Empress Fucha stared blankly at the closed door, unsure how to react. Su Xiaobao and Su Peisheng, standing at the door, could easily picture her back as she walked away, even without seeing her face. Their eyes held a mocking smile; this was the kind of treatment a clueless princess deserved.

Yin Qingyi went to bed early; if she had waited any longer and seen this scene, she would probably have laughed herself to death.

This night was destined to be one where some slept soundly while others were sleepless.

---------------- ...

Yinzhen looked at Fucha's pale face and tired eyes, but his expression remained unchanged. He left without even having breakfast there. He was already quite generous to stay in the courtyard for one night; he was afraid he wouldn't be able to digest his food if he ate with this woman.

After Yinzhen left, Lady Fucha went to the inner room to catch up on sleep. She hadn't slept well last night, partly because of Yinzhen, and partly because she wasn't used to sleeping on that soft couch.

Luoxuexuan

Yin Qingyi slept until the end of Chen Shi (7-9 AM) today, which was unusual for her. She habitually glanced outside first, and when she saw Yin Zhen, she was stunned for a moment. Why was Yin Zhen back at this time? Yin Qingyi was still a little confused after waking up and did not know what time it was. She just calculated it based on the beginning of Chen Shi, which she usually woke up at.

"Your Highness is awake?" Granny Naqi entered after Yin Qingyi got up, her face beaming with a smile. Clearly, the fact that Yinzhen had come to Luoxue Pavilion early to wait for Yin Qingyi made Granny Naqi very happy.

"Hmm, what time is it?" Yin Qingyi asked.

It's almost 9 AM.

"..." Yin Qingyi had been getting used to waking up early for more than two months, so suddenly sleeping in was really a bit of a shock.

When Yinzhen saw the old nanny go in, he knew that the little woman had woken up. He felt a little uneasy, wondering if she would be angry that he hadn't come to the Orchid Courtyard yesterday.

"Did you sleep well last night?" So as soon as Yin Qingyi came out, Yinzhen immediately asked. Since Yin Qingyi woke up late today, Yinzhen automatically assumed that she hadn't slept well last night.

"Yes, very good, thank you for your concern, sir." Yin Qingyi nodded, her tone no different from usual, and she didn't seem angry.

"Are you hungry? Su Peisheng, prepare the meal." Yinzhen carefully examined Yin Qingyi's face and indeed couldn't see any anger, but Yinzhen was still uneasy. It's better to vent one's anger; bottling it up will only make things worse.

"If you have something to say, please say it. The way you're looking at me makes me a little uneasy." Yin Qingyi knew what Yinzhen was thinking. She wasn't angry at all, but she really didn't want to see Yinzhen acting so subservient.

"...You may all leave." Upon seeing this, Yinzhen glanced at the people beside him and spoke in a deep voice.

Naqi's nanny and Su Peisheng led the group out, thoughtfully closing the door behind them.

"Speak, Your Highness." Yin Qingyi picked up her spoon and ate the chicken porridge in her bowl, seemingly not caring at all what Yinzhen was going to say. Indeed, she didn't care, since she already knew, didn't she?

"This Lady Fucha sent a letter home, and then her father impeached me in a memorial to the throne. I only went back to Lady Fucha's room yesterday, but I didn't do anything. I just slept there. Lady Fucha slept in the outer room. My dear, I went to other people's courtyards for your own good. I can't let Father think that I favor you the only one; that wouldn't do you any good. So, I won't be here with you at night these days. But I won't do anything in other people's courtyards, so please don't be angry, okay?" Yinzhen spoke in a low voice, even with a hint of grievance at the end, as if going to other people's courtyards was a disservice to him.

"Okay, I understand." Yin Qingyi calmly ate the chicken porridge in her bowl, showing no reaction whatsoever to what Yinzhen said.

"You're not angry?" Yinzhen was a little confused as to whether this little woman was angry or not, given her calm demeanor.

"Don't be angry, didn't you tell me the reason?" Yin Qingyi looked up at Yinzhen, puzzled. What was wrong with this man? Was he hoping she would get angry even though she wasn't?

"...Well then, let's have a meal." For a moment, Yinzhen didn't know what to say. It was as if he had a bellyful of comforting words but hadn't said a single one. The person wasn't angry at all; it was like punching cotton, which was incredibly frustrating.

Yin Qingyi withdrew her gaze and lowered her head to continue eating, but she could no longer hide the smile in her eyes. If it weren't for her left hand tightly pinching her thigh, she would never have been able to suppress the smile.

After Consort Yin finished her breakfast, Yinzhen left Luoxue Pavilion and headed to Lan Courtyard. The smile in his eyes vanished as soon as he left Luoxue Pavilion, leaving only coldness. Since Consort Fucha felt that he was favoring that little woman so much that she sent letters home, then he would show her what true favor meant. Let's see if she can handle the methods of this woman in the inner court.

In the days that followed, Yinzhen visited Lan Courtyard every day. His visits for two consecutive days were already quite conspicuous, as he rarely frequented any particular courtyard for several days in a row, except for Luoxue Pavilion. But Fucha Shi had managed to keep her master there for two days straight. However, what aroused their jealousy wasn't just that Yinzhen continued to visit every day afterward!

Most importantly, since the confinement of the Fujin was lifted, the court greetings in the inner courtyard have resumed. On the first day of the greetings, Fucha's legs were so weak that she could barely stand to perform the proper greeting. How could the other women not be angry? Who was she trying to impress with this affected manner? Who hadn't been favored by the master? Who else was as weak in the legs as Fucha on the second day, and with such a pale face? How long had she been tormented by the master to have such a pale face and such weak legs?

Lady Fucha had a bitter pill to swallow. How could she not see the jealousy in the eyes of these women? But she couldn't say anything. Could she tell them that the master hadn't touched her at all? Except for the first day when she stood while reading, from the second day onwards the master made her kneel on a prayer mat (Yin Qingyi: He's really kind, giving her a prayer mat) to read Buddhist scriptures! She would read for one or two hours at a time. Who could endure that? But could she say any of this? Would others believe her if she did? It was better to just accept it; it would be better for her to save face.

Yin Qingyi watched the drama unfold for several days, but soon, on the second day of paying respects, she was met with ridicule and sarcasm. Who dared to mock her? It was none other than Lady Li, the princess who had been favored by Yinzhen for ten years.