Seeing this, Xu Yuehuai quickly said, "Your Majesty, it's not hard work."

As she spoke, her eyes continued to dart around the room.

However, in order to put Consort Min at ease, she couldn't help but say, "Your Highness's bedchamber seems to be even more magnificent than the Phoenix Palace."

Consort Min couldn't help but smile when she heard this.

"Someone, quickly serve tea to Princess Heyue." Consort Min knew in her heart that the Empress wouldn't send her anything for no reason.

Normally, Xu Yuehuai would have refused, but today she wanted to know what Consort Min's conspiracy was, so she simply agreed: "Thank you, Your Highness."

The two sat there drinking tea, each lost in their own thoughts. Just then, Xu Mingzhi finished eating, wiped his mouth, and came out.

He walked out, supporting his stomach, and even let out a few burps, completely disregarding the stares of the people in the palace: "The food in the palace is still the best. Only food like this is worthy of my status."

"This is the palace; you can't just say things like that." The palace maid standing nearby was terrified and quickly reminded him.

This person already had no manners, and now he pays no attention to etiquette whatsoever.

Xu Mingzhi was the kind of person who would elevate his cronies to power when they gained favor, and now that others were following him, he became even more arrogant: "So what? I'll tell you."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at the palace maid who had spoken earlier—although she wasn't particularly beautiful, she had a good figure and was more than capable of being his concubine. With that thought in mind, he immediately made up his mind.

He was going to ask Consort Min for this person.

When Xu Yuehuai heard Xu Mingzhi speak, she initially thought she was hallucinating, but the moment she saw him enter through the door, she froze.

How could this be? How could Xu Mingzhi be here? Xu Yuehuai's mind was filled with questions.

"Hey, Xu Yuehuai, I've finally met you." Xu Mingzhi was in a good mood after eating and took the initiative to greet her. "You eat and drink well in the palace while your parents suffer outside. I don't think you consider us your family at all."

As he spoke, a look of greed and smugness appeared on his face, making it clear that his intention was to ask for money.

Xu Yuehuai was a little unsure whether Xu Mingzhi's sudden entry into the palace was a deception of Consort Min or something that had been planned with her all along.

However, no matter what, she couldn't let Xu Mingzhi have his way.

"What are you doing here?" After her initial shock, she became somewhat angry. "Let me tell you, this is the palace, not a place where you can act recklessly. If you insist on causing trouble, don't blame me for having the guards arrest you."

"What am I here for? Of course, I'm here to see you, my dear sister. What, is there some law in the world that forbids me, as your younger brother, from visiting my sister?" Xu Mingzhi said as he ran over.

He looked at Xu Yuehuai's current appearance, dressed in fine silks and satins, enjoying a life of luxury, and even her complexion was better than before. It seemed that his guess was right; Xu Yuehuai had indeed come to the palace to live a good life.

"Our father is seriously ill, and our mother is also frail and sickly. That's why I've come to borrow some money from you." This Xu Mingzhi is a shameless scoundrel; he can lie without batting an eye.

Xu Yuehuai knew that Xu Mingzhi had nothing else to do but ask for money, and she was furious at this good-for-nothing: "Xu Mingzhi, let me tell you, I don't have a single penny to offer."

"Besides, the Cui family is currently staying at my Tianxiang Tower. If there really is a problem, they will naturally come and tell me. What does it have to do with you!" Xu Yuehuai did not want to be led by the nose by him.

Currently, Xu Mingzhi has been spoiled by Xu Jingui, and unless he encounters some major calamity, he will not change. Therefore, Xu Yuehuai does not intend to keep this younger brother to cause her trouble. Besides, why should a group of people who can even sell their own daughters benefit from her?

"You get out of the palace right now!" She was truly furious!

How could Xu Mingzhi possibly give up such a good opportunity? He immediately retorted angrily, "No way! Why should you live a life of luxury while we beg on the streets? Xu Yuehuai, where is your conscience?!"

Consort Min was overjoyed to see this, and she wanted to add fuel to the fire for Xu Mingzhi: "Princess Heyue, he is still your brother, why not help him out? With your Tianxiang Tower, you could easily feed seven or eight mouths."

She appeared to be mediating the fight, but in reality, she was telling Xu Mingzhi that Xu Yuehuai was very rich.

Xu Yuehuai glanced at Consort Min. Although she was angry, she couldn't vent her anger on her.

"Xu Mingzhi, come with me now, I'll escort you out of the palace." She could only vent all her anger on Xu Mingzhi.

Not to mention, she was already in a precarious situation in the palace. If Xu Mingzhi were added to the mix, she didn't know if she would even be able to survive!

Xu Mingzhi's eyes lit up: "I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving."

He just stayed there, and Xu Yuehuai couldn't do anything about it.

The palace is wonderful, with delicious food and drinks, and incredibly luxurious. He's only just arrived and hasn't even had a proper look around yet, so how can he leave? Besides, he hasn't even received the money.

Seeing that Xu Mingzhi had resorted to his thuggish tactics again, Xu Yuehuai simply ignored him.

He's a scoundrel who's only after money. If you want him to leave without paying, that's definitely not going to work.

"Fine, since you don't want to, then don't have anything to do with me anymore. Xu Mingzhi, don't even think about taking a single penny from me!" she said harshly.

If Consort Min really wants to get involved with this bottomless pit, then she must stay far away from it.

Thinking of this, Xu Yuehuai stood up, bowed to Consort Min, and left without saying a word.

She was furious. How could Xu Mingzhi have entered the palace and even gone to Consort Min's place?

...

Although Xu Yuehuai was angry, she still returned to Fengyi Palace, where the Empress was waiting for news from her.

"Ah Yue, how is Consort Min?" She noticed that Xu Yuehuai's expression was off, and guessed that she must have discovered something.

The Empress's eyes already held a hint of smugness. If she could eliminate Consort Min, this major threat, she would no longer have to worry about the palace, and it would remain her domain.

Xu Yuehuai was also very annoyed, and told the Empress the truth: "The person Amber saw was my younger brother, Xu Mingzhi. He came to the palace asking for money, and somehow he got involved with Consort Min. I also..."

"Oh? There's such a thing?" The Empress was slightly surprised, but then she felt that this was also an opportunity.