These past few days, after Ji Muqing was released from the woodshed, her body had recovered fairly well. Although her complexion still didn’t look great and her frame was becoming increasingly gaunt.

At least she wasn’t as disheveled as before!

However—

She, a dignified Princess Consort Yi, had been reduced to not even being able to step half a foot outside the courtyard gate, constantly watched closely by numerous pairs of eyes every day.

Unable to move an inch!

As if in a prison.

At this moment, the sky gradually darkened. The several maids who usually watched her had taken their candlestands to light the lamps in the courtyard. Just one incense stick’s time ago, she had learned that her eldest brother Ji Li had come to the manor to see Prince Yi, so taking advantage of the gap while the maids were lighting lamps, she found a black cloak to put on and quietly slipped out.

She hoped to intercept Ji Li before he left.

Her steps were hurried, her heart anxious!

Moreover, she kept looking back every few steps, afraid of being caught up to.

After Ji Li finished reporting the situation to Jing Yi and prepared to leave the manor, he happened to pass through the long corridor not far from where she was.

Her heart leapt with joy, and she called out, “Elder brother.”

But her voice was too soft.

Ji Li didn’t hear her and continued walking forward expressionlessly, following the manor’s young servant.

Ji Muqing bit her lip and lifted her long skirt, preparing to rush over.

But—

Just as she took that step, someone forcefully yanked her cloak from behind, causing her body to fall backward as well.

Before she could cry out, someone grabbed her shoulders from behind, covered her mouth, and dragged her to the side.

“Mmph mmph…”

She widened her eyes, watching helplessly as Ji Li gradually disappeared from her sight.

No matter how she struggled, she ultimately lacked the strength.

Finally, she was dragged back to the courtyard and thrown harshly onto the icy ground.

She lay on the ground, her palms scraping against the fine gravel, burning with a fiery pain.

The pain spread throughout her body, yet she bit her lip tightly to keep from crying out.

A pair of exquisite embroidered shoes appeared in her line of sight. She slowly raised her gaze upward, fixing on Chen Xiang’s proud eyes.

That woman was looking down at her from above!

“Sister, why aren’t you resting in your room late at night? What are you doing running outside?”

Her tone was sharp, full of barbs.

Ji Muqing had always had a proud spirit in her bones. Disregarding the pain in her palms, she climbed up from the ground. Her swaying body had just steadied when a young maid stepped forward and pushed her again, causing her to fall heavily to the ground once more, nearly knocking over Chen Xiang in front of her.

Chen Xiang stepped back.

What followed was a burst of extremely mocking laughter.

Chen Xiang covered her mouth with a handkerchief, raising her eyebrows slightly, staring at the woman in a wretched state on the ground, and said, “Trying to notify your elder brother? Dream on! Even if you died, he wouldn’t know.”

Her words were harsh.

Ji Muqing said nothing.

Her heart was full of hatred!

“Tsk tsk tsk, how pitiful. The dignified eldest daughter of the Ji family, the legitimate Princess Consort of Prince Yi’s Manor, has fallen to such a state today that she can only crawl on the ground like a dog. She can’t even see her own brother, yet she wants to pass on information? Look at your current situation.”

Ji Muqing lay prostrate on the ground, her eyes full of bloodshot veins, her hands clenched into tight fists, her nails seemingly digging deep into her flesh, drawing blood.

She let out a cold laugh, raised her head again, her eyes deepening, and said word by word, “Sooner or later, you’ll end up like me too.”

Bah!

“I’m not like you. You’re destined to barely survive for the rest of your life, never able to obtain everything you want. But I’m different…” Chen Xiang stroked her belly. “I’m carrying His Highness’s child. When Prince Yi ascends the throne, this child will be the Crown Prince, and I will be the Empress who embodies motherly virtue over all under heaven.”

Ha ha!

“Empress?” She laughed until her shoulders shook, her gloomy eyes opening slightly. “Could it be… you’ve forgotten what I reminded you before?”

Uh!

The words she had spoken to Chen Xiang in the woodshed before.

“Prince Yi wants power, wants to consolidate his position, so the Empress candidate must be either a general’s daughter or a high minister’s daughter…”

Chen Xiang was neither a general’s daughter nor a high minister’s daughter!

Therefore, even if the child in her womb was the Crown Prince, she would ultimately never become Empress.

But—

She just had to take this gamble.

“You’d better worry about yourself first. Look at yourself now, just like a stray dog.”

“Even so, that’s still better than you dreaming pipe dreams.”

“You…”

The next moment, Chen Xiang bent down, grabbed the cloak she was wearing, and said fiercely, “Ji Muqing, from the day His Majesty issued the decree to arrange our marriage and made you Princess Consort Yi, I’ve wanted you dead. Why? Why can you lord over me just because you were born into a military family? But now seeing you like this, my heart is balanced, because you can’t obtain His Highness’s favor, and can only live like this for the rest of your life. This is even more satisfying than letting you die.”

If it were before, she would definitely have reached out to grab this woman’s delicate neck and strangle her to death, but now, she didn’t care anymore.

But the more she acted this way, the angrier Chen Xiang became.

“Don’t think that just because you don’t resist, I’ll let you go.”

“I’m not asking you to let me go.”

Hmph!

Chen Xiang released her, straightened up, patted the sleeves embroidered with peony flowers, stepped back two paces, and ordered, “Drag this woman inside and make sure to watch her carefully. If you let her escape again, I’ll have your lives.”

“Yes.”

Several young maids came forward, pulled the limp Ji Muqing up from the ground, and dragged her toward the room.

As she was being dragged past her personal maid Cailan, she suddenly stopped in place, her gloomy eyes fixed on Cailan.

This maid, ever since following Chen Xiang, seemed like a different person. Her hair ornaments and clothing had been completely changed from head to toe, dressed like a minor concubine.

Cailan felt a chill run through her body under those eyes, lowered her head not daring to look directly, and stepped back.

“The wheel of fortune turns. I truly hope you haven’t followed the wrong master.” Ji Muqing said.

Uh!

Cailan’s face immediately turned pale, pressing her lips together, not daring to speak.

Then Ji Muqing burst into loud laughter, allowing the maids to drag her into the room.

The laughter echoed, making hearts panic.

Chen Xiang glanced sideways at Cailan and saw her eyes brimming with tears.

“What? You want to return to your former master’s side?”

“No.” Cailan quickly shook her head. “This servant has no such intention.”

She quickly wiped away her tears!

Chen Xiang walked up to her and said in a pleasant tone, “Listen well. As long as you follow this consort properly, when the young prince in my womb is born, you won’t be treated unfairly.”

“Yes.”

“It’s best that you understand.”

Did she dare say she didn’t understand? She feared that after just two words, she would be slapped to death.

Chen Xiang touched her belly that had not yet swollen, smiled, and then walked away with her people, satisfied.

The courtyard returned to silence!

Only occasionally came the cry of a crow…