Chapter 9: Forcing Entry into the Prince's Mansion

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Who is it? It's so early in the morning... ah..."

"The Imperial Guard? This is the Prince of Weiyang's Manor. What are you doing?"

"We are here to raid the Prince of Weiyang's Manor. Drive everyone to the front courtyard!"

"Yes, sir!"

Around the hour of Chen (7:00–9:00 AM), the gates of the Prince of Weiyang's Manor were being pounded loudly. Amidst the impatient inquiries, a gatekeeper slowly pulled open the door. Before he could even grasp the situation outside, he was kicked flying. The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, responsible for the seizure, waved his hand, and hundreds of soldiers following him barged in brutally. They pushed through any path and seized anyone in sight, instantly turning the manor into a scene of utter chaos.

"Presumptuous! This is the Prince of Weiyang's Manor. This old woman is a first-rank Imperial Lady of the court..."

"Seize her!"

"How dare you?! No..."

The soldiers acted like bandits, charging from the front courtyard to the back. At first, everyone was bewildered, trying to maintain their dignity. This was especially true for the Old Madam of the manor; after all, she held a formal title—how could she allow others to offend her so casually? Unfortunately, the opposition gave her no chance to assert her status. The maids and elderly servants protecting her were shoved aside so crudely that she let out a scream, completely losing her composure.

Aside from the primary branch represented by Wei Chengyi's family, the manor also included the legitimate second and third branches. Consequently, this scene was not limited to the Old Madam; it played out successively in every courtyard. The soldiers were like ferocious demons, charging through recklessly and unreasonably.

"Wah wah... Grandmother, I'm scared..."

"The Imperial Guard? Why are you forcibly entering the Prince's manor?"

In the side hall of the Songbai Courtyard, the two-year-old Wei Yun'an was wailing in terror. Zhao Yuping and Wei Ling'er, mother and daughter, were also deathly pale. Wei Chenghe hurriedly shielded them behind him, his young, tiger-like eyes widening slightly, with flickers of angry flames dancing in his pupils.

"Take them away!"

The leading soldier had no intention of paying him any mind. Based on their past experience, no matter how much power these people once wielded, once their house was raided, there was almost no possibility of a comeback. Naturally, they were not afraid of offending anyone.

"Yes, sir!"

A soldier accompanying him made a move to step forward. Wei Chenghe was still young, and a hint of panic colored his youthful, handsome face. Zhao Yuping and her daughter, shielded behind him, instinctively gripped the hem of his clothes, while the toddler clung tightly to his grandmother's neck.

"Wait."

"Take them away!"

Without giving them a chance to speak further, the leading soldier roared again. The soldiers dared not dally any longer and immediately stepped forward.

"You dare? I..."

Seeing this, Wei Chenghe became even more panicked. He knew a bit of martial arts and made a move as if to fight the soldiers.

"Anyone who dares to resist shall be beaten or killed without question."

"Yes, sir!"

The leading soldier curled his lip in mockery. With a *shing*, the soldiers drew their sidearms. Just as they were about to clash, Shen Xiangwan suddenly walked in from outside.

"Quite the threat—'beaten or killed without question.' My Prince of Weiyang's Manor has been loyal for generations. The primary branch, from the old to the young, have all died on the battlefield. Now, not only do you barge in so brutally, but you also shout threats within the manor. Are you not afraid that if word spreads, it will chill the hearts of all military officials in the land?"

When she had returned this morning, she had only cleared the manor's treasury. After reaching an agreement with Wei Chengyi earlier, she had estimated the timing was right and had gone around to the kitchens and various courtyards to do a rough sweep. She hadn't expected to return right as this tense confrontation was unfolding.

"Who are you?"

Turning to look at her, the leading soldier frowned deeply. They indeed did not fear the residents of a manor being raided, but they did fear other military officials. If any ill rumors were spread that caused the military to harbor resentment toward the Emperor, they would be the ones to pay the price.

"Shen Xiangwan, Princess Consort of Weiyang."

Giving him a faint glance, Shen Xiangwan walked straight toward Zhao Yuping and the others. "Mother, are you all alright?"

"No... Wanwan, what on earth is happening?"

Looking at the soldiers with a pale, anxious face, Zhao Yuping asked with a trembling voice. Everything had been fine this morning; why had it suddenly come to this?

"It should be a house seizure."

Given their status and position, it was impossible for them not to know what this situation implied; they simply did not want to believe it.

"What?! Why?"

Tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks. Zhao Yuping was filled with confusion and incomprehension. The Prince of Weiyang's Manor was loyal to the monarch and the country; even after the second son retired from the battlefield due to poisoning, he had immediately surrendered his military power. Why was the manor suddenly being raided? What had they done wrong?

"Have you said enough? Take them away!"

Seeing that they were going to go on indefinitely, the leading soldier roared impatiently.

"We will walk out ourselves."

As the armed soldiers surged forward, Shen Xiangwan gave them a cold look and shielded Zhao Yuping and the others, saying, "Mother, let's go out."

"Mhm."

No matter how unwilling they were to believe it, Zhao Yuping and her family had no choice but to accept it and follow the soldiers.

"Chengyi!"

Just as they stepped out of the side hall, Qing Ying appeared, pushing the "unconscious" and slumped Wei Chengyi in his wheelchair. A squad of soldiers followed closely behind them. Seeing this, Zhao Yuping and the others forgot their grief and rushed forward.

"Madam, the Prince is fine."

It was clearly impossible for Wei Chengyi to respond, and Qing Ying could not explain the details, so he could only offer vague reassurance.

"Chengyi... ugh..."

Looking at her unconscious son in the wheelchair, Zhao Yuping's tears fell uncontrollably. Wei Chengyi and Wei Ling'er also couldn't help but have red eyes.

Shen Xiangwan did not know how to comfort them. She could only lead them to follow the soldiers out, doing her best to avoid any physical altercations. At a time like this, only by complying with those men could they avoid suffering.

[End of Chapter]