Jiang Luoluo took Dingdang back to the Jiang residence first, while Empress Dowager Du kept Xie Yizhi and Xie Zhichen behind.
She felt a tightness in her chest after what happened today. It wasn't that she was upset that Xie Yizhi was almost framed and lost his innocence, but rather that she was upset that Xie Zhichen hadn't told her about it right away.
His son is becoming increasingly unruly, a passive observer, and has a withdrawn and aloof personality, yet he is completely infatuated with Jiang Luoluo, that infamous little vixen.
With a sharp "smash," Empress Dowager Du slammed her teacup down on the table, her anger blazing.
"Do you even respect me as your mother? You've repeatedly sided with that little vixen Jiang Luoluo!" Her voice trembled slightly, her anger palpable.
"I already knew about Jiang Yuelan's situation and was preparing to make other plans, but you interfered and managed to obtain an imperial edict from the Emperor to send her to Yuanhua Temple." Empress Dowager Du's expression was cold and her tone could not hide her disappointment.
"Last time, Jiang Luoluo almost died at the hands of mountain bandits, and you rushed into the mountains to save her, disregarding your own safety!"
"At today's flower-viewing banquet, An Rou and you only had a minor disagreement, yet you completely disregarded your princely dignity and made things difficult for An Rou!"
Empress Dowager Du took a deep breath, gripped the armrest tightly with her fingers, and her eyes revealed a sharp scrutiny.
"Jiang Luoluo used to be completely devoted to Gu Boyuan, but after Gu Boyuan broke off the engagement, she turned around and clung to you."
Do you really think that such a fickle and promiscuous woman is fit to be the mistress of Prince Yi's mansion?!
As she spoke, her gaze turned cold, fixing directly on Xie Yizhi, as if trying to discern something from his eyes.
"And Xie Zhichen! His mouth was clearly healed a long time ago, why didn't you tell me? Do you even consider me your mother?"
Empress Dowager Du spoke each word with gritted teeth, her suppressed anger bursting forth without uttering a single word.
Her chest heaved slightly, clearly indicating that her anger was hard to quell.
Xie Yizhi's eyes were cold and indifferent, and his face showed no emotion whatsoever.
This is his mother; without even asking whether he was injured because he was framed, she immediately started criticizing him.
But what's so strange about that?
What is there to look forward to if a mother who can send someone to assassinate her own son?
He parted his thin lips slightly, his voice clear and powerful, carrying an imposing authority: "Empress Dowager, as the Empress Dowager of the nation, you have taken things out of context and maliciously judged a woman."
With such words, how can you maintain the dignity of the Empress Dowager?
Xie Yizhi coldly swept his gaze over Empress Dowager Du, "Luo Luo will be my wife, Mother. Please remember this well: you must never speak ill of her in front of me again!"
Empress Dowager Du's face changed with anger; she had received many benefits from Lu Anrou.
She had promised Lu Anrou that she would fight for the position of Princess Yi, but Jiang Luoluo had beaten her to it, and she was furious.
Empress Dowager Du finally found a fault and immediately began to scold, "That Jiang Luoluo doesn't know anything about medicine. Why did you lie in front of everyone and say that she cured Zhichen's lip disease?"
Xie Yizhi's expression was indifferent, and his tone was unhurried, "The Empress Dowager has been confined to the inner palace for many years, and her views on matters are like those of a frog in a well."
You doubt that others can do what you yourself cannot do.
Empress Dowager Du was rendered speechless by Xie Yizhi's rebuttal, feeling a surge of anger rising in her chest that she could neither vent nor suppress, leaving her feeling unbearably stifled.
"If Mother has nothing else to say, then I will not disturb you," Xie Yizhi said coldly, and then strode out of the hall.
Before Xie Yizhi arrived, he had already sent Mo Yang to Xie Qiyu to pick up Xie Zhichen. At this moment, everyone was waiting for him at the palace gate.
Empress Dowager Du was furious. She slammed the exquisite white jade tea set beside her to the ground, scattering it in all directions with a crisp cracking sound. The palace maids trembled with fear, prostrating themselves on the ground, terrified of causing trouble.
"Xie Yizhi and Xie Qiyu had a fight in the Imperial Study today," Empress Dowager Du said coldly to the nanny serving her, after catching her breath.
The old woman quickly stepped forward and respectfully whispered, "Your Majesty, it is true. Chief Steward Xiao was also present at the time, and he had someone deliver a message to you."
Empress Dowager Du pinched the bridge of her nose; this was the only thing that calmed her down a little.
*
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the night was as dark as ink, enveloping the entire capital city.
Lu Baimei and Jiang Yunjiao emerged from the palace, their hearts filled with despair. Although Consort Lu saw them...
But when Lu Baimei mentioned introducing Du Yi to Jiang Yunjiao, Consort Lu reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly becoming very sensitive.
Not to mention later, Lu Baimei tried to get Consort Lu to mediate and help smooth things over, hoping to get the emperor to lift the order to banish Jiang Yunjiao from the capital.
Consort Lu dismissed Lu Baimei and her daughter Jiang Yunjiao with just a few words.
At this moment, Lu Baimei felt a deep sense of desolation. The only person who could stand up for Jiang Yunjiao today was Jiang Luoluo, whom she disliked the most.
Mo Feng rode swiftly, and Xie Yizhi and his entourage soon returned to the Prince Yi's residence. Xie Zhichen had spent the entire day playing in the palace and was so tired that he fell asleep.
Xie Yizhi returned to his room, took a hot shower, changed into clean clothes, and then leaped up and headed towards the Jiang residence.
As he stood on the edge of the roof and saw the bright candlelight shining in the center where Jiang Luoluo was, a sense of joy inexplicably rose in his heart.
Jiang Luoluo sat quietly at the table, one hand supporting her chin, the other unconsciously fiddling with the pink hibiscus in the white porcelain vase.
The image of Xie Yizhi's lustful gaze during the day involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
His eyes were fixed on her as he asked in a low, husky voice, "Luo Luo, would you do this for me?"
She flicked a hibiscus petal off, and as the night breeze gently blew, Jiang Luoluo felt her face slightly flush.
I'm so annoyed by that damned devilish man, who has such a face and asks such easily misunderstood questions.
She couldn't help but wonder if Empress Dowager Du would make things difficult for that wicked man if he stayed in the palace.
She really went all out with that knife to his waist.
At this moment, he must be feeling a dull ache, while the devil she was thinking about was currently scaling the rooftops.
Jiang Luoluo was lost in her thoughts when suddenly a familiar, tall, dark figure floated over and landed steadily in front of her.
Jiang Luoluo looked up at the person in front of her, her eyes brightening slightly. Overjoyed, she hurriedly asked, "Your Highness, you've arrived?"
Xie Yizhi smiled, a hint of mockery in his eyes, "Luo Luo, were you waiting for me?"
Jiang Luoluo's cheeks flushed slightly, and she hurriedly said, "No, Your Highness, what nonsense are you talking about? I was just about to rest!"
Xie Yizhi's lips curled up slightly, and he took two light steps forward, gradually approaching Jiang Luoluo.
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