The princess regretted it.

Chapter 201: Brother 2, please help us.

Upon hearing the emperor's decree, Concubine Zhang collapsed to the ground as if struck by lightning. Her face was filled with terror and despair, tears streaming uncontrollably. She crawled to the emperor's feet, hugged his legs, and begged bitterly, "Your Majesty, I was wrong! Your Majesty, you cannot treat me and Jiaoyu like this!" Her voice was shrill, devoid of its former grace and elegance.

Jiaoyu finally realized what was happening. She knelt down and cried to the emperor, "Father, Father, I know I was wrong. I was framed by Jin An. Please help me!"

The second prince was still kneeling on the ground, his face ashen. He knew that everything was irreversible at this moment and he could only silently endure this cruel consequence.

The Third Prince wore a calm expression, secretly relieved. This turmoil had finally come to an end. Although it was tragic, it also eliminated two major threats from the harem. With this, the Second Prince's support was gone.

Jin An stood aside, watching all this quietly. There was no trace of pity in her eyes. She felt that Concubine Zhang and Jiao Yu had brought their fate upon themselves. At the same time, she secretly reminded herself that she must find a way to investigate whether Concubine Zhang had interfered in the affairs of her mother and brother.

After saying these words, Changsun Hongze left without looking back. His sleeves drew a sharp arc in the air, and it was obvious that he was filled with resentment and determination at the moment.

Eunuch Fuquan glanced at the three men kneeling on the ground, a flicker of pity in his eyes, but it was fleeting. He knew the rules and cruelties of the harem well. Once the emperor made a decision, it was set in stone, unchangeable. He shook his head slightly, then turned and hurried away, returning to the task of drafting the imperial edict.

Jin An didn't say anything else. A cold sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth. She looked deeply at Changsun Jiaoyu. Then, she turned around and left this dangerous place with Han Shuang.

The Third Prince, the last to leave, let out a feigned sigh. Though his voice tinged with regret, a glint of gloating gleamed in his eyes. "You, Imperial Concubine, are truly... alas!" He spoke, shaking his head slightly, his face a look of deep sorrow. Without lingering any longer, he adjusted his coat and strode away.

Only Concubine Zhang, Zhangsun Jiaoyu, and the Second Prince remained kneeling on the ground. The Second Prince remained motionless, like a statue, his shoulders trembling slightly, revealing only the turmoil within him. The other attendants also knelt, not daring to rise. They lowered their heads, not daring to breathe. The entire Jiaoyu Palace was shrouded in despair and a dead silence.

Zhangsun Jiaoyu crawled to Concubine Zhang's side on her knees, tightly grasping her sleeves with both hands, crying, "Mother, what should we do?"

Concubine Zhang sat there dejectedly, speechless. Her hair was a little undone, a few strands falling down her cheeks, making her look even more disheveled. She wept silently, tears streaming down her cheeks, soaking her gorgeous clothes, but she was completely unaware. She let Jiaoyu pull at her sleeve and sway her.

The Second Prince looked up at his mother, his eyes filled with heartache and helplessness. His father hadn't punished him, but instead of feeling grateful, he felt incredibly uncomfortable. Seeing his mother and sister in such miserable condition, he felt powerless to do anything. He knew his father had shown mercy by not banishing his mother to the cold palace.

Seeing her mother remain silent, Jiaoyu felt a growing sense of panic and helplessness. She turned to look at her second brother, and a thought flashed through her mind. The emperor's previous decree hadn't implicated her second brother, suggesting he still had hopes for him. Could her second brother then go and ask the emperor for help? She knelt before her eldest grandson, Yunji, and said, "Second brother, please help us. Please go and ask the emperor to rescind his order, okay?"

The Second Prince looked at Jiaoyu with a mixture of heartache and helplessness, and said in a low voice, "Jiaoyu, the Emperor has already shown mercy beyond the law. He has only confined you to your house, and Mother has not been banished to the cold palace. Besides, my second brother begged for help before, and the Emperor is already unhappy. How else can you expect my second brother to help you?"

"Are you afraid that the emperor father will be unhappy? Are you going to ignore us? You have always been such a coward. Don't you think about it? Without your mother, who will protect you in this harem in the future? Do you really think that the emperor father really cares about you? If he cares about you, he would not punish your mother so severely. If your mother is deposed, you will have no hope of the throne, do you know that?" Jiaoyu's eyes were red and swollen, and she was screaming hysterically.

The Second Prince looked at his sister, unable to believe she was the dignified, elegant, gentle, and bright sister he once was. His lips trembled slightly, and he tried to defend himself, but his throat felt as if something was choking him. After a long pause, he spoke with difficulty, "Jiaoyu, how can you say that about me? It's not that I don't want to help, it's just... I really tried my best. And the emperor heard everything you said! He was furious, and I..."

Concubine Zhang, who had been silently weeping, heard the argument and raised her head slightly. She looked at Jiaoyu, then at Changsun Yunji, sighed softly, and said weakly, "Jiaoyu, don't blame your second brother. He has done his best. It was mother and you who made the mistake. No one else can be blamed." Although Concubine Zhang was filled with despair at this moment, she also knew that she could not let this matter cause any more discord between her children.