Early the next morning, they would enter the palace. Madam Guo had specially ordered over thirty sets of various garments from Longxing Records, the most luxurious silk shop in the capital, for Li Weiyang. Although the deadline was tight, the Guo residence was willing to spend silver, and they were important customers who couldn’t be offended. The people at Longxing Records didn’t dare be negligent. They quickly had people cut fabric and embroider. Fifty first-rate needlework masters worked day and night, finally completing and delivering everything before the palace visit. These garments had precise stitching and were exquisite to the extreme. When opened from the boxes, they spread through the room like rosy clouds, dazzling everyone’s eyes.

Although Li Weiyang had been prepared, she couldn’t help being startled: “Mother, we don’t need this many.” Since arriving at the Guo residence, Madam Guo kept saying it wasn’t good for young ladies to dress too plainly, sending her many brightly colored dresses and skirts. At first Li Weiyang wanted to refuse, but Guo Cheng told her these clothes had been prepared by Madam Guo over many years. What was sent over was just a drop in the ocean, because every year Madam Guo made clothes for “Guo Jia”—for age three, age five, age ten, age fifteen… year after year up to age eighteen, all in the most fashionable styles and colors among young ladies of each year.

Later when Li Weiyang entered the residence, Madam Guo had the clothes from the past two years altered according to her measurements, making a new batch and sending them all together. Not only did they fill row after row of wardrobes, but she specially cleared out seven or eight rosewood clothing chests, each containing about twenty garments—single layer, fur-lined, padded, and fur ones. So this time for entering the palace, without a second thought, Madam Guo ordered more clothes made, truly frightening Li Weiyang.

“Who says we don’t need them? Haven’t you seen those young ladies competing with each other? Can my Guo family’s daughter lose to them? Hmph, such petty behavior.” Thinking of the Pei family’s haughty young lady from last time, Madam Guo couldn’t help snorting coldly.

Li Weiyang laughed helplessly: “They are they, and I am I. Why bother competing with them?”

Madam Guo disagreed: “If my daughter is outdone by those people with no discernment, I won’t even be able to eat!” As she spoke, she picked up a bright rose-red dress and held it against Li Weiyang’s body. Li Weiyang glanced at it and fell silent. This color seemed a bit too bright. From childhood to now, she had never worn such a vivid color.

“Not too bright at all! All young ladies from good families dress like this nowadays—festive and noble. From a distance, it looks like a flower floating by.” Seeing her frown, Madam Guo immediately guessed her thoughts and said with a smile.

Li Weiyang was helpless. Listening to her words, she put on the garment, but no matter how she looked, she felt it was too bright. Madam Guo simply ignored this and draped a layer of transparent plain-colored gauze over the skirt, saying: “I love this color most, but unfortunately I’m too old to wear it. Ordinary young girls want to wear it but can’t carry it off at all. It’s just right on you—young and charming, not appearing frivolous in the slightest.” Probably in every mother’s eyes, her own daughter is the most beautiful. However, Li Weiyang wasn’t accustomed to it, and her smile was a bit stiff.

Madam Guo covered her mouth laughing: “Sit down.”

Li Weiyang was a bit confused but was still pulled down to sit. Madam Guo personally undid her long hair, stroking her long hair from behind, sighing softly: “Look, this water-like long hair feels so soft to touch… yet you don’t know how to dress up properly, not even willing to wear a glass hairpin—”

Zhao Yue and several other maidservants beside them covered their mouths giggling. Li Weiyang sighed. Madam Guo complained about this several times a day—she was already used to it.

Madam Guo re-arranged her hair into a beautiful bun, examining it from left and right for a moment before saying gently: “When you enter the palace, don’t be afraid. Just follow me.”

“Mm.” Li Weiyang answered this way.

“Imperial Consort Hui is very easy to get along with—no need to worry. However, other people in the palace aren’t so easy to deal with. If you encounter them, don’t engage with them. Just perform the courtesy and move on.” Madam Guo said this.

Li Weiyang sighed. In these three days, Madam Guo had already repeated these words over ten times. She didn’t know who was more nervous. Obviously she was afraid Li Weiyang didn’t understand palace etiquette and would be laughed at in the palace. A mother’s heart was always like this. Her heart softened, and her tone warmed by three parts: “Mother, I understand everything. I won’t cause trouble for Imperial Consort Hui. Don’t worry.”

“Mother isn’t afraid you’ll cause trouble. What kind of child you are—how could Mother not know? I’m worried that some people will find trouble with you!” Madam Guo looked at her daughter in the bronze mirror, worry appearing in her beautiful eyes.

“Is Mother talking about Empress Pei?” Li Weiyang looked at her, slightly understanding.

Madam Guo shook her head: “Silly child, last time the Guo family fell out with Princess Lin’an. Empress Pei obviously knows about it but has taken no action all this time. That’s precisely why I’m a bit worried.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “Does Mother understand Empress Pei well?”

Madam Guo shook her head: “I wouldn’t dare say I understand that old witch, but after all these years, the Pei and Guo families have never been harmonious. We’ve paid quite a bit of attention to her. This person is narrow-minded, vindictive, sinister and vicious. She has a beautiful fox face but the heart of a tiger and wolf.”

Li Weiyang was amused by Madam Guo’s description. From Princess Anguo, Princess Lin’an, the Crown Prince, and even Pei Bao’er’s appearances, one could guess Empress Pei’s looks. It was said these people all somewhat resembled her, but none matched her beauty. She smiled: “Mother, for Empress Pei to sit firmly on the Empress throne amid the palace’s open and covert struggles, naturally she’s no ordinary person.” Her tone was guiding Madam Guo to continue.

“Who in this world isn’t like that? Isn’t your aunt Imperial Consort Hui clever? But all these years, she’s maintained the principle of not offending others unless they offend her first, always leaving others room to maneuver. In comparison, Empress Pei’s kind of cleverness and wisdom is truly too frightening.” Madam Guo sighed and shook her head: “The Pei family’s power reaches the heavens. They sent their daughter into the palace and could only help her reach the Empress position, but couldn’t truly help her secure it. Add to that countless beauties in the rear palace—even with peerless beauty, there comes a day of boredom. So although Empress Pei is beautiful, she has never relied on beauty to live. What she truly depends on is her unfathomable scheming and sinister ruthless methods.”

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Guo’s lingering fear and thought for a moment before asking about something else: “Mother, about my disappearance back then… you never told me the actual circumstances…”

Hearing her ask this, Madam Guo’s eyes revealed a trace of cold anger: “It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you—I was afraid of frightening you. That year when Prince Hecheng rebelled, your father led troops to suppress the rebellion. One night, the Liu residence near us suddenly caught fire. In the chaos of war, those rebel troops rushed in. At that time, the entire residence was in chaos. Mother always thought the wet nurse and guards were by your side, so I went to find your grandmother first. By the time the Guo family guards had killed the rebels and Mother hurried back with people, I learned the wet nurse had already died in the military disaster, and you were nowhere to be found…”

Li Weiyang nodded: “I heard that military disaster implicated quite a few noble families.”

Madam Guo paused, then lowered her eyes: “Yes, all the major families suffered losses to varying degrees, including Empress Pei’s maternal family—quite a few people died. However, that military disaster truly came inexplicably. Originally your father was leading troops outside, so naturally someone was guarding the capital. How could a group of rebel troops suddenly appear? And how did this group run to the Guo family? If we hadn’t discovered it in time, I’m afraid the entire family would have perished together with the neighboring Liu residence. We’ve been investigating this matter all along, but unfortunately all the people from back then died, and there’s no evidence.”

“Quite a few people from the Pei family died? Who were they?” Li Weiyang grasped the words in Madam Guo’s statement, seeming very interested in this.

Madam Guo nodded: “Pei Xiu’s four blood brothers and three elders of the Pei family, where Pei Xiu was Empress Pei’s father.”

These secrets were very difficult for ordinary people to know. Hearing this, Li Weiyang glanced at the several maidservants around them. Seeing her expression, Madam Guo knew what she meant and smiled: “Mother would absolutely never send unclear people to your side. Don’t worry.”

Although Madam Guo was magnanimous and easygoing, she wasn’t a fool. Plus with her love for Li Weiyang, she would naturally choose the most trustworthy people to send to her side. This was why she had spoken without concern just now. Noble families like the Guo family naturally had methods for managing servants. These servants’ lives and families were held in the master’s hands. Even if someone held a knife to their throats, for the sake of their entire family’s lives, they should know what could be said and what couldn’t.

Li Weiyang naturally understood this point. She was just an extremely cautious person who didn’t easily trust others. But hearing Madam Guo’s words, she nodded and continued asking: “What was Pei Xiu’s relationship with these people?”

Madam Guo seemed not to expect her to ask this. The smile on her face carried a bit of surprise: “Relationship? These seven people who died happened to all be Pei Xiu’s close relatives and elders. The relationship naturally was—” Thinking to this point, she suddenly stopped speaking, then a flash of inspiration crossed her mind. “No, that’s not right. Their relationship wasn’t good!”

Relying on his outstanding military achievements, Pei Xiu had always been forceful. To eliminate dissidents, he designed a series of false cases. He falsely accused Minister of Justice Chong Tian and Counselor Wang Lin, who had differing political views from him back then, fabricating charges against them and confiscating their family properties. Not only that, he frequently initiated major legal cases with overly harsh punishments, making everyone both hate and fear him tremendously. Later, he even supported the current Emperor’s ascension, and his daughter became Empress. For a time, his influence was unmatched. Although he had made many enemies, given the Pei family’s power and his own illustrious military achievements, everyone was helpless against him.

Even so, the Pei family was divided into two factions at that time. One faction supported Pei Xiu. Empress Pei, as his biological daughter, was naturally also his strong supporter. The other faction was led by Pei Xiu’s blood brother Pei Ming, uniting quite a few opposing forces within the Pei family. Because Pei Xiu was too domineering and arrogant, making too many enemies, later almost all the Pei family members sided with Pei Ming’s faction. And Pei Ming, as Pei Xiu’s brother from the same mother, should have shared in the honor, but Pei Xiu treated him like a servant, ordering him about. He naturally harbored resentment and gradually developed thoughts of replacing him.

When Li Weiyang heard this, she naturally smiled: “So although these deceased Pei family members were close relatives of Pei Xiu, they not only weren’t Pei Xiu’s supporters but were actually his enemies.”

“That statement isn’t entirely correct.” Madam Guo shook her head: “Besides Pei Ming, among the deceased were Pei Xiu’s other three brothers—Pei Kang, Pei Jing, and Pei Zhe—plus three other elders… They all maintained neutral positions. If Pei Xiu truly planned the military disaster, he could have just eliminated Pei Ming. Why would he massacre the others?”

Li Weiyang’s gaze sharpened slightly: “Wouldn’t this be precisely to cover his tracks?”

Madam Guo’s expression showed momentary surprise: “To clear his own suspicion, he would willingly kill his own relatives? Wouldn’t that be the act of a beast?”

The Guo family had reached today’s position through generations of merit and wisdom. Especially this generation’s Duke Qi was a very upright person. Although he would use extraordinary means against enemies outside, he treated his own relatives wholeheartedly. It could be said the Guo family existed to protect their close relatives. Family honor, power, and status were certainly important, but in their view, these were merely means, not the ultimate goal. So Madam Guo couldn’t understand.

Indeed, if family honor couldn’t be used to protect relatives, what need was there for its existence? But Li Xiaoran back then had completely reversed priorities—quite laughable.

Li Weiyang looked at Madam Guo’s fair gentle face and sighed inwardly. If her speculation wasn’t wrong, this military disaster was indeed Empress Pei’s doing. She took the opportunity to eliminate the threat from her own father while dealing heavy blows to the major families. Yet the Pei family didn’t just lose Pei Ming… This way, no one would suspect Empress Pei was the mastermind behind it all, because her father also lost some supporters in this matter… Pei Ming’s attempt to seize power hadn’t been just a day or two. Empress Pei had endured all along, using her cold wisdom to methodically set traps step by step, killing the power-seizer in one stroke and reclaiming the Pei family’s leadership. However, being able to act against her own uncle—Empress Pei’s viciousness was truly displayed to the fullest.

Seeing Li Weiyang lost in thought, Madam Guo said gently: “Actually your father also suspected like you, but there was no evidence. So I think perhaps you’re both overthinking.”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang was startled. Such a major commotion… Empress Pei’s cleanup work was so successful that she left no evidence at all. This showed Empress Pei’s meticulous planning, thorough execution, and ruthless intentions—one couldn’t help but admire her.

“Mother, Empress Pei’s methods are naturally extraordinary. If evidence could be found so easily, how could she have sat secure for so many years? If you don’t believe it, think carefully—who was the biggest beneficiary after the military disaster?”

Madam Guo froze, seeming slightly hesitant: “This… thinking carefully, it was indeed Empress Pei. After the military disaster, the major families all suffered damage. Before the disaster occurred, the Pei family was already showing signs of being besieged by the major families, but afterward, the situation changed…” Thinking to this point, she slowly stopped speaking. Her mind rapidly went over Li Weiyang’s words, suddenly realizing the key point. Her expression had already turned somber: “Jia’er, you’re right. This matter must have been Empress Pei’s doing! Because she and her father Pei Xiu were the biggest beneficiaries!”

Li Weiyang smiled lightly: “Yes, striking fast, ruthlessly, and precisely—that’s Empress Pei.”

Madam Guo looked at Li Weiyang: “After Pei Ming’s death, those who had close dealings with him were all very fearful, afraid Empress Pei would pursue further, endangering their prospects, fates, and even their lives and families. But what surprised them was that no one else was implicated. What was even more impressive was that Empress Pei issued a benevolent decree ordering Pei Ming and the others to be buried lavishly, burning all their lifetime correspondence and account books in one fire. This way, it meant she wouldn’t pursue others. I hadn’t thought carefully before, but looking at it today, this move not only won her a good reputation for showing grace and favor to subordinates but truly demonstrated her excellent political maneuvering.”

Li Weiyang nodded: “I guess Father and Brothers have definitely already investigated these matters, but they’ve been hiding it from you, Mother, fearing you would seek revenge against Empress Pei because of my disappearance. If you truly did that without evidence in hand, you would instead fall into the trap of false accusation.”

The veins on Madam Guo’s forehead throbbed rapidly as she forcefully suppressed her anger: “Am I such a woman who doesn’t know the gravity of matters? They’ve underestimated me too much!”

Li Weiyang merely held Madam Guo’s hand, saying softly: “Mother, whether it’s Father or Brothers, they’re all protecting you!”

Hearing this, Madam Guo ultimately couldn’t bear to blame her husband and sons who had concealed this from her for so many years. She only sighed: “The enmity between the Guo and Pei families runs too deep—no matter what, it can’t be cleared. So during this palace visit, you must be even more careful.”

Li Weiyang smiled: “Mother can rest assured.”

Early the next morning, Madam Guo and Li Weiyang boarded the carriage. Zhao Yue said to the driver: “Let’s go.” The carriage began turning its wheels. Sixteen Guo family guards on both sides followed the carriage through the streets, turned left through Tongde Gate, crossed a Xiangshui Bridge, and ahead was Nangong City. According to regulations, carriages of titled ladies could enter through Nangong City Gate, then must stop upon entering the second Dong’an Gate. All Guo family guards were stopped outside. Naturally, female officials sent by Imperial Consort Guo Hui took over everything. Of course, two rows of eunuchs took eight exquisite food boxes from the Guo family attendants. Inside were pastries made by the Guo family. One should know the palace had every good thing—sending anything wasn’t as appropriate as sending foods the Imperial Consort liked, which showed especially sincere feelings.

Four eunuchs each lifted a small sedan chair, carrying Madam Guo and Li Weiyang all the way to the entrance of Changchun Palace where Imperial Consort Guo Hui resided. Along the way, Li Weiyang only saw palace maids and eunuchs with lowered heads and held breath. She couldn’t even hear people conversing, showing that Yuexi’s palace regulations were much stricter than Dali’s. At the entrance to Changchun Palace, even the small sedan chairs had to stop.

“…Jia’er, if you encounter people later, just follow the etiquette that the teaching nanny explained. Also, all those taboos in the palace—do you remember them all?” Madam Guo still asked worriedly once more.

Li Weiyang turned her head to look at her, smiling and saying she remembered.

Just as they were about to enter Changchun Palace, they heard footsteps. A brocade-clad young man walked out from inside—tall, handsome, with eyes radiating unfathomable light. Seeing Madam Guo, his face showed a sincere warm smile as he quickly approached: “Aunt.”

Before Madam Guo could speak, he had already performed a half-courtesy, obviously respecting her greatly. Madam Guo quickly said: “Your Highness needn’t be so courteous. Oh, right, this is Jia’er. Your Highness hasn’t met her yet.”

Yuan Ying smiled and turned his gaze to Li Weiyang, his lips carrying a trace of polite yet distant smile: “Cousin.”

Li Weiyang cooperatively smiled. Although she couldn’t make a shy expression on her face, it was enough to get by.

“Mother Consort asked me to come to the palace gate to greet you,” Yuan Ying said with a faint smile. “Aunt, please go inside…”

Inside the carved lacquered red gates of Changchun Palace was a spacious small garden, planted with a large area of green banana trees and thousand-year pines, plus many flowers—no specific varieties, scattered orderly throughout the entire courtyard, yet very interesting.

Following Madam Guo into a flower hall with solemn layout, she saw Imperial Consort Guo Hui sitting on a beauty couch. Before Li Weiyang could carefully observe her appearance, she had already knelt down together with Madam Guo.

“Rise.” Imperial Consort Guo Hui actually came forward to help Madam Guo up herself. Then Li Weiyang saw the gorgeous palace skirt walk before her, followed by a gentle female voice: “Today I’m seeing my own sister-in-law and niece. Jia’er, just raise your head. No need to be bound by those formal courtesies.”

Li Weiyang still very naturally performed the courtesy, raised her eyes, and smiled. All movements flowed smoothly. Yuan Ying looked at her with slight surprise, obviously not expecting that in just a few short days, Li Weiyang had learned proper etiquette so well.

Li Weiyang’s gaze fell on Imperial Consort Guo Hui’s face. Though she was also approaching forty, her skin was delicate and smooth—beautiful and dignified.

“Jia’er.” Imperial Consort Guo Hui came forward to hold her hand, slowly examining her face. Li Weiyang wore the dress Madam Guo had selected—brightly colored but not frivolous, dignified and gentle. Her face was set off even more rosily than usual, three parts more beautiful and lovely. Imperial Consort Guo Hui nodded: “Indeed very refined and graceful.”

This meant after Yuan Ying returned, he had mentioned her to Imperial Consort Guo Hui. Li Weiyang merely smiled slightly.

Imperial Consort Guo Hui pulled Madam Guo and Li Weiyang to sit down, beginning to ask about recent circumstances of the Guo family. Actually she had already heard Yuan Ying say these things once, but at this moment, she wanted to hear her sister-in-law say them again. Especially about the process of Guo Jia’s return—she listened with particular attention. On her face and in her eyes was no trace of doubt, only full emotion. Li Weiyang watched this and sighed inwardly. The problem with Guo family women was being emotional—even Imperial Consort Guo Hui was no exception. Hearing Li Weiyang had wandered outside and suffered much hardship before, she bestowed countless gifts to compensate her.

Very soon, Li Weiyang suddenly discovered Yuan Ying’s gaze had been falling on her face, still with a thoughtful expression. At this moment, she suddenly heard Imperial Consort Guo Hui say: “When I was young, I carried Ying’er to visit the Guo family. When he saw Jia’er, he wouldn’t let go…”

Hearing this, Li Weiyang’s heart immediately swept with an ominous feeling.

Sure enough, Imperial Consort Guo Hui’s next words were: “Sister-in-law, that matter we discussed in the past should be settled soon…”

Li Weiyang saw Imperial Consort Guo Hui’s enthusiastic eyes and immediately felt a bit uneasy. However, hearing this, Yuan Ying’s face still wore a playful smiling expression without the slightest emotional reaction, as if he hadn’t understood Imperial Consort Guo Hui’s hint at all…

Li Weiyang and the others entered the palace very early—it was only the hour of the rabbit now. At this moment at Prince Xu’s residence, the master hadn’t yet risen. The attendant serving outside was an old person from beside the old Prince, a eunuch called Eunuch Wang. At this moment, he gently walked to the desk, softly drawing up a cloak to cover him, afraid of disturbing Yuan Lie who was still sleeping soundly.

“Eunuch Wang, it’s already the hour of the rabbit. Should we wake the Prince?” Maidservant Lanzhi asked quietly.

This was from reading until tired and not even going to bed to rest. Eunuch Wang sighed. Originally he thought Prince Xu could live to a hundred years, but unexpectedly the new master inherited the title so quickly. Moreover, this new Prince was exceptionally handsome with deep scheming—both character and appearance one in ten thousand. However, he wasn’t very similar to old Prince Xu’s refined and elegant temperament. That was fine, but in the half year since inheriting the title, there was one matter that worried Eunuch Wang greatly—

Eunuch Wang glanced at the maidservant beside him and couldn’t help sighing again. His mood seemed to plummet to the depths as he deliberately lowered his voice: “You all are truly useless. I asked you to serve the Prince at bedtime—why hasn’t anyone made a move?”

Those several beautiful maidservants all lowered their heads. The Prince had no interest in them, and his temperament was unpredictable. It wasn’t that no one had tried, but those who tried never saw the next day’s sun. Heaven knew which icy pit the bold maidservant who overstepped had been thrown into by the master’s hidden guards… They also couldn’t understand—clearly he was an incomparably handsome Prince. Why wasn’t he moved by beauty at all? Could it be the Prince didn’t like girls? Hadn’t the old Princess Dowager cursed in private, saying the old Prince didn’t know where he found this illegitimate child who also didn’t favor women…

“Alas, what is this about? He refuses to marry a proper consort and won’t keep bedding maidservants by his side. Isn’t this cutting off the succession of the title? At the old Prince’s age, he had already married and had children… Ah!” Eunuch Wang had just muttered a couple sentences when he looked up and saw Yuan Lie yawn, his eyes looking at him.

Eunuch Wang was startled and quickly said: “My Prince… how are you awake?” He hadn’t expected Yuan Lie would wake so quickly. He had just been talking beside him—wouldn’t the other party think he was relying on his seniority?

Yuan Lie smiled slightly, his amber eyes showing a smile that wasn’t quite a smile: “I was just tired from reading and resting my head for a while, yet you’re here chattering away…”

“This servant wouldn’t dare!” Eunuch Wang broke out in a cold sweat on his back. He couldn’t explain why, but he still felt some fear toward this new Prince. However, relying on the sentiment left from serving the old Prince back then, he also hoped the young Prince would marry and have children soon, branching out the family line. “My Prince, the old Princess Dowager returned yesterday and specially summoned this servant, bringing up the matter of the Princess Consort selection. The old Princess Dowager wants to marry her maternal niece to you, forcing this servant to come persuade… Moreover, this servant quietly learned she plans to petition His Majesty through Imperial Consort Hu Shun in the palace… Your Highness, look—it’s not that this servant wants to be meddlesome, but if someone from the Hu family marries in as Princess Consort, I’m afraid she’ll be of one mind with the old Princess Dowager…”

In fact, the old Princess Dowager had also given him a bank note of enormous value and gifted him an estate in the suburbs… These were all gifts to win people’s hearts. If it were an ordinary person, they would probably have been moved long ago. But he had always been loyal to the old Prince. Before the old Prince passed away, he specifically instructed him to serve the new master well. How could he betray Yuan Lie? But just because he wouldn’t didn’t mean others wouldn’t do this. He understood the old Princess Dowager’s temperament all too well—she wouldn’t rest until achieving her goal. To let her own son ascend to the Prince position, she would do anything. Although Yuan Lie didn’t pursue it for the old Prince’s sake, this struggle ultimately wasn’t easily resolved!

“Oh!” Yuan Lie’s tone wasn’t very warm. He directly got up to wash.

Seeing him pay no attention at all, Eunuch Wang couldn’t help being anxious. The old Princess Dowager had always detested Yuan Lie. If she managed to insert people beside the Prince, how could life continue afterward? The Prince wasn’t making early plans and actually still looked leisurely—had he gone mad? “My Prince, you should still consider this carefully. You must act before the old Princess Dowager…”

Although Eunuch Wang felt inexplicable fear toward Yuan Lie, weighing the two sides, he still spoke up.

“Even if you don’t first marry a wife, you can still take concubines. In this half year, the Prince has never once let anyone serve at bedtime. The old Princess Dowager seized this opportunity and created much gossip and slander…” It wasn’t that he wanted to meddle, but the Prince kept refusing to take concubines—he truly felt there was a problem.

Yuan Lie lazily raised his brows: “Where are the people outside?”

Eunuch Wang was startled. Then he saw a guard push the door in, respectfully delivering a secret letter. Yuan Lie opened the letter and read through it at a glance, involuntarily furrowing his brows. Weiyang had actually entered the palace—

Eunuch Wang was still saying: “Even if the Prince blames me, this servant must say—if the old Prince were still here, he would definitely arrange a suitable match for you. Not like now, without even a proper person to worry about these things—” He had only said half the sentence when he saw Yuan Lie walk out like the wind. Eunuch Wang was shocked, froze there, then turned back to look at everyone: “Where is the Prince going?”

At this moment, Yuan Lie’s figure had already disappeared in the courtyard. Eunuch Wang felt anxious, slapping his thigh: “This Prince—why won’t he listen to advice? Does he want to watch the old Princess Dowager seize the title?!”