Though Empress Dowager Xiao’s attitude toward everyone earlier had been indifferent and everyone had been deeply apprehensive of her, compared to her current frost-covered rage, the earlier treatment was nothing.

No one had expected that when a jade ruyi scepter was presented, she would suddenly fly into such a fury.

The study companions below didn’t know what had happened and were terrified, not daring to make a sound.

Eunuch Liu, who had come to present the jade ruyi scepter, only felt a chill run down his spine. Without thinking, he immediately dropped to his knees, crying out loudly: “Empress Dowager, please calm your anger! Empress Dowager, please calm your anger!”

He was right in front of the steps.

Empress Dowager Xiao kicked out at him, raised her hand to summon attendants, and shouted loudly: “Someone come! Seize this traitor! Send him to the Office of Punishment for thorough interrogation!”

Eunuch Liu’s complexion immediately changed drastically.

Though he had come to present the jade ruyi scepter, he had absolutely no idea what secrets lay on its back. Hearing Empress Dowager Xiao’s cold shout, he was already so frightened his three souls departed and his seven spirits left his body. He frantically knocked his head against the ground repeatedly, wailing: “Injustice! This servant has been wronged! This servant merely came to present the jade ruyi scepter as ordered, but doesn’t know what has angered the Empress Dowager. Please, Empress Dowager, show mercy! This servant has been wronged—”

Both Shen Zhiyi and Xiao Shu were seated beside Empress Dowager Xiao. Earlier they had only vaguely glimpsed that there seemed to be writing on the back of the jade ruyi scepter, but hadn’t clearly seen what it was. Suddenly encountering this turn of events, they dared not open their mouths to inquire.

Empress Zheng was also given a fright.

She knew that though Empress Dowager Xiao’s temperament had never been particularly good and she had her harsh aspects, for her to react this way meant something major must have occurred. Moreover, calling Eunuch Liu a “traitor” suggested the matter was not small.

Though the jade ruyi scepter had been smashed, several pieces of broken jade were quite large.

Empress Zheng didn’t interject for the moment. She merely walked down from the dais and picked up one of the larger jade fragments to examine. Upon seeing just the two characters “innocent children” on it, her complexion changed drastically—no better than Empress Dowager Xiao’s.

Attendants had already come forward to restrain Eunuch Liu.

Empress Zheng glanced at those trembling study companion girls still standing below. She forcibly suppressed the shock in her heart and said to them: “You may all withdraw.”

Empress Dowager Xiao’s face was iron blue. This time, she didn’t say anything more.

Everyone could tell that this matter was grave and absolutely not something that newly-entered study companions should know about. Hearing Empress Zheng speak, they hastily bowed and took their leave.

Xiao Shu also rose from her seat and performed the courtesy of farewell to Empress Dowager Xiao.

Shen Zhiyi still sat there in a daze.

As Xiao Shu was leaving, she quickly pulled her along, bringing her out of Cining Palace together.

When Jiang Xuening walked out through the palace gate of Cining Palace and was blown by the wind carrying a hint of early winter chill, she realized her back was drenched in cold sweat!

This was the infamous Ruyi Case from her previous life that had implicated many.

The jade ruyi scepter selected and presented to Empress Dowager Xiao by the Imperial Household Department actually had treasonous words carved on its back, directly pointing at this dynasty’s Son of Heaven. Once the matter came to light, it immediately triggered a bloodbath. Many people serving in the palace were executed along with their nine generations of kin. Great aristocratic families from the former court were also involved, with family exterminations and confiscations commonplace. Though Yongyi Marquis Estate’s troubles on the surface seemed unrelated to this case, the two incidents occurred so close together that people couldn’t help but suspect a connection.

Thinking of Yongyi Marquis Estate, thinking of Yan Lin, and recalling all the causes and effects from her previous life, she suddenly felt her thoughts in complete disarray. She forcefully clenched her hands hidden in her sleeves before barely managing to calm down.

What must come will come.

The more critical the moment, the less she could lose her composure. The more she needed to do what she should do amid the chaos. How could she know that a drop in the bucket couldn’t rescue from fire and water, couldn’t aid in crisis?

Being pulled out by Xiao Shu, Shen Zhiyi was still somewhat confused, asking blankly: “What just happened?”

Xiao Shu kept her gaze lowered without speaking.

Shen Zhiyi raised her eyes for a sweep and immediately saw Jiang Xuening standing at the edge of the group. Walking over with concern, she said: “Ningning, are you alright? Why is your face so pale?”

Jiang Xuening thought of Zheng Bao, who had been kneeling at Kunning Palace’s entrance earlier. In a flash of inspiration, her gaze flickered slightly. Thinking “there’s no other way besides this,” she forced out a trace of a smile. However, her expression showed some fear and anxiety as she said in a low voice: “I was somewhat frightened.”

Shen Zhiyi had actually been frightened too.

However, she thought to herself that she was the Grand Princess, the one who had promised to protect Jiang Xuening. So she immediately put on an air that in the palace these were all ordinary small matters, took her hand and said: “It’s fine, it’s fine. Isn’t this princess still here?”

Her palm holding Jiang Xuening’s slender fingers, she could feel that her fingertips were ice cold.

Jiang Xuening merely looked at her without speaking.

But those long, thick eyelashes trembled lightly over a pair of beautiful eyes, like a small deer shot by an arrow and falling on the snowy plain—emotionally manipulative and fragile. Her fingers also gripped Shen Zhiyi’s hand.

In this instant, Shen Zhiyi could intensely feel that this friend before her, who had once worn a brilliant smile as she dotted cherry blossom petals by her eyes, so urgently needed her and depended on her.

Originally, after leaving Cining Palace, they should each return to their own palaces.

The Mingfeng Palace where Shen Zhiyi resided and Yangzhi Pavilion were in two different directions, so they should part at the entrance to Cining Palace and each go their separate ways.

But now she felt she couldn’t just leave like this.

Shen Zhiyi grasped her hand in return, curved the corners of her lips, and as if nothing had happened, raised a bright smile. Pulling her toward the direction of Yangzhi Pavilion, she merely said: “Look at how timid you are. This princess will accompany you back.”

After saying this, she also said to the others: “Let’s go.”

Everyone then followed in their footsteps.

All along the way, Shen Zhiyi told Jiang Xuening various amusing anecdotes from the palace. As she talked, sometimes when she got stuck, she would call on Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi to continue.

Xiao Shu was fine, remaining composed throughout.

Chen Shuyi, however, had already become enemies with Jiang Xuening. But with Grand Princess Leyang giving the order, she couldn’t very well refuse. Having no choice, she could only tell jokes to Jiang Xuening with a stiff face.

Jiang Xuening only felt that if today’s matter weren’t so significant, she would have laughed out loud.

However, at this moment, even she despised herself.

In her previous life, coaxing smelly men was one thing—at least she hadn’t targeted fragrant and soft young ladies. She hadn’t expected that living again, she was becoming more and more unprincipled, more and more despicable!

Shen Zhiyi remained completely oblivious to this.

The group walked toward Yangzhi Pavilion.

When they came, they had taken a detour to avoid Kunning Palace’s direction. However, when returning, first everyone wasn’t paying attention, and second, Shen Zhiyi and Jiang Xuening were walking in front, so they very naturally took the nearest route that passed by Kunning Palace.

As soon as the palace walls of Kunning Palace came into distant view, Jiang Xuening’s heart was already in her throat, secretly praying they must make it in time.

When turning the corner around the palace wall, her heart nearly jumped to her throat—

The palace corridor ahead was completely silent.

The slapping sounds heard earlier were gone.

In this moment, Jiang Xuening almost thought she had already missed the opportunity.

Fortunately, the next moment when she turned onto the palace corridor, she saw that figure kneeling tall at the palace gate.

Zheng Bao was still there!

However, before she could breathe a sigh of relief or show any trace of a smile, when she raised her eyes, she saw another figure in the distance ahead, also stopped before the palace gate.

Python-patterned robe and magnificent attire, a jade belt at his waist.

Tall and elegant-featured—who else could it be but Prince Linzi Shen Jie? At this moment, he was looking at the kneeling Zheng Bao and was about to say something to the palace attendants standing at the gate.

Jiang Xuening’s eyelid twitched. She couldn’t let Shen Jie speak and rescue Zheng Bao like this. In a flash of quick thinking, she deliberately let her left foot trip over her right, stepping on her own skirt hem. Her body immediately lost balance as she walked, and with a low cry of “Ah,” she had already fallen to kneel-sit on the ground.

Her reaction wasn’t significant.

However, Shen Zhiyi, who was walking beside her still telling jokes, panicked and cried out: “Ningning!”

At the palace gate ahead, Shen Jie, who had been about to ask why this young eunuch was being punished, heard the sound and immediately turned his head to look. At a glance, he saw the study companions over there and more quickly recognized the fallen Jiang Xuening.

Interrupted like this, any normal person would forget what they were originally about to do.

Shen Jie was the same.

He hurriedly walked toward them, but because other study companions were present, he couldn’t approach too closely. He merely said gently: “Though the long corridors in the palace are old, they were only renovated before the new year. How could Second Miss Jiang be so careless?”

The study companions had also occasionally encountered Shen Jie during their last palace visit and knew his identity. Seeing him approach, they all bowed in courtesy: “Greetings to Prince Linzi.”

Seeing him approach, Jiang Xuening’s heart settled by more than half.

She thought that in their previous life they had been the closest yet most distant husband and wife. Her death could barely be considered dying in martyrdom for Shen Jie. What did it matter if she seized one opportunity from him in this life? Consider it compensation money for her hard work and her life from Shen Jie.

Anyway, he was Prince Linzi and would become Emperor in the future—he wouldn’t lack one Zheng Bao.

But she really needed him.

Thinking this way, Jiang Xuening eliminated much of the guilt about seizing someone’s opportunity and quickly chose her words: “In reply to Your Highness, we just went to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. Her phoenix authority was so overwhelming that my mind became muddled and I tripped over myself. I’ve made a fool of myself before you.”

Xiao Shu quietly watched her.

Shen Zhiyi personally helped her up. Hearing these words, she also pouted at Shen Jie: “Royal Brother, you weren’t there just now. Mother Empress was so frightening.”

Though Shen Jie’s temperament was modest and gentle, having been born and raised in the palace court, he understood from their words that something must have happened at Cining Palace. His brows furrowed slightly as he asked: “What happened?”

Shen Zhiyi said: “Just a jade ruyi scepter. Oh, I don’t know how to explain it…”

She wanted to organize her thoughts to explain but didn’t know where to start, speaking in complete confusion.

Shen Jie listened to a jumbled mess.

In the end, it was Xiao Shu who concisely said: “Eunuch Liu from the Imperial Household Department, on His Majesty’s orders, delivered a jade ruyi scepter tributed from Qinghai. However, the back of the ruyi seemed to be carved with some treasonous words that enraged Aunt. Right now, the Empress is also at Cining Palace, handling the matter.”

Shen Jie couldn’t help but raise his eyes to glance at her.

Hearing Xiao Shu explain so concisely, Shen Zhiyi quickly nodded: “Right, that’s it. Royal Brother, you should go see.”

Shen Jie had originally also been planning to pay respects to Empress Dowager Xiao. After brief consideration, he said: “I’ll go take a look.”

As he said this, the matter of the young eunuch had long been cast to the back of his mind.

He lifted his feet to head toward Cining Palace. However, as he passed by the study companions, he glimpsed Jiang Xuening, who had just taken a fall and stood up, lowering her head to stroke her knee. He couldn’t help but laugh and tease: “To fall while walking on flat ground—Second Miss Jiang must really watch her step, otherwise if you break your face before treating this prince to that apologetic drink you owe, who knows who will feel sorry for you!”

Jiang Xuening froze, not immediately understanding what “apologetic drink” meant. It wasn’t until Shen Jie turned and left that she remembered—just after being reborn, due to a misunderstanding, she had slapped Shen Jie and said she would treat him to wine another day to apologize.

Naturally, those were just polite words.

But she hadn’t expected Shen Jie to still remember.

The study companions, seeing Shen Jie come over and only acknowledge Jiang Xuening, already had somewhat strange looks in their eyes.

Hearing these three words “apologetic drink,” they couldn’t stop examining her with their eyes.

Xiao Shu stood right beside Shen Zhiyi. Even her calm face showed some astonishment. When she looked back at Jiang Xuening again, her gaze had deepened considerably.

With one sweep, Jiang Xuening had already taken everyone’s reactions in and silently lamented in her heart.

She wanted to explain that she and Shen Jie truly had nothing ambiguous between them.

But Prince Linzi had already walked away after speaking. Where was the time for her to explain? Moreover, could she really say that she had once slapped Shen Jie, and the apologetic drink was to apologize for that slap?

Wouldn’t that be seeking death if word got out?

Shen Zhiyi asked curiously: “Apologetic drink?”

Jiang Xuening smiled bitterly: “In the past when I was ignorant and mixed around in the marketplace, there was some misunderstanding with Prince Linzi.”

Shen Zhiyi wanted to ask what kind of misunderstanding.

However, at this moment, Jiang Xuening’s gaze had already shifted forward, falling upon the eunuch Zheng Bao kneeling at the palace gate. Her expression changed several times, as if unable to restrain herself, revealing some compassion.

Shen Zhiyi naturally followed her gaze, seeing merely a young eunuch kneeling before the palace gate. Not paying particular attention, she was instead curious about her reaction and said: “People being punished in the palace is ordinary. Presumably he committed some error and is being punished by kneeling.”

Jiang Xuening said softly: “When we came, I already saw him kneeling here…”

Her voice was already weak, and she deliberately affected a worried and fearful attitude. Even sympathy and fear that were originally only thirty percent false were performed as thoroughly genuine, ten percent empathetic terror.

After all, the scene in Cining Palace had only just occurred not long ago.

As soon as Empress Dowager Xiao saw them, she made them kneel without telling them to rise, giving them a major show of authority. Those with small hearts would indeed be frightened.

Shen Zhiyi hadn’t forgotten yet.

At this moment, seeing Jiang Xuening’s expression and seeing that young eunuch kneeling nearby, she naturally guessed that seeing this young eunuch being punished reminded her of the experience in Cining Palace just now, stirring up fear of this deep palace, feeling that she herself was like this young eunuch—deeply mired in danger where one could offend at any moment…

She couldn’t help but blame her mother empress for being too severe, and couldn’t help but blame the imperial sister-in-law for punishing people neither early nor late but precisely at this time. What if Ningning was frightened?

Immediately she raised her brows, the dignity of heaven’s beloved daughter returning to her bearing.

Shen Zhiyi directly addressed a female official standing before Kunning Palace: “What crime did this eunuch commit?”

The female official hastily bowed in courtesy and was about to reply: “His name is Zheng Bao. Today while serving, he was distracted and who knows—”

“Don’t want to hear it!”

Though the question was asked by Shen Zhiyi, she was also the one who interrupted. With a rather impatient attitude, she waved her hand and directly issued an order.

“The person has already been punished and has knelt for so long. That’s enough. Spare him. If the Empress asks about it later, just say it was this princess’s decision.”

Grand Princess Leyang was already favored in the palace. His Majesty had even invited Hanlin Academy teachers to teach her and screened study companions for her. The female official, serving by the Empress’s side, naturally knew all this clearly. Hearing her speak, how would she dare half a word of objection?

She immediately said: “Yes.”

Then instructed attendants: “Quick, help him up. Don’t let him obstruct Her Highness’s view here and frighten people.”

The young eunuchs on both sides immediately stepped forward to help him up.

Zheng Bao had been kneeling on this palace corridor for quite some time. His knees were already numb and sore. When he first stood up, he nearly knelt down again. His originally delicate face was now crisscrossed with finger marks, yet those pair of eyes shone bright as lacquer.

He raised his head and glanced at Jiang Xuening.

However, unexpectedly, what reflected in his eyes didn’t seem to be the timid and cowering face matching the voice he’d just heard, but rather a pair of eyes hiding calmness beneath fragility, at this moment also quietly watching him.

Clearly a flower-like gorgeous exterior, yet it made him feel it was full of thorns inside.

Jiang Xuening’s eyelashes trembled once. She lightly lowered her gaze, and when she raised it again, she smiled at Shen Zhiyi: “Your Highness is truly kind.”

Shen Zhiyi’s face flushed red again.

She coughed once, deliberately putting on a composed and collected appearance, huffing lightly: “Of course!”