“Your Highness, what’s wrong with you?”

The palace maids all rushed in at once.

Jing Xuan also stopped in her tracks and quickly turned back to enter.

Consort Xiao lay on the ground, her clothing disheveled, several hairpins having fallen out.

Seeing this, she quickly rushed over and ordered people, “What are you all standing there for? Hurry and summon the imperial physician.”

“Yes.”

The maids ran to summon the imperial physician while helping Consort Xiao onto the bed.

Soon, the imperial physician arrived, and Jing Yi, who had received the news, also came.

As for Emperor Qizhen, he only sent someone over to inquire with a few words of concern.

The imperial physician examined Consort Xiao all around, shaking his head, then nodding—quite intriguing.

Jing Yi pressed him. “Imperial Physician, how is she?”

The imperial physician replied, “Your Highness need not worry. Her Highness’s body is simply too weak, which is why she fainted. As long as she receives proper care, she will recover.”

“Is she truly all right?”

“This subject took Her Highness’s pulse. Although the pulse is rapid, it is also a sunken pulse, indicating no major problem. As long as she rests more, it will be fine. This subject will prescribe several doses of medicine for Her Highness to take on schedule.”

Only then did Jing Yi’s anxious heart settle down.

After the imperial physician left, Consort Xiao woke up.

Before Jing Yi could step forward, Jing Xuan rushed over, sitting by the bedside, tightly grasping Consort Xiao’s hand, her eyes brimming with worried tears and her voice choked with emotion.

“Mother Consort, you truly frightened Xuan’er just now.”

Seeing her daughter crying so sadly, the corners of Consort Xiao’s pale mouth lifted slightly. “Mother Consort is fine, no need to worry.”

“How can you be fine? The imperial physician said Mother Consort’s body is too weak. You’ve simply been working too hard, which is why you’re like this.”

Consort Xiao sat up from the bed and saw Jing Yi before her.

Startled, “How did you come?”

Jing Yi: “Hearing that Mother Consort was ill, this son was worried, so I immediately entered the palace.”

“Which maid sent word? Didn’t I say not to disturb Prince Yi?”

Sang Lan quickly knelt down, her head lowered. “It was this servant’s fault for having someone notify Prince Yi.”

“You silly girl, what did I tell you before? The prince has many matters to attend to. I told you not to disturb him. Did you not listen to what I said?”

“Your Highness, spare me.”

“Someone.” Consort Xiao called out, and several eunuchs entered. “Drag this girl out and give her a good slapping.”

“Yes.”

“Wait.” Jing Yi intervened. “Mother Consort, don’t be angry. She’s just a little maid—why harm your health over her? Besides, her notifying me was appropriate.”

“Why are you speaking up for her?”

“Mother Consort, let it go.”

Consort Xiao sighed, glaring fiercely at Sang Lan on the ground. “This time the prince is interceding for you. If you dare do this again, it won’t just be a matter of slapping.”

Sang Lan quickly kowtowed. “Yes, thank you, Your Highness.”

“Get out now.”

Of course she had to get out quickly!

Otherwise, stay and be scolded?

After Sang Lan left, Consort Xiao said to Jing Xuan, “Xuan’er, you go out too. Mother Consort has something she wants to discuss with your imperial brother.”

Jing Xuan was very obedient, nodding with her pretty brows furrowed, and went out.

In the room, only Consort Xiao and Jing Yi remained.

“What does Mother Consort wish to say?”

“You haven’t entered the palace these past days, nor have you sent any news. Mother Consort was worried, not knowing how matters are progressing.”

“Mother Consort can rest assured. Now that Magistrate Ji is helping, even if that Jingrong sprouted wings, he might not be able to fly into the capital. Moreover, we still have that fool as a chess piece. Everything is fully prepared—Mother Consort can rest assured.”

“Mm, in any case, no matter what, we cannot let Jingrong enter the capital.”

“This son knows.”

Consort Xiao was also extremely disappointed. “It’s just that I never expected your father emperor would secretly issue a secret edict letting him return to the capital. Such thinking is truly unfathomable.”

“Mother Consort, don’t worry. Right now all the court officials stand on this son’s side. Father Emperor publicly issued a verbal decree in court forbidding Jingrong from returning to the capital, but the imperial edict sent to the Prince’s Manor was changed by him—it’s still a secret edict. For Jingrong to enter the capital, Father Emperor would have to publicly reveal the secret edict. But once the secret edict is made public, Father Emperor will lose his authority before the court officials. At that time, the court ministers will certainly be in an uproar, and the one in difficulty will be Father Emperor. Therefore, to stabilize the officials’ hearts, Father Emperor cannot make the secret edict public. If he doesn’t make it public, then Magistrate Ji will lead his men to stop Jingrong outside the capital and absolutely won’t let him enter.”

It must be said, Jing Yi had played this move quite beautifully.

Hearing this, Consort Xiao nodded.

“Be careful in all things yourself.”

“Mother Consort, rest assured.”

Seeing Consort Xiao was fatigued, Jing Yi didn’t wish to disturb her further and left.

Leaving the bedchamber door, he saw Jing Xuan in the courtyard.

She was kicking a shuttlecock with several palace maids.

Everyone kicked it to her, and she kicked it to them.

Jing Xuan laughed happily—she truly seemed like a changed person!

No, more accurately, that little sister of his from before had returned.

Seeing him come out and stand there observing her, Jing Xuan became distracted for a moment and didn’t pay attention, causing the shuttlecock to drop to the ground. She pouted and stepped forward to demand an explanation.

“Imperial Brother, it’s your fault. If you hadn’t been staring at me, I definitely could have kicked it a hundred times.”

“You silly girl, why are you so mischievous?”

“Not at all, not at all! Imperial Brother is talking nonsense.” She glanced inside and asked, “Imperial Brother, how is Mother Consort? Is she feeling better?”

“With you making such a racket here, can Mother Consort get better?”

“Ah? Then Mother Consort’s health…” She made a distressed face.

Jing Yi smiled with the indulgence of an older brother and quickly said, “Don’t worry, Mother Consort will be fine.”

Jing Xuan huffed, clenched her fist and lightly punched him once, saying, “Imperial Brother really, you just love to tease me.”

“Look at you, you’re grown up now—why are you still playing with such things?”

She smiled somewhat embarrassedly. “Oh! Right, Imperial Brother, wait a moment.”

“What is it?”

Jing Xuan turned and instructed Duan’er, “Duan’er, hurry and fetch that bracelet I broke last time, along with my generous gift.”

“Yes.”

Duan’er quickly brought the items over.

Jing Xuan handed them to Jing Yi, pointing at one box and saying, “Inside this is the bracelet I broke last time. It’s been repaired now—Imperial Brother, please return it to Imperial Sister-in-law for me.” Then pointing at another box, “Last time I didn’t attend Imperial Brother’s wedding, and I’ve felt guilty about it ever since, so I’ve also prepared a congratulatory gift to make it up to Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-law.”

“You’re quite thoughtful.”

“That’s only natural.” She raised her eyebrows proudly.

So Jing Yi took these two gifts home.

He gave the bracelet to Chen Xiang.

Chen Xiang had been sitting in the courtyard sunbathing. Seeing someone arrive, she stood to bow in courtesy.

“This prince already told you there’s no need for such formality.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Chen Xiang noticed the box in his hand and asked, “Is this something Your Highness wishes to give to this concubine?”

“No, it’s that girl Jing Xuan who asked this prince to give it to you, saying she broke your bracelet before. Now that it’s been repaired, she’s brought it to you.”

“Oh.”

She was somewhat disappointed, thinking it was something Jing Yi had brought for her.

Jing Yi had important matters to attend to and didn’t stay long. After expressing concern with a few words, he left.

Chen Xiang held that box, standing in place for a long while, until the maid beside her asked, “Side Princess Consort, what’s wrong with you?”

“Smack!”

She slapped the maid across the face.

“I’ve told you that when the prince isn’t present, you must call me Princess Consort. Did you not hear?”

The maid covered her face and knelt down. “Princess Consort, spare me.”

This address of “Princess Consort” satisfied her once again.

“All right, get up.”

“Thank you, Princess Consort.” The maid stood up.

Chen Xiang opened the box in her hand. Inside was the bracelet Consort Xiao had bestowed, repaired perfectly intact.

She took it out and held it carefully in her hand to examine it. There wasn’t a single flaw visible—clearly the princess had put thought into it.

But—

“Broken is broken. No matter how much you repair it, it’s still broken in the end.” She curved her lips coldly with a sinister expression, calculating something in her mind, and suddenly said, “Come, accompany me to see that mad woman locked in the woodshed.”

The mad woman!

She meant Ji Muqing.

She walked with graceful, triumphant steps toward the woodshed.

There were still people guarding outside.

“Greetings, Side Princess Consort.”

“Open the door.”

“Yes.”

The door opened, and immediately a damp, foul odor wafted out from inside.

Chen Xiang frowned, covering her nose with a handkerchief, looking inside with extreme disgust, but still went in.

The person sitting inside had disheveled hair, dirty clothes, and a face covered in grime.

Her former elegance was long gone.

“Isn’t this that arrogant princess consort?” Chen Xiang’s voice rose high.

Ji Muqing hung her head. These past few days, she felt as if she had aged several years, suffering unbearably.

Getting no response, Chen Xiang sneered coldly. “What? Has she died?”

After a long while—

Ji Muqing finally raised her head, meeting Chen Xiang’s triumphant gaze.

But at this moment, she no longer had her previous ferocity, sitting there calmly without saying a word.

Chen Xiang sneered coldly again. “Princess Consort, oh Princess Consort, you never imagined you’d have such a day, did you? The distinguished eldest daughter of the Ji family, with two brothers to protect you, yet you’ve fallen to living in a woodshed. How ridiculous! If outsiders knew, how they would laugh at you!”

Hmph!

Ji Muqing: “My eldest brother will soon know how you’ve treated me. At that time, he’ll send people to raze this entire prince’s manor.”

“You really talk big.” Chen Xiang crouched down, her gaze level with Ji Muqing’s, saying, “Let me tell you, your eldest brother and second brother won’t know, because news of your confinement hasn’t spread, much less reached your eldest brother’s ears. Besides, there’s still Cailan! Whatever your eldest brother wants to know, Cailan can dismiss it all with a single word.”

“You…” She gritted her teeth.

“What? You want to strangle me again? Fine, you’d better strangle me to death. But if you can’t kill me and harm the young heir instead, do you think the prince won’t take your life? He’ll dismember you.”

She laughed loudly and maniacally.

Hideously terrifying!

But this time, Ji Muqing didn’t respond to her. Instead, she stared coldly at this woman who was beside herself with triumph.

This actually made Chen Xiang feel somewhat guilty!

“What are you smiling about?”

“I’m laughing at your stupidity.”

“What?” Chen Xiang glared at her. “I don’t know who’s really stupid. Only a foolish person would be locked up in here.”

“I admit, I, Ji Muqing, am a fool, but you’re even more foolish than me.”

Uh!

Chen Xiang didn’t understand her meaning.