I only wished to take up my fiefdom, but my elder brother forced me to rebel.

Lu Cheng's facial injuries hadn't healed yet, and now they were flushed red again.

Lu Yuan's words were aimed straight at his heart.

Unfortunately, he was surrounded by officials' wives and concubines, so he couldn't admit that Liu Ruyan was his woman, nor could he explain why he had sent her to participate in the selection.

If he accepts it, he will be competing with his father for a woman.

If he didn't admit it, Lu Yuan would use the matter to humiliate him with every word.

Lu Cheng clenched his teeth, about to speak, when a eunuch suddenly announced from outside the flower path.

"The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

The officials' families who had been watching quickly dispersed and stood on both sides of the flower path.

A group of palace maids carrying flower baskets and palace lanterns walked by, with Consort Shen walking in the middle.

She wore a deep purple palace dress, with a nine-tailed golden phoenix hairpin in her hair and her skirt embroidered with golden peonies.

When Lu Cheng saw his mother, his face immediately regained its confidence.

Everyone bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Imperial Concubine."

Su Yuling and Shen Hanqiu also bowed in greeting, while Lu Yuan simply cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.

No need for formalities.

Consort Shen walked through the crowd, her gaze first falling on Lu Cheng's left arm in a sling, a look of heartache flashing in her eyes, before she looked at the Liu family mother and daughter.

Wei's hair was disheveled, and there were fingerprints on her face.

Liu Ruyan lowered her head, tears still clinging to her cheeks, half of her face already swollen.

Consort Shen's face darkened.

"What happened?"

Before Lady Wei could speak, Lu Cheng had already ordered the palace servants to bring the sedan chair to the front.

"Mother, Ninth Brother condoned Su Yuling's beating of Madam Liu and Miss Liu, and even publicly slandered Miss Liu for having an affair with me."

"Miss Liu was summoned to the palace today, representing the dignity of a court official's daughter. Su Yuling beat her without warning, and Ninth Brother humiliated her in every way."

"If they are not punished, who will dare to attend palace banquets in the future?"

These words downplayed the seriousness of the matter, completely absolving Liu Ruyan of any responsibility for being sent to the palace, and instead pointing all the blame at Lu Yuan and his wife.

Madam Wei immediately knelt down, her face streaked with tears, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice.

"Your Highness, it is nothing for me to suffer a little grievance, but my daughter is not yet married, and her innocence is more important than her life."

"The Ninth Prince ruined her reputation in public, and the Princess Consort even hit her."

"We hope Your Majesty can uphold justice for the Liu family."

Liu Ruyan also knelt down, tears streaming down her face.

"This humble woman dares not ask for anything else, she only hopes that Your Highness will retract what you just said and clear her name."

No one spoke from any of the four sides.

Consort Shen held power in the palace for many years, and the Liu family were her son's confidants.

Today's matter, on the surface, is about right and wrong, but the final outcome has already been determined.

Consort Shen turned her gaze to Lu Yuan.

"Ninth Prince, Miss Liu is, after all, the daughter of the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and she is also a guest invited by me today."

"You insulted her in front of everyone, and Yu Ling also hit the Liu family mother and daughter. If this gets out, the royal family's reputation will be damaged."

"You and Yuling go over and apologize, and I will not pursue the matter further."

Su Yuling immediately took a step to walk over.

Lu Yuan grabbed her and pulled her to his side.

"What's the rush?"

Su Yuling turned around and glanced at him, her eyes blazing with anger.

"She wants me to apologize to the Liu family."

"I heard you."

Lu Yuan's palm moved down her wrist and grasped her hand.

"Stand behind me, you don't need to lift a finger today."

Su Yuling glanced at their intertwined hands, then at his profile. She didn't break free, but simply moved a little closer to him.

Lu Yuan then went to see Consort Shen.

"Why should I apologize to them?"

Consort Shen's face turned cold, and she said, "The Liu family mother and daughter did nothing wrong, yet you humiliated them in front of everyone. Is that reason acceptable?"

"My mother was the highest-ranking concubine in the harem, and she was ordered by my father to manage the six palaces."

Lu Cheng picked up the conversation, "It's reasonable for her to ask you to apologize to the insulted ladies-in-waiting and concubines."

Consort Shen raised her chin.

"Yes, I am a Noble Consort, and today I am the host of the Hundred Flowers Banquet. You two, husband and wife, bullied me and beat the girls to be selected for the imperial concubines. Shouldn't you apologize?"

After hearing this, Lu Yuan suddenly laughed.

He pulled Su Yuling forward a couple of steps, but the servants around Consort Shen immediately blocked their way.

Lu Yuan stopped, shifting his gaze from the palace maids to the golden phoenix hairpin worn by Consort Shen.

"The Imperial Concubine has a very imposing presence."

"When you open your mouth, you speak of the royal family's face; when you close your mouth, you speak of managing the six palaces. People who don't know you might think you're already the empress."

Consort Shen's expression was stiff.

Empress!

These are the two words she most wants to say, yet can least bear to utter.

Empress He and Lu Cangqiong fought side by side in the north and south, and their prestige in the army was unmatched.

After Madam He passed away, no one came forward to fill the position of Empress Dowager.

Consort Shen has held power in the harem for five years, and she is only one imperial edict away from the phoenix throne.

But she had been waiting for this imperial edict for year after year.

No one in the palace dared to speak out, and none of the court officials were willing to touch upon the emperor's old wounds.

But today, in front of hundreds of officials and their families, Lu Yuan revealed all her innermost thoughts.

Consort Shen was breathing rapidly, her hands clenched tightly together inside her sleeves.

"Lu Yuan, how dare you!"

"You're the one who's being insolent!"

Lu Yuan's voice immediately rose.

All the officials in the Imperial Garden lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe, for fear of being drawn into this royal power struggle.

Lu Yuan took a step forward.

"This prince is the eldest son of the late Empress and the eldest son of Emperor Zhengzong of the Yongzheng Emperor."

"Although you are a Noble Consort, in the end, you are just a concubine in your father's palace."

"Who gave you the audacity to order me to apologize to this insolent woman?"

"The Liu family mother and daughter did not bow to the prince's wife and even dared to interrogate the prince in public. Yu Ling slapped them twice to teach them manners."

"You come here without asking about the cause and effect, and then stand up for the Liu family, and even want to make me bow down."

Lu Yuan glanced at Liu Ruyan, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"What, the Liu family sent their daughter to the palace, wasn't that enough? They even bribed you too?"

Liu Ruyan trembled, and Madam Wei quickly lowered her head even further.

Consort Shen turned pale with anger.

"I am your father's concubine, and also your elder!"

"How dare you be so disrespectful to me! Do you have no sense of hierarchy?"

Lu Cheng finally seized the opportunity and pointed at Lu Yuan, angrily rebuking him.

"Ninth Brother, don't go too far!"

"Your mother has served your father for many years, managing the six palaces and taking care of all the princes. Your disrespect towards her shows a lack of respect for your elders and a lack of filial piety!"

"You are unworthy of being a prince!"

Lu Yuan turned to look at him. He looked at Lu Cheng with a gloomy expression.

"Second brother, Father is still alive and well. Who are you to find me a mother for him?"

Lu Cheng was blocked and brought to a standstill.

"Don't twist my words! Your mother is your father's imperial concubine. As a prince, you should respect and be filial to her!"

"Throughout history, has there ever been a reason for a legitimate son to fulfill his filial duties to his father's concubine?"

Lu Yuan raised his hand and pointed at Consort Shen.

"She is your birth mother. Whether you are willing to kneel down and coax her, or to offer your own woman as a sign of respect, is your business."

"Out of respect for my father, I will address her as Imperial Concubine."

"If she doesn't give face to the Emperor, what is she?"

Lu Cheng's expression changed drastically. "Lu Yuan, how dare you insult the Imperial Concubine!"

"So what if I cursed them?"

Lu Yuan looked at Consort Shen, his eyes devoid of any smile.

"If you want to teach me a lesson, first recognize your place."

"You live in the Imperial Concubine's Palace, wear the Imperial Concubine's robes, and hold the power to manage the six palaces on behalf of the emperor."

"Don't you understand the word '代' (dai)?"

"Wait until you ascend to the throne and become the Empress of Dayong before you come and act like the legitimate mother in front of me."

"You're not worthy yet."

Consort Shen's chest heaved rapidly, and her lips trembled a few times.

She wanted to curse, but a metallic taste rose in her throat.

The next moment, a mouthful of blood spurted onto the peony-embroidered hem of her dress.