After the divorce, I was adorned in a phoenix robe, while my ex-husband's entire family dug up

When Wei Zhaoning woke up, unlike usual, Pei Yi was still lying quietly beside her, which made her feel much more at ease.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, it's getting late!"

Yun Ce urged from outside.

Pei Yi asked lazily, "Awake?"

Wei Zhaoning nodded.

"I have to go out first. Breakfast has been prepared. Just wait for me at the palace." Pei Yi looked at her calmly.

Wei Zhaoning then said, "Alright, Your Highness, please go and take care of whatever you need to do."

Having received approval, Pei Yi got out of bed, quickly dressed, and strode outside.

Wei Zhaoning could tell that it was indeed a very urgent matter.

Pei Yi stayed by her side specifically to wait for her to wake up before going to do his business. Was he doing this to put her at ease?

Pei Yi returned three or four times today, but didn't come to see Wei Zhaoning. Wei Zhaoning just watched from afar. It was obvious that Pei Yi was in a bad mood, and his voice was much louder when he spoke.

They came, did something, and then rushed out again, without even having time to drink some water.

He returned home late at night, exhausted. After washing up, he exchanged a few words with Wei Zhaoning and went to bed. He looked really tired and fell into a deep sleep as soon as he touched the bed.

Wei Zhaoning clenched her fists and tiptoed out to ask Yun Ce.

Before she could even ask, she saw Yun Ce leaning against the door, fast asleep, looking utterly exhausted.

Things might be much more serious than she thought.

For the next few days, Pei Yi did the same thing every day, leaving early and returning late. The only normal thing he did was wait for Wei Zhaoning to wake up before leaving the house, and say a few words to reassure her.

On several other occasions, she saw Pei Yi throwing a tantrum in the study from afar. She had never seen Pei Yi like that before. He swept the things on the desk all over the floor and threw a memorial at his subordinates. He looked extremely violent, which was hard to associate with the gentle person he usually was.

Wei Zhaoning felt increasingly frustrated. What bothered her most was that she couldn't do anything and could only watch helplessly. She had considered listening to Pei Yi and enduring it, otherwise her meddling might cause trouble for Pei Yi, and she would only make things worse.

However, seeing Pei Yi's dark circles under his eyes and his exhausted state these past few days, she simply couldn't bear it; sitting idly by and waiting for death was not in her nature.

Taking advantage of Pei Yi's absence, she went to the East Palace.

The Crown Prince was not surprised to see her, and simply smiled, "Long time no see, Aunt. I was just about to come looking for you, but I didn't expect you to arrive first. You were in such a hurry."

Wei Zhaoning clenched her fist. "What exactly do you want to do?"

Logically speaking, she shouldn't have come to question the enemy; that would have seemed too foolish.

But now, apart from getting information from the Crown Prince, she has no other way.

The Crown Prince is ambitious and has been building up his power base in the court these days. At this critical juncture, he dares not do anything to her.

The Crown Prince toyed with the jade pendant in his hand and said sarcastically, "I didn't expect you to actually like my royal uncle. Well, it's no wonder Lu Zhufeng is so anxious when he encounters a man like my royal uncle."

"My royal uncle is really popular with young girls; I'm starting to get a little jealous."

Wei Zhaoning couldn't stand these words and rebuked, "You know he's your imperial uncle, yet you speak with absolutely no basic respect!"

The Crown Prince's face turned cold, and he said seriously, "How am I disrespecting my royal uncle? He is the man I have respected most since I was a child, even more so than my father."

He curled his lips into a smile and continued, "Let me put it this way: he won't be able to keep jumping around for much longer. But since the beauty has come begging to me, I also have a clear path to point out to you."

"Go back to your manor. Lu Zhufeng seems like a good-for-nothing, but he's actually quite ruthless. He's won me over. I don't want to mistreat him. Go back to your manor, and I'll give him some face. Your regent probably won't die so miserably."

Wei Zhaoning was enraged. "Who do you think you are! You think you can mess with the Regent!"

The prince put his finger to his lips and made a shushing gesture.

"What are you making such a racket for?"

"You're a smart woman. You should know that the card I'm holding is one that no one else in the world could play. Even the Regent, with his immense power, is still just a mortal. A wise person knows when to yield, don't you think, Aunt?"

Wei Zhaoning felt like she couldn't breathe. Her guess was right; how could Wei Jiaruo's leg be a coincidence?

Her chest heaved violently. "What do you want?"

The Crown Prince waved his hand, "You don't need to worry about that. I respect my heroic uncle so much, I certainly won't mistreat him."

Wei Zhaoning knew she couldn't get any important information from the Crown Prince, so she turned her attention to Lu Zhufeng. Although Lu Zhufeng was a madman, he was often quite foolish, so getting any information from him would be too easy.

"I'm going back to the Marquis's residence. Don't make things too difficult for the Regent."

As he said this, the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, gave Wei Zhaoning a disdainful look, and laughed loudly, "I thought you were a heroine, but I didn't expect you to be so afraid of death."

"My dear royal uncle, look at you, look at the people around you, so afraid of dying, who will care about you?"

He muttered to himself, then his eyes suddenly turned sinister, "There will never be another person willing to die for you. See, isn't this her retribution?"

Wei Zhaoning was stunned. A person willing to die for the Regent? Retribution?

"Explain yourself! Who is 'she'?!"

The Crown Prince glanced at Wei Zhaoning with disdain. "You think you're qualified to inquire?"

"Lu Zhufeng's men will come to pick you up at midnight tomorrow. Get lost."

The Crown Prince's attitude towards Wei Zhaoning was very clear. From the moment Wei Zhaoning agreed to go to the Marquis's residence, there was a strong sense of disgust that could not be ignored.

Wei Zhaoning didn't care. She kept thinking about who the person the Crown Prince was talking about was, what it meant to be willing to die for the Regent, and whether this was the source of the feud between the Crown Prince and the Regent.

Upon returning to the Prince's residence, she hurriedly began packing her belongings.

"Winter flute, just gather the necessary items, don't be too conspicuous, and especially don't let the Regent notice anything amiss."

Dongxu pursed her lips. "Your Highness..."

"Listen to me, this is the only way now, otherwise I can't help the Regent at all. I can't just stand by and watch the person who saved me from this predicament get into trouble."

Dongxu then went to pack her things.

When Pei Yi returned late at night, Wei Zhaoning was still awake. She gave Pei Yi a deep look and asked, "Still a lot of trouble today?"

Pei Yi nodded and sighed, but his back remained straight, seemingly unaware of his dejection, though he always carried a heavy sense of fatigue.

Wei Zhaoning looked away. "Go and rest. Don't worry about me tomorrow. Go out early and come home early."