The old woman leading the way trembled slightly in the hand holding the lantern, her face growing increasingly anxious. She respectfully addressed Princess Jingyue:

"Princess, please forgive me. What Lord Song said is all true. It was Consort Zhen who came to invite Lord Song. Her Highness is still ill and the situation is urgent. Please allow her to leave."

Princess Jingyue, hearing the old woman's humble pleading, raised her chin even higher: "With so many imperial physicians in the palace, why did Consort Zhen have to go out of the palace to invite one?"

"Just now, my mother's palace caught fire for no reason. I also heard that there was an assassination attempt in the palace. As soon as I stepped out, I saw someone sneaking into the palace gates at night, acting suspiciously. It seems that not only Song Xizhi is suspicious, but Consort Zhen is also suspicious!"

Princess Jingyue spoke, straightening her back ramrod straight.

As long as we capture Song Xizhi and torture her tonight, we can send her to the Emperor tomorrow. With everyone watching, she will have no chance of escaping the charge of breaking into the palace at night.

Moreover, her father doted on her the most, and there was nothing she was not allowed to do since she was a child.

Now she has only caught a thief red-handed and dealt with a minor imperial physician. Such a trivial matter is not worth the Emperor's attention!

The thought that she could avenge her brother and mother with her own actions made Princess Jingyue even more arrogant.

She waved her hand dismissively: "This wicked subject, Song Xizhi, broke into the palace gates at night with the intention of committing treason, but was caught red-handed by this princess! Guards, seize her!"

"This princess will personally strip her clothes off, check if she is carrying any weapons, and then take her to see the Emperor to be stripped of her official position!"

As soon as Princess Jingyue finished speaking, Siqin lowered her brow and stood in front of Song Xizhi, exuding a fierce aura.

Neither Princess Jingyue nor her guards and eunuchs felt any fear, as they had served Princess Jingyue for decades.

She has done everything and arrested all sorts of people. Both His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have been incredibly tolerant of Princess Jingyue, so they have no reason to be afraid.

The atmosphere between the two sides suddenly became tense, and the situation reached a stalemate.

Only the nanny who was leading the way was drenched in sweat, and when she thought of the people waiting for treatment in Consort Zhen's palace, she turned pale with fright.

She hesitated, wanting to say something, but without Consort Zhen's order, she dared not say anything.

Besides, inside the high palace walls, there were others hiding in the shadows, silently watching everything unfold before them.

When Princess Jingyue presumptuously uttered those final words, He Jingyan's face was already ashen.

Bronze cautiously turned his head, catching a glimpse of He Jingyan's tightly furrowed brows out of the corner of his eye. He felt the surging, menacing aura emanating from He Jingyan, and his heart skipped a beat.

He spoke cautiously, "Master, I know what you want to do, but please think it over carefully..."

Upon hearing this, He Jingyan, for some unknown reason, suddenly laughed, his eyes carrying a hint of sarcasm.

“Jingyue has lost her virtue and committed insubordination. Everyone in this palace has no respect for discipline and everyone wants to trample on her. How can I tolerate this?”

No sooner had He Jingyan finished speaking than Princess Jingyue's extremely arrogant voice continued from afar:

"Guards! What are you waiting for?"

"She's just a lowly imperial physician who serves others. Even if I, the princess, were to kill her on the spot, no one would dare to say anything. Besides, I merely checked whether she was carrying a weapon before handing her over to my father!"

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs and guards around them gritted their teeth and rushed towards Song Xizhi once again.

At that moment, He Jingyan, dressed in black, also moved. His dark eyes were churning with turbulent emotions. In a flash, he drew the long sword from beside the bronze statue.

"Stop! Jingyue, you stop right now!"

At that moment, a series of hurried footsteps made everyone present pause.

Upon hearing the sudden female voice, Qing Tong instinctively grasped the longsword in He Jingyan's hand, his tone almost pleading: "Master, please wait a little longer, please wait a little longer."

Consort Zhen walked hurriedly, her eyes solemn, with a flurry of flames behind her.

She led the palace staff to Princess Jingyue and blocked her way again: "Jingyue, it was I who summoned Imperial Physician Song. What is the meaning of this?"

Princess Jingyue was taken aback, and was quite curious as she looked at Consort Zhen speaking loudly at this moment.

She looked Consort Zhen up and down, her face pale, and then sneered, "You? Who do you think you are?"

"Who gives you the right to speak in front of me, the princess?"

Song Xizhi was also quite surprised at this moment. Just now, the nanny spoke of an urgent matter, and she still thought that something had happened to Consort Zhen.

But looking at her now, Consort Zhen was standing there perfectly fine, and even seemed to have changed her usual reserved demeanor.

Who exactly is that critically ill patient in Consort Zhen's palace...?

Before Song Xizhi could make up his mind, he heard a crisp sound.

It made a "snap" sound.

Song Xizhi looked up abruptly and saw Princess Jingyue covering her face in disbelief, with even a trace of scarlet blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

Consort Zhen slapped Princess Jingyue across the face!

Everyone present was shocked.

Princess Jingyue screamed, her eyes widening in disbelief as she looked in Consort Zhen's direction: "You lowly servant! How dare you hit me!?"

"I want to tell my father and mother! I want my crimes to be healed!"

Consort Zhen merely sneered, a rare ruthlessness appearing in her usually cautious eyes. She raised her hand high and slapped Princess Jingyue hard across the face again.

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