Emperor Jingming’s words struck Princess Rongyang like a thunderbolt, leaving her stunned.

“Royal Brother, I haven’t colluded with foreigners, nor have I harmed you or Mother Empress—”

Emperor Jingming ignored Princess Rongyang’s protests, closing his eyes and waving his hand dismissively. “Take her away.”

Several palace servants stepped forward to drag Princess Rongyang away.

Princess Rongyang struggled, “Royal Brother, I want to see Mother Empress… Let me see Mother Empress one last time. You can’t do this—”

Emperor Jingming simply turned his back.

Moments later, Princess Rongyang’s shouts faded at the doorway. Emperor Jingming glanced at Yu Jin.

Yu Jin kept his eyes lowered as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Emperor Jingming sighed, “Take your wife home. She’s had a long night…”

Yu Jin immediately perked up, “Thank you, Father Emperor!”

Jiang Si emerged from a side door.

Yu Jin quickly went to meet her, taking her hand, “How are you? Tired?”

“I’m fine.”

Emperor Jingming coughed twice.

The couple approached and bowed to Emperor Jingming in unison, “Father Emperor, we’ll take our leave now.”

“Mm.” The dejected Emperor Jingming responded lazily.

Yu Jin didn’t care about the Emperor’s mood; he just led his wife away.

The morning wind was cold, cutting like a knife, but Jiang Si was dressed warmly and wore a hooded cloak, so she didn’t feel too uncomfortable.

Yu Jin held her hand tightly, whispering, “I was worried all night. No one gave you trouble, did they?”

Jiang Si smiled genuinely, “No, Father Emperor wouldn’t trouble someone without reason.”

At that moment, the Imperial Token of Immunity was in her bosom, heavy with significance.

This trip to the palace had been fruitful indeed. Obtaining the precious Imperial Token of Immunity was an unexpected joy, but more importantly, Princess Rongyang had finally been punished. She had avenged her mother.

For some people, falling from grace is worse than death, and Princess Rongyang was one such person.

“Did Nanny Duo confess everything?”

“She didn’t reveal the reason for disrupting the palace, but she did disclose Princess Rongyang’s involvement.”

Yu Jin glanced ahead.

Princess Rongyang was still struggling, being dragged away by palace servants.

A cold smile flashed in his eyes as he said softly, “Those who can become elders of the Wu Miao are tough. It’s difficult to make them reveal tribal secrets…”

Jiang Si thought of Nanny Duo’s questioning in the Wu Miao language through the door and said quietly, “Let’s talk when we get back.”

As they walked out of the palace gates, they saw the devastated Princess Rongyang.

Princess Rongyang caught sight of Jiang Si and suddenly pushed away the nearby servants, rushing towards them.

“Aunt seems to be charging like a mad woman. How undignified,” Yu Jin remarked coolly, shielding Jiang Si behind him, worried that Princess Rongyang might harm her.

Princess Rongyang ignored Yu Jin’s sarcasm, her eyes fixed on Jiang Si as she snarled, “You bitch, was it your doing that caused His Majesty to punish me and strip me of my title as Princess?”

Jiang Si met Princess Rongyang’s gaze and softly uttered two words: “Indeed.”

Princess Rongyang’s eyes widened, momentarily forgetting what to say.

The denial and defense she had imagined were nowhere to be found. Instead, the other party had directly admitted it, so casually!

“You bitch, aren’t you afraid of karma for sowing discord before His Majesty?”

Jiang Si found it amusing.

People who harm others without any moral boundaries truly have an astounding ability to twist logic.

“I’ve done nothing to trouble my conscience, so why should I fear karma?” Jiang Si said with a cold smile. “It’s you, Aunt, who views human life as worthless and loves to take what doesn’t belong to you. Now you’re finally facing the consequences.”

She stepped forward, lowering her voice even more, “Just like your daughter.”

Princess Rongyang suddenly shuddered, her expression contorting, “You bitch, I knew you were behind what happened to Mingyu!”

Jiang Si raised her voice, “Aunt, you’d better watch what you say. Do you think Father Emperor is someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong, punishing you based on a few words of instigation from others? It’s because you, born into nobility, failed to cherish your blessings. Despite living in luxury, you were never satisfied, greedy, and vicious. That’s why you’ve received the punishment you deserve. Father Emperor is the Son of Heaven, punishing you is carrying out Heaven’s will! As for you, Aunt, if you still can’t reflect and repent even now, there will surely be greater retribution waiting for you in the future.”

“Shut up, shut your mouth!” Princess Rongyang bared her teeth and claws, wanting to teach Jiang Si a lesson.

Yu Jin grabbed Princess Rongyang’s wrist, coldly saying, “You think you’re still a Princess? Fool!”

The palace servants were stunned.

The Yan Prince dared to say anything. Princess Rongyang had been in the limelight for decades and was the beloved adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager. Weren’t they afraid that if the Empress Dowager found out, she might plead with the Emperor, and then the Empress would revoke the punishment?

Yu Jin lazily glanced at the palace servants, “Are you gentlemen not going to take her away quickly? Are you letting her make a scene here?”

The palace servants immediately grabbed Princess Rongyang, urging, “Please don’t make a fuss. Go back to the Princess Residence and pack your things.”

Now that Princess Rongyang had been stripped of her title, she naturally had no right to live in the Princess Residence anymore.

The servant’s words nearly drove Princess Rongyang mad, “Pack what? Why do I need to pack anything from my residence?”

Jiang Si smiled, “Aunt, wouldn’t it be better to maintain some dignity? In this regard, you’re not as good as Miss Cui.”

Even when forced into marriage, Cui Mingyu didn’t resign herself to fate. She decisively killed her new husband and left with her belongings packed.

From this perspective, Cui Mingyu’s performance was indeed much better than her mother’s.

Princess Rongyang suddenly fell silent.

The servants took advantage of her quietness and quickly dragged her away.

“Let’s go home. Before I left the prince’s mansion, I instructed the kitchen to prepare steamed meat…”

In the hall, Emperor Jingming sat with a gloomy face, gulping down cup after cup of tea.

Pan Hai approached cautiously, reminding him, “Your Majesty, it’s time for the morning court session.”

Emperor Jingming barely moved his eyelids, saying flatly, “Tell them I’m unwell. Let them disperse.”

Pan Hai hesitated for a moment before bowing and retreating to Qianqing Gate to relay the imperial edict.

After hearing Pan Hai’s announcement, the officials were stunned, looking at each other in bewilderment.

No morning court today?

Since his ascension, the Emperor had always been diligent, rarely missing a court session.

Several officials gathered around Pan Hai to inquire, “Master Pan, is His Majesty’s health alright?”

Pan Hai swept his gaze over the officials, saying coolly, “Gentlemen, please disperse. Come back tomorrow.”

The officials exchanged glances.

Not allowing inquiries meant it wasn’t as simple as the Emperor being unwell.

What could have happened to make the Emperor cancel the morning court?

Leaving Qianqing Gate, the officials immediately sent people to investigate.

Soon after, a shocking piece of news reached the officials’ ears: Princess Rongyang had been stripped of her title and demoted to a commoner!

The reason?

The reason was that the Yan Prince Consort had suspected something amiss about her mother’s death. The investigation revealed that Princess Rongyang had colluded with foreigners to poison Lady Su, the Yan Prince Consort’s mother. The Emperor, impartial and just, had punished Princess Rongyang by demoting her to a commoner.

The officials stroked their beards, all thinking of the same question: The Emperor is so supportive of his daughter-in-law, does the Empress Dowager know about this?