“Grandmother, my tenth brother and I have always been close. He went astray, and I failed to stop him in time. It was my fault. Please punish me.”

The Empress Dowager sneered, "The truth will eventually come out. Since it has nothing to do with you, why should I punish you? Go back."

After saying that, she ignored Zhao Shu and turned to Zhang Chu, saying, "Have the Ministry of Justice investigate thoroughly. I don't believe that the Tenth Prince would collude with the enemy and betray the country!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Yun rushed in from outside the door and whispered in her ear, "Empress Dowager, Tulev sent someone to say that the Tenth Prince was merely a friend of his, and asked why you would order the death of his friend."

"Insolence!" The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table, her face filled with murderous intent. "These barbaric bastards have dared to be so arrogant!"

However, with the internal strife still unresolved, she only uttered a few words to vent her frustrations and did nothing more.

Zhao Bi, who was kneeling on the ground, quietly wiped the sweat from his brow, and the huge weight that had been on his throat was finally lifted.

"Mother, please take care of your health and don't upset yourself," Emperor Mingde said reassuringly.

The Empress Dowager suppressed her anger and looked at Emperor Mingde. "Your Majesty, you should make a decision about this matter."

She was referring to the matter of Zhao Bi and his mother. Emperor Mingde understood immediately and, with great satisfaction, took Yide's hand and said, "Now that the son has been found, he will naturally be registered under your name. As for Consort Ning," he said coldly, "Hmph, demote her to a beauty and confine her to the Cold Palace. She is not allowed to leave the Cold Palace without being summoned."

Yi De was moved and couldn't bear to shed tears. She was so excited that she didn't know what to say. What followed was a tearful scene of mother and son recognizing each other. The Empress Dowager didn't intend to watch it and waved her hand, "You may all leave. I'm tired."

Even though Emperor Mingde favored Yide, he dared not be disobedient and quickly led his wives and concubines, along with Zhao Bi, out of Cining Palace.

After everyone left, Hongxia said, "Your Majesty, this servant has seen it. The ligature marks on the Tenth Prince's neck indicate that he was strangled and then the act was staged to look like a suicide."

"He's grown up; he's even letting someone take the blame." The Empress Dowager's tone was stern.

Such fury terrified Zhao Wanshi, the instigator. She had never seen the Empress Dowager so angry before, and her face turned pale with fright.

The Empress Dowager looked at her and sighed. If she went to the Xiongnu like this, she would probably be devoured without a trace. However, she did have the courage to come to Cining Palace to report it. "Go and rest."

Zhao Wanshi trembled with fear and knelt down in the shadows. "Empress Dowager, I... Chengping..." she stammered, her teeth chattering, unable to speak clearly.

The Empress Dowager sighed, "Don't worry, I won't let him harm you, and no one will know that this matter is related to you."

Having received the promise, Zhao Wanshi felt relieved and gratefully kowtowed repeatedly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Chengping is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's great kindness."

After she finished speaking, Ji Yun helped her to the side hall, leaving the Empress Dowager inside without saying a word, lost in thought. After a long time, when it was already bright, Jin Xi brought breakfast, and she said as if she had made up her mind, "Consort Ning's life is no longer in danger."

Everyone replied in unison, "Yes."

This decision was made after much deliberation, reflecting her utter disappointment in Zhao Bi.

When Zhao Shu woke up, Chu Chun and the others tidied her up and had breakfast. Then Zhou Hanyan came over. She had been having a great time in the capital lately and seemed to have forgotten all about returning home.

Upon seeing Zhao Shu, she immediately began to talk about the important events in the capital, "Sister Ajun, do you know that Consort Ning... no, No, Lady Ning has been banished to the Cold Palace? It turns out that the Fourth Prince is the son of the Imperial Noble Consort. People outside are saying that the Fourth Prince is capable, and now that his background is much higher, he can rival His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Where did you hear this rumor?" Zhao Shu asked, glancing at him.

Zhou Hanyan sipped her tea and said mysteriously, "The casinos are all open. I even placed a bet at Sister Sun's casino. I bet His Highness the Crown Prince will win. I bet a thousand taels. Sister Jun, His Highness the Crown Prince must beat the Fourth Prince! A thousand taels is all my savings. My father won't give me any money..."

She looked pitiful, yet she had the audacity to gamble. Zhao Shu rolled her eyes at her, then said, "Little Guo, bring 100,000 taels of silver to bet on the Crown Prince."

Xiao Guozi: ...

Zhou Hanyan jumped up beside her, "Sister Ajun, can you lend me some money? I promise to pay you back with interest."

Zhao Shu found her pitiful appearance extremely endearing, and shook her head helplessly, "Three thousand taels, that's the most I can give."

"Okay, okay, three thousand it is." She doesn't have a single penny left, otherwise she wouldn't be looking so worried.

The girl who ran away from home finally experienced the bitterness of being penniless.

"I need to go to the palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. Will you come?" Zhao Shu suddenly asked, inviting her to the palace for the first time.

Somewhat surprised, Zhou Hanyan was startled. She paused for a moment, then cheered, "Really? I have to go! But wait for me while I change into a dress."

She got up, picked herself up, and ran away.

"Young girls truly know no sorrow," Zhao Shu shook her head, quite envious.

Zhou Hanyan changed all her clothes, including Hanfu, but was still not satisfied. Finally, after Zhao Shu urged her several times, she gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, put on a long, flowing red dress with a black and red azalea embroidered on the front, and followed Zhao Shu into the palace.

Zhao Shu had heard early on that a woman of a different ethnicity was living in the Prince Yong's residence, but since Zhao Shu did not bring her into the palace, she did not bring it up herself. Now that she had met her, she was quite curious.

When Zhou Hanyan was seen again, she was not wearing the legendary crop top that exposed her navel, but rather the clothing of the current dynasty. Although her features were more defined than those of Zhao Shu and others, she was undeniably a beauty. And with her clothes, she looked playful, beautiful, and dignified.

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