Great, it's just a lackey, we're saved!

Chapter 135 must be a tactic for vying for favor!

Well played!

Kill him quickly!

Hearing the commotion, Jian Xiyan wanted to clap and cheer, but she didn't have time to investigate why someone was shouting in Kunning Palace.

The crown prince's expression changed drastically, and he rushed out without a second thought.

The Empress grabbed him, saying, "My son, don't be hasty. Let that person in and tell us what happened. Yue Li is now not only the eldest princess but also the Grand Master of the Imperial Clan. Her status is not the same as before. We must be careful."

The crown prince was extremely impatient and wanted to break free from Jian Xiyan, but he dared not use too much force.

"Mother, didn't you hear? My elder sister must have gone to the East Palace to bully Xingyue. I have to go back right away."

Jian Xiyan, however, held onto the Crown Prince tightly and ordered outside, "Who is making noise outside the palace? Let her come in and answer."

Changpei immediately entered with a palace maid.

The Crown Prince recognized her at a glance; she was the personal maid he had assigned to Mei Xingyue.

"How are the peach blossoms? How are the stars and moon?"

Peach Blossom knelt on the ground, her voice trembling: "Your Highness, the Eldest Princess is ordering General Zhou to beat Madam Mei. If you don't go back, I'm afraid Madam will be beaten to death by the Eldest Princess."

Upon hearing this, the crown prince felt a surge of anger.

"My elder sister is far too domineering. It's one thing to imprison her own mother, but to act so arrogantly in my Eastern Palace? If such a person were to regain her military power, who knows how she would wreak havoc on the court!"

The Empress carefully examined Tao Hua and noticed that the young palace maid had a pale face and a bright red mark behind her ear. She immediately understood what was going on.

Mei Xingyue, that vixen, may not have a high social standing, but she has a whole repertoire of ways to torment people.

The scars behind Tao Hua's ears were fine and hidden, with new wounds overlapping old ones, showing how much suffering she had endured while following Mei Xingyue.

"Why did the Princess punish Mei Xingyue?" the Empress asked.

Peach Blossom knelt on the ground and reported truthfully: "Your Majesty, the Eldest Princess said that Madam Mei disregarded human life and committed insubordination, so she took action to punish her."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince looked disdainful, guessing in his heart that it was probably Jiang Yueli being aggressive and making baseless accusations again.

Jian Xiyan pondered for a moment and said casually, "Mei Xingyue comes from a commoner background and doesn't know the rules of the palace. She probably offended Yue Li, which is why Yue Li is holding a grudge against her."

"Yue Li is a sensible person. She can let this matter go with a few words of scolding and beating, but she shouldn't harm Xingyue's life."

Peach Blossom paused for a moment, then knelt on the ground, hesitant to speak.

She wanted to say something, but when she met the Empress's gaze, she swallowed her words.

Seeing that Peach Blossom remained silent, the Crown Prince assumed that the Empress was right.

The urgency I had just felt to return to the East Palace had lessened somewhat.

"Did Xingyue send you?"

Peach Blossom trembled and truthfully replied, "Yes, it was Madam who sent me."

The Empress clicked her tongue, somewhat displeased: "Look at this, it really is a tactic to win favor! She probably suffered some injustice at Yue Li's place and is resentful, waiting for you to go back and stand up for her! She even sent a palace maid to tip her off, what danger could she possibly have?"

"My son, the wind and snow outside are getting heavier. The way back to the East Palace from Kunning Palace is slippery and difficult. Don't be impatient, just walk back slowly."

The Crown Prince nodded, and Jian Xiyan immediately had someone fetch a cloak and personally draped it over him.

They took their time to tidy up before letting him leave.

As soon as the Crown Prince left, Jian Xiyan's expression turned cold.

Mei Xingyue's methods weren't particularly sophisticated, but it was precisely these low-level tactics that allowed her to completely control the Crown Prince.

This woman cannot be kept here any longer!

The longer you linger, the greater the trouble will be.

…………

On his way back to the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince kept thinking about the matter of forcing the emperor to abdicate.

It sounds simple, but in reality, all sorts of unexpected situations can arise.

The court officials supported him as crown prince, which was one aspect, but more importantly, it was his control of the military.

I told the Empress before that Jiang Yueli wanted military power, and that I should just give it to her, but that was just something I said in anger.

Military power is the key to his success!

Peach Blossom followed behind the Crown Prince, her heart filled with trepidation.

When she came out, Mei Xingyue was already rolling on the ground, being slapped by Zhou Wei!

Jiang Nianxing and Jiang Nianyue are, after all, children, and can be easily controlled.

Although Jiang Nianyue was relatively tall and strong, he was still short in stature.

They couldn't withstand Zhou Wei's kick at all.

Even if he wanted to help Mei Xingyue, he was too far away to do so.

Mei Xingyue's face is half ruined, and now she's been slapped all over by Zhou Wei, with some wounds even revealing the bone. She'll definitely have scars from this.

If the Crown Prince walks so slowly, won't Mei Xingyue be beaten to death when he returns to the Eastern Palace?

Peach Blossom watched the Crown Prince's retreating figure, wanting to tell him to hurry up, but she was of lowly status and had no right to order him around.

I just ran all the way to Kunning Palace and I was all sweaty.

Sweat streamed down her neck, and the wounds on the back of her neck began to burn!

The pain could not be relieved in the slightest, even when surrounded by the freezing temperatures of ice and snow.

It was this pain that dispelled Peach Blossom's desire to persuade the Crown Prince.

A sliver of longing even stirred within her.

If the Crown Prince had slowed down, would Mei Xingyue have been beaten to death?

If Mei Xingyue were killed, she would definitely set up a memorial tablet for the Princess and Zhou Wei and worship it day and night.

Unfortunately, while the idea was wonderful, the road eventually comes to an end.

Not long after, they finally arrived at the East Palace.

The crown prince immediately spotted Zhu Zhen kneeling at the door.

"Commander Zhu, what are you doing kneeling here?" the Crown Prince asked, frowning.

"Your Highness, I offended Madam Mei, and she has ordered me to kneel here to reflect on my actions."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince's expression softened; it turned out that it was Xingyue who had punished him.

"Xingyue is a very kind person. Punishing you is probably to teach you a lesson, not to deliberately make things difficult for you."

Zhu Zhen knelt on the ground, his heart filled with coldness.

Mei Xingyue made things difficult for him both openly and secretly many times, but he didn't say anything for the sake of the bigger picture.

Now, kneeling openly outside the East Palace, Mei Xingyue was expected to be reprimanded by the Crown Prince, but unexpectedly...

For the first time, Zhu Zhen felt that the ruler he was serving was not a wise one.

The Crown Prince, however, did not notice the change in Zhu Zhen's state of mind. Instead, he said calmly, "Get up. You should be more mindful of your behavior in the future. Xingyue will be the Crown Princess of the Eastern Palace from now on, and all matters of the Eastern Palace will be managed by her."

"You are also quite adept at Xingyue's way of dealing with people and things. Compared to others, she is definitely a kind master."

Zhu Zhen stood up, nodded in agreement, but his face remained expressionless.

Peach Blossom had nothing to say to what the Crown Prince had said.

Everyone in the Eastern Palace was tormented by Mei Xingyue, yet the Crown Prince kept praising her kindness.

What is she if not a demoness?

The Crown Prince slowly walked into the East Palace. When he reached the small garden, he suddenly heard a scream.

His expression changed: "This is... Xingyue's voice!"

The prince quickened his pace and walked to the small garden, where he witnessed a scene that shocked him.