He then sneered, "If the situation were reversed and my child were in your hands, I'm afraid I would be the one kneeling down begging for mercy, begging to die and beg for my life."

At this moment, Ji Mingwei was once again thankful that the child was in the palace and that Ye Qingxue had failed to catch the child.

Although sending him to the palace was risky, it was safe at least for the time being, and they were confident they could kill the emperor!

Thinking of this, Ji Mingwei was unwilling to continue entangled with Ye Qingxue, lest things get complicated and who knew if Ye Qingxue was deliberately stalling for time here?

However, her people haven't received any news yet that the Crown Prince's mansion has surrounded Suolongwu. They figure that since Xiaobao is here, they won't dare to make any rash moves!

"I just want to see Xiaobao one last time!" Ye Qingxue said in a deep voice. After she finished speaking, she pursed her lips. This was her only request, her final request!

Just want to see my child one last time!

“You still doubt that Xiaobao is with me, right? I’ll make you believe me! As for your wish to see Xiaobao one last time, I don’t believe you!” Ji Mingwei said.

The more Ye Qingxue insisted, the more Ji Mingwei believed she was up to something. If Ye Qingxue saw the child and ran away with him, then all her efforts would be in vain.

“When you die, I can let the children see you one last time, but not now!” Ji Mingwei said, calling Yunxiang’er over.

"Go and fetch the token of the eldest grandson of the emperor. It should be a token that the Crown Princess can recognize at a glance. It's best if it has a little blood on it, so she won't suspect anything!"

Dong Bai, unable to bear it any longer, said: "Princess Xuan, you are also a mother yourself, and you have two children. My Crown Princess only wants to see her children one last time. Why are you so heartless!"

Ji Mingwei said, "It is precisely because I have two children that I cannot afford to make any mistakes!"

Yunxiang sneered and turned to walk out!

Ye Qingxue swiftly grabbed Yun Xiang'er's arm. Yun Xiang'er's expression changed drastically. She was about to retaliate when Ye Qingxue spoke to Ji Mingwei: "If you're worried that I'm treacherous, you can tie me up. Don't hurt the child."

Ji Mingwei asked, "Is the Crown Princess begging me?"

Ye Qingxue's lips were pressed tightly together.

Dongbai and the others remained silent, but they felt as if their hearts were being squeezed, and a sharp pain shot through them.

Finally, Ye Qingxue spoke up: "Yes, I'm begging you!"

Dong Bai froze, feeling as if a huge hole had been torn in his chest, from which fresh blood was gushing out. The pain was beyond words.

Her family's Crown Princess has never asked anyone for a favor.

At that moment, Ji Mingwei felt an immense thrill from power, and she was overjoyed. "When you ask for help, you have to act like one!"

Ye Qingxue released Yun Xiang'er, who quickly slipped to the side. Ji Mingwei glanced at her, and she quietly withdrew.

Ji Mingwei had her men spread pebbles a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) long on the ground inside the cave, and she and Ye Qingxue stood at opposite ends of the pebble path.

Ji Mingwei said, "If you crawl on your knees to me, I might consider letting you see your child one last time."

Dong Bai dug her fingertips into her palm, drawing blood. "Princess Xuan, what good does it do you to mistreat a mother like this?!"

“But she’s not just a mother, she’s also the Crown Princess,” Ji Mingwei said with a smile, sitting in the carpeted chair opposite her.

What's the difference between the Crown Princess groveling at her feet and her trampling the entire Great Zhou Dynasty under her feet?

At this moment, she felt incredibly happy, as if she could already see herself sitting with Yun Xun, ruling the world together.

Ye Qingxue followed the sharp, ten-foot-long stone path in front of her, looked at Ji Mingwei opposite her, closed her eyes, and smelled a scent wafting to her nose.

She thought to herself with a touch of self-deprecation that even at this hour, she could still smell the damp fragrance of flowers mixed with the earthy scent of the cave—a very unique aroma.

In another cave.

On the damp ground lay a child, covered in filth, his face smeared with mud, making him almost unrecognizable.

However, upon closer inspection, it can be confirmed that he is indeed Yun Zhaolin, the eldest grandson of the Crown Prince.

Yunxiang'er let the maid come in and take off his dirty clothes. He was fast asleep, or rather, unconscious, and did not respond at all.

After taking off his clothes, the maid took out a knife and slashed Xiao Bao's wrist, letting the blood drip onto his outer garment.

"Xiao Bao, Xiao Bao, Yun Zhaolin, Yun Zhaolin..." A woman's gentle calls and murmurs, full of love, echoed from the void.

Xiao Bao's long eyelashes trembled. He smelled the incredibly damp floral fragrance carrying the scent of earth and lake water, and he felt a sharp pain in his wrist.

It's so cold.

The woman's gentle voice continued in his ear: "I've brought you back. From now on, I'm your mother, and we're truly mother and son, little Abao."

Mother, Xiao Bao, Yun Zhaolin.

As the thick fog dissipated layer by layer, he felt as if he were enveloped by the woman's warm aura and slowly opened his eyes.