The emperor issued a decree, ordering the empress, the third prince, the crown prince, and the fifth princess to be placed under house arrest within the palace. Until a thorough investigation was conducted, no one was permitted to visit or interact with them. The emperor held a strong distrust of anyone's claims and deemed it necessary to deploy the elusive Dragon Guards for a comprehensive inquiry.
First on the docket was the matter concerning the fifth princess's tumultuous personal life. The investigation swiftly confirmed the accuracy of a secret letter's revelations. Palace staff verified that the fifth princess had lost her virginity some time ago, engaging in a two-year-long affair with various handsome men. During this period, she frequently dispatched emissaries to the pharmacy for contraception supplies and brewed contraceptive concoctions to maintain her secrecy.
