Yan Mingyi's face was as cold as ice, covered in frost. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails broke off: "How dare he!"

That was his father, the emperor. How could he be so cruel?

Bloodshot veins filled her eyes, and Yan Mingyi staggered two steps in despair, a bitter smile on her face.

It turns out that her father had always wanted to pass the throne to her until his death.

When her father’s edict was issued, she initially fell into self-doubt, wondering if she was not good enough, or if her father also felt that she was a woman and not fit to be entrusted with important responsibilities, so he chose to step down.

She never imagined that her father had always favored her and had never wavered!

Yan Mingyi vaguely recalled when she was young, her father taught her to write, and the first character he taught her was "君" (jun, meaning "ruler").

The Emperor narrowed his eyes languidly: "Does Mingyi know what this means?"

The still-naive princess, with a straight face, looked up and said in a clear voice, "The Grand Tutor said that 'Jun' means Emperor, referring to Father Emperor."

Her father gave her a half-smile: "You can also be a ruler."

Mingyi stared blankly, her eyes wide, before finally managing to stammer, "How can a subject be a ruler?"

The Emperor embraced her and laughed heartily: "Why not? My Mingyi was born to sit in this position!"

...

Her father gave her ambition and the right to grow it; he did not believe that it was wrong for a woman to have ambition.

Her father, who was such a good emperor, left her forever, dying at the hands of his own son.

Yan Mingyi suddenly closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Your Highness?" Hui Niang hurriedly and carefully wiped away her tears.

Yan Mingyi grabbed her hand, her eyes clear: "How did you escape?"

She ordered her men to investigate secretly, and upon hearing that a woman with disfigured features had come out of the palace, she guessed that Hui Niang might still be alive.

But for some reason, the other party stopped responding and simply gave up the reward, which was really annoying!

A hint of fear inevitably flashed in Hui Niang's eyes: "The Second Prince has locked me and all the palace servants of Qianqing Palace in a palace, and he's going to burn us alive!"

All around her were desperate cries and pleas. She was choked by the thick smoke and could hardly breathe. She almost thought she was going to die!

Her voice trembled, "A kind old woman happened to be passing by and saved me."

She was already unconscious at that time and did not see what the old woman looked like. When she woke up, she found herself in the imperial kitchen.

The head aunt there recognized her. Although she had been strict with her before, she was ultimately a kind-hearted person with a sharp tongue, and she helped to conceal her whereabouts.

Knowing that she would be found sooner or later, Hui Niang used a fire poker to brand her face several times.

The head maid was terrified. She gritted her teeth and said, "The palace is too dangerous. I'll send you out of the palace!"

Hui Niang left the palace with the buckets of swill, and began a life of hiding.

It wasn't until Princess Yun'an received the imperial favor and was granted early access to her own residence that she was able to live in peace for a while.

Yan Mingyi's heart pounded as she listened, her face turning pale and then flushed, a sharp pain shooting through her broken fingernail.

She had doubts in her heart. The timing of the nanny who rescued her, as Hui Niang had mentioned, was too coincidental. Moreover, the nanny who managed to rescue Hui Niang under such circumstances must be quite capable.

She decided to go back and have someone investigate.

"Huiniang, you've worked so hard all these years."

As always, Yan Mingyi gently patted her head with tender eyes.

She chose Hui Niang because she looked so pitiful, with round eyes full of curiosity and wonder about the outside world.