Her A’Jiu! Her A’Jiu had been defiled by another woman!

The Empress swayed on her feet and nearly collapsed — had she not caught herself against the carriage, she truly would have gone down.

“Your Highness the Empress!” The palace maid who had accompanied her rushed over at once, reaching out to steady her.

The Empress flicked her sleeve and waved the maid off, then fixed her gaze on the people inside the carriage. Her fingertips were still trembling, but she strained to contain herself.

“A’Jiu, let Feng Jiu’er come out.”

The Empress’s voice was as measured as she could manage, determined not to lose her composure before A’Jiu.

But the fury burning in the depths of her eyes was hot enough to reduce Feng Jiu’er — still leaning against Zhan Qingcheng’s lap — to ash.

Utterly shameless, brazenly wanton! That vile wretch — why didn’t she just die!

“A’Jiu, Feng Jiu’er is suspected of colluding with members of the Heavenly Venerate Sect. She is now a serious criminal wanted by the court. Hand her over to this consort — this consort intends to bring her before His Majesty.”

“This Prince is already bringing Jiu’er to seek an audience with the Imperial Elder Brother, to report everything to him directly.”

Zhan Qingcheng released Feng Jiu’er’s little leg and lowered his gaze to look at her foolishly grinning face. “Still numb?”

“Not numb anymore.” Feng Jiu’er beamed, and knowing that Ninth Imperial Uncle was about to descend from the carriage, she took the initiative to crawl toward the carriage door first.

Just as she was about to step out, she looked up and caught sight of the Empress’s face. She let out a startled yelp and immediately retreated to Zhan Qingcheng’s side.

“Ninth Imperial Uncle, she… this wicked woman wants to harm Jiu’er.”

“How bold! How dare you show such disrespect to Her Highness the Empress!” cried a palace maid standing behind the Empress.

Zhan Qingcheng swept a cold gaze in her direction — and the palace maid felt as though something of immense, crushing weight had descended upon her in an instant. The blood and energy in her chest surged and roiled violently.

With a thud, the palace maid crumpled to the ground, barely holding back a mouthful of dark blood from welling up.

“Your H-Highness the Empress…” Watching Zhan Qingcheng and Feng Jiu’er descend from the carriage, the palace maid managed to catch her breath with great difficulty and immediately begged for mercy. “N-Ninth Prince, this servant, this servant…”

“Get out of the way!” The Empress shot the maid a sharp glare, then turned her eyes back to Zhan Qingcheng. Her fingertips were still trembling, but she pressed down the feeling with all her will.

“A’Jiu, Feng Jiu’er is indeed suspected of colluding with members of the Heavenly Venerate Sect. It would be best for A’Jiu to hand Feng Jiu’er over to this consort — this consort will conduct a thorough investigation without fail.”

“Empress — you are the head of the six palaces of the inner court, and all matters great and small within the inner court are yours to oversee. But as for matters outside the palace — since when has that been any concern of yours?”

“This consort…”

Zhan Qingcheng paid her no further heed and strode toward the main hall of Yuxiao Hall.

Feng Jiu’er followed close on his heels, and at the last moment, could not help but turn back — and stuck her tongue out at the Empress, pulling a face!

She had dared to do that to her!

The Empress was so furious her face had gone white, yet with Zhan Qingcheng shielding Feng Jiu’er, she was utterly powerless.

How could this be! How could she allow a fool to humiliate her so freely and without consequence!

Daring to provoke even the Empress — if Feng Jiu’er was not a fool, then what was she? Yet why did A’Jiu insist on protecting a fool?

When they had walked far enough away, Zhan Qingcheng lowered his gaze and glanced at the girl at his side. “Tangling with her brings you no advantage whatsoever.”

“But even if I don’t tangle with her, she won’t let me go regardless — did you see the look in her eyes just now? It was plain as day that she wanted to tear me apart.”

Feng Jiu’er muttered under her breath, then broke into a smug expression. “Besides — I have as mighty a backing as you, Ninth Imperial Uncle. What do I have to fear?”

Such impertinent words — coming from anyone else, they would certainly have earned a rebuke for not knowing one’s own limitations.

But at this moment, Zhan Qingcheng let a smile — the kind that could overturn the hearts of all living beings — curve at the corners of his lips. “Exactly. From now on, if anyone dares to bully you, tell them — your backing is formidable!”

“Pfft!” How could Ninth Imperial Uncle be so shamelessly arrogant like this? And yet — why did she love it so much? What was she supposed to do?

In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the main hall.