Shen Jia was too excited and quickly got up to go in, but as soon as she took a small step closer to the door, the Qingyu Guard drew his sword and blocked her way.

"Your Majesty!"

One of the Qingyu Guards stopped Shen Jia, while the other turned around, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and bowed to Ning Yin.

"What happened?"

Ning Yin asked casually, and Qingyu Guard recounted how Shen Jia had knelt until the hour of Yin yesterday and had come to kneel again early this morning.

Qingyuwei originally didn't want to talk about it, but the wind and rain last night were so fierce that Shen Jia actually knelt until the hour of Yin.

That night, wearing soaked clothes, Shen Jia could no longer bear it and limped back to Chang Le Palace.

Unexpectedly, this morning, when they were preparing to change shifts, the woman came limping over again.

After hearing Qingyuwei's words, Ningyin was somewhat shocked. She thought that Shen Jia used to be just a pampered young lady who had everything done for her, but now she could actually do this much.

But when she thought of her grandmother, she still couldn't forgive someone like Shen Jia.

Ning Yin took a few steps forward, glanced at the exhausted Shen Jia, and said coldly, "Go back. There's nothing to say between us. I didn't cause you any trouble not because I'm easy to talk to, but because I didn't want to waste my time on someone like you."

Having said that, Ningyin turned and flicked her sleeves to leave.

Unexpectedly, Shen Jia knelt down again and said, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. I was blinded by greed before. It is only right that Your Majesty does not forgive me. However, I have something important to tell Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will listen to my words. I will leave after I finish speaking."

Seeing her earnestness, as if it were something important, Ningyin stopped and said coldly.

"Speak your mind!"

She didn't turn around, her face expressionless.

"Your Majesty, Marquis Wuding is colluding with the people of Chu and plotting a rebellion. It is likely that the Chu princess will enter the palace in a few days. Marquis Wuding has already put pressure on His Majesty, saying that he wants His Highness the Crown Prince to make her a concubine."

In order to gain Ning Yin's forgiveness, Shen Jia told her everything she had heard that day.

Even the seasoned Qingyu Guards, who were used to seeing big scenes, gasped in shock after hearing this. This Shen Jia was truly audacious.

Isn't she the mistress of the Marquis of Wuding? What kind of daughter-in-law sues her own husband's family? Isn't this just pushing herself to her death as well?

The laws of the Great Qi state that anyone who intends to rebel will have their entire family, up to nine generations, executed once confirmed. Even newborn infants will not be spared, let alone Shen Jia, the matriarch.

Although Qingyu Wei was surprised, he still stood quietly to the side, waiting for Ning Yin to speak.

"Your Highness, please believe me. I have not uttered a single falsehood."

Shen Jia crawled forward a few more steps on her knees and pledged her loyalty once more. When Madam Yan Qing behind her heard Shen Jia say this, her expression changed instantly, as if she were very worried.

"Bring her in!"

Seeing that Shen Jia still wanted to continue speaking, Ning Yin ordered the Qingyu Guards to bring her into Zhaoyang Palace. However, since Yan Qing's wife was dressed as a maid, Ning Yin didn't pay much attention and let her wait outside the palace.

Once only Shen Jia and Su Xin remained in the hall, Ning Yin picked up her teacup and took a sip of Biluochun tea. She lowered her eyes and glanced at Shen Jia on the ground, pondering why Shen Jia seemed like a different person.

However, she soon found the answer: Yang Shujing was a playboy who was used to indulging in pleasures and didn't care about anyone.

Their marriage to Shen Jia was simply because they valued Shen Yun's position in the court.

But given Yang Shujing's personality, how could he possibly remain chaste for Shen Jia?

Perhaps it was because Yang Shujing was fickle that Shen Jia realized how foolish she had been.

Ning Yin pondered for a moment, and then thought of what Shen Jia had just said, her eyes gradually darkened.

"Is everything you just said true?"

Her voice was cold and her expression was serious. Shen Jia sensed that Ning Yin above her was no longer the submissive wife who was bullied by everyone.

She was the true Crown Princess, and no one like her could possibly defile her.

She prostrated herself on the ground, lowered her head even further, and then respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, what I said is absolutely true. This princess of Chu may enter the palace in a few days, and then she will be His Highness the Crown Prince's concubine. You..."

Shen Jia lowered her voice a few decibels as she spoke, not daring to continue. She really wanted to say that His Highness the Crown Prince would not only have her as a concubine in the future.

He will fill his harem to the brim, and even the Crown Prince's principal wife will have to share her husband with other women.

But if she were to stay with her brother, she would be the only mistress of the house, and her brother would certainly not marry anyone else.

She could tell that Ning Yin held a very important place in her brother's heart.

As Shen Jia pondered her brother's instructions and was about to speak, Ning Yin's deep voice rang out again.

"Go on!"

Shen Jia swallowed hard, trying to compose herself.

"Your Majesty, during the Qingming Festival a while ago, my brother took me to tidy up your mother's and grandmother's graves. We cleared away all the weeds. My brother said that he goes to sweep their graves every year, so you can rest assured."

Shen Jia had rehearsed these words in her mind many times, and when she said them now, they sounded so real.

After she finished speaking, Ning Yin did not respond. Shen Jia felt uneasy, wondering what Ning Yin would think.

She knew that Ning Yin cared most about her mother and grandmother, and that Ning Yin must also want to go back in person to fulfill her filial duties.

After a while, Shen Jia secretly glanced at Ning Yin above. Ning Yin's complexion was not good, and her eyes were misty.

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