After the heavy rain, even though the sun had come out in the morning, the road had not completely dried.

That embroidered shoe covered in mud was so close to her nose that she could clearly smell the scent of the mire.

Chaohua’s eyelids trembled as she respectfully said, “This servant concubine thanks the Crown Princess for exempting her from punishment.”

She didn’t move, nor did she dodge, allowing that toe to press against her chin.

The humiliation was overwhelming, yet she could only maintain her composure.

The County Princess had once said that they were her people, and with her there, they need not humble themselves—they could just be themselves.

But the County Princess was gone.

Chaohua finally couldn’t help but let tears well up in the corners of her eyes.

Seeing that Chaohua neither made a fuss nor caused a scene, the Crown Princess found it boring and lowered her foot.

She had to lower it anyway—she couldn’t maintain the golden rooster stance for too long.

“Jade Attendant.”

“This servant concubine is here.”

“From now on, you must remember to stay within your bounds. If you dare to abuse your favor again, even if His Highness protects you, I will not let you off lightly!” The Crown Princess looked at the woman who used to maintain an air of grace and composure now prostrate in humiliation at her feet, and felt immensely satisfied.

“This servant concubine understands.” Chaohua once again pressed her forehead to the ground, her posture humble.

The Crown Princess smiled with satisfaction, her gaze falling on Chaohua’s wrist.

Though the light inside the room was dim, the gold-inlaid seven-treasure bracelet still shone brilliantly.

The Crown Princess frowned, finding the bracelet on that wrist extremely grating to her eyes.

She lifted her foot and lightly stepped on that bracelet, simultaneously stepping on the slender wrist wearing it.

Chaohua looked up in shock: “Crown Princess—”

The Crown Princess curved her lips in a cold smile, her voice falling into Chaohua’s ears like a basin of ice water poured over her head, making her entire body tremble.

“I’m wondering what’s so special about this bracelet that you, the Young County Princess, and Miss Luo all like it so much.”

The Crown Princess still remembered the shock she felt when she first discovered that the bracelet worn by the Young County Princess Wei Wen was identical to the one Jade Attendant always wore.

She had quietly inquired and learned that the bracelets were originally a pair, part of the dowry left behind by County Princess Qingyang.

Such a pair of bracelets—one in the hands of the Crown Prince’s sister, one in the hands of the Crown Prince’s concubine. Then what about her, the Crown Princess?

The existence of this bracelet was a reminder that she, the properly married Crown Princess, held less weight in the Crown Prince’s heart than a lowly maid.

Previously, when Jade Attendant was discreet and kept a low profile, she couldn’t do anything about it.

But now, even if the Crown Prince had a change of heart and picked up his affection for Jade Attendant again, with the evidence of Jade Attendant secretly taking contraceptive medicine in hand, she wasn’t afraid that the Crown Prince would give her the cold shoulder over a concubine.

She was the mistress of the Eastern Palace. If she was determined to punish a guilty servant, the Crown Prince could only accept it.

Even if word reached His Majesty the Emperor, it would be the Crown Prince’s fault.

Of course, husband and wife were one entity—they prospered together and suffered together. As long as the Crown Prince wasn’t too excessive, she wouldn’t do this.

With her soft shoe sole stepping on the gold bracelet, the Crown Princess was very satisfied with the panic revealed by the woman kneeling on the ground.

She withdrew her foot and coldly ordered the palace maid who had followed her in: “Remove Jade Attendant’s gold bracelet.”

Chaohua’s plain face immediately lost all color, and uncontrollable fear made her unable to move for that instant.

It wasn’t until a palace maid bent down to grab her hand to remove the bracelet that Chaohua awoke as if from a dream, desperately protecting the bracelet as she pleaded with the Crown Princess.

“Crown Princess, this is a keepsake my mistress left for this servant concubine. I beg you to show mercy and not take it away—”

“Take?” This word touched a nerve in the Crown Princess, making her very angry. “It’s just taking back a gold bracelet, yet you actually say ‘take’? Ha! His Highness has truly favored you too long, making you forget your place. The crime you committed is enough to warrant death, yet you still cling to a bracelet.”

The Crown Princess moved closer two steps, bending down slightly: “Jade Attendant, since you miss your former mistress so much, why don’t you follow her in death?”

In the end, she was nothing but a scheming woman who used His Highness’s feelings for County Princess Qingyang to compete for favor.

Chaohua paid no attention to these taunts. Seeing the Crown Princess had drawn near, she suddenly grabbed her ankle and pleaded: “Crown Princess, this servant concubine will certainly stay within bounds from now on and will absolutely not offend your eyes—”

The Crown Princess had no patience to listen to this. She coldly shouted: “What are you standing there for? Take the bracelet off!”

Seeing Chaohua struggling fiercely, another palace maid hurried forward to help—one person holding her down, the other removing the bracelet.

Watching helplessly as the bracelet was removed, Chaohua’s eyes reddened: “Crown Princess, must you leave me no way to live?”

The Crown Princess looked at the woman who had completely lost her composure and all dignity. How could she bother to waste more words? She gave a cold laugh and strode away.

“Crown Princess, I beg you to return the bracelet to me, I beg you—”

Behind her were Chaohua’s heartbreaking shouts. The Crown Princess stopped in the narrow, secluded courtyard, feeling very pleased.

All these years, though she had told herself there was no need to treat a concubine as a rival, how could she not feel uncomfortable?

And now, she had finally pulled out this thorn that had been bothering her.

The Crown Princess lifted her foot and walked out.

Cuihong and Qing’er both bowed in unison: “Respectfully seeing off the Crown Princess.”

The Crown Princess paused and stopped before the two of them.

“You two must take good care of Jade Attendant.” Leaving these words behind, the Crown Princess strode away with the palace maids.

Cuihong got up and looked toward the doorway.

The door was half-closed, and faint crying sounds came from inside.

“I’ll go check on the Attendant.” Qing’er ran inside.

Cuihong dusted off her clothes before slowly and methodically walking in.

As soon as Qing’er entered, she was shocked.

“Attendant, why are you lying on the floor!”

Chaohua lay motionless on the floor, as if unaware that someone had come, her eyes empty as though she had lost her soul.

Qing’er used great effort to help her up and settled her on the bed.

Seeing Chaohua so distraught and completely unlike her usual calm self, Qing’er’s nose stung: “Attendant, please try to look on the bright side. This servant will go get you something to eat.”

From morning until now, the Attendant still hadn’t eaten anything. The Attendant’s health was weak—how could she go on like this?

“Attendant, please wait.” Qing’er wiped the corners of her eyes and walked out, running right into Cuihong.

“Cuihong, you mustn’t say nonsense and upset the Attendant!” Qing’er warned before quickly walking out.

Cuihong pursed her lips, lifted her foot to walk to the bedside, and said with a light laugh: “What’s wrong with the Attendant?”

The person on the bed made no movement.

Cuihong’s gaze fell on Chaohua’s wrist, and she couldn’t help but smile: “Oh my, it seems the Attendant’s precious bracelet is gone. If you ask me, His Highness has rewarded the Attendant with so many good things before—what does it matter if one gold bracelet is gone? Ah, but wait, I heard that bracelet was left behind by the Attendant’s mistress—”

Chaohua, who had shown no movement until now, suddenly opened her eyes and stared fixedly at Cuihong.

Cuihong froze, then grew even more annoyed: “What, does the Attendant still think she’s the person on His Highness’s heart?”

“Was it the Crown Princess who told you to expose me?” Chaohua asked in a hoarse voice.

Cuihong curled her lip: “Does the Attendant still want to complain about the Crown Princess to His Highness?”

“Why? I’ve always treated you well, I believe.” Chaohua asked word by word.

Undercurrents surged in her eyes, and her voice had somehow regained its calm.