Despite the pleading in Consort Lian's words, Granny Cai remained unmoved, her face taut as she spoke.

"You flatter me, Your Highness. The Imperial Concubine's original instructions were for this old servant to invite Your Highness and the Second Prince. This old servant is merely a messenger."

"How dare I presume to make decisions for the Imperial Concubine? Your Highness, please leave. Don't put this old servant in a difficult position. If we start fighting, it will be Your Highness who suffers."

"But..." Consort Lian wanted to plead again, but her hand, which was resting on the wheelchair, was covered by a pair of icy hands.

Meeting Helian Ci's calm and unwavering black eyes, Consort Lian's anxious heart inexplicably calmed down. "Ci'er..."

"Mother, I'm fine, let's go." Helian Ci's voice was very hoarse, but it inexplicably made Consort Lian feel at ease.

Looking at the group of unfriendly-looking palace maids and eunuchs following behind Granny Cai, and then at Granny Cai's unyielding expression,

Consort Lian suppressed the bitterness surging in her heart. It was all because she, as the mother, was useless that her son, Ci'er, had to suffer such injustice.

The mother and son were led out of the dilapidated courtyard by a group of palace maids and eunuchs brought by Granny Cai.

Stepping out of that dilapidated courtyard, every step they took revealed a stark contrast to the shabby state of their own homes—a stark contrast to the opulent and magnificent surroundings.

On Helian Ci's pale, bloodless face, his pair of eyes, as black as the night, remained completely undisturbed.

To him, the magnificent palace before him was no different from the dilapidated courtyard where he had lived for many years.

Consort Lian, however, had developed a deep-seated timidity from living in that dilapidated courtyard for so long that she felt extremely distressed every time she saw him.

Granny Cai dared not look directly at Helian Ci, and could only secretly observe him out of the corner of her eye, taking in the reactions of both mother and son.

Helian Ci's reaction caused the unease she had just suppressed to slowly resurface.

No, if this continues, the Second Prince will become a menace sooner or later. She needs to have a serious talk with the Empress about what happened tonight.

We can't delay any longer. We should increase the dosage of the medicine and get rid of the Second Prince as soon as possible.

Inside the main hall, Wen Changle, dressed in a magnificent gown and exuding an air of elegance, sat in the main seat, gracefully sipping the finest Longjing tea.

On the table that served as a teacup, there was a black whip about the thickness of a finger. If you looked closely, you could see specks of red stained between the black slits.

The night grew thicker and thicker. Ronghua Palace was brightly lit, yet its doors and windows were tightly shut. In this deathly silence, the faint sounds of whips striking flesh and the muffled groans of gritted teeth could be heard.

An upside-down night owl with jet-black wings was perched on a tree in Ronghua Palace. Its eyes, slightly tinged with scarlet, darted about, and it occasionally let out a strange cry.

**

The next day.

The first rays of gold on a midsummer morning shone through the dense branches of the tree, illuminating the layers of bed curtains inside the window.

The little girl lay sprawled on the bed, dreaming sweetly.

"077, wake up! Are you a pig?!" A golden lotus floats in mid-air, shimmering with light.

Holding a Peppa Pig-themed toothbrush, she carefully brushed her bright white teeth.

Fo Lian felt utterly disgusted and contemptuous of Helian Si, who was still fast asleep in bed. They were both NPCs under the Heavenly Dao, after all.

I am such an early riser, a positive and motivated young person, a future hope and pillar of the NPC world.

And then look at 077, tsk tsk tsk, it's simply a major blunder for the future of NPCs.