Let’s not mention Xiao Lizi and the others who serve closely. Let’s talk about Emperor Yongning. Ever since he ascended the throne, the various means of vying for favor in the harem have been endless, leaving him mentally and physically exhausted. In recent years, he has visited the harem less frequently. The situation has finally improved a bit, and his heart is not as weary. Yet today, the women of the harem have started to act up again. Especially the Empress; he already granted her Jiaofang Palace, what more could she be unsatisfied with? Why does she still stir up such trouble? The Empress is the Queen, and he cannot truly do anything to her over such trivial matters. However, Qing Er, a small character like her, he can vent his anger on. "Guards, drag Qing Er out and behead her." Daring to deceive him comes with a heavy price. Qing Er almost fainted in fear upon hearing this and hurriedly knelt down, begging for mercy, "Your Majesty, spare my life." But Emperor Yongning ignored her completely; what he said, he must do. The Imperial Guard, who were waiting outside the Imperial Study Room for orders, had already received the command and came in. They were to take Qing Er away and execute her. It was only then that Qing Er realized how perilous her situation was. Terrified, she instinctively broke free from the Imperial Guard holding her, and kneeled in front of Emperor Yongning. "Your Majesty, spare my life. I was merely following orders." "It was the Empress, in order to expel the young master Yi Yi, and replace him with her own nephew, that ordered me to do this. I didn’t intend to deceive Your Majesty intentionally." In the face of an overwhelming desire to survive, those always-boasted loyalties to her master seemed suddenly insignificant; nothing was more important than saving her life. Now, in Qing Er’s mind, there was only one thought, and that was to live, to do everything possible to stay alive. For this, even if it meant betraying the Empress, she was willing. The Empress was so enraged by Qing Er’s betrayal that she wished she could strangle Qing Er on the spot and be done with it, to avoid being dragged down by her. But they were in the Imperial Study Room, not her Jiaofang Palace, and she could not commit violence in front of so many people. She could only defend herself with an aggrieved expression, "Your Majesty, Qing Er has gone mad. You must not believe her nonsense. She is deliberately trying to drag me down." "If you weren’t involved, how could she drag you down?" Emperor Yongning furiously questioned. His voice was loud, startling everyone in the Imperial Study Room. It was apparent that Emperor Yongning was truly angry. The Empress had always known Emperor Yongning’s tyrannical temper; she couldn’t imagine what he might do to her if she continued to make excuses and deny everything at this moment. "I..." The Empress did not know what to say. But Emperor Yongning pressed on relentlessly, "Empress, do you still deny it? You did all this just to remove the companion I arranged for the seventeenth prince and replace him with your nephew!" "......" The Empress did not want to admit it, but the facts were laid bare before her, with irrefutable evidence; she couldn’t refute it. But she also couldn’t bow her head, which she perceived as noble, and directly confess. So she remained silent, hoping to muddle through with silence. Yet Emperor Yongning despised this lack of responsibility shown by her silence; this completely infuriated Emperor Yongning. Originally, he intended to overlook the matter seeing her repentance as she is the Empress. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝔫𝔢𝔱 But now, he suddenly changed his mind. He immediately ordered the Empress to be confined in Jiaofang Palace for three months to thoroughly reflect on her actions. Meanwhile, all harem affairs would be handled by the Imperial Concubine. As for the companion of the seventeenth prince, it would still be Jun Ning; there was no escape for Jun Ning. As for Fu Wen, who the Empress invited into the palace long ago, Emperor Yongning completely disregarded him. If he became his son’s companion, Emperor Yongning feared his son might be led astray. He ’invited’ him out of the palace. The Empress was unwilling...