Leng Yue knew she was in the wrong, but a moment ago, she truly had no other choice.

If the Empress Dowager hadn’t vouched for her just now, even if the Prince hadn’t killed her, he would have crippled her martial arts with his own hands.

Standing so close, she had felt the true energy in the Prince’s palm with perfect clarity.

Foster Father might not allow the Prince to take her life, but if the Prince insisted on crippling her martial arts, Foster Father probably would have been unable to stop him.

In this whole world, the only one who could save her was the Empress Dowager.

When facing the Empress Dowager, the Prince would always soften his heart.

She hurried into the inner chamber and dropped to her knees beside the bed with a thud: “Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, I truly didn’t hurt Feng Jiu’s man. I only stepped out for a while — who knew Feng Jiu would come charging in like a madwoman? It was just a misunderstanding!”

She crawled to the bedside, wanting to take hold of the Empress Dowager’s hand, but the Empress Dowager pulled her hand back, refusing to even look at her.

Lian’er was seething inside. The Empress Dowager might not want to say anything, but she herself couldn’t hold back.

“This is all your fault! Now His Highness won’t even trust the Empress Dowager anymore! You forced the Empress Dowager to save you — did you ever stop to think that from now on, in His Highness’s heart, she’s become a liar too?”

Lian’er was truly furious. The Empress Dowager valued the Prince so dearly, loved him so tenderly — he was the only son she had!

Lian’er didn’t know the true relationship between the Empress Dowager and the Ninth Prince, but regardless, she had witnessed the Empress Dowager’s love for him with her own eyes all along.

Now, her son no longer wished to trust his mother — how much heartache and sorrow must a mother feel over this?

For the sake of a woman like this, was it really worth it?

This Leng Yue had truly gone too far!

“Empress Dowager, Yue’er knows she was wrong, Yue’er truly knows she was wrong!”

“You may go. I wish to be alone for a while.” The Empress Dowager let out a breath, turning her face away, simply unwilling to look at her.

Now, did A’Jiu also think she was being unreasonable?

But given the situation just now, if she hadn’t spoken up, was she really supposed to watch helplessly as A’Jiu killed Leng Yue?

Leng Yue had only dared to take such a risky gamble, asking for the Empress Dowager’s protection, because she had counted on her soft-heartedness.

Now that Leng Yue had succeeded, what was the Empress Dowager to do?

Lian’er glared fiercely at Leng Yue, saying angrily, “The Empress Dowager told you to get out — why haven’t you left already! Do you want to stay here and keep angering her?”

Leng Yue bit her lip and finally rose up from the floor, head lowered: “Empress Dowager, Yue’er truly knows she was wrong, Yue’er will never dare lie again, but Feng Jiu, she…”

“Get out!” The Empress Dowager’s face darkened.

Leng Yue startled and hastily fell silent. This time she truly didn’t dare say anything more, and quickly retreated from the bedchamber.

Even the Empress Dowager had come to believe Feng Jiu’s words — did her own words really carry no weight at all?

Once outside the door, every trace of meekness and gentleness vanished from Leng Yue’s eyes, leaving behind only bitter, hateful resentment.

None of these people were good people! Even a lowly palace maid, a worthless servant girl, dared to be rude to her!

In the future, once she married the Lord and became Empress, she would absolutely have this wretched girl called Lian’er have her limbs hacked off and be stuffed into a vat, made into a human swine!

Once Leng Yue had gone, Lian’er was about to ask Emperor Ji, waiting in the outer hall, to leave as well, but behind her, the Empress Dowager said, “Lian’er, go fetch me some pastries.”

Lian’er glanced at Emperor Ji, then nodded and withdrew.

The Empress Dowager clearly had something she wished to say to Emperor Ji — Lian’er was only worried she might get angry or hurt again.

As she passed by Emperor Ji, she didn’t forget to murmur quietly, “The Empress Dowager isn’t in good health — please take good care of her, sir.”

Emperor Ji nodded, and only then did Lian’er leave with an easier mind.

The door closed, and Lian’er’s footsteps faded into the distance. Only then did the Empress Dowager, through the screen, look at the figure outside: “Sir, is there something you wish to say to me?”

Emperor Ji had never left, which naturally meant he had something to say — otherwise, he would have departed together with Leng Yue long ago.

“Yue’er isn’t like this by nature. She was originally a well-behaved child — it was only after A’Jiu came to know Feng Jiu’er that…”

Emperor Ji left the sentence unfinished. He believed the Empress Dowager understood, and besides, this wasn’t the main point he wished to make.

The Empress Dowager let out a soft sigh, gazing at some indistinct corner, her mood still unable to settle.

“You must find this laughable, sir. I am only… only afraid that A’Jiu will come to despise me from now on.”

“You are A’Jiu’s mother, Your Majesty. He can hardly express enough respect and devotion toward you — how could he ever despise you?”

The night had grown late, and at such an hour, it wasn’t fitting for a grown man like Emperor Ji to linger too long in the Empress Dowager’s chambers. So he pressed on with what he had to say: “Empress Dowager, A’Jiu’s love for you surpasses that of even a birth son.”

The Empress Dowager’s fingertips tightened, as if she had already sensed what he was about to say. In an instant, her eyes grew warm with tears.

“Sir, please just say what you mean to say directly.”

“My apologies. Then, I shall speak plainly.”

Emperor Ji could tell the Empress Dowager’s breathing had grown somewhat uneven, but he continued nonetheless: “Your Majesty must surely understand in your heart that A’Jiu’s return to the imperial city this time was made at great personal risk.”

The Empress Dowager said nothing, only clenching her palm a little tighter.

Emperor Ji continued: “Empress Dowager, A’Jiu thinks of you constantly, and wishes to take you away to safety — otherwise, he cannot rest easy.”

“I know Your Majesty is attached to this palace, that you carry the memory of the late Emperor close to your heart. But Your Majesty, A’Jiu’s remaining in the imperial city right now truly carries danger upon danger — every extra day he stays adds another layer of risk, Your Majesty…”

“I understand.”

“Then, Empress Dowager, does this mean you agree to leave together with us?” A flicker of light crossed Emperor Ji’s brow — at last, he had glimpsed a ray of hope.

If only the Empress Dowager agreed, surely A’Jiu would be willing to leave too?

These were words A’Jiu was unwilling to say himself, so it fell to him to say them instead.

The matter had to be resolved somehow, and someone had to play the villain. He had never minded being the bad guy — everything, after all, was for A’Jiu’s sake.

The Empress Dowager gripped the blanket, not answering his question right away.

Still feeling somewhat uneasy, Emperor Ji was about to say something more, but then heard the Empress Dowager say, “Let us speak of this matter again tomorrow, shall we?”

“Empress Dowager…”

“I will see to it myself, and I will certainly not become a burden to A’Jiu.” The Empress Dowager looked toward Emperor Ji beyond the screen, as though she had come to some realization, and suddenly smiled faintly: “A’Jiu is fortunate to have such a good foster father in you. I… truly thank you, from my heart.”

“Your Majesty speaks too kindly. I only wish for A’Jiu’s wellbeing, nothing more.”

“I too… wish for A’Jiu’s wellbeing.” The Empress Dowager let out a long breath and said lightly, “Rest assured, sir, A’Jiu will leave the imperial city. I am simply a little tired tonight and wish to rest for a while. Sir, please go on ahead.”

Emperor Ji still felt somewhat uneasy and wanted to say more, but the Empress Dowager, lying on the bed in the inner chamber, clearly no longer wished to continue speaking with him.

But since the Empress Dowager had said she knew what to do, and had assured him that A’Jiu would certainly leave the imperial city, he chose to believe she had truly come to terms with it.

Only, for the moment, his own feelings still couldn’t quite settle.

And so, at this point, he truly should not disturb her rest any further.

After a moment’s thought, Emperor Ji finally said, “Very well then, I shall take my leave. Empress Dowager, please rest well. We will plan this matter properly again tomorrow.”