"Sixth Princess, are we just going to let that bandit go like that?!" Chen Ziying stood up, supported by her personal maid, and said angrily, her swollen face making her speech somewhat slurred.

"Haven't you had enough of being beaten?" Shang Chuyue glared at Chen Ziying with the look of someone looking at an idiot, and said through gritted teeth in a low voice, "You're just going to let it go like that? This princess isn't so easy to bully!"

After saying that, she ignored Chen Ziying's plans and led her palace servants away.

Chen Ziying, whose face was swollen like a pig, and Zhang Wanyun, who was timid and hesitant, were left standing there, dumbfounded.

Chen Ziying could hardly believe it.

She was beaten for speaking up for Shang Chuyue, and Shang Chuyue left without even saying a kind word?!

Holy crap!

What the heck is this friend?!

Her sister, the Empress, wanted her to get close to the Sixth Princess and Princess Zhaoping, but Princess Zhaoping completely ignored her, and the Sixth Princess was so ruthless. Was her sister, the Empress, trying to trick her?

Shang Chuyue walked to the courtyard where Emperor Shang Xiche was resting, grabbed her clothes and hair, making them messy, and suddenly burst into tears, running to Shang Xiche in a sobbing voice.

"Yue'er, what's wrong with you?" Shang Xiche asked in surprise. He doted on Shang Chuyue, which made her somewhat spoiled. People inside and outside the palace would avoid her, so who would be so audacious as to argue or fight with her?

"Father, Yue'er is heartbroken..." Shang Chuyue didn't say it directly, but buried her face in Shang Xiche's lap and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Xiao Luzi, tell me," Shang Xiche called on Shang Chuyue's attendant eunuch to explain the situation.

Xiao Luzi then recounted how Ji Fengyao had stolen all of Shang Chuyue's ornaments and how she had beaten Chen Ziying. Since he was Shang Chuyue's man, he naturally omitted the fact that Shang Chuyue had provoked him first.

But Shang Xiche, being in a high position and knowing his daughter's temperament well, was certainly aware of this.

He had doted on Shang Chuyue for many years and it had become a habit, but he was also somewhat annoyed by Ji Fengyao's arrogance and domineering attitude.

But right now he really needs her audacity and naivety so that he can find out the exact whereabouts of the Ninth Prince from her.

Later, he could also take advantage of the bandit's arrogance and stupidity to create trouble for the Ninth Prince.

Therefore, not only should the bandit's temper not be restrained, but it should be encouraged!

"Your Ninth Imperial Aunt has just arrived in the capital and hasn't seen many fine things before. You are a junior, so consider those pieces of jewelry as a token of your respect. Later, I will have the Imperial Household Department send you a few more sets of jewelry." Shang Xiche patted Shang Chuyue's back lightly, and the matter was considered settled.

Shang Chuyue never expected that her heartfelt performance would result in this: "Father, she stole me!"

"Moon," Shang Xiche said, his voice cold and displeased.

Seeing that he was about to get angry, Shang Chuyue was so frightened that she kept quiet, pouted, and this time she was really aggrieved and shed tears: "Yue'er understands, Yue'er will not mention this matter again in the future."

While Shang Chuyue's complaints and accusations went unanswered, Chen Ziying's side made considerable progress.

Seeing Chen Ziying's face swollen to the point of being unrecognizable, the Duchess felt heartbroken and pulled Empress Chen Ziyun to tears.

Chen Ziying was also crying loudly, shouting that she was in pain, that she was too ashamed to face anyone, and that she didn't want to live anymore.

Although the Empress felt sorry for her mother and sister, she still hesitated when she remembered the two walking corpse puppets she had obtained that night.

However, Duke Chen came in from outside, learned the whole story, and was so angry that he blew his beard and glared. He then flung his long sleeves and went out to find his sons to discuss how to take revenge.