The Empress Dowager left in a rage.

Along the way, Granny Sun kept trying to console her by the carriage: "The Emperor spoke without thinking, he was just irritated by the memorials from the court officials these past few days and unintentionally vented his anger on the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager and Emperor are mother and son, connected at heart, what is there that the Empress Dowager doesn't know..."

"No need to say more." The Empress Dowager only felt her head throbbing with pain. "I've spoiled him for nothing, he has never given me a moment's peace of mind. Now he's starting to openly defy me, I've never had any hopes for him!"

Seeing the Empress Dowager's poor complexion, Granny Sun didn't dare persuade further. She shook her head and said, "Anger harms the body, the Empress Dowager mustn't neglect her health. Does the Empress Dowager want to summon the imperial physician?"

"No need, if I summon the imperial physician now, he might think I'm deliberately putting on an act!" The Empress Dowager felt upset and stifled, her eyes involuntarily reddening. The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and rubbed her brow, forcibly suppressing the tears in her eyes. "It's not a big deal, I'll feel better after taking a few calming pills when I return."

Granny Sun knew the Empress Dowager was putting on a strong front and had no choice but to nod. "Yes."

After returning to Ci'an Palace, the Empress Dowager first took a few pills and rested on the couch for a good while before recovering some energy. Granny Sun said softly, "Empress Dowager, Consort Li has been taken to the Small Buddha Hall."

The Empress Dowager, having just experienced a surge of anger, had no energy at this point. She said wearily, "I have no energy to deal with her now, just let her kneel for a night first."

Granny Sun nodded and walked out. The Empress Dowager added, "Tell the people watching her! Remove the prayer mats, do not provide tea or snacks. No matter what she says, ignore her. Hmph, I've managed the inner palace for a lifetime, now I want to try out these underhanded inner palace methods too. When it comes to these things, who can torture someone better than me? Let her suffer for now."

Granny Sun bowed and went to give the orders.

After being taken to the Small Buddha Hall, Consort Li had been feeling apprehensive. She originally thought it would be the Emperor coming to question her. Then she could coax him a bit and it would probably be fine, since Consort Zhen and her child were safe now, so she shouldn't receive too severe a punishment.

Consort Li had considered many possibilities but never imagined it would be the Empress Dowager summoning her. After waiting for half a day, she only saw Granny Sun who was by the Empress Dowager's side. Usually Consort Li would ignore the Empress Dowager's attendants, but now she didn't dare to. She hurried over smiling and asked, "Granny Sun, where is the Empress Dowager?"

Granny Sun ignored Consort Li and announced with lowered eyes, "Passing on the Empress Dowager's decree, Consort Li's conduct is improper and lacking in wifely virtues. She is ordered to chant scriptures ten thousand times to pray for blessings for the imperial family."

The old grannies behind Granny Sun stepped forward and removed the four brocade prayer mats in front of the Buddha statues. They also carried out the noble consort chair, the carved lacquer table and all the soft cushions from the inner room of the Small Buddha Hall. Seeing the empty room, Consort Li was momentarily at a loss and stammered, "What is this for?"

"Answering the Consort, this chanting and praying for blessings, the key is to be sincere." Granny Sun held her sleeves, her tone devoid of any inflection. "I once heard the Empress Dowager say, strip the bark off bodhi wood for paper, split the bones for brushes, prick blood for ink. The Empress Dowager naturally doesn't want the Consort to go that far, it's just that living too comfortably inevitably leads to distracted thoughts, making it hard to pray well. I'm removing these useless items to avoid interfering with the Consort's prayers."

After saying this, Granny Sun turned to leave. Consort Li hurriedly blocked her way, smiling ingratiatingly, "Granny Sun, I know the Empress Dowager must be blaming me. Please put in a few good words for me."

Consort Li took off a white jade bangle from her wrist and stuffed it into Granny Sun's hand, whispering, "If Granny can help me tell the Emperor..."

"The Consort should keep it for herself." Granny Sun withdrew her hand and said coldly, "I'm old, I can't use such things. All of you leave, let the Consort focus on chanting scriptures."

Consort Li felt both hatred and fear in her heart. She urged anxiously, "Granny Sun, Granny Sun, Granny Sun..."

Granny Sun ignored Consort Li, leading everyone out of the Small Buddha Hall. She also ordered the palace maids there to keep watch and not allow Consort Li to send out any messages.

Inside, Consort Li was unwilling to chant scriptures properly. At first, she still pretended to kneel in front of the Buddha and chant for a while. But the gold bricks on the floor were cold and hard. Before long, Consort Li couldn't endure it. She got up and called for the palace maids outside. But the attendants had received Granny Sun's orders, who dared respond? Consort Li couldn't order around a single person. She shouted for nearly half an hour before quieting down, but also stopped chanting scriptures.

The Small Buddha Hall had been cleared out by Granny Sun. Consort Li wanted to rest but had nowhere to sit or lie down. Everything was empty, not even a rug. After night fell, no one delivered food. Consort Li's stomach was empty. She asked the old grannies keeping watch outside a few times but they all replied coldly, "The Empress Dowager is unwell and didn't order meals. The dishes inside haven't been cleared away yet, where is there time to attend to matters here? The Consort is here to chant scriptures, what's the meaning of always asking about food?!"

Consort Li had been accustomed to a life of luxury for many years and had never suffered cold and hunger. The more uncomfortable she felt, the more she thought of her previous good days. Looking at her current situation, her heart felt increasingly unable to bear it. Sobbing and weeping, she cried the whole night in the Small Buddha Hall.

"Eat the remaining two grilled venison rolls. What's going on with your appetite lately? Before, no matter how much was left each meal, you could finish it. Why are you leaving so much every meal now?" Chu Shaoling looked at the table full of food, dissatisfied. "Aren't these all things you like to eat?"

There were quite a few serving maids standing in the inner chamber. Wei Ji felt a bit embarrassed and argued in a low voice, "After leaving the palace, the meal portions have been increased by half. This subject really can't finish it."

Chu Shaoling was a picky person. The meals in Bitao Palace before were already exquisite. Wei Ji cherished his blessings at that time, eating with Chu Shaoling every day and finishing everything he could. If he really couldn't finish, he would ask Chu Shaoling if he could keep the leftovers to eat later. Chu Shaoling liked that about Wei Ji and never restricted his eating. After moving to the prince's manor, Chu Shaoling added a few more good chefs, but Wei Ji's appetite became much smaller than before.

"Then you're not eating as much as before either. Two crab roe buns, four steamed shrimp dumplings, three grilled venison rolls, two chestnut flour buns, a bowl of non-glutinous rice porridge, that's not much at all!" Chu Shaoling felt Wei Ji's waist and scolded, "There's not an ounce of fat on your body, and you still don't know to eat more."

Wei Ji felt even more embarrassed with a room full of people watching, yet Chu Shaoling spoke without any reservation.

Wang Muhan interjected with a smile at the right moment, "Back then, Guard Wei was at the age of a growth spurt. There's a saying among the common folk, 'A half-grown boy eats his old man to death', so naturally he ate a lot. Now that Guard Wei is fully grown, he just can't eat that much anymore."

Wei Ji gratefully nodded to Wang Muhan. Wang Muhan continued, "Didn't Imperial Physician Zhang say when he came to take your pulse? Lord Wei's health is improving, so Your Highness can rest assured."

Chu Shaoling smiled, "You're always speaking up for him. But that won't do. It's still better for him to gain more weight. In case he falls ill, he'll be able to withstand it better. Order the servants to make more meat pastries and have them displayed to entice him to eat more."

Wang Muhan quickly agreed, "Yes."

Wei Ji felt warmth in his heart. He lowered his head and ate another pea cake.

After finishing breakfast, the two entered the palace together. Chu Shaoling had been pretending to be ill for a few days, and now it was about time for him to go to the palace to attend to the Emperor.

After entering the palace, Chu Shaoling went to Chengqian Palace to pay his respects. The Emperor's expression was not very good. After the greeting, there was no conversation between them. This was the first time the father and son were alone together since returning from the Tanghe Palace. The atmosphere was very awkward.

The Emperor felt a bit uneasy and said after a while, "That day when the palace was invaded, it was thanks to your efforts."

Chu Shaoling lowered his head and said indifferently, "I dare not claim credit. It was all part of my duty as your subject."

There was another silence. The Emperor said wearily, "These past few days, my health has not been good, and I haven't had time to send down the memorials. I have decided to remove Chu Shaomo's title as prince and demote him to a commoner, imprisoning him in the Court of the Imperial Clan for life."

As expected, Chu Shaoling nodded, "For committing such an atrocious crime, Father Emperor is still merciful in sparing Chu Shaomo's life."

The Emperor stared at Chu Shaoling's face and said slowly, "The guards who performed meritoriously in suppressing the rebels that day will all be rewarded. Based on the headcount, that attendant of yours named Wei Ji can be conferred the rank of second-grade general."

Chu Shaoling almost wanted to laugh. Did everyone want to threaten him with Wei Ji? Chu Shaoyang, Chu Shaoruan, Consort Li, and now even the Emperor wanted to meddle. This was getting ridiculous.

Chu Shaoling bowed slightly, "This subject thanks Father Emperor on behalf of Wei Ji."

If it were before, Chu Shaoling might have been wary. But now, Chu Shaoling was not. Wei Ji had just made a great contribution, killing thirty-five rebels in front of everyone. With such merit, everyone had witnessed it, even the Emperor. At this time, the Emperor had no way to make a move against Wei Ji.

Moreover, Princess Fuyi had just become pregnant. Wei Ji was increasingly influential and had a very special status. The Emperor could not simply bestow a cup of poisoned wine on Wei Ji like he would to an ordinary male pet.

The Emperor regretted it, of course. He had known before that Chu Shaoling and this attendant by his side were intimate. But at that time, the Emperor had not taken it seriously, thinking it was just a male pet. However, before he knew it, Chu Shaoling had actually allowed Wei Ji to establish himself in the court, making it difficult for the Emperor to easily touch him.

When Chu Shaoling favored someone, he did not just dress them in fine clothes and jade and keep them in a gilded cage. Instead, he would pull strings for them, connecting them with Wei Zhan, Marquis Zijun, Zhang Lifeng, and Princess Fuyi, forming a network that allowed Wei Ji to take firm root in the imperial city.

The Emperor did not want to discuss these matters further. He said in a deep voice, "There are now many memorials requesting for you to be established as the crown prince. I am also inclined to have you as the crown prince."

Chu Shaoling did not speak. Sure enough, the Emperor continued, "I am thinking of bringing Ruan'er back. At the enthronement ceremony, the princes will all have to pay respects to you. This protocol cannot be abolished."

The Emperor had made a good plan. Now, establishing Chu Shaoling as the crown prince was the will of the people. If the Emperor did not express his stance for a long time, he would inevitably be criticized. It was better to propose it himself and take the opportunity to rescue Chu Shaoruan from the Tanghe Palace.

The Emperor's scheme was very good, but unfortunately, Chu Shaoling did not buy it. "This subject son is of mediocre talent and unworthy of the great responsibility. Father Emperor, please reconsider."

The Emperor was stunned. Chu Shaoling actually did not want the position of crown prince?!

Chu Shaoling bowed and said, "This subject son still needs to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. I will take my leave first." Chu Shaoling turned to go to Ci'an Palace.

The crown prince position was originally supposed to be his. Chu Shaoling would not compromise with the Emperor for this. Moreover, everyone knew that he and Chu Shaoruan were not on good terms. If Chu Shaoruan was brought back to the palace on the day of his enthronement, what would the court officials think?

Chu Shaoling had finally driven these people out one by one. How could he invite them back? In his dreams.

In Ci'an Palace, the Empress Dowager was having a meal. Seeing Chu Shaoling come, she smiled and said, "Come and eat some more with Grandmother."

"Grandson has already eaten a lot today." Chu Shaoling looked at the table full of food and asked, "Did Imperial Grandmother just wake up?"

The Empress Dowager pressed the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and said in a low voice, "Alright, take it away."

The palace servants entered in a line to clean up the plates and dishes. The Empress Dowager, leaning on Chu Shaoling, walked to the inner room and recounted last night's events one by one. After a while, she sighed, "Grandmother has raised him in vain."

Chu Shaoling was long accustomed to the Emperor's ingratitude. Back then, when the Emperor needed his maternal clan's help, he would say that he would never forget their meritorious service in supporting him. But once he was firmly seated on the dragon throne, he began to say that the maternal relatives must not seize power. Whatever the Emperor said was always right.

The Empress Dowager was truly angered this time. She felt a stuffy discomfort in her chest early in the morning. Granny Sun persuaded her for half a day before the Empress Dowager nodded and allowed the imperial physician to come and take a look. Sure enough, after taking her pulse, the physician said that it was due to pent-up frustration and prescribed a mild formula. The Empress Dowager did not even take the medicine. A heart illness still required a remedy for the heart. How could a few ordinary prescriptions treat it?

The fact that the Empress Dowager summoned the imperial physician in the morning naturally became known throughout the palace. The Emperor, who was feeling remorseful about last night's incident, used this as an excuse to come and pay his respects to the Empress Dowager. He thought that if he talked it out, everything would be fine.

Unfortunately, the Empress Dowager, who had forgiven him countless times and tolerated him countless times, did not soften her heart this time. When the Emperor came to pay his respects, she avoided seeing him and only had Granny Sun convey a message: "The Emperor has many matters to attend to. There is no need to worry about this Mother."

The Emperor had originally thought that a few soft words would allow him to reconcile with the Empress Dowager as before and then be able to rescue Consort Li. However, he did not expect that the Empress Dowager, who had forgiven him countless times, would not even acknowledge him this time and directly shut him out.

For the first time, the Emperor truly tasted the feeling of being alone and helpless.

"How did Imperial Grandmother deal with Consort Li?" Chu Shaoling handed a cup of tea to the Empress Dowager. "Is she just being detained without interrogation?"

The Empress Dowager laughed coldly, "Grandmother was just casually saying that she wanted to interrogate her. How could I really want to hear that venomous woman's defense? Now, we'll just slowly grind her down, making her unable to live well but also unable to die."

On the day Consort Zhen gave birth, the Empress Dowager had questioned the midwife in detail. When Consort Zhen was carried inside, her water had already broken long ago. It was not that Consort Li's push had startled the fetus. The Empress Dowager understood in her heart what had happened, but whenever she thought of Consort Li, the Empress Dowager would gloss over it. Perhaps Consort Li still thought that it was she who had caused Consort Zhen to give birth prematurely.

Chu Shaoling understood the Empress Dowager's meaning and nodded with a smile, "Then let's first have Consort Li recite scriptures for Imperial Grandmother."