An ally in the same boat, and someone who saved Consort Lin's life, Consort Lin would not stand idly by, for either reason or emotion.

This is also the reason why Song Tangxue spread the message: since she couldn't move, she wanted to find someone who could to rescue her.

After saying these words, the palace maid lowered her head and left.

Song Tangxue felt sleepy, so she ate a few pieces of pastry and drifted off to sleep.

As night fell, the palace was ablaze with lights, its halls and corridors adorned with countless lanterns and candlelight, resembling a flowing golden river.

The palace where Song Tangxue was temporarily staying was pitch black. The night wind blew through the windows that could not be closed tightly, making a whooshing sound and rushing straight into the room.

Song Tangxue did not sleep soundly.

A heat source touched her body, and Song Tangxue instantly looked up alertly, only to meet a pair of familiar eyes.

Those eyes were so beautiful, like stars and firelight reflected on a lake at night, rippling gently and creating a shimmering effect.

It is so captivating that people become addicted to it without even realizing it.

"If you sleep like this for a few more days, can your body handle it?" Xie Qianzhong said coldly, no longer bothering to be gentle once the person was awake.

He picked him up in his arms, still wearing his cloak, and sat down, holding him close to his body, which had been chilled by the night wind.

The heat sources surrounding Song Tangxue from all sides chased away the chill of the night.

Unlike the warm embrace, Xie Qianzhong's aura was cold, and his gaze towards her was indifferent.

Song Tangxue was not afraid. Her limbs were bound and she could not move. So she looked up and, like a kitten, rubbed against Xie Qianzhong's tense jaw: "Didn't you come?"

Xie Qianzhong lowered his head, his lips brushing lightly against her face: "What if I hadn't come?"

Song Tangxue smiled and snuggled into his neck: "No, it won't happen."

Xie Qianzhong lowered his head and kissed her, gently nibbling at the soft flesh of her lips. The kiss was quite forceful, as if he wanted to teach this little girl a lesson.

But it seemed as if they couldn't bear to part, and in the end, it turned into a beautiful entanglement.

As they parted, Xie Qianzhong's chest rose and fell slightly, causing Song Tangxue's body to tremble slightly.

A hand emerged from the cloak and gripped his collar tightly, panting as she looked at him with reddened eyes.

"How utterly foolish to have gotten yourself into this predicament!" Xie Qianzhong couldn't help but scold, "You dared to rush into the Empress's Palace without knowing anything. Should I praise your courage?"

With a look of exasperation, he gently rubbed Song Tangxue's delicate nose: "I just can't do anything with you. You'd better remember this next time."

Song Tangxue nodded with a blush. Although Xie Qianzhong was scolding her, how could she possibly learn her lesson when the two of them were in such a sticky atmosphere?

This was, after all, the imperial palace, and Xie Qianzhong couldn't stay long. He left the cloak behind and departed. Song Tangxue, wrapped in the cloak, smiled more enchantingly than the spring breeze.

It almost tripped Xie Qianzhong.

Once outside the palace, Xie Qianzhong ordered his guards to spread the news, making sure it reached the Emperor's ears.

The next morning, after the court session ended, Xie Qianzhong was kept behind by the emperor to discuss state affairs.

Seeing that the matter was over, the chief eunuch approached the emperor and said a few words, which made the emperor's brows furrow.

Xie Qianzhong did not leave without the emperor's permission. He had also heard what the eunuch said, which was about Song Tangxue being trapped in the empress's palace.

Xie Qianzhong's eyebrows and eyes were lowered indifferently, as if he were detached from the matter.

The emperor raised his eyes: "Minister Xie, what do you think should be done about this?"

Xie Qianzhong bowed his head respectfully: "This is His Majesty's family matter, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere. However, it is indeed a bit too much for an ordinary family, especially since Miss Song is the Empress Dowager's savior."

"This matter is known to all under heaven, yet Miss Song is now confined to the inner palace, which is not in accordance with etiquette and will make her a laughing stock of the world."

The emperor was furious and slammed the impeachment memorial he was holding onto the table.

Li Zhaoxian was already being impeached recently, and now Empress Cheng has done something like this.

He immediately strode out of the palace and headed towards the Empress's palace. Xie Qianzhong saw the Emperor off, a faint smile appearing on his lips, but it vanished in an instant.

On the other side, Consort Lin went to the Empress Dowager's palace early in the morning. The Empress Dowager was comforted to see that she had come despite being heavily pregnant: "You should take good care of yourself while you are pregnant. I have some good tonics in my palace. Take some with you when you go back later."

Consort Lin smiled and agreed, but a hint of worry flashed across her bright and beautiful face: "I heard that the Empress has been staying at home lately. I thought of going to attend to her, but I was also locked out. I am very worried."

Empress Cheng felt guilty and was afraid that others would discover Song Tangxue's predicament, so she simply pretended to be sick and refused to see guests for the past few days.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat puzzled: "How come I didn't know the Empress was ill?"

The maidservant beside her stepped forward and said, "The Empress just caught a cold during the transition from spring to summer; it's nothing serious."

The old woman knew that the Empress Dowager disliked the Empress, so she rarely mentioned anything about the Empress.

The Empress Dowager nodded. Since Consort Lin had brought it up, she should go and see for herself: "Let's go. Today is a good day to visit the Empress."

As they approached the Empress's gate, they were surprised to see the Emperor, who was extremely busy with state affairs, also walking there with a sullen face.

The Emperor greeted the Empress Dowager, who then asked, "Has my son come to see the Empress?"

The Emperor, thinking that the Empress Dowager must have learned of Song Tangxue's imprisonment, angrily rebuked her: "The Empress has indeed gone too far this time. Rest assured, Mother, I will handle this matter properly!"

The Empress Dowager asked with some confusion, "What has the Empress done wrong?"

Consort Lin lowered her eyes. Since His Majesty had come, she would let him speak, and he wouldn't be able to bring it up against her in the future.

The Emperor took a deep breath: "The Empress has confined Miss Song to the inner palace to copy Buddhist scriptures."

The Empress Dowager frowned, and the Empress's palace gates were hurriedly opened. Palace maids came out to welcome the two men, who looked unwell, inside.

Only Consort Lin stood beside the Empress Dowager, smiling and supporting her pregnant belly.

The Queen got out of bed.

"I had no idea the Empress was going to worship Buddha next month," the Emperor said first, flicking his sleeves. The Empress, the mother of the nation, was being detained and made difficult by a subject's daughter in the palace.

This makes it impossible for those officials to view the imperial family, which is simply adding to the chaos.

The Empress's face turned somewhat pale: "As the Empress, it is my duty to pray for the country's well-being."

"Then why did you make the Crown Princess copy Buddhist scriptures?" The Empress Dowager had seen it all in her life, and the Empress's petty tricks were simply despicable.

Unfortunately, she was involved with the person who had saved her, and she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

Consort Lin chuckled sweetly, "The Empress meant well, Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

"Hmph." His Majesty, mindful that Consort Lin was six months pregnant, simply allowed her to rest aside.

The Empress Dowager glanced coldly at the Empress, who dared not even breathe loudly: "What? You also dare to dream of receiving the same treatment as me? How about I offer you my position as Empress Dowager?"

The Empress knelt down repeatedly, her forehead touching the ground: "Your subject dares not!"

"Where is Miss Song?" The Empress Dowager had no intention of setting foot in the Empress's palace. She had simply turned a blind eye to the Empress's actions over the years.