The Buddhist beads in the Queen Mother's hand broke with a snap, and the jade beads rolled all over the floor.

"Su Yunfu!" Xuan Ling slammed the table. "You have repeatedly deceived the emperor. I will not forgive you! Degrade you to slavery and exile you to the frontier!"

Madam Su collapsed on the ground and crawled over to pull the corner of the empress dowager's clothes: "Sister! Fu'er is still young..."

The Queen Mother pleaded, "Emperor...please give me some face...replace her and punish her with a year of self-reflection in the palace. How about that?"

"Your Majesty, she is my niece after all," said the Queen Mother. "Your Majesty is about to become a mother, so you should be tolerant."

Sheng Xiyan stroked her pregnant belly and rolled her eyes.

Xuan Ling said, "I can avoid being exiled to the frontier, but I cannot change my status as a slave. Mother, if mistakes are not punished, how can I govern the country?"

The Queen Mother was choked with speech.

Madam Su crawled over and pulled the empress dowager's robe. "Sister, you can't do that. Slavery means having your face tattooed. Fu'er will never be able to hold her head up high in her life."

The Queen Mother had no choice but to cough violently, pretending to have a heart attack, "Emperor, please do me a favor and release me from slavery."

Sheng Xiyan asked, "Then how should I explain the suffering my brother and sister-in-law have endured? Isn't it too unfair?"

Madam Su said, "Your Highness, our whole family will come to the Sheng family to apologize, as long as Fu'er is released from slavery."

The Queen Mother pleaded again, "Emperor, I beg you."

Xuan Ling said, "Since this is the case, the Su family, including Lord Su, will kneel down from the Su Mansion to the Sheng Mansion and beg for forgiveness from the Sheng family. If the Sheng family forgives, this matter will be over. If the Sheng family does not forgive, my will will not change..."

He glanced at the Queen Mother who was feigning illness.

"We apologize!" Madam Su kowtowed frantically, "The whole family will go to the Sheng Mansion to apologize!"

Pulling Su Yunfu, he kowtowed hurriedly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace. Long live the emperor!"

The next day, it was raining and snowing, and Zhuque Street was crowded with people watching the fun.

Lord Su led the way, and Madam Su supported Su Yunfu. The three of them wore thin white clothes and knelt after taking every step.

"Ouch, Miss Su's knee is bleeding!" a woman exclaimed.

Su Yunfu's lips were blue and purple from the cold, and her embroidered shoes were soaked by the snow.

When passing by the teahouse, laughter came from the second floor: "Isn't this Miss Su who insists on blaming Mr. Sheng?"

It was not until dusk that the three of them finally crawled to the gate of Sheng Mansion.

Lord Su's forehead was covered with ice, and he kowtowed heavily: "Please... forgive the Sheng family..."

Sheng Xitang stomped his feet: "You deserve it! My brother and sister-in-law won't forgive you!"

Mother Sheng thought that Sheng Xiyan was a concubine in the palace and she couldn't fall out with the Queen Mother, so the feud between the Su family had to be ended.

She came out on crutches, glanced in the direction of the palace, and sighed: "Neighbors, bear witness! My son Sheng Jingheng is innocent and has never had any relationship with the Su family girl! Our two families have no connection anymore."

Sheng Xitang shouted, "Aren't you leaving yet?!"

"Thank you, Madam Sheng."

Lord Su, Madam Su, and Su Yunfu kowtowed while trembling. The servants of the Su Mansion hurried over to help the three of them get into the carriage.

Inside the Sheng Mansion, Sheng Xitang immediately ordered his attendants, "Quick, send this letter to Jiangnan, and have my brother and sister-in-law return home quickly!"

Mother Sheng burns incense in the Sheng family ancestral hall...

"His father, Jing Heng is fine now and will be back with Ruan Niang soon. I am worried about Xi Yan now. She is about to give birth. Please don't let anything happen to her. You must keep your daughter and grandchildren safe and sound..."

Half a month later.

The Imperial Palace, in Jingren Palace.

Queen Duan leaned on the phoenix couch, twirling a black jade chess piece between her fingertips.

The candlelight cast a shadow on her face, making her almond-shaped eyes look even more sinister.

";Noble Concubine Chen will be due in ten days.";

The chess pieces slammed onto the board.

Ruyi whispered, "Your Majesty, I heard that if you put a little of 'Drunken Immortal Face' on your pillow, it can make you sleep for three days."

Empress Duan sneered, "If we use it on the Imperial Concubine during childbirth... and she falls asleep, how will the child be born?"

"Death in childbirth is a natural consequence. Tell Doctor Wang...it's time to repay his son's gambling debts."