Shen Wan returned to her room, and Haitang poured her a cup of tea. Feeling a bit hungry, Shen Wan ate two pieces of pastry with the tea. She hadn't slept well the night before, and after going to the palace and walking a lot, she was exhausted, hungry, and sleepy. Her eyelids were practically glued together.

Shen Wan drank half a cup of tea and then prepared to go to bed.

Just as she lay down on the bed, a maidservant entered through the beaded curtain and said, "Your Highness, the Empress summons you to the palace."

Shen Wan, “…!!!”

She just returned from the palace. They didn't look for her while she was there, but now that she's back, they're summoning her to the palace again. Is the Empress doing this on purpose?!

She just wanted to catch up on some sleep, why was that so difficult?

What's even more infuriating is that she has to go to the palace when the Empress summons her, otherwise it would be a great disrespect to the Empress. She only used it yesterday because she sprained her ankle, so she definitely can't use it again today.

Shen Wan didn't know why Empress Song wanted to summon her to the palace, but she was certain it wouldn't be anything good.

Shen Wan got out of bed, full of anger, put on her dress, and then went out with Yin Shuang.

She and Xie Jingyan had broken up, so Xie Jingyan definitely wouldn't accompany her into the palace. Besides, it was Empress Song who came to see her, so it wouldn't be convenient for Xie Jingyan to enter the inner palace.

Inside the study.

Xie Jingyan is reading a book.

Chen Yu jumped in through the window, his face covered in bruises. There was no doubt that Chen Feng had beaten him up.

Chen Yu opened his mouth to speak, wincing in pain, "Your Majesty, the Empress has summoned the Princess Consort to the palace."

Xie Jingyan's brows furrowed.

What did the Empress want with her in the palace?

Thinking of Shen Wan's attitude towards him, Xie Jingyan's face fell. "From now on, you don't need to report her affairs to me."

Chen Yu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Xie Jingyan said, "Aren't you going to step back?!"

Chen Yu asked, "Then should I continue to protect the Princess?"

The prince had previously instructed him to secretly follow and protect the princess whenever she left the manor. Now that things have fallen out, it's unclear whether he should continue.

Chen Feng, "..."

Chen Feng wondered if he had beaten Chen Yu senseless.

If he asks that, I'll definitely say no, I still have my pride.

Sure enough, Xie Jingyan said with a dark face, "No need!"

Chen Yu immediately withdrew.

Chen Feng was afraid that Chen Yuzhen was too foolish to go and protect her. What if something happened to the princess? Although it was a bit humiliating, he would consider it as giving face to the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang. The princess was not very good, but the heir of the Marquis of Pingyang was really good.

Upon arriving at the main gate of the Prince's Mansion, Shen Wan boarded the carriage. Xie Jingyan was not present, but Yin Shuang also boarded the carriage with her.

Without the previous restraint and embarrassment, Shen Wan leaned against the carriage. She was really sleepy. The carriage was swaying so much that she fell asleep, which made Yin Shuang feel very sorry for her.

After entering the palace, Shen Wan was awakened by Yin Shuang. She got off the carriage in a daze and followed the eunuch who led the way to Empress Song's Fengyi Palace.

Upon entering the main hall, Shen Wan saw Empress Song sitting on the phoenix throne, but she did not expect Shen Ying to be there as well. Her eyes were red and her face was haggard, making her look quite unattractive.

Shen Wan stepped forward, curtsied to Empress Song, and then asked, "I wonder why Your Majesty summoned me to the palace...?"

Empress Song looked at Shen Wan and asked, "Did Prince Ling also use aphrodisiacs at Prince Jin's residence yesterday?"

Having not slept well, Shen Wan was already in a bad mood. To make matters worse, the person who sought her out was asking Xie Jingyan about the aphrodisiac in the Prince of Jin's residence. If she wanted to know so much, why didn't she ask Xie Jingyan instead of summoning her to the palace?

Shen Wan replied evasively, "I don't know."

Empress Song's eyes darkened. "You, the Princess Consort of Ling, don't even know whether Prince Ling has been drugged with aphrodisiacs?"

Shen Wan asked, "Who told the Empress that Prince Ling was given an aphrodisiac?"

Empress Song's eyes swept towards Shen Ying.

Shen Ying said, "Yesterday, Prince Ling went to Prince Jin's residence to celebrate Prince Jin's birthday. He left suddenly, even climbing over the wall. He left in a hurry. His servants said his face was flushed, which was very strange. I asked around and found out that Prince Ling went back to find you, eldest sister, to cure the poison. Yesterday, Miss Fu was given an aphrodisiac at Prince Jin's residence. The two of them must have been tricked together."

"No one in the Prince of Jin's mansion would plot against Miss Fu. It must be someone plotting against Prince Ling, implicating innocent people."

Shen Wan's face darkened. Shen Ying was trying to make Xie Jingyan take the blame for her. As long as it was confirmed that Fu Shu was implicated by Xie Jingyan, Shen Ying could rightfully oppose Xie Jingyin marrying Fu Shu as a secondary wife. There was no reason why she, as the Princess Consort of Jin, should have to give up half of her position after the Prince of Jin saved Fu Shu's life.

Shen Ying's skin is truly thick.

Shen Wan said expressionlessly, "I didn't hear Prince Ling say that he was poisoned by aphrodisiac. The Empress should know what kind of person Prince Ling is. It's impossible for him to suffer such a great loss in Prince Jin's mansion without seeking an explanation from Prince Jin."

Shen Ying was surprised that Shen Wan would deny it, and her expression turned very unpleasant.

Empress Song knew that Shen Ying was causing trouble behind the scenes. Following Shen Ying's instructions, she summoned Shen Wan, hoping to find clues in Shen Wan's words and force Shen Ying to lose her composure and agree to give Fu Shu the position of a secondary wife.

Empress Song did not expect that Shen Wan would deny it so readily.

She had no intention of pressing the matter further. "Since that's not true, then you may leave."

Shen Wan bowed and took her leave.

She led Yinshuang out of Fengyi Palace, and after walking only a few steps, Shenying's angry voice rang out, "Stop!"

Shen Wan ignored her and walked away.

Shen Ying caught up, gritting her teeth, and said, "Why won't you cooperate with me?! As long as Prince Ling admits to this, Fu Shu will never be on equal footing with me..."

Snap!

Shen Wan raised her hand.

He slapped Shen Ying across the face.

The crisp, loud sound carried far.

Shen Ying was stunned by the slap. She had never been slapped before in her life. She wanted nothing more than to tear Shen Wan apart. Just as she was about to speak, another sharp voice rang out, "Princess Consort Ling! How dare you slap my sister-in-law?!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!