The Empress raised an eyebrow, smiled, and gestured for the Second Princess to sit down. She didn't order anyone to bring water or tea, but instead asked casually, "Princess Yong'an, did you come from Consort Nian's household? You've been married into the Nian family for some time now, you should visit the palace more often. I've heard that Consort Nian is very satisfied with you as her niece-in-law!"

The Empress's words were already quite pointed and aggressive, and the Second Princess felt a chill in her heart, realizing that the Empress still sided with Consort Nian.

The second princess could only reply, "Consort Nian has treated me very well, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty..."

The Empress smiled faintly, "You are a good child, and I have always regarded you as my own son, so naturally I care about you more. However, I have been feeling unwell lately and cannot keep you in Jingyang Palace any longer..."

"Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself. I will come to visit you again in the future. Elanzhu will take her leave now..." Since the Empress intended to see her off, the Second Princess did not want to linger. After saying some polite words, she took her leave.

Once outside Jingren Palace, the Second Princess suddenly felt much more relaxed. Looking up at the square sky, she was even somewhat relieved that she hadn't been trapped here.

The maidservant, puzzled, asked the Second Princess with a smile, "Princess, why are you so happy despite the Empress's coldness towards you?"

The second princess turned back with a smile, shook her head, and continued walking: "You don't understand. I'm not happy, I'm just relieved. This place seems to offer unlimited power and wealth, but everyone is scheming against each other, and everyone has to be cautious in everything they do. It's too tiring to live here..."

"Every woman in the world dreams of such a position, but the princess doesn't think it's good! I think the Empress and the Imperial Concubine are very majestic, and I feel noble just looking at them..." the maid said sullenly from behind.

The second princess stopped in her tracks, and the maid almost bumped into her. Thinking she had said something wrong and displeased the second princess, she immediately shut her mouth, lowered her head, and waited to be scolded.

“I grew up without a mother. My father placed me with the Empress to grow up. I treated the Empress as my own mother, but she always looked down on my background and wasn't very close to me. Later, I married into the Nian family. I just wanted to live a peaceful life, but now Consort Nian has expectations of me. I don't want to be used, nor do I want to use anyone to achieve my goals. But in this deep palace, everyone is scheming every day. I can't stand it even once. What about them?”

The second princess said worriedly, "Once, someone taught me that I should do everything in accordance with my conscience, and that kindness will surely be rewarded. Only then did I realize how difficult it is to do so..."

The maid asked curiously, "Is the princess referring to Consort Xi?"

"Yes, let's go, I want to see her..." The Second Princess's lips involuntarily curled up when she mentioned Lanqin. Only Consort Xi would not scheme so meticulously, and only Consort Xi would not harm others to achieve her goals.

But when the Second Princess arrived at the gate of Changchun Palace, she became timid. She hesitated for a long time, wondering whether to go in…

"Princess? What's wrong?"

"I'm a little worried. Will Consort Xi mind my identity and think I'm Consort Nian's person?" The Second Princess couldn't help but worry as she thought about the Empress's attitude towards her.

"Princess, shall we still go?" the maid asked.

"Of course we'll go," said the Second Princess.