As soon as Yongqi stepped into the room, Xiaoyanzi's screams and cries of agony rang out one after another.

Ziwei rushed into the inner room upon hearing the sound. Seeing Xiaoyanzi lying on the bed, barely alive, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

"Little Swallow told you to go to the banquet early, and look at you now... I..."

"Ziwei, you're here! Ouch, it hurts! It's all that woman's fault. Ouch, my butt hurts so much!" Xiaoyanzi turned her head, surprised and delighted, but unfortunately, because of the large movement, the pain in her buttocks became even more obvious, and she grimaced in pain.

Seeing the pitiful Xiao Yanzi, Yongqi, who had been hidden by Ziwei and the others, finally emerged from the shadows. His past affection and care for her stirred feelings of guilt and heartache within him.

He pursed his lips and said patiently, "Little Swallow, I brought some medicine for your wounds. Have your maid apply it to you three times a day. Since Father has placed you under house arrest, we can't visit you often. Remember, you must not sneak out. Next time, Father will punish you even more severely."

Upon seeing Yongqi, Xiaoyanzi instantly forgot about Ziwei's presence. Her joyful gaze turned into resentment in Yongqi's words, "Yongqi, you've changed, and Father Emperor has changed too! It's clearly about that woman, yet you want to punish me. I might as well go back to the common people. I hate that woman, and I hate you all!"

"Little Swallow, do you know what you're saying! How dare you talk about the Emperor like that? Are you afraid your identity won't be discovered? Aren't you afraid of losing your head?!"

Looking at Yongqi's cold eyes, Xiaoyanzi felt as if she had returned to the scene when she was being punished and remained motionless. She felt a little guilty and a little scared, as if something had left her.

The more scared she became, the more defiant she grew. Little Swallow angrily shouted, "Get out, all of you! I never want to see you again!"

Ziwei, who was ignored by her, looked at Xiaoyanzi, who was still being willful, and was extremely disappointed. No matter how much she felt sorry for Xiaoyanzi, she didn't like to be treated coldly. She could only follow Yongqi, who was leaving in a huff, and go out together.

The two walked out of the palace. Yongqi still had some affection for this gentle younger sister he had taken in. He comforted the grieving Ziwei for a few words and then left.

In the Imperial Study, Emperor Qianlong, who was examining memorials with a pen in hand, also received a report from the secret guards. His grip on the pen froze, and the ink from the pen tip soaked into a black stain on the yellowed paper.

"Yongqi and his men were kicked out by Xiaoyanzi. Before they left, Xiaoyanzi yelled at them a few times. You were outside and too far away to hear clearly?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard knelt on the ground with his head down, not daring to look at the emperor's face. He could only see the emperor's black embroidered robe fluttering in front of him, as if it also carried some kind of dangerous signal.

Emperor Qianlong casually dismissed the person from the room.

He didn't care about Xiao Yanzi's affairs; she was just a little pet he kept as a hobby. But now, his pet dared to damage his treasure—how could he allow that? So he severely punished her. However, Yongqi, his most favored candidate for crown prince, had repeatedly challenged his authority. How should he deal with him?

Meanwhile, Ziwei, who had separated from Yongqi, somehow ended up on the road to Qianqing Palace. Looking at the magnificent palace in front of her, Ziwei felt somewhat dazed.

Who is it?

Ziwei looked at the guards who were standing guard and staring at her intently, and her mind went blank. Jin Suo, who was standing to the side, said cleverly, "I am Consort Ling's maid. Consort Ling sent me to deliver some things to Consort Yu."

Upon hearing that it was someone from Consort Ling, who had previously been favored in the palace, the guards standing at the door dared not refuse and softened their tone, "Please wait for me to inform you before I give you a reply."

"Alright." Ziwei had no choice but to stay and guard outside the Qianqing Palace.

Qingyin, who was awake and eating snacks in the room, was interrupted by the maid who came to report. Qingyin parted her red lips slightly, "You said that Consort Ling's maid came to see me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," the maidservant reported, her ears red and not daring to look at the exceptionally beautiful imperial concubine. Hearing the concubine's soft, alluring voice, the maidservant felt her ears uncontrollably tingling. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the concubine's slender, jade-like fingers, and her face flushed. "The Emperor is truly blessed to have such a beauty as Your Majesty!" the maidservant thought to herself.

"Let them in." Qingyin was a little curious. Why would the kind and gentle Consort Ling in the palace send someone to see her so quickly? Was she afraid of her and wanted to cause her trouble?

Ziwei, who was outside the palace, felt a mix of emotions upon learning that her request had been granted. It was the first time she had entered the emperor's bedchamber.

Qingyin, seated at the head of the table, also noticed the two palace maids. One was noticeably more striking, with delicate and beautiful features, possessing the gentle grace characteristic of women from the Jiangnan water towns, and a hidden arrogance in her eyes. She was a rare, refined and elegant beauty. The other was far less attractive, looking no different from any other palace maid, and even habitually deferring to the one beside her.

Qingyin had a guess in her mind, and the system that suddenly appeared confirmed her guess.

"Host, this is Ziwei, one of the main characters! You met her so quickly!"

Qingyin's thoughts were interrupted by the system's sudden loud voice, so she immediately silenced a certain part of the system.

"Since you were sent by Consort Ling, what is it you want to say?"

The two were stunned by Consort Yu's beauty as soon as they entered the room, and stood there dumbfounded, unable to reply to Qingyin's words.

Seeing the two standing there dumbfounded, Qingyin found it amusing and smiled slightly at them.

Is it pretty?

Upon waking, Ziwei blushed deeply and immediately knelt down, pulling Jinsuo along. "Your Majesty is of unparalleled beauty, unmatched by anyone in the world. This servant has been impolite."

Qingyin brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and said with interest, "You have such a sweet tongue. What's your name?"

“This servant is Ziwei, and she is Jin Suo.”

"Hmm, you were just saying that Consort Ling sent something. What was it?"

Ziwei looked at Qingyin, who had turned her gaze away, and felt inexplicably disappointed. However, she did not forget Jin Suo's previous reason. She took out the lily sachet she had made and said shyly, "Her Highness Consort Ling heard that Your Highness had come all the way to the Great Qing and must be tired. She specially asked me to send you a gold thread sachet with some calming herbs inside to help you sleep. I hope Your Highness will like it."

Ziwei was kind, but not stupid. She covered up Jin Suo's lie. Although the gift was just a purse, it was better than lying. She managed to calm the heat on her face before explaining her purpose to the exceptionally beautiful empress.

This gift was originally intended for Erkang. He had been working very hard these past few days, and although he hadn't come to see her, she wanted to give him a gift to make him feel better.

Looking at Consort Yu, whom Erkang had sent over, Ziwei had some guesses in her heart. Erkang must have seen this celestial concubine too, right? No wonder he didn't come... Looking at Qingyin, Ziwei couldn't feel jealousy. It would be fine if someone was only a little bit beautiful, but Consort Yu was far, far more beautiful than her. She thought that if she were Erkang, she wouldn't be able to control her liking for the concubine either.