The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

Meanwhile, at the Prince Xiaoyao's Mansion.

After hearing his confidant's report, Shen Yinian sat silently behind his desk, remaining speechless for a long time.

The advisor whispered his analysis: "Your Highness, His Majesty's actions, while seemingly fair, are in fact a case of lifting heavy weights only to put them down lightly."

"Her Majesty the Empress has suffered such a great humiliation, yet she has only been confined to Yilan Palace for half a month. This..."

Shen Yinian raised his hand, stopping him from speaking.

He gained a new understanding of his father's favoritism.

His mother was his empress, his wife of many years. Now that she had been slapped by a concubine, his father made a choice to gloss over the matter in a way that seemed fair but was actually biased.

Shen Yinian murmured to himself, his voice hoarse: "Father..."

"You have always taught me to be fair in my dealings and upright in my conduct, but now, haven't you been too unfair to Consort Zhao and the Empress Dowager?"

Shen Yinian thought back to the past, when Shen Qingruo was still a princess born out of wedlock. Had his father ever shown such unprincipled favoritism towards his mother and towards them?

Unfortunately, back then, they had always enjoyed a smooth and successful life under their father's protection, receiving so much without anyone vying for their favor. They couldn't even remember if there had ever been such a time.

Inside the Yilan Palace, however, the scene was quite different.

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Shen Qingruo simply leaned lazily against the soft pillows, sipping the soup prepared by Granny Yan.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty's decree..." Granny Yan said with a smile, "Although it's a house arrest, it's clearly to protect you."

Shen Qingruo put down her soup bowl, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said softly, "I know."

She knew, of course, that hitting the Empress was a serious crime, but he simply dismissed it by confining her to her quarters for half a month and forbidding her from discussing it further.

This wasn't a punishment; it was clearly a way to silence everyone and firmly protect her under their wings.

"Granny, I'm tired and want to rest for a while," she said softly. Shen Wangxi was becoming increasingly difficult to deal with, and she hadn't recovered from the trouble she had caused last night.

Granny Yan quickly helped her lie down and carefully tucked the blanket in.

-

Because of her aversion to the Jiaofang Palace, Shen Wangxi also developed an unspeakable estrangement from her two legitimate children.

He had taken it for granted that what belonged to Shen Jingyan and Shen Yinian might not necessarily belong to them now.

Another day, after the imperial physician finished taking the pulse at Yilan Palace, he was summoned to Taiji Palace.

Shen Wangxi put down his vermilion brush and asked directly, "How is Consort Zhao's health being treated?"

The Imperial Physician bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, the Consort's health is gradually recovering. However, the miscarriage damaged her health, so we must proceed slowly and patiently."

"I understand." Shen Wangxi pondered for a moment, "Use the best medicine to make sure her body is in good condition so that she can conceive an imperial heir."

"Your humble servant obeys."

That evening, Shen Wangxi delivered a bowl of tonic to Yilan Palace.

Shen Qingruo looked at the bowl of medicine that emitted a bitter smell, and her face immediately scrunched up. She pushed it away slightly, her voice filled with resistance:

"I don't want to drink it, Your Majesty. Aruo is in good health and doesn't need to drink these."

Shen Wangxi dismissed the palace servants, picked up the medicine bowl himself, and sat down beside her.

Seeing her expression of disgust, he unconsciously softened his tone: "Listen to me, this is a good medicine to nourish your body."

He scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently, and brought it to her lips. "Just receiving my favor doesn't guarantee you'll have a prince."

"You need to strengthen your body and make your blood and energy abundant so that you can bear children for me."

He looked at her intently, "I hope you can have a child, our child."

Looking at his handsome face so close to hers and the undisguised expectation in his words, Shen Qingruo swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of her tongue.

She lowered her eyes and, using his hand, sipped the bitter medicine slowly.

With each sip, her delicate eyebrows furrowed more tightly. By the time the bowl of medicine was empty, her entire face was contorted with bitterness.

"It's so bitter..." She stuck out her tongue, her eyes welling up with tears, making one's heart soften.

Shen Wangxi immediately fed her the candied fruit she had prepared earlier, saying, "It won't be bitter after eating this."

The sweetness dispelled some of the bitterness, and Shen Qingruo recovered, but felt a little regretful.

To make her self-inflicted injury scheme more convincing, she had Xiao Jiu tamper with it, causing the imperial physician to mistakenly believe that she had suffered a miscarriage and damaged her health, making it difficult for her to have children.

Now, things are really going to be different; I hope I won't have to drink these medicines every day.

Looking at her aggrieved little face, Shen Wangxi assumed she was just afraid of hardship, so he pulled her into his arms and whispered:

"Once you've recovered, you won't need to drink it anymore."

Shen Qingruo buried her face in his chest and hummed softly.