Despite her confusion, Heyue could not refuse and had no choice but to get up and agree.

The Empress Dowager looked at Heyue with a kind expression, but her eyes held a deep meaning: "Heyue, I know you have always been smart. You know in your heart what you should say and what you shouldn't say, so I won't say any more."

Heyue said she didn't want to understand, but damned Heyue actually guessed the Empress Dowager's intentions from her eyes and tone of voice.

Does this count as being caught in the crossfire?

He Yue said she was innocent, so why her?

Despite her inner complaints, Heyue chose to outwardly comply.

Before leaving, Heyue suddenly overheard the Empress Dowager saying to the Empress: "I heard that the two princesses from Yunxiang's household are in the palace. If you have time, bring them over. It's been a long time since I've seen them, and I really want to see them."

Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up in her heart, and Heyue could no longer stay there. She quickly left Yonghe Palace.

Once outside, He Yue took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to beat someone up, but her face was still frighteningly gloomy.

Hailan turned pale with fright and asked cautiously, "Madam, what's wrong?"

He Yue sneered, "That Wuya woman! Does she really think Zhao Jia He Yue is easy to bully?"

We'll see!

"Nothing!" He Yue said angrily, turned to leave, but then froze when she looked up.

Yongzheng stood not far away, his hands behind his back, looking in this direction, his expression unreadable. Su Peisheng stood bowing behind Yongzheng, and then, there was no one else.

Feeling embarrassed, He Yue quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "This humble servant, Zhao Jia, greets Your Majesty."

Yongzheng glanced at her indifferently, then turned and left, saying, "Come with me."

Heyue secretly groaned. On one hand, the Empress Dowager had spoken first, and on the other hand, it was the Emperor's order. Heyue had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow.

Yongzheng headed towards the Western Six Palaces.

There were no concubines in the Western Six Palaces. Apart from the Empress's Yongshou Palace, the other palaces were empty, so it was impossible for her to be visiting any concubine.

The Empress is currently in Yonghe Palace, which Yongzheng could not possibly be unaware of. Therefore, it is impossible for him to be visiting the Empress. There is only one possibility: he is going to Yangxin Hall.

Since Emperor Yongzheng ascended the throne, he has not handled government affairs in the Qianqing Palace, but instead moved to the Yangxin Hall in the south of the Western Six Palaces.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is quite far from here; you need to pass through the Jinghe Gate and the Longfu Gate, and then you have to pass behind the Qianqing Palace.

Normally, no one would dare to pass behind the Qianqing Palace, but since the emperor was leading the way, he could do as he pleased.

Ke Heyue didn't understand what Yongzheng meant by asking her to come along.

If you want to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, that belongs to the previous dynasty, and it's not a place Heyue should go.

Su Peisheng and the eunuchs carrying the sedan chair followed at a distance, while Heyue also lagged behind Yongzheng a few steps behind. The scene seemed strange no matter how you looked at it.

Passing through Longfu Gate and heading south, Heyue lowered her head, trying hard to figure out how to start the conversation.

The Empress Dowager naturally hoped that Heyue could persuade Yongzheng to allow the Fourteenth Prince to return to the capital to see her.

But Heyue was not going to be foolish enough to listen. If she said those words, the already furious Yongzheng might take his anger out on her.

However, the Empress Dowager threatened Heyue with Tongxuan and Tongya. Since Tongxuan and Tongya were in the palace, it would be easy for the Empress Dowager to see them, and it would be even easier to make the two children suffer grievances without giving anyone a handle to use against them.

Heyue felt extremely overwhelmed.

Just then, Yongzheng, who was in front of him, suddenly stopped.

Heyue almost bumped into it, but luckily she regained her senses in time, hurriedly took a step back, and stood properly with her head down.

Back when they lived in Prince Yong's residence outside the palace, Heyue had never been this obedient.

This was the first time Heyue had truly met Prince Yong face-to-face since Yongzheng ascended the throne.

For some reason, Heyue felt nervous. The emperor's imposing presence made it impossible for her to simply see the person in front of her as the Prince Yong who had spoiled her. She was even more nervous than when she was facing Emperor Kangxi.

"Zhao Jia, do you know your crime?"

He Yue was lost in thought when she suddenly heard this cold remark, and her mind went completely blank.

What's the meaning?

What constitutes knowing one's guilt?

He Yue almost looked up and stared directly at Yongzheng to ask him what crime he was being punished for, but fortunately she caught a glimpse of a bright yellow robe in front of her and realized that the person in front of her was the emperor, which brought her back to her senses.

He quickly wondered if he was angry because he had reacted too slowly and almost bumped into him.

"Surely not?" He Yue wailed, "She really didn't mean it."

Despite feeling wronged, Heyue obediently admitted her mistake: "Heyue shouldn't have walked too fast and almost bumped into the Emperor."

"Pfft!" Someone chuckled, then vanished instantly.

He Yue didn't know who it was, but judging from the location of the voice, it should be Su Peisheng. He cursed the other party's ancestors for eighteen generations in his mind.

Yongzheng coughed lightly, his fist pressed against his lips, his face tense, and coldly snorted: "Eloquent and eloquent? Kneel before me! Kneel until you understand!"

ah?

Heyue was stunned. She looked up abruptly, only to see Yongzheng's cold and upright back.

What happened? Why are they suddenly labeling her as a smooth talker? What did she say?

All I said was that I almost bumped into him. How did that become so eloquent?

Was she wrong?

However, Yongzheng did not give Heyue any chance to explain or ask questions, and left decisively.

He Yue had no choice but to kneel by the roadside, her bitterness indescribable.

What bad luck she's had! She's been wrongly accused!

He knelt for two hours straight. The weather was still chilly despite the fluctuating temperatures; the cold seeped through his skirt into his knees, making his bones ache.

At noon, someone came to deliver the emperor's message, ordering Heyue to go home.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!