If you die, I will be able to inherit your cultivation.

Just then, a young eunuch rushed in, breaking the tranquility of the courtyard.

The sound of wooden swords being swung still echoed in the courtyard as a young eunuch, who was on duty outside the side hall of Jingyang Palace, trotted into the courtyard.

The hurried footsteps shattered the peaceful tranquility of the courtyard.

The young eunuch was out of breath from running, and cold sweat was already beading on his forehead. After entering the courtyard, he hurriedly bowed and reported.

"Your Majesty, Consort Li has sent word that His Majesty's decree will be delivered to Jingyang Palace soon."

Upon hearing these words, Consort De's body trembled violently, and the peaceful expression on her face vanished instantly.

She was still clutching the unfinished garment in her hand; the needle and thread slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground.

Consort De didn't have time to pick it up and immediately stood up from the chair.

Receiving the imperial decree was a momentous occasion, and one could not dress casually. He immediately turned around and ordered the palace maids serving him to bring him formal palace attire, which he then hurriedly changed into.

On the other side, Chu Yuan, who was still practicing his sword in the courtyard, also stopped.

The eunuchs and maids serving nearby quickly surrounded him.

They escorted Chu Yuan to a side hall to help him bathe and change.

Chu Yuan is fifteen years old this year.

According to the centuries-old tradition of the Northern Kingdom, when a prince reaches this age, it is time for him to establish his own prefecture and government office.

The emperor would allocate residences and appoint officials, and the princes would move out of the palace and live independently.

Aside from dividing the princes into separate households, during this period, emperors would also usually arrange marriages for their sons.

After completing the entire betrothal process, the prince could officially marry when he turned eighteen or nineteen.

Consort De was not worried about the Eighth Prince's decision to establish his own residence and government office.

By leaving the palace and establishing his own residence, Chu Yuan could escape the intrigues and power struggles within the inner palace, and she wouldn't have to be on guard at all times.

What truly worried her was the arranged marriage.

She was unsure which family's daughter Emperor Renzong intended to marry Chu Yuan.

If the family with whom he is to be married harbors ill intentions, Chu Yuan, being mentally unstable, is easily manipulated and will likely suffer in the end.

But these are things that a mere concubine like him cannot control.

This sudden imperial edict was most likely issued to the Eighth Prince, Chu Yuan.

After tidying themselves up, the two arrived at the front courtyard, surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids.

Not long after, a sharp, drawn-out report came from outside Jingyang Palace and drifted into the courtyard on the wind.

"The imperial edict has arrived."

Consort Li led a group of concubines from the inner palace to the courtyard.

Upon hearing the summons, everyone knelt down, ready to receive the imperial decree.

This imperial edict was not issued to Consort Li, a fact that Consort Li knew all too well.

It was she who whispered in his ear that brought about the matter of allocating a residence and building an office for the Eighth Prince.

This fool's presence in her Jingyang Palace kept her up at night, fearing that she might be caught in the crossfire if she wasn't careful.

She was in charge of Jingyang Palace, and according to the rules, she was required to preside over any important matters in the palace, such as receiving imperial decrees.

The entire courtyard was filled with people kneeling on the ground, heads bowed, waiting for the eunuch to read out the imperial decree.

But there was only one person standing straight in the courtyard, with his back straight, showing no intention of kneeling.

It was Chu Yuan.

Consort De knelt on the ground, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw her son standing still.

Her heart tightened, and disregarding everything else, she pressed her knees to the ground and laboriously moved her body, crawling little by little to Chu Yuan's feet.

She raised her hand, reached out and grabbed the collar of Chu Yuan's new clothes, pulling it down gently. Her eyes were urgent as she winked at Chu Yuan, signaling him to kneel down immediately.

Chu Yuan looked down at his mother kneeling before him, his lips parted, his throat moved slightly, but he ultimately made no sound.

He simply stared at Consort De, his body still refusing to bend his knees.

The eunuch who came to deliver the imperial edict was about to unfold it, but stopped when he saw what was happening before him.

He turned his gaze to Consort Li, who was kneeling in front of him, awaiting her decision. If she didn't kneel before the imperial edict and he didn't take any action, he wouldn't be able to explain himself when he returned.

Consort Li naturally saw Chu Yuan, who refused to kneel.

She didn't want to get involved in this matter.

Over the years, when the Eighth Prince Chu Yuan saw her, he would at most simply call her "Your Highness the Imperial Concubine," and would not say another word.

Previously, Consort Li had spoken with Consort De on more than one occasion.

She told Consort De that since he was born into an imperial family, even if the prince was mentally challenged, Chu Yuan still had to learn the etiquette of the court and the harem.

Consort De kept what Consort Li said in mind. Consort Li had also personally witnessed Consort De privately reprimanding Chu Yuan and teaching him the proper etiquette of kneeling and bowing.

Despite Consort De's words and reprimands, Chu Yuan remained obstinate and made no changes whatsoever.

Now that Chu Yuan has refused to kneel before the imperial eunuch, the nature of the matter is completely different.

On a smaller scale, this is disregarding the emperor's dignity and failing to observe the proper etiquette expected of a prince.

To put it bluntly, this constitutes insubordination and disregard for imperial authority, which is sufficient grounds for conviction of serious crimes related to treason.

With the situation laid bare, as the Imperial Concubine in charge of Jingyang Palace, she could not pretend to ignore it.

Even so, Consort Li was still apprehensive, as she was truly afraid of the strange rumors surrounding Chu Yuan.

She dared not punish Chu Yuan, but she could not let the matter go unpunished, lest the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict return and report it indiscriminately to Emperor Renzong, causing even more trouble.

Consort Li quickly devised a plan, while secretly giving her personal maid a wink, signaling the maid to prepare silver in secret to bribe the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict and silence him.

While speaking, he said, "Consort De has failed in her duty to educate her son, causing the prince to behave improperly and refuse to kneel before the imperial decree. Guards, take Consort De away and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

Consort Li dared not touch Chu Yuan, so she could only use Consort De to take the blame, thus giving the palace servants who delivered the imperial edict an explanation.

Two young eunuchs kneeling beside her quickly rose and stepped forward, grabbing Consort De's arms on either side and dragging her out of the courtyard where the imperial decree was being received.

Before long, the sound of wooden sticks striking flesh could be heard from inside the side hall, accompanied by Consort De's series of shrill screams.

Chu Yuan was still standing there, quietly watching the two eunuchs take his mother away.

He didn't fully understand what was about to happen, and remained calm.

But as Consort De's painful screams reached his ears, Chu Yuan's eyes gradually turned red.

A sudden burst of brute force erupted from his body, and as if he had gone mad, he charged wildly toward the concubine who was screaming in agony.

Rushing forward, Chu Yuan witnessed two executioner eunuchs raising their rods and striking Consort De, who was lying face down on the torture bench.

Chu Yuan lunged forward, clenched his fists, and threw several punches at the two eunuchs.

After a few muffled thuds, the two executioner eunuchs, their faces covered in blood and gore, lay motionless on the ground.

Consort De, who was lying on the torture bench screaming in agony, fainted upon seeing the two eunuchs covered in blood.