Ling Shumo's anger was ignited at this moment. She asked Ling Xijie in a cold voice, "Ling Xicheng said that all the injuries on her body were caused by you. Do you have anything to defend yourself?"

Ling Xijie had always remembered the Queen Mother as a kind and gentle woman. She had never seen Ling Shumo so angry before. The words she wanted to use to argue were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't dare to say them. "Your son didn't mean to bully her, it's because... because..."

Seeing that Ling Xijie couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time, Ling Shumo interrupted her impatiently, "Why? If you can't tell me, then I'll tell you. Because Ling Xicheng's fingers and toes are different from those of normal people, you laughed at her, discriminated against her, and even beat her, all because you thought it was fun. Ling Xijie, you didn't study hard and loved to have fun, and I never blamed you. I originally thought you were just a little more lively and active, but I never thought that at such a young age, you could be so vicious and humiliate even your own sister. You really disappoint me."

Ling Shumo ordered the servants in the hall, "I don't want to see the Fourth Princess again in the next few months. You should pack her things and move to a farm outside the capital." This meant that she wanted to expel Ling Xijie from the palace.

Moreover, Ling Shumo said, "I don't want to see Ling Xijie in the next few months." In other words, there is no fixed time for Ling Xijie to be expelled from the palace. If Ling Shumo can't remember her, she may live in the manor outside Beijing indefinitely.

When Ling Xijie heard that she was going to be thrown to the manor to suffer, she lost her former swagger. Tears and snot covered her face. "Mother, I don't want to go to the manor. I already know I was wrong. Please don't send me there."

Seeing that Ling Shumo was unmoved, Ling Xijie's knees gave way and he knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, "Mother Queen, I grew up by your side. You know my temper best. I was simply confused and lost my mind, which led to the conflict with the Third Princess. That was not my intention. Please forgive me this time. I promise to get along well with the Third Princess in the future."

Seeing Ling Shumo's hesitation in speaking, Pei Jiu was disgusted. He took a step forward and knelt beside his daughter. "Your Majesty, what child doesn't make mistakes? Xijie did go too far this time, but it's not a crime that deserves this. The environment on the farm is so harsh. How could a child as delicate as your waist, who stands up, endure it? Your Majesty, I know you still love Xijie. You were just speaking in anger. You must not be willing to send her to the farm to fend for herself. I have served you for so many years and know that you have a soft heart."

Pei Jiuyan's plea immediately reminded Ling Shumo of the little things she had experienced with Ling Xijie in the past. This fourth daughter had always been well-behaved and sensible in front of her, and was the most filial and considerate to her as the queen mother. Perhaps she was just being childish for a moment and had done something irrational to hurt Ling Xicheng.

Pei Jiuyan was delighted to see Ling Shumo's expression had obviously relaxed, but two tears squeezed out of his eyes, "Your Majesty, do you remember what day it is today? Today is the ceremony for me to be officially canonized as a lady. You said yesterday that I should attend this banquet happily, but what about now? You actually want to expel my only daughter from the palace. Aren't you cutting a knife into my heart?" He said sadly, covering his face with his sleeves, looking heartbroken.

How could Ling Shumo tolerate Pei Jiuyan's pitiful, hesitant look? She personally helped the kneeling father and daughter to their feet. Although her face remained stern, her voice had softened. "Ling Xijie, in consideration of your stepfather's plea for you, I will not require you to go to the manor, but your punishment cannot be completely waived. You will be confined to your own palace for three months, and then you will copy the scriptures a hundred times and pray for your sister."

Pei Jiuyan's face immediately showed joy. He pulled his daughter and knelt down again to thank the emperor for his grace.

Seeing that the matter was about to be covered up without any pain, Ling Xicheng clenched his hands tightly under his sleeves, his sharp nails almost breaking his palms, and his arms trembled slightly in anger.

Ling Xihe reached out and gently pushed Ling Xicheng on the back, reminding him softly, "Tell the Queen Mother again about Xue Cifu's forehead injury. The Queen Mother punished Ling Xijie so lightly because she hadn't seen the extent of Xue Cifu's injury. Didn't you say that Xue Cifu's life is hanging by a thread? If the crime of injuring my stepfather was completely pinned on Ling Xijie, she wouldn't be let off so easily as she is now."

Ling Xiwei's mouth was dry after talking so much, but Ling Xicheng beside her didn't react at all. She couldn't help but feel strange and urged again, "What are you thinking about? Hurry up and tell the Queen Mother about Xue Cifu's injury."

Ling Xicheng bit her lower lip so hard it bled, yet she couldn't utter a single word. She desperately wanted to follow Ling Xihe's lead and mention her stepfather's injuries, but she didn't dare. Ling Xihe assumed Ling Xijie had inflicted the wound on her stepfather's forehead, but she knew it was she who had done it.

When she first entered the Azure Palace, she had pinned the blame of hitting her stepfather with the ceramic jar on Ling Xijie because she was desperate for revenge and spoke without thinking. But now, she had completely calmed down.

Ling Xicheng had just heard the imperial doctors say that her second father had woken up. He knew full well that it was his own daughter who was trying to kill him. If he got angry and revealed the truth, her life would be completely over.

By that time, she would no longer be the pitiful little white flower loved by her mother and elder sister, but an unforgivable sinner who even wanted to harm her own father.

At this moment, Ling Xihe watched Ling Shumo gently pull Pei Jiuyan's hand, and her brows furrowed completely. Pei Jiuyan was too restless as a concubine. Her father was well-educated and could pretend to be blind to Pei Jiuyan's arrogance, but she could no longer tolerate the father and daughter's success.

The story is almost finished, so here's a bonus! Submit three "Power for Love" and leave your name under this chapter's words. We'll draw a few characters to be featured as passersby in the sequel (deadline for submissions is December 4th).