Jin Family Ancestral Hall.

The old patriarch of the Jin family anxiously urged, "Jiaojiao, the new incense burner hasn't been brought back yet..."

He was worried that if the incense went out again, it would upset Jiaojiao.

"Sacrifice is not about the incense burner, but about sincerity of heart."

Jiang Jiaojiao held incense sticks in both hands, extremely devout, and chanted, "The unfilial descendants have already heard the ancestors' warning, kneeling to thank the ancestors, ancestors are watching... If the dream will eventually come true, please accept the incense!"

Three kneelings and nine kowtows.

Jiang Jiaojiao inserted the incense sticks into the cracked incense burner.

The cigarette smoke curled upwards, not yet extinguished.

Jiang Jiaojiao's face turned deathly pale. If the dream came true, wouldn't all her efforts since her rebirth have been in vain?

No!

Absolutely not!

Grandpa Jin stared wide-eyed at the burning incense, incredulous. What... what warning?

Prince Chen stood behind him, coldly staring at the incense stick, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, his fighting spirit surging!

Dao Hong waited outside the ancestral hall.

Upon seeing the person emerge, he quickly reported, "Your Highness, Prime Minister Cui is leading a group of court officials in kneeling outside the Imperial Study. The Imperial Advisor has once again offered a warning: if the palace is not moved, divine punishment will surely descend tonight."

"I want to enter the palace!"

Jiang Jiaojiao's expression changed drastically, and she almost jumped up.

Prince Chen looked up towards the direction of the Star-Picking Tower in the Imperial Palace, "Heavenly Punishment..."

That's pretty fast.

"I'll go to the palace with Jiaojiao, so we can meet the Imperial Advisor."

Qixiang Palace.

Chen Jin'er angrily ate ten braised goose feet and goose liver, two bowls of sour plum soup, a pearl eight-treasure duck, and several cold dishes.

When Jiang Jiaojiao came in.

With a chicken wing in her left hand and a chopstick of cold dish in her right, she exclaimed, "Jiaojiao, come quick! This cold dish is freshly made and tastes amazing!"

"Pregnancy is so painful, I have no appetite for anything."

Jiang Jiaojiao: ……

Does this look like someone has no appetite?

The impatience from the long run seemed to be calmed down by the table full of braised and cold dishes.

Let's eat first and talk about it later.

Without saying a word, Jiang Jiaojiao started eating!

The tangy and refreshing taste was so enticing that they couldn't stop eating until they were both stuffed and had to stroll around the yard to digest.

Send everyone away.

The two strolled around and chatted.

Jiang Jiaojiao carefully recalled some things about Xiao Jinjin from her previous life and recounted them one by one.

"In his previous life, this sixth prince never stepped out of Huangjue Temple, nor did he serve as a national advisor. We don't know why he suddenly came down the mountain and attacked us."

The butterfly effect.

Chen Jin'er snorted coldly, "He calls himself a disciple of Buddha, so naturally he can't tolerate those of us who defy fate. Heavenly punishment? I'd like to see what tricks he has up his sleeve!"

"Aunt Jin—"

Jiang Jiaojiao stomped her foot, "You can't take that risk!"

"Won't."

Chen Jin'er stroked her bulging belly and laughed, "I wouldn't take any risks for... this food."

Jiang Jiaojiao: ...Are you sure there's only stuttering in your stomach?

Hearing Xiao Jinjin's witty remark, Jiang Jiaojiao felt a little relieved. The two strolled around to digest their food while discussing their next move.

Now that we know who's behind this, we can't just sit here and wait to die.

On the stargazing platform.

Prince Chen met King Brahma, whom he had never seen before.

Brahma, dressed in a kasaya, looked down upon all living beings with a compassion on his face that did not belong to his age. He was undisturbed, without joy or sorrow.

The two stood side by side.

One man, like the Buddha descended to earth, dressed in flowing white robes.

A figure, seemingly reborn as a demon, stands tall and elegant in black robes.

"Why did the Sixth Prince descend the mountain?"

"There is no sixth prince here; Prince Ding has called the wrong person."

Brahma's voice carried an empty echo, much like the "dong dong dong" sound of a wooden fish in a temple.

"You shouldn't have come."

"You shouldn't have come."

The two spoke at the same time, looked at each other, their eyes met, one compassionate and the other mad.

"The will of Heaven cannot be defied."

"I have already returned my life to Heaven. The life I have now is a gift from her."

"Those who defy fate will surely be punished by heaven."

"Heh... Buddha said all beings are equal, so why can others live but I can't?"

Brahma remained silent.

Prince Chen sat down at the chessboard. "Shall we play a game?"

"Can."

Brahma sat down opposite him, his gaze on the chessboard now clearer.

Until nightfall.

Looking down from the Star-Picking Tower towards the Imperial Study, the unconscious Prime Minister Cui and his court officials had already been helped into carriages and left the palace. Only a few court officials remained, too afraid to faint or leave.

They looked up from time to time, hoping for divine punishment.

In this way, they could use divine retribution as a pretext to petition again, or even offer their lives in remonstrance, thus enhancing the reputation of the remonstrating minister.

Inside the Imperial Study.

The emperor's face was ashen, and he slammed down the memorial in his hand once more, yelling, "Insolence! Insolence!"

The palace maids and eunuchs knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.

Only Eunuch Jiang, who had served the emperor since childhood, bent down to pick up the memorial and put it back on the table. "Your Majesty, you haven't eaten all day. I heard that the Imperial Concubine has prepared a cold dish today. It's sour and delicious, even more appetizing than cold noodles. This old servant will accompany you to take a look."

"You old bastard!"

Mentioning the food made by Consort Xi, the Emperor's anger subsided somewhat. "You're just having a craving, aren't you!"

"Oh dear, this old servant is getting old, but I still crave this."

Eunuch Jiang made no attempt to hide it and frankly admitted it.

The emperor laughed in exasperation, "You old fool, all you care about is this! They—they wish they could devour me whole!"

The emperor looked at the memorial submitted by Prime Minister Cui on the imperial desk.

What kind of conflict is hindering the nation's destiny?

It's just that he got in the way of the Empress and in the eyes of Prime Minister Cui!

He was already extremely lenient by not implicating the Cui family because of the Empress, yet they went even further and became increasingly demanding! It's truly despicable!

Is this really his court?

Or is it the Cui family's court?

With just a single, ambiguous proverb, they were so eager to drag Consort Xi out and burn her alive; they simply couldn't tolerate the woman he favored!

First it was Consort Yun, and now it's Consort Xi.

but……

The emperor flipped through the memorials, then snorted coldly, "Those two old geezers, the Duke of Ningguo and the Minister of Revenue, haven't uttered a sound. Hmph! If they dare to speak, I'll sew their mouths shut!"

Those two old guys are incredibly eloquent; they always manage to infuriate him.

He knew that Jiaojiao had saved the life of the Duchess of Ningguo, and that old bastard Minister of Revenue. If it weren't for the seventh prince pleading on Jiaojiao's behalf, he would have given him a hundred lashes that day to vent his anger!

If you can't beat his father, you can at least beat his son!

That old sly woman, how could she have given birth to such a simple-minded son? That stingy old woman must have kept all her schemes to herself!

The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Works have always followed Prime Minister Cui's lead and were the most enthusiastic in doing so!

Half of the Imperial Censorate members are students of Prime Minister Cui, and they are all kneeling outside the palace right now!

Okay, okay!

"If you don't make me comfortable, none of you will have an easy time either!"

The emperor slammed his fist on the table. "Go to Qixiang Palace and bring several large pots. Prepare the finest wine and dishes, and invite the Duke of Ningguo and the Minister of Revenue to come and have hot pot! Oh, and also General Weiyuan and Marquis Fuyu!"

"Alright, this old servant will go myself!"

When Eunuch Jiang heard about hot pot, he immediately became extremely attentive.

However, as soon as Eunuch Jiang stepped out of the Imperial Study, he bumped into Consort Xi and Jiang Jiaojiao, who had come to deliver food.

He quickly smiled and bowed, "This servant greets the Imperial Concubine and the Princess."