Third Prince strode forward quickly.

His face was filled with worry and anxiety.

As soon as he heard that Gong Shilin was in trouble, he had knocked over the cup of tea in his hand at the time, only coming back to his senses after a long while.

He finally understood why Gong Shilin had asked him out of the blue whether he would “choose him” or “choose the throne.”

It turned out that Gong Shilin had already calculated this step long ago.

So he had given him advance warning.

But Tuo was not a heartless person—how could he simply let it go without getting involved?

When Liu He saw him, he was cautious. “Third Prince.”

“Bring Gong Shilin here.” Tuo stated directly.

“He’s in the prison, I’m afraid…”

“Does this prince not even have the authority to have you bring someone here?”

“It’s not that it can’t be done, it’s just that right now at this time, I fear it’s inappropriate.”

“What’s inappropriate about it? Liu He, this prince is giving you face by coming to notify you. Otherwise, I would have directly gone to the Ministry of Justice’s prison to bring him out myself.” Tuo’s hostile aura emerged, and he no longer cared about any princely dignity.

His only purpose now was to take Gong Shilin away.

Because he was truly too worried and too anxious, he had completely forgotten about that whole legal system.

As the saying goes, when the Son of Heaven breaks the law, he is guilty like any commoner.

If Tuo really took the person away, this crime would fall upon him.

He was confused, but Liu He was very clear-headed, so he calmly persuaded him. “Third Prince, absolutely not! Now that Gong Shilin has already admitted to killing someone, the charges are established. Right now, aside from the Ministry of Justice’s prison, he cannot go anywhere. If Your Highness insists on taking him away, this subject can only report to the King. At that time, Your Highness will also invite trouble.”

It was well-intentioned persuasion, but to Tuo, who was burning with anxiety, this was a threat!

His expression became stern, fury flashing in his eyes!

He roared loudly, “A mere Ministry of Personnel official dares to threaten this prince!”

“This subject has absolutely no such intention.”

Tuo’s face showed fierce severity. “This prince says one more time—have you bring Gong Shilin here.”

“I must respectfully decline to comply!”

It was a standoff.

Because if the person was taken away, Liu He would also suffer the consequences.

Therefore, he couldn’t back down.

Even under the oppression of superior power.

And his phrase “I must respectfully decline to comply” thoroughly enraged Tuo.

“Fine, then this prince will personally go to the prison to bring him out.”

“Your Highness…”

Liu He couldn’t stop him even by calling out!

Tuo swept his sleeves and went out.

Liu He quickly brought his people to follow.

All the way to the prison.

The jailers at the entrance didn’t dare block him.

Liu He was still making final attempts at dissuasion. “Your Highness, absolutely not! Gong Shilin is currently guilty of crimes. If you truly take him away, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Tuo shouted angrily, “All of you, get out of my way!”

He then led his people directly inside.

The people Liu He brought didn’t dare actually confront him.

And the jailers inside also didn’t dare step forward to block him, only able to follow inside in a swarm.

Tuo, with his pampered body, naturally had never been to such a place.

As soon as he entered, the terrible stench was unbearable to his nose, but right now, he couldn’t care about all that. He had only one goal—to take Gong Shilin away from this place.

He was truly confused.

So confused that he had completely lost his rationality and ability to analyze.

He clearly knew that if he openly “broke someone out of prison,” he would certainly invite much trouble.

But there was no help for it—he couldn’t just watch Gong Shilin go to his death.

He reached the outside of Gong Shilin’s cell.

When Gong Shilin saw the group of people before him, he immediately froze.

When he saw Tuo, he understood.

He quickly sat up from the ground.

“Atuo, you?”

Seeing him locked inside, Tuo was deeply pained and said, “I’ve come to take you away.”

“Don’t act recklessly.”

“I can’t watch you be imprisoned here.”

Immediately, Tuo shouted at the jailer, “Open the door!”

After all, the person locked inside was a criminal. If anything happened, no one could bear the responsibility.

The jailer looked at Liu He again.

Liu He didn’t dare order the door opened.

Gong Shilin understood the situation. He walked to the wooden bars and said to Tuo, “Have your people step back first. I have something to say to you alone.”

“We’ll talk after you’re out.”

“Listen to me this once.”

Tuo hesitated.

The hostile aura on his body gradually dissipated. Finally, he waved his hand, having his people withdraw.

Liu He then agreed to have the jailer open the cell door.

“All of you, get far away!” Tuo glared at everyone.

After all, this was a prison, and moreover, Tuo’s people had all withdrawn.

So it wasn’t that simple for him to take someone away.

After Liu He felt reassured, he led his people out of the prison first.

Tuo strode quickly into the cell.

His eyes full of worry.

Gong Shilin looked at him. “You shouldn’t have come!”

“If I don’t come now, should I wait until you’re dead to come?” Tuo emotionally grabbed his arm in one motion. “With such a thing happening, why didn’t you tell me? If you had informed me in advance, I would have thought of ways to help you.”

“It’s precisely because I knew you would help me that I didn’t want to implicate you.”

“Bullshit!” Tuo was truly distressed. “From childhood to now, have there been few times you’ve implicated me?”

Tears welled in his eyes.

Gong Shilin was also distressed.

He didn’t know how to speak.

Tuo said, “I’ll take you away from here. I’m a prince—no one dares stop me!”

“Are you truly confused? Or pretending to be confused?” Gong Shilin said. “If you take me away, it’s a prison break. You’ll also invite trouble.”

Tuo heard his words.

Rationality returned all at once.

Yes, if he took him away, Second Prince would certainly catch him at it, then set a trap for him.

He could imagine the consequences just by thinking about it with his toes.

He fell silent, finally abandoning this thought.

Gong Shilin asked him, “Where’s my father?”

“After your father came to find me, he went into the palace. Right now, he should be begging my father the King to spare your life.”

“I am unfilial, implicating my father.”

Tuo then repeatedly asked him, “Shilin, why exactly is this? Why did you kill someone?”

“You need not ask again. Whatever the reason is, I don’t want to say anymore.”

“You’re just a stubborn ox!”

Gong Shilin asked, “Do you still remember what I said to you?”

“Bullshit, I don’t remember.”

“Atuo, I’ve already admitted to killing someone. Now trapped in prison, death is certain. You must remember—absolutely do not interfere in this matter. Otherwise, it will certainly draw Second Prince’s attention, and then it will implicate you. I killed someone and don’t deserve pity in death, but I don’t want to drag you down before I die. If so, even in death, I won’t be at peace.”

“You know I can’t possibly let it go without getting involved.”

“Consider it fulfilling my wish.” Gong Shilin gripped his hand. “Don’t interfere in this matter. Absolutely don’t.”

Tuo’s heart ached unbearably. “How can you expect me to be so heartless as to not care? I consider you a blood brother—how could I just watch you go to your death?”

“Having you say this is worth it to me! You should go! Leave immediately.”

He pushed him.

Tuo nearly fell.

Fortunately, he steadied himself!

“Shilin, why are you so stubborn?”