Chapter 50 I refuse to admit this mistake!

Princess Qingyun immediately looked at the man in the hall.

But Li Chengxun's gaze was fixed on the thin and straight back of the woman in front of him.

The Empress Dowager sneered: "Just now, Li Chengxun said that you two have no marriage agreement, so why does his marriage need your consent!"

"This humble woman and Young Master Li have long been..."

Ji Qingwu's words, along with the aloof male voice, echoed in the hall.

"I have no connection or personal relationship with Miss Ji."

Ji Qingwu turned to look at him in surprise.

Li Chengxun looked back at her puzzled eyes and said, word by word, "Miss Ji must have misspoke."

After saying that, he lowered his eyes, not wanting to see the deep disappointment and shock that filled her once bright and beautiful eyes.

Upon receiving this answer, Princess Qingyun couldn't stop smiling, and the Empress Dowager also showed a satisfied expression.

Ji Qingwu was briefly confused.

The feeling was as if she were fighting bravely on the battlefield, and when she turned around, she found that the city gate she was defending with her life was now flying a white flag.

There was also a momentary hearing loss.

The Empress Dowager's lips moved, and she didn't hear what she said.

He's probably going to get a beating.

A strange emotion welled up in her heart. The note that Emperor Wusu left for her contained only two words: "Sever ties."

Severing ties and drawing a clear line...

How ridiculous! She, the one who was to be punished, didn't do it; instead, Li Chengxun did it decisively first.

Two palace maids came over and pulled her away.

They grabbed her arm and tried to drag her out.

Ji Qingwu looked around at everyone in the hall.

The Empress Dowager twirled the prayer beads in her hand, waved her sleeve, and gestured for her to be pulled away quickly. Princess Qingyun looked on smugly with a pout.

A moment of sorrow seemed to flash in Li Chengxun's eyes, but he remained seated calmly in the hall.

Ji Qingwu used her arms to push the two palace maids who were pulling her to the ground.

"I do not admit to this mistake!"

"I will not accept this punishment!"

Seeing her actions, the Empress Dowager stood up and angrily rebuked her, "What do you think this place is, daring to be so insolent!"

Ji Qingwu's lips curled into a smile.

"It was the princess who bullied me first. The Empress Dowager clearly knew everything. The princess feigned illness to win your maternal affection. Don't I have a mother or family who love me?"

Hearing her mention her mother and family, the Empress Dowager's heart sank.

If I punish her myself, the Ji family won't have any objections. The difficult part is dealing with Ji Qingwu's maternal grandparents' family.

Qiao Menghan was the Crown Prince's tutor, and his four sons served as officials in the same court. The whole family was known for their integrity and valued their reputation above all else. If he were to go against the court over this matter, even if she were the Empress Dowager, she might not be able to suppress him.

Ji Qingwu, with her neck stiff and her expression defiant, said, "Punish me if you will, but I will not accept this punishment."

She turned her gaze to the man sitting gracefully in the chair.

"Since Young Master Li says that it has nothing to do with me, why don't you ask my maternal grandmother and uncle to ask them if this is true as well?"

Li Chengxun's brow twitched slightly.

After considering for a moment, the Empress Dowager said, "Qingwu, I don't want to punish you, but your temper is too unruly. You react like this after just a few words. Do you still remember that a woman should be gentle and virtuous?"

After weighing the options in her mind, the Empress Dowager sighed and said, "The beating is spared. Go to the door and kneel as punishment."

Seeing the palace maids trying to pull her away again, Ji Qingwu said, "No need, I have legs and I can walk."

"What punishment of kneeling?"

A clear, ethereal voice came from the doorway.

Everyone in the hall looked over.

Princess Huachang, holding a small white orchid fan, entered the hall with two maids behind her.

She gracefully waved her fan, wearing an elegant light blue palace dress with silver peonies embroidered on the cuffs and a blue seascape with clouds reflected on the hem.

Princess Huachang greeted her in a calm voice: "Mother."

The Empress Dowager was momentarily stunned, then said in surprise, "Huachang, you've come."

Qingyun stood up, bowed her head, and respectfully called out, "Royal Sister."

Princess Huachang glanced at Li Chengxun and said, "Men, please step aside. I have something to say to the Empress Dowager."

Qingyun watched the man's figure leave the hall with a hint of reluctance.

Upon seeing the celestial princess, Ji Qingwu felt elated and less indignant, and didn't even notice when Li Chengxun left.

Indeed, looking at beautiful women can soothe the mind.

Princess Huachang sat in Qingyun's seat, her every move as elegant as flowing wind and swirling snow.

She asked, "I heard a lot of noise inside when I was at the door. Who is the Empress Dowager arguing with?"

The Empress Dowager returned to her throne, avoiding Princess Huachang's icy gaze.

Shi Xi stepped forward and explained, "Your Highness, there was no quarrel inside. Perhaps you misheard because of the distance."

"I am speaking with the Empress Dowager. Who do you think you are to interrupt?"

Princess Huachang showed no politeness to the palace servants serving the Empress Dowager.

Shi Xi hurriedly knelt down and said, "This servant was too talkative, this servant is guilty."

"If someone is guilty, they should be punished." Princess Huachang said in a cool tone, "Go and kneel at the door as punishment."

Shi Xi didn't even try to explain, and the Empress Dowager didn't stop him; he just went out and knelt down.

What's the difference between this and directly slapping the Empress Dowager in the face?

If the eldest princess hadn't appeared, Ji Qingwu would have been the one punished by kneeling.

Her eyes lit up; she seemed to have discovered something extraordinary.

Ever since Princess Huachang made her appearance, the Empress Dowager has been like a wilted eggplant, losing all her former aura and majesty.

Noticing Ji Qingwu's gaze, a hint of a smile appeared in Princess Huachang's usually calm eyes.

"I heard that Miss Ji stayed at Zhaoyang Palace yesterday."

The eldest princess lives outside the palace, yet she is so well-informed that she even knows that the emperor is staying in his bedroom.

Ji Qingwu quickly turned back, her fingers tightening, and said softly, "I'm just staying here for one night."

She lost her earlier aggressive and reckless demeanor and stood obediently to the side.

"I came here to see Miss Ji. A few days ago, you went to the Princess's residence and we arranged a follow-up appointment. I have been waiting for you for a long time this morning."

Ji Qingwu raised her delicate eyebrows, meeting the cold gaze of the Princess, and slowly confirmed, "Is it... today...?"

“Miss Ji, you are so young, yet your memory is so bad. You should take my health care seriously.”

Ji Qingwu obediently agreed.

"Mother, I'm taking the person with me."

Princess Huachang stood up before the Empress Dowager could answer.

As the Empress Dowager watched the two figures, one in blue and one in green, leave, she pushed the teacup on the table to the ground.

Having been caught red-handed once, does that mean she has to be controlled for life?! That won't do...

I walked out of the Cining Palace.

Ji Qingwu quietly followed behind Princess Huachang.

Watching her walk, her long skirt billowed out like layers of peonies blooming in a blue lake.

"Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"

Princess Huachang stopped referring to herself as "this palace" and asked indifferently.

"For example, why did I come here? Why would I help you out of a predicament?"

Ji Qingwu's eyes flickered.