Chapter 605: I Beg You, Let Me See Her
Dean Chen and Zhan Yi had been keeping watch in the main hall ever since returning from the palace, waiting for news.
Dean Chen knew the Beili Emperor’s temperament all too well. As long as there were sufficient benefits on the line, no amount of evidence would make a difference.
’I can only hope the old ancestor of the Zhong family and the two Princes make some headway.’
Anger, indignation, disappointment, regret, sorrow—a torrent of emotions welled up inside him, creating a stifling, oppressive weight.
In all his years, Dean Chen had never experienced such a heavy, complex mix of emotions, nor such a heart-wrenching pain.
Sang Zhi stepped through the door. The sight of the coffin in the main hall seared his eyes, and he rushed over to its side in just a few steps.
Everyone in the hall was startled to see the Eighth Prince.
"Eighth Prince."
Dean Chen was also surprised. "How did you leave the palace?"
Sang Zhi paid him no mind. He reached out to caress the coffin, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Eighth Prince, you should leave. The General’s manor does not welcome members of the imperial family." Zhan Yi stood and walked over, brushing the boy’s small hand away.
"I... I want to see her."
"Go back, Eighth Prince. We wouldn’t want the Emperor to be unable to find you and frame her for abducting you from the palace," Zhan Yi said, his voice thick and dripping with sarcasm.
Sang Zhi stood frozen in place, his small hands clutching the hem of his robe.
Madam Zhan weakly lifted her gaze, her eyes cold as she stared at Sang Zhi. ’If it weren’t for him, my granddaughter wouldn’t have lost her life. She wouldn’t have been framed for abducting a prince from the palace.’
"Eighth Prince, does the Emperor know you have left the palace?" Dean Chen asked.
Sang Zhi nodded slightly.
"That’s good. Eighth Prince, although I don’t know the specifics, it’s clear from the Emperor’s attitude that he values you greatly. You must be more cautious in your actions."
"Dean... I want to see her. I want to be with her..."
"Don’t even think about it! Hasn’t our family suffered enough because of you? Leave now, Eighth Prince, or don’t blame me for what I do next." Zhan Yi had never been fond of the imperial family to begin with.
This time, the Beili Emperor’s actions had left them utterly disillusioned.
"Dean," Sang Zhi pleaded, his eyes full of desperation.
Dean Chen sighed. "Eighth Prince, you should go back."
With a THUD, Sang Zhi dropped to his knees. "Dean, Old Master Zhan, please just let me see her. I’m begging you. She did this to save me. I want to be with her... please, I’m begging you..."
As he finished speaking, he kowtowed, his forehead striking the ground.
Everyone was stunned by this, and they all stared at him in a daze.
"Eighth Prince, you mustn’t!" Dean Chen was the first to react, bending down to pull him up.
Sang Zhi remained kneeling, refusing to rise. "Please, let me see her..."
Dean Chen forcefully pulled him to his feet.
Sang Zhi dropped to his knees again and kowtowed hard.
As furious as Zhan Yi was, he was both shocked and moved to see Sang Zhi cast aside his dignity and kowtow repeatedly.
The members of the Gu family gasped. A prince of the realm, kneeling and kowtowing—it was utterly unheard of. If the Emperor were to find out, the General’s manor would face a catastrophe.
"This... Get up, quickly get up." Dean Chen looked helplessly at Zhan Yi.
Zhan Yi’s lips moved, but in the end, he stepped aside.
Madam Zhan was also thoroughly shocked by Sang Zhi’s actions.
"Grandfather, the Eighth Prince is here to see Ye Qianning." Gu Chi said, supporting Old Master Gu’s arm. "Grandfather."
Old Master Gu remained unmoved.
"Grandfather, you’ve been standing here for a long time."
"Grandfather, even if you’re not tired, the little lass must be. You should let her go so she can rest properly."
At that last sentence, Old Master Gu’s eyelids finally twitched. He looked up, his expression holding a childlike confusion. "The little lass is tired? Yes, the little lass is tired. She needs to rest."
"Grandfather?" Gu Chi froze.
"The little lass needs to rest. Alright, alright. Great-grandfather won’t disturb her rest. None of you are allowed to disturb her either. Go on, go on, let the little lass rest in peace."