The carriage had not gone far when suddenly the sound of hooves became rapid, and Xiao Lingchuan galloped up on his horse to block its path.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment. The Empress Dowager has urgent business to discuss with you."
Mo Yang reined in his horse and stopped. Xie Yizhi lifted the curtain, his brows furrowing slightly, and then strode down from the carriage.
Xiao Lingchuan dismounted and leaned closer to him, whispering, "After you left Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager received a letter from Yuanhua Temple..."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yizhi's eyes sharpened, his thin lips pursed, and he said coldly, "I understand."
As soon as he finished speaking, he mounted his horse, turned it around, and came to the carriage window. His tone left no room for doubt: "Luo Luo, you go back to the manor first."
Jiang Luoluo blinked, her eyes crinkling, and said softly, "Yes, Your Highness."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xie Yizhi whipped his horse and rode away in an instant.
Xiao Lingchuan was still in shock, watching helplessly as his horse was ridden away. He stamped his feet in panic and shouted, "Hey, Your Highness! That's my horse..."
However, Xie Yizhi simply waved his hand casually, and his voice drifted over: "You are just the right size to walk."
Xiao Lingchuan: "..."
Xie Yizhi felt terrible. He had hoped to spend some quality time with Jiang Luoluo in the carriage, and the atmosphere had been perfect, but Xiao Lingchuan had ruined it. He deserved to be punished by having to walk.
Inside the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Du picked up her teacup, her gaze deep and unfathomable as she stared at the letter that had burned out in the brazier.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xie Yizhi appeared at the palace gate, looking travel-worn and exuding a chilling aura.
He stepped inside, his voice low and somber: "Why did the Empress Dowager summon me back?"
Empress Dowager Du took a leisurely sip of tea and said calmly, "There are some things I forgot to discuss with you."
She put down her teacup, looked directly at Xie Yizhi, and said in a meaningful tone: "Your elder brother is in poor health, and the royal family has no heirs to this day, while you have only had one child, Zhichen, all these years."
Now that you've moved on from your previous relationship and married Jiang Luoluo, you should produce an heir for the royal family as soon as possible.
Xie Yizhi's gaze turned cold, and his voice revealed a hint of impatience: "Mother, please speak frankly. Your son has important matters to attend to."
Empress Dowager Du decided to stop beating around the bush and said in a calm tone, "Princess Anrou has always been in love with you. Jiang Luoluo is a scheming woman. You need someone who understands and cares for you."
"Let's take Lu Anrou as a concubine during this auspicious New Year."
Xie Yizhi's eyes darkened slightly, a cold smile playing on his lips.
After receiving the letter from Yuanhua Temple, Empress Dowager Du was in a hurry to send Lu Anrou to Prince Yi's residence, probably because there was something more to the letter than met the eye.
He curled his lips into a slight smile, his tone dismissive: "Mother's reach is a bit too far. Does Mother have to interfere in the affairs of my Prince Yi's mansion?"
Empress Dowager Du's face darkened, and she slammed her hand on the table, her eyebrows furrowing: "Xie Yizhi, you unfilial descendant! Everything I have done is for the sake of the Great Qi royal family!"
"You two brothers now only have one prince left. The royal line is dwindling. How can you face the late emperor?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Yizhi suddenly stood up and sneered, "Mother, don't try to pressure me with these words. I will not be as blindly loyal as my elder brother."
"You'd better give up on the idea of sending Lu Anrou to Prince Yi's residence!"
After saying this, he respectfully bowed, then strode around and walked out of the Cining Palace without looking back, heading straight for the outskirts of the imperial city.
The carriage carrying Jiang Luoluo moved slowly and suddenly stopped in front of Yunwei Clothing Shop.
"Your Highness, someone is causing trouble at Yunwei Clothing Shop," Mo Yang reported in a low voice from outside the carriage.
Jiang Luoluo, who was leaning against the soft couch, half asleep with her eyes half-closed, opened her eyes immediately upon hearing this and flung open the curtain.
At the shop entrance, a richly dressed maid stood with her hands on her hips, arrogantly shouting, "You lot, smash this signboard!"
Upon hearing this, several burly men rushed forward aggressively, forcibly removed the shop's signboard, and slammed it to the ground, breaking the wooden signboard in two.
Upon hearing the noise, Xiao Yunwei rushed out and, together with the shop assistants, blocked the entrance.
She stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "Young lady, how dare you openly smash people's shops in broad daylight? Who gave you the audacity?"
The maid was none other than Cui Liu, Lu Anrou's head maid.
With her hands on her hips and an extremely arrogant expression, she said, "Your shop sold fake clothes. My young lady had an allergic reaction after wearing them."
"We've only smashed your shops; not sending you to the authorities is already an act of immense mercy!"
With that, Cui Liu snorted coldly and waved her hand at the burly man behind her: "Smash it! Smash everything in the shop!"
Xiao Yunwei's expression changed slightly. Just as she was about to step forward to stop him, one of the burly men suddenly shoved her, causing her to stagger backward.
"stop!"
A clear and melodious female voice suddenly rang out, carrying an undeniable authority.
Cui Liu and the burly men all turned around and saw a woman dressed in brocade walking quickly towards them, with sharp eyes and an imposing aura.
Jiang Luoluo quickly stepped forward and helped Xiao Yunwei up. Her gaze swept coldly over Cuiliu, and her voice was slightly deep, with a hint of anger: "Cuiliu, it seems that you are just like your young lady, so forgetful."
Jiang Luoluo's status is now completely different from before. Although Cui Liu was unwilling, she dared not act rashly and could only bite the bullet and greet her: "This servant greets Princess Yi."
The strong men were startled when they heard that this was Princess Yi.
They were only doing their jobs for money, and if they offended Princess Yi, it would be no laughing matter. They all bowed their heads and clasped their hands, saying, "We are here to greet Princess Yi."
Jiang Luoluo's eyes darkened slightly as she surveyed her surroundings, her voice carrying an air of authority: "Who ordered you to do this?"
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