Upon hearing this, the vice minister’s frown deepened as he said, “Princess, perhaps… you should not see this mad woman after all.”

Yunyi smiled and said, “It’s no matter. I’ve troubled you greatly by having you accompany me on this trip. Please go back first.”

Seeing Yunyi’s insistence, the vice minister nodded, instructed the jailer to take careful care, and left the prison. After he departed, the jailer gestured, “Princess, please.”

Under his guidance, Yunyi came to the cell holding Princess Xin’an. Princess Xin’an, who had been yelling and shouting while beating the only wooden stool in the cell, saw Yunyi appear in her field of vision. Her pupils suddenly contracted, and she hurriedly threw down the stool and rushed over. Through the bars, she shouted loudly, “It’s you! You’re indeed here!”

Yunyi ignored her and said to the jailer beside her, “Could you allow me to speak with her alone for a moment?”

“Of course.” After saying this, the jailer tactfully led the prison guards away. After they left, Yunyi said indifferently, “After parting for many days, how has Fourth Sister been?”

“Don’t speak sarcastically here. Release me immediately! I want to see You…” Remembering that Yang You had now become emperor and his name could not be called directly, she changed her words: “I want to see His Majesty!”

Jixiang spoke quickly, “Too bad His Majesty doesn’t want to see you!” She hadn’t forgotten how Princess Xin’an had squeezed out her own princess when Yang Guang was alive. If it weren’t for the Empress’s protection, the princess might have been killed by her and Princess Wenyu.

“Insolent!” Princess Xin’an’s face darkened as she scolded, “What kind of thing are you to dare speak to this princess like this?!”

Jixiang sneered, “Already a prisoner, yet still putting on princess airs. In this Chang’an city, there is only one princess, and that is my princess.”

Ruyi took over the conversation, “If you want to show off your princess authority, go back to Jiangdu to show it off. But… that would require Yuwen Huaji’s permission!”

Princess Xin’an’s face turned blue with anger as she gritted her teeth, “Dead girl, do you really think I can’t do anything to you?”

Ruyi pursed her lips and smiled, “Times have changed, and I’m afraid you really can’t do anything to me.”

“You!” Princess Xin’an was so angry she couldn’t speak. When Yang Guang was alive, although she was inferior to Jinyang, she still got whatever she wanted. When had she ever suffered such treatment? She shouted at Yunyi, “Release me immediately!”

“How did you leave Jiangdu?” Faced with Yunyi’s question, Princess Xin’an said coldly, “I have no need to tell you. In any case, you must immediately open the prison door and take me to see His Majesty!”

“Since Fourth Sister refuses to say, then so be it. I hope this prison cell…” She looked around and said indifferently, “Fourth Sister will find it comfortable, because you’ll probably be living here for a long time.” Having said this, she made as if to leave. How could Princess Xin’an not understand her meaning? She quickly said, “Don’t go! As long as you release me, I’ll tell you everything.”

This wench Jinyang was taking advantage of her misfortune to force her. Hmph, once she got through this ordeal, she would repay today’s humiliation a hundredfold. Speaking of which, seeing Jinyang again, she discovered… the person she hated most was still her!

Yunyi stopped and said, “Then please answer, Fourth Sister.”

Princess Xin’an suppressed the hatred in her heart and recounted everything that had happened along the way. Hearing her words, Yunyi frowned, “So you don’t know the situation in Jiangdu?” She had originally hoped to learn about the Empress Mother’s recent situation from Xin’an, but now it seemed this would come to nothing.

Xin’an shook her head, “When I first heard that something had happened in Jiangdu, I went there to inquire. The city gates were sealed extremely tightly, not allowing anyone to enter or exit. Having no choice, I traveled to Chang’an and only just arrived today.” Speaking of this, she said urgently, “I’ve already told you everything. Quickly release me.”

Ruyi glanced at her and said, “Princess, she has harmed you plenty in the past. Just let her be locked up in prison.”

Hearing these words, Princess Xin’an turned pale with shock. Not caring to scold Ruyi, she said urgently to Yunyi, “Seventh Sister, no matter what, I am your Fourth Sister. We grew up together, nearly twenty years of sisterhood. You cannot abandon me.”

Jixiang said sarcastically, “Now that you’re in trouble, you remember the princess is your seventh sister. When you were harming the princess before, how come you didn’t remember?” Without waiting for Xin’an to speak, she continued, “Not to mention distant matters, just regarding Young Master Du’s affair, you gave the princess plenty of trouble.”

Xin’an stared at the silent Yunyi and said, “Seventh Sister, all the past matters were my fault as an older sister. I swear I will thoroughly reform and never again be as outrageous as before. Please forgive me this once and save me. I really don’t want to continue staying here. Seventh Sister, I beg you!”

“Princess, a leopard cannot change its spots. Now that she’s in prison, she’ll naturally say anything to escape. I’m afraid once she gets out, she’ll immediately return to her original ways.”

Jixiang said, “What Ruyi says is right. Rather than letting her out to harm the princess, it’s better to let her spend the rest of her life here!”

Princess Xin’an suppressed her overwhelming hatred and pleaded, “No, I swear I will never do anything to harm Seventh Sister. Seventh Sister, please believe me!”

Yunyi looked at her for a moment and said, “I’ll come see you again later.” Having said this, she turned and left. No matter how much Xin’an called out and pleaded behind her, she didn’t stop. After a heavy door-closing sound, the footsteps disappeared from Xin’an’s ears. The latter suddenly stopped calling out and stood there in a daze. The next moment, she frantically shook the prison door that was locked with iron chains, screaming, “Let me out! Wench, did you hear me? I don’t want to be locked up here! Open the door!”

Her screaming attracted the jailers, who said impatiently, “You crazy woman, stop yelling!”

“Open the door! Open it for me immediately!” Xin’an screamed hysterically. “If you don’t open the door, I’ll have you all beheaded and exterminate your nine generations! Did you hear me? Open the door!”

“Crazy woman!” The jailer scolded and left. After a while, he came back with an iron rod in his hand, shouting, “If you keep making noise, I won’t be polite!”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Before Xin’an could finish speaking, the jailer swung the iron rod hard, striking her fingers gripping the bars. The pain left her speechless. The jailer sneered, “Remember this, or you’ll have more to suffer.”

After the jailer left, Xin’an looked down at her swollen and painful fingers, gritting her teeth as she said, “Jinyang, I won’t let you go, absolutely not!”

As for Yunyi, after stepping out of the prison, she boarded her carriage and returned to the Tang King’s Mansion. As soon as she entered the door, she encountered Zhao Jin, who said, “It’s good that the princess has returned. The Second Young Master has come back and is looking for you.”

“Looking for me? What matter?” Faced with Yunyi’s inquiry, Zhao Jin shook his head, “This subordinate is also unclear. He only said that as soon as I saw you, I should immediately invite you to meet at Muhua Pavilion.” Muhua Pavilion was the courtyard where Li Shimin lived.

Yunyi nodded and went with him to Muhua Pavilion. Li Shimin was waiting in the main hall. Seeing her arrive, he raised his hand and said, “Princess, please sit.”