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

The following morning, the Taiji Hall was solemn and silent during the court session.

Shen Wangxi sat high on the dragon throne, his gaze sweeping over the bowing officials below, and said, "Issue the decree."

The eunuch stepped forward, unfurled the bright yellow scroll, and read aloud in a high-pitched voice:

"Princess Qingruo Shen Qingruo, daughter of the Yun family of the previous dynasty, is not of my blood, but she herself went to the Great Liang from the desert for a marriage alliance and made meritorious contributions. Her merits and demerits cancel each other out. Considering her orphaned and weak state, I hereby retain her title of princess and allow her to enjoy the privileges of a princess."

The imperial decree caused an uproar throughout the hall.

Although not of my blood, these six words resonated in everyone's ears.

What was just a rumor before has now been confirmed by His Majesty himself, and announced to the world in the form of an imperial edict.

The eunuch continued, "However, since Princess Qingruo is not of royal blood, she will not be included in the royal register. When she marries in the future, I will grant her a princess's residence. Before her marriage, she will temporarily reside in Qingyi Palace in the palace."

Shen Wangxi sat upright above, taking in the astonished and suspicious expressions of his ministers.

"Father!" a disgruntled female voice rang out.

Shen Jingyan stepped forward, her head held high, her beautiful face full of indignation: "She is neither your bloodline nor a bastard of unknown origin. Why should she retain the title of princess? Why should she be allowed to live in the palace?"

"Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock to the world?"

Shen Wangxi looked at her and frowned slightly. Ayan's reaction was within his expectations, but the words "bastard child" sounded particularly grating.

"My mind is made up." His voice deepened. "Qingruo's marriage alliance has been meritorious; this is a fact."

"I will make my own judgment on merits and demerits, rewards and punishments."

His gaze swept over Shen Jingyan, carrying a faint warning: "Ayan, watch your words."

Shen Jingyan felt a lump in her throat from his gaze and wanted to argue further, but an old minister beside her quietly tugged at her sleeve.

She shut her mouth angrily, but her nails dug into her palms. She wasn't even her father's daughter, yet she dared to steal his attention from her.

In the past few days, her father has not even gone to the Taiji Palace, but has been watching over her day and night. This is an honor that even she has never received.

As the court bell rang to signal the end of the session, Shen Wangxi rose and left, leaving behind a hall full of ministers with their own differing thoughts.

Shen Jingyan stood there, watching her father's back, then suddenly turned around and strode out of the hall.

"Go to Qingyi Palace!" she gritted her teeth as her personal maidservant approached.

She wanted to see what face that imposter still had to cling to the palace.

Meanwhile, inside the Qingyi Palace.

Shen Qingruo was sitting by the window, holding a book in her hands, but she didn't read a single word.

Xiao Jiu's voice echoed in her mind: "Aruo, the decree has been issued. Just as you expected, the title will be retained, but the imperial genealogy will not be entered. The person will temporarily reside in the palace."

Shen Qingruo responded softly.

"Shen Jingyan has finished court and is storming this way in a huff," Xiao Jiu reminded her, the light sphere sounding a little nervous. "Judging from her expression, she's probably up to no good."

Shen Qingruo put down her book and slowly stood up.

Today she was wearing a moon-white, fitted long dress, her face was plain and simple, making her look even more pitiful.

She walked to the palace gate, stood quietly, and listened to the footsteps approaching from afar.

"Shen Qingruo! Come out here!" Shen Jingyan's sharp voice rang out from outside the palace, showing no politeness whatsoever.

The palace servants guarding outside the hall were so frightened that they knelt down and dared not stop them.

Shen Qingruo took a deep breath, reached out, and slowly pushed open the palace door.

Sunlight streamed in, shining on her. She spoke softly, her voice gentle and sweet, "Sister."

Looking at her frail appearance, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind, and then at how her Qingyi Palace, though in a poor location, was still neatly and elegantly maintained, Shen Jingyan's anger flared even more.

"Who's your sister!" Shen Jingyan interrupted her sharply, taking a few steps up the stairs and closing in on Shen Qingruo. "A bastard from who-knows-where dares to call me sister?"

"Father has already decreed that you are not of royal blood. If you know what's good for you, get out of the palace and don't stay here and get in the way."

Forced to take a half step back, Shen Qingruo raised her eyes and looked at Shen Jingyan. There was no anger in her watery eyes, only a faint sadness.

"I have nowhere to go," she said helplessly. "The imperial decree says I can stay here temporarily."

Shen Jingyan sneered, "Temporary residence? A bastard of unknown father, just as shameless as your mother."

"The palace won't starve you, but don't even think about playing any tricks, and don't even dream of taking anything from me."

She leaned closer to Shen Qingruo, lowered her voice, and said viciously, "And you think Father Emperor kept you in the palace because he cared about you? Don't dream. He just pitied you, like he pitied a homeless dog."

Shen Qingruo's eyelashes trembled, and her face paled even more, but she did not refute it, and just silently endured it.

Seeing her submissive attitude, Shen Jingyan felt like she had punched a cotton ball, which made her even more frustrated.

She glared at Shen Qingruo fiercely: "You better behave yourself. If I find out you've been monopolizing Father Emperor for several more days, don't blame me for being impolite."

Having said that, she strode away with the arrogance of a victor.

Silence returned to the area outside Qingyi Palace.

Shen Qingruo leaned against the door frame, the sunlight casting a long, slender shadow over her.

"Aruo..." Xiao Jiu called out to her worriedly.

"Xiao Jiu," she said softly, "she's right. Pity and sympathy are unreliable."

She needed to capture that man's heart faster and more effectively.