Sure enough, as soon as the palace maids and three maids left the room, the Empress Dowager immediately brought up the topic of Shang Xize: "Feng Yao, this is Xize. He is the fourth among his brothers. You two became acquainted through a fight just now."

This is a typical opening line used by an elder when introducing a blind date.

As the Empress Dowager spoke, Shang Xize even turned his head to give Ji Fengyao a gentle and refined smile, which was quite comical given his bruised and swollen face.

Ji Fengyao gave an ambiguous "hmm," then lowered her head to skim the foam from the tea leaves in her teacup with the lid, not even glancing at Shang Xize.

She knew that as soon as she struck up a conversation with Shang Xize, the old hag would most likely find an excuse to leave, shamelessly forcing the two of them to be alone together.

Even if she and Shang Xize just sit and chat about something unrelated, rumors will definitely spread outside that they were alone together.

If Shang Xize were bolder and publicly fawned over her a few times, it would be a certainty that she and Shang Xize were having an affair.

The Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince are indeed grandfather and grandson; even their strategies are remarkably similar.

Seeing that Ji Fengyao had no interest in speaking, the Empress Dowager took a deep breath and patiently said, "Although Xize is younger than his older brothers, I think his talent, character, and interpersonal skills are all excellent; his impulsive older brothers, even the Crown Prince, are far inferior to him."

Listen to this! Is this the kind of thing an empress dowager should say?

You took advantage of her because she was a bandit who knew nothing, so you let yourself go?

Ji Fengyao put down her untouched teacup, looked up at the Empress Dowager with a half-smile, and said crisply, "Empress Dowager, please be careful with your words. The Crown Prince is the heir apparent of the country. Even as an elder, you should not speak recklessly. Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives hears this, they may take advantage of it and cause trouble."

Empress Dowager: "!!!"

That damned bandit! Who taught her these principles that left her speechless?

The Empress Dowager coughed violently in embarrassment, her face flushed and her breath coming in gasps. She waved her hand lightly and changed the subject: "I think I've caught a cold and I'm feeling a bit tired. Xize, you keep Princess Chonghe company for me while I go and rest for a while."

So the fox's tail is showing now?

Are they abandoning all decorum and etiquette, determined to force the two of them to stay together?

Ji Fengyao sneered, stood up and stopped the palace maid who was about to push the Empress Dowager away, and reached out to take the Empress Dowager's pulse: "Catching a cold is no small matter. Your Majesty, you are too old. You cannot delay your illness. I happen to know some medicine, so I will dare to take a look at you and prescribe some medicine for you."

"No need!" The Empress Dowager withdrew her hand impatiently and forcefully, saying, "It's just a minor ailment. Why take any medicine? A good night's sleep will do the trick."

“Princess Chonghe, the Empress Dowager is tired, so let her go and rest. Xize will stay here to keep her company…” As Shang Xize spoke, he reached out to pull Ji Fengyao.

Ji Fengyao reached out and grabbed the teacup on her tea table, slamming it down at Shang Xize's feet. She angrily said, "What do you think you are? Do you even deserve to stay here and keep me company?"

I am your elder, and also a woman from the inner courtyard of your mansion;

You should not sit within three feet of me, nor walk within three steps, let alone dare to touch or pull me. As a member of the royal family, you have learned all the proper etiquette and rules but have forgotten them.

Or perhaps you've become so lawless because you think you can get away with anything just because the Empress Dowager dotes on you!