Every time the prince opens his eyes, he sees

The next day, the maid came in to dress her and brought her breakfast. Lu Yaoyao didn't see Xie Qingchen and asked casually, "Where's the prince?"

A maidservant replied respectfully, "The prince has gone to the morning court."

Well, she still knew to attend the morning court, so she wasn't completely crazy. Maybe he thought she had let down her guard, so he relaxed his vigilance towards her and felt that he could go to the court.

Look, you still think your future is the most important.

A silent mockery appeared at the corner of Lu Yaoyao's lips.

With the help of her maid, she washed and had breakfast.

After dinner, she claimed that she had eaten too much and had indigestion, and suggested taking a walk in the backyard.

The maids were initially hesitant and reluctant, but then Lu Yaoyao scolded them, "I don't even have the right to take a walk after dinner? When the prince comes back, I'll have to ask him about it!"

Everyone saw Xie Qingchen's obsession and possessiveness towards Lu Yaoyao. If Lu Yaoyao waited for the prince to come back in the evening to report them, how would they survive?

"No, the prince didn't say no. Princess, please."

The maids quickly made way.

Lu Yaoyao walked slowly towards the backyard, thinking in her mind how to find a chance to escape.

Although the system's words gave her a glimmer of hope, the new target could not possibly be Xie Qingchen.

So she couldn't be trapped in the East Palace forever.

There is no point in getting entangled with someone you can't be with.

Besides, she is now married to Gu Huai. Even if Gu Huai is gone, she cannot discredit him and damage his reputation.

Looking along the way, the terrain of the East Palace seemed to be very solid, but it was full of loopholes.

Although Xie Qingchen has become more ruthless and cruel during the years he has been the crown prince, he has become less vigilant after being in a high position for so long.

She soon found a weak point where she could quietly leave.

It was a wild walnut tree, which was crooked and out of tune with the surrounding scenery. As long as she defeated the guards on both sides of the wild walnut tree, she could use it to climb over the wall.

"It's a bit cold. Go get me a cloak." She pointed at a maid.

Among the maids who followed her, she had the best martial arts skills.

"Yes, Princess." The maid's eyes flashed, and she hesitated for a moment before turning and leaving.

"You are so clueless that you didn't know to prepare some fruits and snacks. What if I get tired from shopping and want to sit down and have a rest?" The other two maids bowed and left.

After sending away three maids, only two were left. Lu Yaoyao picked up a flower with her hand, pretending to appreciate it. When she lowered her head to sniff it, she pulled off a few petals, two of which flew towards the maids and two towards the guards next to the wild walnut tree.

The petals were light, but they drew sharp tracks in the air, accurately hitting the two maids and the guards.

Lu Yaoyao tiptoed onto the walnut tree, successfully climbed over the wall, and her figure quickly disappeared on the street.

After being freed, Lu Yaoyao couldn't wait to come to Gu's house. She wanted to make sure that she was not a burden to the Gu family.

Fortunately, everything seems to be normal in the Gu family and not much has changed.

Maybe Xie Qingchen was just talking, he would not and did not dare to really do anything to the Gu family.

Three generations of the Gu family have served in the army, serving the royal family of Dajin and guarding the territory of Dajin. They are not fish that can be slaughtered at will. Even if the emperor wants to touch them, he has to think twice.

Just as Lu Yaoyao was about to leave, a cold and dangerous voice came from her ears, "Where do you want to go, my dear Yaoyao?"

Lu Yaoyao's heart sank suddenly. The moment she turned around, she saw Xie Qingchen's face, which was cold and a little angry.

He had appeared silently behind her without her knowing, like a ghost, making it impossible to guard against him.

"You... why are you here?" Lu Yaoyao tried to remain calm, but the trembling in her voice still revealed her panic.

Xie Qingchen approached step by step, his eyes filled with both anger and disappointment, "Of course I'm looking for you, Yaoyao, do you want to escape from me?"

"I just... I just came to see if the Gu family is okay." Lu Yaoyao tried to explain, but it sounded so pale and powerless.

"See if the Gu family is safe? Humph, have you seen it now? Are you relieved?" Xie Qingchen's tone was cold, and every word was like a sharp blade, piercing Lu Yaoyao's heart.

Lu Yaoyao couldn't stand his sarcasm.

He threw up his hands, and said, "Since you've caught me, you can kill me or chop me up as you please. I only have one thing to say: don't implicate innocent people."

Innocent people? Was she referring to the Gu family or the maids and guards who failed to keep her safe and let her escape from the Eastern Palace?

The Gu family were meritorious officials who protected the country, so he could remain silent, but those servants in the mansion who had signed indentures...

Lu Yaoyao was brought back to the East Palace by Xie Qingchen. She thought she was ready to bear all the consequences, but when she saw the guards and servants who were punished because of her, she realized how naive she was.

The male guards had their shirts stripped off and were forced to kneel in the courtyard to be beaten with sticks. The women were crying and screaming as they were held down by other people and were being picked and examined by human traffickers.

"This tooth is good, but it's too thin."

"This one is good, the figure and appearance are good, but the many moles on the hands are bad luck and bad luck for wealth."

"Master Steward." The maids could no longer bear the traffickers' harassment. They knelt down, tugging at the East Palace Steward's robe and begging for mercy. "Please spare us. Don't sell us to a brothel, or we'll die."

The chief steward sighed, "I don't want to do this either, but this is the Crown Prince's order. Who dares to disobey? I can't do anything about it, even if it's your fault."

"Please, Chief Steward, selling it anywhere is better than that place!"

The chief steward said impatiently, "Stop crying, you're annoying me. This is your fate. Who told you to offend His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? You'll still have to serve him wherever you go."

The male guards had finished the beating and were starting the upper clamping torture.

Xie Qingchen grabbed the back of Lu Yaoyao's head and forced her to watch the cruel scene. "Look, you're disobedient, and I'm reluctant to punish you, but I'm not sure about the people who serve you. Once the torture is applied, the hands of those two guards will be crippled, and they won't be able to hold a sword. And those maids..."

Before he finished speaking, Lu Yaoyao covered her ears, unable to bear it any longer. "Enough, stop talking. I admit my mistakes. Isn't that enough? I won't run away on my own again and implicate others."

Xie Qingchen raised his lips slightly, seemingly victorious, but actually his eyes were full of pain.

Lu Yaoyao felt guilty and uncomfortable, but in fact he was even sadder.

"Stop it, spare them, there won't be a next time."

Just a few simple words can change the lives of several people.

The guard and the maid fell to their knees as if they had survived a disaster, and kowtowed repeatedly.

Lu Yaoyao had a numb expression and let Xie Qingchen take her back to the room.

"Come on, Yaoyao, smile. I don't like you looking so lifeless."