“Yes, Your Majesty,” Nianxia replied.

She was about to walk back to Lanqin's side when she turned around and saw Princess Qing'an walk in. She was displeased, but because of her different status, she could only say to Lanqin, "Your Highness, Princess Qing'an has come in."

Princess Qing'an walked straight in and knelt down in front of Lanqin without saying a word.

Lanqin's eyelids twitched. This was no ordinary way of paying respects. She asked, "Qing'an, what are you doing?"

"Your Highness, I am guilty. I beg Your Highness to punish me." Qing'an kowtowed to the ground, and the carpeted floor made a clanging sound as she pounded her head.

The sound startled Nianxia and made Lanqin's expression change. How much strength would it take to kowtow and make a sound?

"Qing'an, lift your head." Lanqin rarely uses a commanding tone, and this is one of the few times she does.

"Your Majesty, Qing'an is guilty, please punish me!" Qing'an did not raise her head, but stubbornly repeated that sentence.

"Mei Gege went to see you?" Lan Qin's face darkened. She had already agreed to help, but Mei Gege still went to see Qing An?

“No, Your Majesty.” Qing’an raised her head, revealing a large red patch on her forehead. “Your Majesty, I just saw Fifth Prince Consort and Princess Mei leaving Changchun Palace. My father has been imprisoned in Dali Temple and will never be released.”

Qing'an bit her lip and continued, "At that time, Qing'an knew that her father had failed."

"Your Majesty, it's all Qing'an's fault. Qing'an has let Your Majesty down. Qing'an is willing to accept any punishment, only begging Your Majesty to save my father." Qing'an's lips parted slightly, each word dripping with blood and tears.

The child she had raised for so many years knelt before her, weeping bitterly. Lanqin felt a mix of emotions. She turned her face away, unwilling to look at Qing'an. "If only I had known this would happen," she thought.

After settling in, Qing started crying even more.

"This is all because of Qing'an's momentary lapse of judgment. From the moment I entered the palace, I actually missed my father and mother very much, but I dared not disobey the imperial decree and dared not not enter the palace."

"My father is my father!"

Lanqin's heartstrings were touched; she thought of Qingping and Qingshun, who had been selected to enter the palace along with Qing'an. Regardless of the current situation, it was indeed the Fourth Prince who, for the sake of a political marriage, forced them to enter the palace at a young age, preventing them from reuniting with their families.

She sighed softly, stood up from her seat, bent down, and personally helped Qing'an up. She gently wiped away the tears on her face and said, "I don't blame you. I only blame you for being born into the royal family."

"Your Majesty." Qing'an was in tears, unsure of what to do.

"Go back to your room and rest first, and have someone apply some medicine for you. I will plead for Fifth Master's sake, but the Emperor hates brothers fighting each other the most. I can only do my best regarding Fifth Master's matter," Lanqin said, rubbing the bruises on her head.

Qing'an shed tears again, but this time they were tears of joy. Ignoring Lanqin's objections, she insisted on giving Lanqin the highest form of respect.

After having the palace maids help Qing'an back to rest, Lanqin took Cui Niang to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Your Highness, shall we go now?" Although Nianxia's anger subsided after Qing'an's grand ceremony, she still felt that it was too hasty to go to see the Fourth Prince now.

"Let's go and hear what the Emperor has to say," Lanqin said. "A place like the Dali Temple can't be delayed."