She abruptly withdrew her finger, and a gush of bright red blood gushed out. Granny Lin cried out from the side, "Your Highness is bleeding! Quickly, call the imperial physician!"

Song Tangli found her annoying for no reason, and the slight pain in her fingertip kept bothering her: "Alright, this little injury is not worth making such a fuss about. If word gets out, people will think that my Zhaoling Palace is making a mountain out of a molehill."

After being reprimanded, Lin Mama smiled awkwardly and took a step back: "This servant is also worried about Your Highness. Your Highness's minor injury is a huge deal to this servant."

These words eased Song Tangli's worries a little, and the bleeding stopped after a short while. Song Tangli touched the rose again, and the white petals were stained with her blood.

It was a blindingly red.

Like Song Tangli's heart, which had been broken by Song Tangxue, Song Tangli scoffed coldly, reached out and plucked the flower, kneading it in her palm until it released its sticky juice.

Song Tangxue smiled brightly, letting the juice slowly flow into her palm, imagining whether Song Tangxue would feel like this rose when she was trampled underfoot.

"Why don't you try going to the Crown Princess's palace next month?" A few palace maids whispered among themselves on the other side of the wall.

"Zhaoling Palace is such a wonderful place. Didn't your father pay you to go there? Why are you refusing?" The palace maid seemed puzzled. "The Crown Princess is very much favored by the Crown Prince. She will surely become Empress after she ascends the throne."

"Can the Crown Princess's looks compare to the Crown Consort's? If the Crown Consort wanted to gain favor, it would only take a snap of her fingers. You don't know, do you? The current Crown Princess's favor is something the Crown Consort didn't want. How attentive the Crown Prince was before!" Another head maid analyzed sagely.

"Indeed, who could remain unmoved by the Crown Princess's face? She is truly beautiful."

The conversation took place on the other side of the wall, so they couldn't see what was happening on this side. The atmosphere around the Crown Princess became heavy, and Lian Zhi pretended not to hear or see anything, keeping her eyes down.

No one dared to speak, not even Granny Lin, who remained silent, fearing that she would be implicated.

Song Tangli snorted coldly, raising her eyes to stare icyly at the exit. The conversation next door hadn't stopped yet, and the rose in her hand was already ruined and being trampled on, used by Song Tangli as a way to vent her frustration.

"Moreover, I've heard that the Crown Princess owns countless shops, and her dowry was provided by the Empress Dowager. The royal family must really favor the Crown Princess."

"If that's the case, then the Crown Princess can't compare in looks, talent, or wealth. So how did she become the Crown Princess?"

"That's quite a secret. I heard that the Crown Princess got this position by any means necessary..."

These words were sent by Xie Qianzhong, so naturally he couldn't let Song Tangli, the Crown Princess, sit there with a clear conscience. Besides, it would also cause trouble for the royal family, so why not?

Song Tangli's face was beyond ugly; it was as dark and gloomy as the sky before a storm. The palace servants around her dared not speak and wished they could hold their breath.

The palace maids' eloquent conversation abruptly stopped when they saw Song Tangli around the corner, their faces paler than the white roses that filled the road.

"Clang."

Everything they were holding fell to the ground. The group hurriedly knelt down, panting heavily, their foreheads banging against the ground: "Your Highness, spare us! Your Highness, spare us!"

In these days, the palace servants also learned about another thing: the Crown Princess's cruelty. Those palace servants who contradicted her all met with bad ends, which was one of the reasons why these palace servants were unwilling to serve in the Zhaoling Palace.

Even though the Crown Princess is favored, her life is more important than her future.

The brocade shoes in front of them moved and slowly approached them. The women kowtowed even harder, and a dark red mist filled the air in front of them, which was particularly conspicuous on the bluestone slab. They dared not stop and even kowtowed harder.

"Since you love gossiping so much, then slap them in the face." Song Tangli slowly lifted one person's chin and examined them closely, her eyes and brows drooping lower and lower.

"Tsk." Song Tangli clicked her tongue lightly, and flung the man's chin away. The palace maid was pulled to the ground by the force, but quickly rolled over and got up, trembling all over.

"Your Majesty, please spare me! This servant will never dare to do it again!"

Song Tangli stepped over the two of them and walked away without looking to the side: "Lianzhi, you stay here and guard."

Lianzhi stopped in her tracks. Granny Lin glanced at her, her eyes gleaming with smugness. Anyone with eyes could see what was going on.

Lianzhi agreed in a low voice, looking at the palace maids with pity in her eyes; they were all unfortunate people.

Cui Xi, pale-faced, entered from outside and closed the door, looking bewildered. A group of palace servants surrounded her, asking, "What's wrong, Sister Cui Xi?"

Xiao Xizi brought over some hot tea, and Cui Xi took it, took a sip, and slowly gasped for breath: "Two more have died!"

"When I came back just now, I saw that the guard carrying two more rolls of straw mats to the dog garden. I went to inquire and heard that he was beaten to death. Apparently, he was caught red-handed talking about the Crown Princess behind her back."

Cui Xi's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, and the palace maid near the window cautiously lifted the curtain and peered outside for a moment with lingering fear.

They were all palace servants in the Crown Prince's residence, and upon hearing such news, they couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow.

Song Tangxue sighed softly and put down her teacup: "How many is this?"

“There have been ten in the last three days.” Cui Xi was slightly lost in thought. Ever since the Crown Princess gained favor three days ago, she couldn’t touch anyone in her own courtyard, so Lin Mama had taken a good look at those gossiping people outside.

Song Tangli punished these people swiftly and decisively, killing them all. After learning the reason, Li Zhaoxian only praised them, saying "Good job killing them."

Song Tangxue lowered her eyes: "Don't worry, you are palace servants of Chang Le Palace, I will naturally protect you."

The chips she held made Song Tangli dare not act recklessly, and the palace servants nodded and dispersed.

Song Tangli returned to her courtyard and turned to ask Lin Mama, "How many more days are left in my confinement?"

Lin Mama flattered, "There are still eighteen days left. His Highness the Crown Prince takes pity on you. This confinement is just a confinement within the palace. You are not like the Crown Princess, who is indecent and runs outside every day. This confinement is just a formality."

A calculating glint flashed in Song Tangli's eyes. She was really itching to get her hands on the shops that Song Tangxue owned. She knew all too well how glamorous she had been when she used these things.

Now that Song Tangxue has taken back these privileges, I will personally take them back. Not only will I take them back, but I will also make Song Tangxue experience what it's like to have nothing.

The next day, the Crown Prince did not rush back as usual after the morning court session, which surprised the Emperor, who looked him up and down with some astonishment.

Xie Qianzhong had something to report, so he followed the Crown Prince into the Imperial Study. The Emperor sat at his desk and looked at the Crown Prince.