Chapter 75

After the meal was served, Sheng Xiuran was so hungry that she ate heartily, then began to frequently request an audience with the Second Prince.

There were two tall guards at the door, and no matter what Sheng Xiuran said, they would block her way back.

Watching as the sky outside grew dark, Sheng Xiuran felt both anxious and desperate.

Brother… Brother was about to be executed. He was her beloved brother who had always taken care of her since childhood, unwilling to let her suffer even the slightest harm.

In fact, Sheng Xiuran had already seen through it in her heart. The Second Prince had no affection for her at all, otherwise he wouldn’t allow a maid to disrespect her, let alone confine her to this side hall.

Her romantic dreams were shattered. Now she didn’t seek the Second Prince’s favor; she just wanted to save her brother!

Seeing that the guards at the door were unmoved, Sheng Xiuran cast her gaze towards the window at the back of the hall.

As a daughter of a noble family, she had never done anything as outrageous as climbing out of a window. But in order to see the Second Prince, she had no choice!

With that in mind, Sheng Xiuran brought over a stool, opened the window, and struggled to climb out.

Behind the side hall was a gloomy little grove of trees. Sheng Xiuran was frightened, but she still groped her way towards the brighter area.

Suddenly, she heard a burst of sobbing and choking cries, which terrified her, causing her to stand still in fear.

The crying fluctuated in intensity, accompanied by hoarse speech, and a special smell of burning paper money wafted through the air.

Sheng Xiuran was greatly surprised. She knew there were rules in the palace against private worship. Who would dare to take such a big risk in the Chonghua Palace?

Regardless, she was worried that there was no one to guide her!

Thinking this, Sheng Xiuran cautiously approached, finally seeing a cluster of light.

It was a secluded semi-enclosed rockery, and she vaguely saw an old figure.

Sheng Xiuran got closer and heard the old man murmuring to himself.

“Why are you so foolish? Didn’t I tell you to leave a long time ago?”

“I heard you’re gone without a trace now. In this state, I can’t even collect your body.”

“You’re so loyal, and I’ve lived to this day, feeling so ashamed.”

At this point, the sobbing suddenly increased, then was immediately suppressed.

“After you leave, reunite with the princess as soon as possible.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of His Highness. It’s just a pity that you couldn’t see each other in the end.”

Sheng Xiuran listened in confusion, not knowing who the old man was worshipping.

But she vaguely knew that the princess mentioned by the old man should be the late Princess Yuliu, the princess of Northern kingdom back then.

Hearing that the old man really knew the Second Prince, Sheng Xiuran was overjoyed.

He broke the palace rules to worship someone privately at night. She could use this to manipulate him and find out where the Second Prince’s sleeping quarters were!

With that in mind, Sheng Xiuran cautiously approached the rockery.

But at this moment, the old man suddenly spoke in a very low voice:

“I’m sorry, I really can’t tell His Highness the truth. Forgive me, Zaiying.”

“If His Highness knew how his father died so tragically, and he never even saw him for the last time, he would really collapse.”

“I’m sorry, Zaiying, I’m really sorry.”

Sheng Xiuran’s steps suddenly stopped. Her eyes widened, and her whole body froze in place.

She… What did she hear?

With such a secret revealed to her ears, Sheng Xiuran was trembling with fear, as if she had fallen into an ice cave!

The… The Second Prince’s biological father was someone else!

If the Emperor finds out about this, not to mention the Second Prince, even she, as the one who knows, will die!

Sheng Xiuran wasn’t stupid; she was just overly infatuated with the Second Prince. She had long understood all the twists and turns within the inner palace.

At this moment, there was only one thought in Sheng Xiuran’s mind:

No, she couldn’t let the old man discover her. If she died, there would be no one left to save her brother!

With that in mind, Sheng Xiuran became even more cautious than before. Slowly and quietly, she retreated step by step, avoiding the branches on the ground by the flickering light until she silently returned to the grove.

As she backed away, she silently prayed not to be discovered. Only when she was completely away from the light, in the pitch-black darkness of the Western week, did she suddenly collapse to the ground, tears streaming down her face.

Why… why did things turn out like this?

Clearly, just yesterday, she still had a noble status, endless glory to enjoy, and a loving family…

Why did she have to encounter all this…

Sheng Xiuran dared not cry out, only desperately covering her mouth, trembling like a helpless young beast in the darkness.

After a while, she stumbled to her feet again and continued in another direction.

She had to see the Second Prince. She had to save her brother!

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When the Second Prince heard from Liuyun that Sheng Xiuran had disappeared, he emerged from the bathtub.

His brow furrowed. “Search. Don’t let her leave the Northern Kingdom Palace.”

There was a hint of hesitation on Liuyun’s face.

While getting dressed, Shen Yuanbai said, “Is there anything else?”

He had never been close to women, so he never needed maidservants to attend to his bathing and dressing. Liuyun was skilled and convenient to use in the palace, the only exception by his side.

“Your Highness, that Miss Sheng seems unwilling to give up until she sees you…”

Shen Yuanbai’s face darkened slightly. “Then bring her here. She just wants to save Sheng Mingcheng. It’s good to let her die with this hope.”

With Liuyun’s assurance, Shen Yuanbai’s expression eased slightly, and she immediately left.

With the full power of the palace, Sheng Xiuran was quickly found.

In the dark, she almost touched the gates of the Northern Kingdom Palace!

When she was caught, Sheng Xiuran was still struggling violently, but when Liuyun came and said that the Second Prince was willing to see her, Sheng Xiuran immediately quieted down.

When she saw the Second Prince in the brightly lit hall, Sheng Xiuran’s eyes were sharply stung.

He was still as noble and handsome as ever, appearing countless times in her beautiful dreams.

Sheng Xiuran knelt down with a thud and said loudly, “Your Highness, please save my brother. I dare not hope to be with you anymore.”

“As long as you release my brother, we siblings will definitely escape to the ends of the earth and will never appear in front of you again!”

“Your Highness, I only have my brother left. Please pity me!”

Sheng Xiuran had never begged like this before, but when she stumbled through the darkness just now, she had figured it out.

She only had her brother left, and nothing else mattered. As long as her brother was alive, everything would be fine!

Shen Yuanbai glanced down slightly, looking coldly at the desperately kowtowing Sheng Xiuran, and said indifferently,

“The Sheng family was already sentenced to execution, and Sheng Mingcheng falsely accused the Second Prince, incited public opinion, and has already been imprisoned by the Emperor. He will be executed tomorrow, and nothing can change that.”

When Sheng Xiuran heard the words “executed tomorrow,” her whole body suddenly softened, and tears streamed down her face.

“Your Highness, Your Highness, please help me again! I’ll do anything you want, as long as you are a prince, the Emperor will listen to you!”

Thud thud thud!

Sheng Xiuran’s head knocked loudly, and soon blood appeared on her forehead.