"Father Emperor!"
Shen Yehong was slightly startled, clearly not expecting her father, the Emperor, to appear here. He seemed to be in a furious mood and well-prepared.
"How dare you harbor a fugitive wanted by the dynasty within the imperial palace!"
Emperor Taiyan spoke, "How can I account for this to the Gu family?"
"Father Emperor, please don't listen to their nonsense. I have no idea what you're talking about," Shen Yehong said directly. "And my palace truly doesn't harbor anyone else!"
"If the Princess truly has not, why would she be so nervous?" the Gu family man smiled. "Why don't you let us enter and see if what the Princess says is true!"
"This is the Princess's sleeping quarters. How can you enter as you please!" Shen Yehong said coldly. "Do your words show no regard for the law? Do you not take our royal family seriously?"
"We certainly do not mean that!" the crowd chimed in, feeling a bit apprehensive. Shen Yehong's words were clearly an attempt to frame them. If that were the case, they would not fall for it.
"It's best if that's not your intention!" Shen Yehong said coldly, turning her gaze to Emperor Taiyan. "Father Emperor, I am your own daughter. Don't you even trust me?"
"Speak no more, hand over that person!" Emperor Taiyan stated directly. "I can also give the Gu family an explanation!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Many men from the Gu family knelt down, feeling quite excited. With the Emperor's words, they felt much more at ease. After all, the Gu family no longer had a Saint, and lacked the confidence to speak. It was already a great kindness for the royal family to stand up for them.
"Father Emperor!" Shen Yehong stomped her feet in anger, unsure of what to do. She had not expected her father to be so direct. If they were allowed to enter, Lu Fan would be in danger.
"Tie up the Princess and the rest of you follow me!" Emperor Taiyan said coldly, then strode into the palace, showing no hesitation. With such a major event occurring in the dynasty, he, as its ruler, could not let it go unaddressed.
Shen Yehong's expression was grim, but she was helpless. She could tell her father was serious. It was unlikely she could protect Lu Fan this time.
Upon entering the palace, everyone began searching. The Gu family members even stormed into the backyard, but unfortunately, no one was found, leaving them instantly disappointed.
"How can this be? This shouldn't be!" the Gu family man exclaimed in surprise.
"Why shouldn't it be?" Shen Yehong said coldly. "Who told you that the wanted person was in my Princess's residence?"
The men from the Gu family exchanged glances, their expressions shifting. At this point, if they continued to be overly aggressive, it would only incite the displeasure of the royal family.
"We have misunderstood. We beg the Princess's forgiveness!" the Gu family members bowed their fists.
"Since it was a misunderstanding, you should be more careful in the future!" Shen Yehong said coldly. "I am, after all, a Princess of the Imperial Dynasty. If you barge into my palace like this, where does that leave my dignity?"
Emperor Taiyan stood by the side, saying nothing, his gaze fixed on the Gu family members. He had acted this way to give the Gu family an explanation, but since the person was not caught, it was not a big deal.
"It was our momentary recklessness that offended the Princess's residence. The Gu family will never dare to do so again!" the Gu family members bowed their fists, appearing more docile, their previous ferocity gone. They had already searched the Princess's residence and had not caught the person they sought, so they could not be too rash.
At the same time, Shen Yehong was very curious. Lu Fan was clearly in the backyard, so why was he not visible now? What surprised her even more was how the Gu family knew Lu Fan was in her residence. Someone must have tipped them off.
After the Gu family members left, Emperor Taiyan finally spoke, "You girl, after going through some trials, you've become quite something!"
"Not at all. I'm still the same Yehong. But Father Emperor is not!" Shen Yehong said playfully. "You barged into my palace with so many people. If this gets out, won't it ruin my reputation?"
"It's all my fault!" Emperor Taiyan said helplessly. "But you must be careful in your actions, ideally leaving no trace. This would be beneficial for both you and your friends. If I, as the Emperor of the Taiyan Dynasty, had obstructed the Gu family, how would that have looked?"
Shen Yehong was slightly startled, especially by her father's words, which left her feeling somewhat bewildered and deeply touched.
"Alright, it's getting late, I won't disturb you any longer!" Emperor Taiyan waved his hand. "However, many things have happened in the dynasty recently. It's best if you don't get involved, lest you invite trouble."
"I understand!" Shen Yehong nodded slightly. Her father's words were quite meaningful, and she understood them clearly.
Not long after, the First Prince arrived at the Princess's residence. "I heard the Gu family came?"
"Big Brother, I truly misjudged you. I didn't expect you to be the informant!" Shen Yehong said. "Do you know that this could implicate me?"
"I swear to heaven, it was not me!" Shen Zhanguo said repeatedly. "I only learned of this news just now and came here to inquire!"
"If not you, then who? Besides you, no one else knew that Lu Fan was in my residence." Shen Yehong said coldly. "Now, my Princess's residence does not welcome you, Big Brother. You should leave quickly!"
"It really wasn't me!" the First Prince said innocently. "Don't you even trust your Big Brother?"
"My family members have already come to the Princess's residence. How can you expect me to trust you, Big Brother?" Shen Yehong said unceremoniously. "I don't know where Lu Fan and the others are hiding now. I hope you won't oppose me anymore!"
After speaking, Shen Yehong had her maid close the main gate of the residence, her heart filled with displeasure. She had placed great trust in Shen Zhanguo, but she never expected Shen Zhanguo to deceive her.
In the backyard of the palace, as soon as Shen Yehong entered, she saw Lu Fan still in the room, looking puzzled. When the Gu family members had searched, they seemed not to have found Lu Fan.
"What's going on?" Shen Yehong asked in surprise.
"We used an illusion technique just now!" Liuli said. "This requires setting up a formation, which I learned at Shenji Mountain. I didn't expect it to be useful here!"
"So that's how it is. No wonder even I didn't see you!" Shen Yehong's face lit up with joy. "Now that we've survived this ordeal, there should be no problem. It's fortunate we had this formation!"
"This formation is powerful, but it cannot escape the eyes of a Saint!" Liuli said meaningfully.