The Third Prince patted her back lovingly and said, "It's okay. From today on, Third Brother will take good care of you."

"Thank you, Third Brother." Bai Lingling said as tears flowed down her cheeks.

…

"Grandma, I know you better than Bai Jinjin. But Lingling lives in the Empress Dowager's palace, but does the work of a servant." The third prince returned to the Empress Dowager's palace and explained Bai Lingling's situation to her.

The Queen Mother's face turned pale after what happened yesterday. "Yan'er, you can make the decision on this matter yourself. You can choose to protect Bai Lingling."

"Yes, grandson understands." The third prince bowed and walked out of the palace.

The Queen Mother sighed softly, "Madam Zhu, do you think that girl Jinjin might harbor resentment towards me?"

"Empress Dowager, you are worrying too much. I don't think Her Royal Highness the Ninth Princess would think the same way about you." Nanny Zhu comforted her.

The Queen Mother thought for a moment and said, "Go and ask Jinjin to come over. Didn't she come to me to beg for food before?"

Nanny Zhu smiled appropriately and said, "Okay, I'll go right away."

At this time, Bai Jinjin was accompanying Bai Juncheng and watching him deal with memorials, but she was secretly chatting about gossip with Li Ji who was standing beside her.

"Then how did General Fuyuan get together with his wife?" Bai Jinjin asked softly while eating hawthorn cake.

Li Ji was a little reserved at first, but now, as if his Ren and Du meridians were opened, he bent down and sat down like Bai Jinjin, saying softly, "General Fuyuan can drink with Madam Lin, all thanks to the General who protects the country."

Bai Jinjin glanced at him in surprise, "It turns out to be related to the general who protects the country."

As he said that, he handed Li Ji a hawthorn cake, and Li Ji took a bite and said.

"Of course, General Zhenguo and Madam Lin are childhood sweethearts. Fortunately, General Zhenguo treats Madam Lin as his sister. General Fuyuan saw Madam Lin and General Zhenguo hanging out together, so he couldn't help but tell Madam Lin about his feelings."

Bai Juncheng's ears kept buzzing. He rubbed his forehead and said, "Li Ji, I'm a little thirsty. Go get me some tea."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Li Ji reacted after hearing Bai Juncheng's voice. He quickly put down the hawthorn cake in his hand and walked out.

Bai Jinjin looked at Bai Juncheng with some resentment, "Daddy, why are you thirsty at this time?"

"What you said, can't daddy drink some tea?" Bai Juncheng looked at Bai Jinjin helplessly and said.

"But Jinjin is having a good chat with Eunuch Li." Bai Jinjin said as she handed the lotus seed porridge without sugar to Bai Juncheng.

Bai Juncheng took it and took a sip, "He is my father's capable eunuch, please don't treat him like you."

When Li Ji came back from outside, he was followed by Nanny Zhu.

"Madam Zhu, you came here in person, but does the Empress Dowager have any instructions?" Bai Juncheng asked after putting down the bowl.

Nanny Zhu smiled lightly and bowed, "I'm here to invite the Ninth Princess to the Empress Dowager's palace."

"Invite me? What did the Empress Dowager say it was?" Bai Jinjin asked in a daze.

"You'll know once you go there, Princess Nine." Nanny Zhu said to Bai Jinjin in a bewitching manner.

Bai Jinjin got down from the chair, looked at Li Ji and waved, "Goodbye, Eunuch Li, I'll see you next time."

"I will wait for the princess to arrive." Li Ji responded with an uncontrollable smile on his face.

Then Bai Jinjin followed Nanny Zhu and walked out.

"Li Ji, now you understand why I dote on Jinjin so much." Bai Juncheng asked with a smile on his face after taking a sip of tea.

Li Ji bowed, "This Ninth Princess is so gentle and tactful, I don't know how to describe her."

"Haha, how could I not know that she is here to accompany me in place of Concubine Ye." Bai Juncheng said to Li Ji with a kind smile on his face.

On this side, the Queen Mother was waiting anxiously in the palace. Why hadn't Nanny Zhu brought Jinjin here yet? Did Jinjin refuse?

"Empress Dowager, the Ninth Princess has arrived." Nanny Zhu brought Bai Jinjin into the room and said.

The Queen Mother looked at Bai Jinjin who came in and didn't know what to say for a moment, "I have prepared your favorite plum blossom cake for you, would you like to try some?"

"Okay." Bai Jinjin didn't know why the empress dowager called her here, but when she saw her helpless look, Bai Jinjin immediately understood.

Then he sat down beside the Empress Dowager and said, "Grandma, you don't look well. I'm sure what happened yesterday must have frightened you a little. You should eat something too."

The two were silent for a while, and Bai Jinjin sighed softly, "Grandma, Jinjin knows why you called me here today."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother looked at Bai Jinjin in silence.

Seeing this, Bai Jinjin stood up and squatted beside the Empress Dowager. She placed her hand on her leg and leaned gently against her. "Although Jinjin feels a little sad, she also understands that the Empress Dowager was simply deceived by that liar."

"I have lived for so many years, but the older I get, the more confused I become." Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother gently placed her hand on Bai Jinjin's hair and stroked it gently.

"This matter is not the Empress Dowager's fault. Besides, no one is perfect. The Empress Dowager is already very good." Bai Jinjin stood up and looked at the Empress Dowager with a smile on her face, then stood up and sat next to the Empress Dowager.

"Grandma Empress, I'm sitting next to you. You won't blame me, will you?" Bai Jinjin's eyes were exaggerated as her body leaned back.

The Queen Mother chuckled softly, "You, you really can't find peace for a moment."

"Grandma, I've decided to move Lingling to a side hall." The Third Prince came in and saw Bai Jinjin sitting with the Queen Mother. His brows furrowed. "Bai Jinjin, how can you sit with Grandma?"

"The Empress Dowager said she wouldn't blame me." Bai Jinjin, as if she was trying to piss off the Third Prince, gently put her hand on the Empress Dowager's.

The Queen Mother only heard that the Third Prince had brought Bai Lingling over and frowned, "You mean you brought Bai Lingling back?"

Bai Lingling had bad intentions. Although she didn't mind Yan'er helping Bai Lingling, but bringing her back...

"Yes, the Queen Mother's palace is already vacant, and my second brother doesn't live in the Queen's palace either. Only Lingling is left. I can't keep an eye on those servants who bully the weak and fear the strong."

The Third Prince saw the Queen Mother frowning and thought she disagreed, so he hurriedly added.

"What the Third Prince said makes sense." Bai Jinjin also spoke up for Bai Lingling, which made the Queen Mother a little confused. "Jinjin, what are you doing?"

Bai Jinjin chuckled, "Sister Ling should have learned her lesson. Grandma Huang should accept her this time."