Du Chenghui dared not raise his head, remaining kneeling on the ground, weeping and begging for forgiveness.

"I accidentally fell into the water earlier. Although I have been recuperating for a while, my body is damaged. The cold has entered my body and is difficult to expel. I am afraid I will not be able to bear children for Your Highness. Your Majesty, this is my fault. Please punish me."

After Du Chenghui finished speaking, everyone present changed their expressions.

Song Xibai's surprise deepened.

Although Du Chenghui was indeed injured after falling into the water, it wasn't this serious!

Song Xibai had secretly taken Du Chenghui's pulse before; she was weak, but she could recover with proper care.

What did she mean by saying that?

Should we avoid keeping pets away?

Song Xibai's eyes flickered slightly, and her gaze towards Du Chenghui became more serious.

After hearing Du Chenghui's words, the Crown Princess's face suddenly darkened, and she slammed her hand on the armrest.

"Why wasn't this reported sooner?!"

"I wanted to come and report, but seeing that Your Highness is seriously ill, I did not want to bother Your Highness with my trivial matters. His Highness said that nothing is more important than Your Highness's health."

Du Chenghui raised his head.

Now, the Crown Princess didn't know whether to scold her or comfort her.

In the end, all he could do was scold the Imperial Medical Academy a few times and send her back.

This greeting ended without any further development.

Song Xibai could tell that the Crown Princess had a backup plan, which was basically aimed at him. He didn't expect to be caught off guard by Du Chenghui's move.

Du Chenghui was quite a talent!

"If Your Majesty has nothing else to say, I shall take my leave now."

Song Xibai rose gracefully and led Wei Hong directly out of the central hall.

As soon as she turned the corner, she saw Du Chenghui being helped by his personal maid as they walked towards the back hall.

Song Xibai called out to her.

"Du Chenghui, would you like to come and sit at my place for a while?"

Du Chenghui turned around, his face full of surprise.

She didn't even bother with formalities; she just lifted her skirt and ran over.

"Thank you very much, Consort Xi."

Song Xibai felt embarrassed by the touching look in her eyes and led her towards the east side hall.

As soon as the two left, Wu Zhaoxun, Cao Chenghui, and the others couldn't help but look over.

With his usual smile on his face, Wu Zhaoxun casually remarked, "Du Chenghui and Consort Xi are really as close as sisters!"

"Pshaw! What sisters? They're nothing but lackeys!"

Xie Zhaoxun's face was full of mockery, then he turned to look at the others.

"If you could lower your pride and fawn over Consort Xi like Du Chenghui did, you might be able to gain some favor. How long have you been in the Eastern Palace? You haven't even seen His Highness once. I don't know if you're too stupid or if Consort Xi is too powerful."

"Thank you, Sister Xie!"

Wu Zhaoxun called out softly.

Xie Zhaoxun rolled her eyes, ignored her, and left with her maid.

Wu Zhaoxun sighed and comforted Feng Ying and Zhao Xinlan: "Xie Zhaoxun is angry on her own, but it's not directed at you. Don't take it to heart."

Both of them looked rather grim, especially Zhao Xinlan.

The more smug she was before entering the Eastern Palace, the more fearful and resentful she felt now.

She clutched her handkerchief and forced an awkward smile.

"Sister Xie is Zhaoxun, I dare not presume to say so."

Feng Ying kept her head down, making it impossible to see the expression on her face.

Wu Zhaoxun herself had long since lost favor, so she didn't care who the Crown Prince favored. But she knew very well that the two people in front of her wouldn't think the same way.

Wu Zhaoxun suddenly thought of the Zhu family, felt a chill in his heart, and resolved to keep his distance from the two of them in the future.

She still wanted to live until the crown prince ascended the throne!

Song Xibai was unaware of the conversation between the women.

After taking Du Chenghui back to the east side hall, she dismissed the palace maids and asked her directly.

"What were you thinking? Why did you say those things in front of the Crown Princess?"

Du Chenghui shrugged and cautiously sized up Song Xibai.

"I...I...I just don't want to be used as a pawn by the Crown Princess."

These words surprised Song Xibai even more.

Once Du Chenghui opened his mouth, it was as if he had opened a floodgate, and he started talking very quickly.

“Previously, Consort Zhu… oh, no, Consort Zhu forced me to frame you. I was afraid of her and dared not refuse, but I was always very scared. But later, when Consort Zhu was demoted and imprisoned by His Highness, I suddenly realized that she wasn’t so scary after all.”

“Sister, I’m not stupid. The Crown Princess wants to use me to steal your favor, but His Highness has never liked me! Even if I come over, His Highness won’t even glance at me. If I listen to the Crown Princess, I’ll offend you, annoy His Highness, and be considered useless by the Crown Princess…”

Du Chenghui looked troubled as he spoke.

Song Xibai couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Although he's a bit silly and timid, at least he has a clear understanding of himself.

"So you want to join me? How can you be so sure I'll accept?"

Song Xibai leaned back and asked again.

Du Chenghui pursed his lips and gave a shy smile.

"My sister is soft-hearted."

These words were spoken with absolute certainty.

Song Xibai was stunned.

Am I soft-hearted?

Song Xibai didn't think she was soft-hearted; she just used to be indifferent to everything.

But in Du Chenghui's eyes, it was already very good that Song Xibai never chased her away every time she came.

“I have an aunt who is also a palace maid. She told me that many masters in the palace are kind on the surface but ruthless and cruel in private. They never treat their servants as human beings, but my sister is not like that. I thought that since His Highness doesn’t like me anyway, if I follow my sister, at least no one will dare to bully me.”

Du Chenghui has essentially laid bare his heart.

Song Xibai fell into deep thought.

She does need some manpower right now.

Contacting people outside the palace requires manpower, and help is also needed in the Eastern Palace. For example, just now, when she was being targeted by the Crown Princess, there were some things she couldn't say herself, but others could.

The Crown Princess's attitude has changed; who knows what she might do next?

Apart from Wei Hong and Fu Liu, Song Xibai did not trust any of the palace servants who served him.

Dingxiang is reliable, but she is too busy to handle everything alone and knows nothing about palace intrigue.

If Du Chenghui can be helped, he would be a valuable asset.

Thinking of this, Song Xibai's heart stirred.

"Where does your aunt work?"

“My aunt is now a nanny and works in Kunning Palace.”

"Kunning Palace?" Song Xibai found it strange.

"Yes, ever since the Empress passed away, the Emperor, fearing that seeing her things would remind him of her, sealed up all of the Empress's belongings, and my aunt is in charge of looking after the storeroom."

Song Xibai frowned slightly after hearing this.

Doesn't that sound so strange?

The first wife died, and he was afraid of being saddened by seeing her things, so he locked them all up.

If you truly have deep feelings for someone, why would you do that?

Even that scumbag emperor still has Ruyi's hair!

Song Xibai suddenly understood why the Crown Prince secretly worshipped the Empress's memorial tablet in a dark room.

As expected, emperors are all heartless.