Emperor Pei simply said, "The princess is too happy and has spoken without thinking. Empress, you should handle the princess's marriage arrangements yourself."

Consort Gao wanted to speak, but seeing Emperor Pei's cold eyes, she ultimately kept quiet.

The Queen ordered Dekang to be detained and the banquet venue to be cleared, while Prince Thoreau's farewell banquet continued.

After Consort Lin and Pei Zhi took their seats, they noticed that the atmosphere at the palace banquet was somewhat strange.

On such an occasion, not only is Consort Gao absent, but Princess Dekang is also not here.

Even the Third Prince and the Fourth Prince were not present. Consort Lin had doubts in her heart, but dared not ask any more questions.

Even after the banquet ended, Consort Lin did not receive Pei Zhi's imperial decree for a marriage alliance.

Confused, Consort Lin returned to the palace and learned that the person chosen for the marriage alliance had become Dekang.

Consort Lin took the teacup from Granny Chang's hand. "You must have misheard me, right?"

Consort Lin firmly stated, "It's absolutely impossible that Dekang is going to marry into the royal family."

With so many princesses, Consort Lin wouldn't be surprised which one to choose for a political marriage.

But it definitely couldn't be Dekang, Dekang is so favored.

The emperor didn't mind that the princes went to their study rooms to read.

How could they possibly be willing to let Princess Dekang go on a political marriage when she was perfectly fine?

Granny Chang lowered her voice and said, "It's already spread throughout the palace. Consort Gao is crying her heart out, and Princess Dekang has been arranged to stay in Changqiu Palace. She hasn't returned to Mingyue Palace yet."

"Is this really true?"

Dekang is staying in the Empress's Changqiu Palace, and Consort Gao has no way to interfere. Could it be that the marriage alliance is real?

"But before today, the chosen candidate for the marriage alliance was still..."

The Empress had the Imperial Clothing Bureau take Pei Zhi's measurements and also sent him many precious hairpins.

"Has Your Highness forgotten? Before the palace banquet today, we were all kept outside?"

"I heard that Dekang did something wrong and angered His Majesty, which is why he did this."

Lin Fei said smugly, "Hmph, that little slut Dekang never dreamed she'd end up like this, did she? Serves her right!"

As a concubine, Consort Lin was also Dekang's stepmother.

Dekang, however, never gave Consort Lin a kind look.

Let's put it this way: when Dekang went to marry a foreign ruler, everyone in the harem except for Consort Gao of Mingyue Palace applauded and praised him.

Inside Mingyue Palace, Consort Gao returned and threw a tantrum.

Consort Gao's beloved daughter has now been tricked into a marriage alliance. How could Consort Gao not be furious?

"Your Majesty, getting angry is bad for your health and will only make you a laughingstock."

Consort Gao said angrily, "It's obvious that someone plotted against me and Dekang today. How can I not be angry?"

"Now, Your Majesty must find the person behind this and teach them a lesson!"

"Looking for?" Consort Gao sneered. "In the harem, besides the Empress, who else can extend their reach so far?"

Who else in the harem could have such power to make Dekang's personal maid turn against him and plant this seed?

Consort Gao retorted angrily, "Dekang is a princess, and the Empress also has a princess. How could she be so cruel to Dekang?"

"This servant guesses that the Empress is worried that if the princess really marries into the Xie family, it will be detrimental to the Third Prince, so she is taking preemptive action."

After much thought, Consort Gao could only come up with this one reason.

"Her daughter isn't around, so she's plotting against my Dekang?"

Consort Gao nodded with a cold laugh, "Very well, I will remember this debt today, and I will repay it double in the future."

In Changqiu Palace, Dekang was crying and laughing again, cursing the Empress and the Third Prince.

The Empress found it irritating and said, "Have someone gag her, tie her to the bed, and give her some food and water every day so she doesn't starve."

The palace servants immediately obeyed and carried out the order.

"Granny, go to Mingyue Palace tomorrow and discuss with the Imperial Concubine about the princess's dowry. I will add some more so that the princess can go with Prince Solo."

The nanny understood perfectly and agreed; the Empress was deliberately provoking Consort Gao.

"How is Yuan Cheng?"

"Your Majesty, the fever has subsided, but the person is still somewhat weak and cannot get up for the time being."

The Empress said bitterly, "They made my son suffer so much, it's too good for them!"

Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all, Pei Zhi, is now sitting in front of the mirror, letting Chunhua remove the hairpins from her head.

"The princess is so lucky. I thought she would definitely go to marry a foreign ruler."

Upon hearing this, Pei Zhi looked up and glanced at Chunhua.

"Good fortune?"

Chunhua nodded innocently, "Yes, if it weren't for Princess Dekang, wouldn't the person chosen for the marriage alliance today be..."

Chunhua realized she had spoken out of turn and immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.

"Princess, please forgive me, I didn't mean it, I didn't..."

Pei Zhi sighed softly and bent down to help Chunhua up.

"Chunhua, you know that although I am a princess, my mother does not like me, and my father probably doesn't even remember that I exist."

Pei Zhi's tone was cold and stern: "You are my servant. I'll let what you said today go, but if someone with ulterior motives hears it, do you know what will happen to us?"

Speaking of the biggest beneficiary today, it is Pei Zhi.

However, Pei Zhi remained unknown in the palace, and Consort Lin never took her to any banquets.

Everyone has forgotten that Pei Zhi even existed.

Because it was inconspicuous, no one thought much of it.

But anyone who heard Chunhua's words would inevitably have too many thoughts.

"I understand, I will never dare to talk nonsense again."

"Alright, get up."

This time, Pei Zhi was too lazy to argue with Chunhua.

But this will only happen once, if Chunhua doesn't change her ways in the future.

Therefore, Pei Zhi could not keep such a "straightforward" person by her side.

The most important thing in the palace next is to send Dekang off to get married.

Pei Zhi, as the "beneficiary," should naturally remain unknown.

In order to avoid being noticed, Pei Zhi simply pretended to be sick.

It wasn't until Dekang was sent away for a political marriage that Pei Zhi recovered from her illness and was able to get out of bed.

Pei Zhi escaped a calamity, but she also knew that she was a woman, and when she reached a certain age, she would eventually have to get married.

Moreover, if she remained in the inner palace, she would have no access to the court.

When will she finally ascend the throne and become empress?

As Pei Zhi had predicted, Consort Lin had recently been selecting suitable marriage partners in the capital.

We are not concerned about the other person's age, appearance, or whether they have children.

Consort Lin only cared whether Pei Zhi's marriage would be helpful to Pei Yuan Ce.

Pei Zhi, of course, could not allow Consort Lin to control her marriage.

Although Pei Zhi didn't care who she married, she couldn't possibly marry an old man as his second wife, could she?

Pei Zhi was also unwilling to marry an ugly man because she worried that she would become a widow on her wedding night.

Pei Zhi wants to decide for herself who her future husband will be.

If she wants to be in charge, then she'll have to show some "ability".