Lanqin insisted on returning to Changchun Palace; she didn't want to give anyone more reason to criticize her. Once back, Lanqin slept for a whole day, not wanting to think about anything, until she naturally woke up and immediately got up to leave.
The palace maid stopped Lanqin, worried that she would catch a cold with her bare feet, but Lanqin kept muttering, "I want to see Hongli..."
“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? Prince Hongli is all better now… He’s recuperating at the Prince’s Residence…” Baoqin’s words reminded Lanqin, who then realized she had been having a nightmare and thought Hongli was on the verge of death.
Baoqin helped Lanqin back to bed, carefully wiping her feet and putting on her shoes, saying with heartache, "Your Highness, you've suffered so much this time. It's all that Ji's fault. Your Highness was so good to her before, but she repaid kindness with enmity and actually poisoned the Prince..."
Lanqin was taken aback, not understanding what Baoqin was talking about: "The Ji family? What's going on?"
The maidservant said, "Her Highness was too tired and went to sleep as soon as she returned. His Majesty ordered us not to disturb her rest, so we didn't wake her. The palace maid from the Censorate bit her tongue and committed suicide. Before she died, she confessed and said the name 'Ji Shi.' In a fit of rage, His Majesty imprisoned Ji Shi..."
Lanqin was shocked and asked, "Are you saying that all of this was orchestrated by the Ji family?"
The maidservant said angrily, "That's right, she's a complete ingrate. The Emperor was even prepared to execute her, but in the end, he decided to wait until Her Highness woke up before making any further plans..."
"So she's not dead yet? I need to go ask her myself..." Lanqin stood up and held out her hand: "Quickly, help me change my clothes..."
Zhongcui Palace.
Lanqin pushed open the door and entered. Upon seeing Lanqin, Madam Ji rushed forward and grabbed her collar, exclaiming, "What? It's you? Where is the Emperor? I need to see the Emperor..."
Lanqin coldly pushed Ji Shi away and said, "His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, how could he possibly come to see you?"
Lady Ji's makeup was ruined, clearly from crying. Her hair was disheveled, and the light in her eyes dimmed like an extinguished candle: "It's all your fault. Without you, why would the Emperor ignore me?"
Lady Ji touched her face and chuckled foolishly, "I'm no less beautiful than anyone else, the Emperor simply likes my appearance..."
Lanqin said with disgust, "A beautiful face, but a filthy soul. If the Emperor knew what you've done, wouldn't he find your face repulsive?"
Ji stared straight at Lanqin: "I'm not reconciled..."
Lanqin no longer felt any affection for Shuiling and said with disdain, "Why did you harm my son?"
Madam Ji was taken aback, then laughed and said, "If I said that I wasn't entirely responsible for this, would you believe me?"
Lanqin glared at him angrily and said, "No matter who did it, someone has already pointed the finger at you. What else do you have to say?"
Lady Ji was in despair. She knew that Consort Nian must have cut off all her escape routes, and she had been driven to a dead end. The Emperor hated her to the core, and now the only one who could save her was Lanqin.
Lady Ji had served Lanqin before and knew her personality well, knowing that she was kind.
Ji Shi's eyes flickered, and she knelt down beside Lan Qin with a thud.
"Your Highness, I know I was wrong. I was just confused for a moment. Please forgive me this time for the sake of how I took care of you in the past... As long as the Emperor doesn't order my death, I'll do anything..." Lanqin didn't expect that Lady Ji would beg her at this time.
Baoqin kicked Ji Shi away and angrily rebuked, "You dare to call Consort Xi's name? Shuiling... are you even human? Consort Xi was so good to you in the past, yet you betrayed her and seduced the Emperor. Not only did Consort Xi not blame you, but she has tolerated you until now... And what about you? Look at what you've done! You dared to use poison to assassinate the prince, and now you still have the nerve to ask Consort Xi to plead for you? If I were you, I would just smash my head against a wall and die..."
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