Chapter 171 Inquiry

Xiao Jue knew that the Consort was malicious and vindictive, and his face was full of resistance.

"You'd better stay put in my Duke Zhenguo's mansion. I don't believe she'd dare come and drag you out herself."

Xiao Jue's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, revealing an indescribable anger.

Seeing Xiao Jue's expression, Xie Qingran sighed helplessly: "The Imperial Concubine herself is nothing, but she represents imperial power. You can disregard a woman, but you cannot disregard imperial power. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion may seem peaceful now, but in fact, it is in an awkward situation and fraught with danger. Young Master, please believe me, I will definitely not let myself suffer."

After saying that, Xie Qingran smiled at him, turned around and walked outside.

Even though Xie Qingran had been very subtle in her words, Xiao Jue still understood what she meant: she was protecting him!

When she said she would fight side by side, she wasn't just saying it; she really meant it!

From childhood to adulthood, Xiao Jue has always been the one who protects his country and others. When has he ever been protected like this by others?

Besides, this person is a woman!

Xiao Jue's heart felt as if it had been pricked by something, and it softened little by little.

Seeing Xiao Jue's expression, Hong Shan smiled and said, "Young Master, are you very touched right now?"

"I just think this woman is incredibly stupid!" Xiao Jue rolled his eyes at Hong Shan and snorted, "Send a message to the Fifth Prince, telling him to take care of Xie Qingran, so she doesn't really suffer a loss."

"Yes." Hongshan knew that Xiao Jue was a stubborn person who would never admit it.

He clearly cares about Xie Qingran, but he still says things that show his dislike. It's really not cute.

Zhaoyang Palace.

Xie Qingran did not bring Baozhu with her, so she went to see the Imperial Concubine alone.

Upon seeing the Imperial Concubine, she smiled slightly and bowed respectfully: "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Imperial Concubine!"

"Xie Qingran, you're really capable!"

"You dare to dismiss the people I gave you so easily? You have some nerve!"

The Imperial Concubine was angered when she saw Xie Qingran's aloof appearance.

She's clearly just a pathetic woman who married a cripple, so why does she have to pretend to be so high and mighty in front of me?

Seeing that she was angry, Xie Qingran didn't say anything more and knelt down on the ground: "Yes, it's all my fault, please calm down, Your Highness!"

"Calm down?"

"If I don't teach you a lesson, you won't know what the difference between a ruler and his subjects is!"

"Guards, slap him!"

The Imperial Concubine roared angrily. She had summoned the person today to teach her a lesson, so how could she let her off so easily?

Yinshuang understood and immediately stepped forward, striking Xie Qingran's cheeks with both hands.

"His Majesty has arrived! His Majesty the Empress has arrived!"

Upon hearing Eunuch Bao's voice, Yinshuang immediately stopped what she was doing, knelt on the ground, and trembled as she paid her respects.

The Imperial Concubine's expression changed, especially when she saw the Empress following the Emperor in; she gritted her teeth in anger.

When the Empress entered the room and saw Xie Qingran kneeling on the ground, she was stunned for a moment, as if she had no idea that Xie Qingran was there: "Princess Consort, what are you doing here? What happened?"

The emperor also noticed the red marks on Xie Qingran's face at a glance, and his eyes held a hint of coldness when he looked at the imperial concubine.

Xie Qingran bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine asked me to come and have a chat with her. We are talking right now."

"Do you have to kneel down to speak?"

"What kind of rule is this?"

The Empress frowned in displeasure, walked to the main seat, and looked coldly at the Consort.

Even though this is the palace of a concubine, the empress is the empress, and the empress must sit in the main seat!

No matter how unwilling the imperial concubine was, she dared not disobey the emperor in front of him. She could only grit her teeth, take a step back, and hand over the main seat.

Seeing this, the emperor nodded in satisfaction and looked at Xie Qingran: "Rise and answer."

Xie Qingran did not get up immediately. Instead, she glanced in the direction of the Imperial Concubine, with a hint of cautious probing.

With just a glance, the emperor's displeasure was immediately stirred up, and he followed Xie Qingran's gaze, looking in the direction of the imperial concubine.

The imperial concubine gritted her teeth in anger: "His Majesty told you to get up, so why aren't you getting up now!"

"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Consort."

Xie Qingran immediately bowed in gratitude. When she stood up, she stumbled and almost fell, but Eunuch Bao caught her in time.

"Princess Consort, are you alright?"

Eunuch Bao looked at Xie Qingran with some concern.

When they first met, Eunuch Bao had a very good impression of Xie Qingran. Now that she had become the Crown Princess, she was still being tormented by the Imperial Concubine, and he couldn't stand it anymore.

Xie Qingran quickly withdrew her hand, creating distance between them, and said politely, "Thank you, sir. I'm fine; I just lost my balance."

"Someone, bring her a seat." The Empress glanced at Xie Qingran with some concern, then quickly stood up, strode forward, lifted her chin, and seeing the red marks on her face, the Empress's expression changed: "What happened?"

Xie Qingran's tears fell at just the right moment, replacing her answer.

Seeing Xie Qingran's aggrieved tears, the Empress felt even more heartbroken and looked at the Consort with a cold gaze: "Consort, what's wrong?"

The Imperial Concubine never expected that Xie Qingran, who had been so arrogant in front of her before, would now deliberately shed tears and act pitiful in front of the Empress.

"The Crown Princess has committed an insubordination, and I was merely teaching her a lesson. Why is Your Majesty so agitated?"

"It's just a few slaps, he won't die."

The Imperial Concubine snorted disdainfully. She was the most favored concubine in the palace, and had long been overshadowed by the Empress. She had long since lost even the most basic respect for the Empress.

"presumptuous!"

"How dare you speak to me like that!"

"Your Majesty, Xie Qingran is no ordinary person. She is the rightful heir apparent of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. For the Imperial Concubine to be so arrogant and domineering is simply outrageous!"

The empress's expression changed, and she immediately knelt on the ground to begin her accusations.

Xie Qingran followed suit and knelt down, her body trembling slightly, as if she were quite frightened. Now, all the servants in the room knelt on the ground, none of them daring to speak, for fear that their masters' wrath would implicate them.

The emperor could tell what was going on as soon as he entered. He was quite satisfied with Xie Qingran's attempt to cover things up, since it was best to keep things from escalating.

But to everyone's surprise, the Empress wouldn't let go of this matter!

Seeing this, the Emperor looked at the Empress with some displeasure, then at Xie Qingran. After weighing his options, he said, "Everyone, stand up and speak. Princess Consort, how exactly did you offend the Imperial Concubine by being so disrespectful?"

Since the problem lies with Xie Qingran, it is natural to ask Xie Qingran.