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

Soon it will be Shen Jingyan's birthday. Although it will not be as grand as in previous years, Wulan Yun still made some small decorations in the Jiaofang Palace because she loves her daughter.

She sent someone to the Taiji Palace to invite His Majesty, even if it was just to make an appearance, to save face for Ayan.

Inside the Taiji Hall, Shen Wangxi was intently studying the border map.

Recently, all the surrounding small countries have submitted, but Loulan, relying on its strategic location, is still putting up a stubborn resistance, which is somewhat troubling to him.

Shen Qingruo was also there today, her slender fingers idly holding the ink stick, grinding ink for him.

At this moment, Wu Tian tiptoed into the outer hall, as if he had something important to report.

Shen Qingruo heard Xiao Jiu's reminder in her mind: "Aruo, Wu Tian is here. It's about the Jiaofang Palace."

She glanced at Shen Wangxi, who was focused on the map, put down the ink stick, lifted her skirt, and quietly left the inner hall.

"Chief Steward Wu," Shen Qingruo called out to Wu Tian from the outer hall, her voice low and soft, "What matter do you wish to report to His Majesty?"

Upon seeing that it was her, Wu Tian quickly bowed and answered.

"Your Highness, it is a messenger from the Jiaofang Palace who reports that today is the Eldest Princess's birthday, and Her Majesty the Empress wishes to invite His Majesty to come and have a chat."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingruo's eyes flickered slightly, and she immediately had an idea.

She stepped forward, leaning closer, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "His Majesty is troubled by the matter of Loulan, and it is not appropriate to disturb him at this time."

"Alright then, I will go to the Jiaofang Palace on His Majesty's behalf. You don't need to go in to report."

Wu Tian's eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively said, "How can this be? Your Highness, this is against the rules..."

Shen Qingruo raised her eyebrows slightly, her watery eyes fixed on Wu Tian:

"Steward Wu, are you not listening to me anymore? Don't worry, I will explain to His Majesty afterwards."

Wu Tian felt a chill run down his spine from her gaze. This woman was currently in the limelight, and he dared not offend her.

He could only force a smile and lower his voice to compromise, "This servant wouldn't dare, but Your Majesty, if you go over there, what if the Empress..."

"I know what I'm doing," Shen Qingruo interrupted him, a sly smile curving her lips. "You just need to stay here and make sure no one else goes in to disturb His Majesty."

After saying that, she ignored Wu Tian, ​​straightened her green dress, adjusted the simple pearl hairpins in her hair, and turned to head towards the Jiaofang Palace with an innocent yet willful air.

As Wu Tian watched her departing figure, he raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, inwardly groaning.

This noble lady is getting bolder and bolder, but His Majesty just falls for her act.

He just hoped that nothing serious would happen at the Jiaofang Palace.

-

Inside the Jiaofang Palace, Shen Yinian sent someone with gifts, but he was held up by affairs of the previous dynasty and was unable to come.

At this moment, only Wulan Yun and her daughter Shen Jingyan were in the hall.

Shen Jingyan kept glancing towards the palace gate, her eyes filled with anticipation. "Mother, will Father really come?"

Just as Wulan Yun was about to speak, a slightly panicked announcement came from outside the hall: "Consort Zhao has arrived—"

Before the words were finished, a slender figure gracefully entered.

Shen Qingruo was dressed exceptionally exquisitely today, with her black hair loosely tied up, her slender waist and graceful figure.

She seemed oblivious to the frozen expressions on the faces of the mother and daughter inside the hall, and walked to another empty seat at the head of the table, sitting down with an elegant demeanor and a sense of entitlement.

Shen Jingyan suddenly stood up, pointed at her, and said in a shrill voice, "How is it you? Where is my father?"

Wu Lanyun's faint smile faded, and she stared intently at Shen Qingruo.

Shen Qingruo raised her eyes, glanced at Shen Jingyan, and said in a soft voice, "Today is the princess's birthday. As your mother, I naturally have to come and pay my respects on behalf of His Majesty."

She secretly felt disgusted by the words "mother" in her heart, but on the surface, she smiled even more innocently.

Shen Jingyan was indeed provoked, her face turning ashen, her chest heaving violently, and she shrieked:

"Mother? Who do you think you are? I only have one mother! Get out!"

Shen Qingruo gently shook her head: "Princess, you're mistaken."

"I am the Noble Consort Zhao, personally bestowed by His Majesty. According to palace rules, I am naturally the stepmother of the princess."

"Furthermore, the rank of the Imperial Concubine is above that of the Eldest Princess."

"Princess, your rudeness just now, shouting at me, shows your disregard for palace rules, or for His Majesty who bestowed this title upon me?"

Speechless at her barrage of words, which served to both refute and attack, Shen Jingyan pointed at Shen Qingruo and stammered, "You...you..."

She was so angry that she was trembling all over, and after stammering for a long time, she couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

Wu Lanyun stood up, suppressing her anger, and tried to smooth things over:

"Consort Zhao, today is Ayan's birthday. She is young and ignorant, and spoke without thinking. I apologize on her behalf. Let's leave it at that, and I will certainly discipline her properly another day."

Shen Qingruo seemed not to hear Wulan Yun's words, her gaze still fixed on Shen Jingyan, and she called out indifferently, "Granny Yan."

Granny Yan immediately stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "This old servant is here."

"Your Highness seems to be unfamiliar with the rules of the palace." Shen Qingruo's voice was gentle, but her words were aggressive.

"Her Majesty the Empress is kind-hearted and cannot manage things properly. I will teach the princess on behalf of His Majesty what hierarchy and etiquette are."

"How dare you!" Shen Jingyan shouted.

At Shen Qingruo's single glance, the palace servants from Yilan Palace she had brought immediately stepped forward, attempting to restrain Shen Jingyan.

The palace servants from Jiaofang Palace also tried to rush up to stop them, but the people from Yilan Palace were clearly better prepared and quickly separated them.

Granny Yan and another palace maid grabbed Shen Jingyan's arms, one on each side.

"Let me go! You dog slaves!" Shen Jingyan struggled fiercely. She had practiced martial arts since childhood and was about to break free.

Shen Qingruo spoke at the opportune moment, her voice low but carrying a warning: "Your Highness, it is a grave taboo to resort to violence in the inner palace."

"Are you showing disrespect to the emperor and plotting rebellion?"

"What, haven't you had enough of the Princess's residence? Do you want to be locked up again?"

Shen Jingyan froze.

The fear of being confined for more than two months made her timid.

Shen Jingyan dared not struggle any longer, and could only glare at Shen Qingruo with resentful eyes, her voice squeezed out through clenched teeth: "Shen Qingruo! What exactly do you want to do?"

Shen Qingruo felt a sense of satisfaction looking at her, who seemed to want to devour her whole.

She said slowly and deliberately, "I don't want to do anything, but as I just said, the rank of the Imperial Concubine is above that of the Eldest Princess."

"Shen Jingyan, it is time for you to pay your respects to me."

She gestured to Granny Yan.

Granny Yan understood and forcefully pressed the unwilling Shen Jingyan down to kneel on the ground, facing Shen Qingruo.

Shen Jingyan had never suffered such a humiliation, especially kneeling before the person she hated most.

Her eyes reddened, and tears rolled down her cheeks uncontrollably, but she stubbornly bit her lip, refusing to cry out in front of Shen Qingruo.

Shen Qingruo looked down at Shen Jingyan kneeling before her, a cold smile playing on her lips.

She cried because she just knelt down once?

Back then, on the cold floor of Qingyi Palace, when Shen Jingyan slammed her knee into her lower abdomen, did she ever think about how much pain she was in? Did she ever feel even a shred of pity?