Phoenix Palace.
Ye Zhi waited outside the palace with other maids and eunuchs, but she looked around anxiously.
Nowadays, everyone knows that the Empress is the person the Emperor respects and loves the most.
She had seen it clearly just now: how disgusted and resentful the Emperor was when the Empress said that her Crown Princess was disrespectful to her stepmother.
The Emperor wouldn't depose his own Crown Princess, would he?
Yeats became increasingly anxious as he thought about it, and his mind was filled with all sorts of random thoughts; he was on the verge of tears.
But what happened inside the palace was completely different from what she had imagined; it was utterly the opposite.
Although the atmosphere inside the hall was still tense, it was much better than before.
Emperor Sheng Jin eventually heeded the Empress's advice and distanced himself from the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Then he waved his hand, signaling the two of them to get up.
"I understand. This matter was caused by Consort Liang's lack of respect for elders, while the Crown Princess was virtuous and respectful. There was no fault on her part. I'm sorry to have wronged you all. Please get up."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I thank you."
"Yes, thank you, Father."
The couple expressed their gratitude at the same time, their movements identical and their voices remarkably synchronized, as if they had rehearsed it.
Sheng Jin felt a tightness in his throat, as if a thorn was stuck there, making it difficult to swallow.
He stared intently at Liu Lingxi, trying to discern more expressions on her face.
Even just a little bit of gratitude towards yourself would be good!
But the little crown princess only looked at the crown prince and kept her head down at the ground; she never looked up at him!
"Enough, this was all a misunderstanding. Someone—"
Sheng Jin called out towards the door, and Bai Qing, with his excellent hearing, immediately led his men into the hall.
"Your servant is here."
"By imperial decree, Consort Liang is hereby demoted to the rank of Attendant and stripped of her title for failing to uphold traditional virtues and for spreading rumors and slander against the Crown Princess. This shall serve as a warning to others."
As soon as Sheng Jin's decree was uttered, the entire audience was in an uproar, and many eunuchs and palace maids secretly clicked their tongues in amazement.
After all, the Emperor's anger just now didn't seem fake. How could he change his mind so quickly?
Could it be... that the Emperor dotes on the Crown Prince so much that even the Crown Princess benefits from it?
Besides that, they really couldn't find any other reason.
No one doubted that the Emperor had taken a liking to the Crown Princess, after all, the Emperor was known for his aversion to women.
Even Eunuch Bai Qing, who had served the Emperor since childhood, had no doubts whatsoever.
He accepted the decree, suppressed the slight surprise that arose in his heart, and respectfully withdrew.
"Yes, this servant will go to Zhongcui Palace to deliver the decree immediately."
Seeing that Eunuch Bai was about to leave, the Empress became anxious. Once the imperial edict was issued, even if it was just a verbal order, it could not be withdrawn.
The Empress opened her mouth, as if to stop her, but in the end she remained silent.
Forget it, it's because Consort Liang is useless. Why should she help a good-for-nothing!
And, most importantly—
She had already stopped the Emperor once, preventing him from touching the Crown Princess. If she stopped him again…
She was afraid of being blamed!
Thinking this, the Empress shook herself, then rose and bowed to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, this matter was also due to my oversight, and I almost wronged the Crown Princess. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
"The Empress was also deceived by villains. Fortunately, no major mistakes were made. Let's just punish her with three months' salary."
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the empress stiffened, and her heart sank.
She really didn't expect the Emperor to punish her for this, even though the punishment of losing three months' salary was nothing to her.
but--
Because of what happened back then, the Emperor has always been lenient with her, even indulgent.
Even when she used jealousy as an excuse to kill many of his concubines and eliminate dissidents, Sheng Jin never blamed her.
What happened this time...?
The Empress felt as if her heart was being squeezed tightly; her heartbeat grew heavier and heavier, and she gradually found it difficult to breathe.
After a long while, she gradually found her voice and listened to herself speak.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
"Yes, Your Highness, come with me. Let's take some good medicine from my private treasury."
"Yes, Father."
After bowing respectfully, the Crown Prince gave his Crown Princess a reassuring look and followed the Emperor away.
The Crown Princess responded with a gentle smile, making it clear at a glance that the two shared a deep affection and a mutual understanding.
Many young palace maids secretly watched the perfect couple, their hearts filled with longing that their future husbands would love and cherish them just as much.
In a secluded corner unseen by anyone, Emperor Bullhead witnessed this incredibly loving scene—
He paused in his forward stride, and his eyes darkened.
However, when the crown prince looked at him with a questioning gaze, he regained his usual expression.
It was so perfect that no one could tell that anything was amiss.
...
After the Emperor and the Crown Prince left, Ye Zhi came to her Crown Princess and gently helped her up with heartache.
"master……"
Seeing that Ye Zhi was almost in tears, Liu Lingxi gently patted her hand.
"I am fine."
Then, she looked at the only person in the entire palace who was older than her, namely the Empress.
But they found the other person was in a daze, as if pondering some unsolvable puzzle.
Liu Lingxi's knees and forehead were hurting, so she didn't wait for the Empress to speak first and spoke up herself.
"Mother, I was rash today. I will never do so again. I will not bother you any longer and will return to Chonghua Palace to reflect on my actions."
"etc--"
The Empress came to her senses and saw that the person was about to leave, so she was unwilling to let him go.
She instinctively called out to the person, but only after being reminded by Granny Jiang did she realize that she had overreacted.
He then coughed lightly and spoke to Liu Lingxi.
"Princess Consort, you should not leave Chonghua Palace unless necessary. You need to be more composed and avoid offending the Emperor."
This can be seen as a warning or a reminder; it all depends on how the Crown Princess interprets it.
The Empress was displeased, but she had no choice but to speak up and remind her.
She didn't even want to think about what would happen if the emperor discovered that Liu Lingxi was the only woman he couldn't touch with the rash...
She hadn't done anything today, yet the Emperor had already deducted three months' worth of her monthly salary.
If Liu Lingxi really gains a place in the emperor's heart, wouldn't I be deposed as empress?
Deposed empress?
No, that won't do!
She would never allow her position as empress to be challenged!
It's best to nip it in the bud; she needs to think carefully about how to do it...
"Yes, Your Majesty. I have learned your lesson and will obey Your Majesty's instructions."
Liu Lingxi didn't know whether the Empress meant well or badly, but she could only listen.
After bowing, he took Yeats's hand and left.
The tinkling of her jade pendants as she walked was much quieter than before.
The pace of progress has slowed down considerably.
Ye Zhi was filled with heartache. Without even thinking, she knew that the Crown Princess's knees must be swollen, which was why she was walking so slowly.
Upon arriving outside the palace, Ye Zhi wanted the young eunuch to call a sedan chair to come over.
But they found that an unfamiliar eunuch was already waiting with a sedan chair.
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