doubt. Consider it a plea from your little sister."
"Alright, since you insist, I can only go along with your wishes!" the First Prince said helplessly. "But this matter must be kept secret. Don't let it get out, or even I won't be able to protect you!"
"Thank you, Big Brother!"
Shen Ye Hong quickly nodded, a look of joy appearing on her face. With Shen Zhan Guo's words, she felt completely at ease.
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, but he felt pity for Shen Ye Hong.
Moreover, he knew very well that the Tai Yan Emperor did not truly intend to harm Lu Fan, but merely to appease the Gu family. It would be best if Lu Fan could not be apprehended.
Shortly after, in another palace, an old man reported, "Second Prince, this matter is absolutely true. The First Prince just left the Princess's palace, and the person hidden within the Princess's palace is precisely 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's 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 greatly beneficial to the Second Prince."
"That's a good idea!"
Shen Tian nodded. "In that case, leak this matter 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 immediately!"
The white-haired old man cupped his fists slightly and then left the palace.
Not long after, outside the imperial palace, numerous experts from the Gu family suddenly gathered and surged into the palace. After a while, they arrived outside Shen Ye Hong's palace.
"Your Gu family is truly audacious, daring to trespass into a princess's residence!"
Shen Ye Hong's aura was imposing as she gazed at the disciples of the Gu family, her eyes filled with displeasure.
"We request the Princess to hand over the culprit!"
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 with us."
"I don't know what you are talking about, but you had best leave quickly and not cause trouble here. Trespassing into the imperial palace is a serious crime," Shen Ye Hong said coldly.
"If the Princess does not hand over that person today, we will not leave."
The Gu family members spoke in unison, exuding an imposing aura, showing no intention of retreating.
At this moment, Shen Ye Hong's face turned pale. She hadn't expected things to escalate to this point. The First Prince had only just left, and the Gu family had already come knocking, catching her off guard.
At this very moment, the First Prince had just returned to the palace when he learned that the Gu family had gone to the Princess's palace. His brows furrowed, and he even felt as if he had been set up.
"Princess, do you truly intend to protect a wanted criminal!"
The man from the Gu family questioned again, his gaze unfriendly. The situation had reached this point, and the Gu family had no retreat.
"Presumptuous! This is my Princess's residence, and it's not your place to run wild."
Shen Ye Hong said coldly, "If you do not leave, I will inform Father and have him deal with you!"
"Princess, there's no need to threaten us. If the Princess does 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. She clearly hadn't expected these people to be so aggressive, completely disregarding her as a princess.
"They dare not, but do you see if I dare?"
At this moment, a cold voice rang out. The Tai Yan Emperor appeared.