Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 22 Kneeling as punishment
Two palace maids suddenly stepped forward and approached Song Yi, saying, "Excuse me."

After saying that, before Song Yi could speak, the two pushed past Xi Chun and forcibly pulled Song Yi forward, one on each side.

Song Yi remained silent, forced to walk quickly, and when he reached the Empress Dowager, he was in so much pain that he held his breath.

She looked at the Empress Dowager. After three years, the Empress Dowager had clearly aged considerably, with much more white hair, but her eyes remained sharp.

When the Empress Dowager spoke, she habitually raised her chin slightly, making her look exceptionally domineering.

The Empress Dowager said in a deep voice, "Kneel down."

Song Yi frowned deeply, still recovering from the pain she had just experienced.

Xichun said urgently, "Your Majesty, Consort Cai has an injury on her knee. The imperial physician just changed her dressing and bandaged it. She really can't kneel now."

"Who gave you the right to speak here?!"

She suddenly scolded Xichun.

Xi Chun was startled and looked at Song Yi helplessly.

Song Yi pulled her along, making Xichun stand behind her.

She said, "Please forgive my lack of manners, but I am truly unable to kneel today."

The Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes and said quietly, "It seems you don't understand my temperament. If I tell you to kneel, you have to kneel."

As soon as he finished speaking, two palace maids stepped forward.

Upon seeing this, Song Yi immediately knelt down.

The moment his knee bent, the wound that had just scabbed over reopened.

She could feel the blood flowing out again, but thankfully it was wrapped in a white cloth. She endured the pain, her lips turning pale as the wound touched the hard floor tiles.

The Empress Dowager chuckled and said, "Your Majesty demoted Consort Zhuang because of you, didn't you?"

Song Yi said coldly, "How dare a concubine interfere with His Majesty's decisions?"

Song Yi suddenly realized that Consort Zhuang was forced into Jiang Lanye's side by the Empress Dowager, so she was unlike anyone else, which is why she had a very high rank, but Jiang Lanye had never summoned her.

No wonder the Empress Dowager was angry.

The Empress Dowager clearly did not believe her, saying, "Even though you are wearing a veil, it doesn't stop you from deliberately seducing His Majesty."

She said leisurely, "As for Consort Yun, I couldn't control her and was too lazy to bother with her. But you, as a mere concubine, not only did you not serve His Majesty properly, but you also whispered in his ear. Are you satisfied with Consort Zhuang's demotion?"

Her tone was low and menacing.

Song Yi said in a low voice, "It's all a misunderstanding by the Empress Dowager."

The Empress Dowager clearly didn't want to hear her explanation. She waved her hand impatiently and said, "I'm tired and don't want to deal with you. Today, you will kneel in the courtyard for two hours and reflect on your mistakes."

Upon hearing this, Xichun said anxiously, "Your Majesty, Consort Cai's injury shouldn't be left untreated by kneeling for too long! Two hours might be too much."

"Paws!"

The palace maid beside her immediately grabbed Xichun's shoulder, turned her around, and raised her arm high—

Xichun closed her eyes, but the slap did not fall.

She opened her eyes in fear and found Song Yi firmly gripping the palace maid's wrist, his voice colder than ever before: "You dare?"

When she met her gaze, the palace maid was momentarily stunned.

In that instant, what Song Yi's eyes revealed was not the timidity of a concubine, but rather an arrogance, as if she were not just a lowly concubine, and even kneeling, her status was enough to look down on everything.

The Empress Dowager was so angry that her heart ached, and she immediately said, "Both of you, kneel down! Are you trying to rebel?!"

Xi Chun, fighting back tears, helped Song Yi up and whispered, "Cai Nu, slow down."

Song Yi hissed as she slowly knelt down.

The sun is fully up. Although it's not exactly hot at this time, being directly exposed to the sunlight is still unbearable.

She gritted her teeth, knowing that she had been too close to Jiang Lanye these past few days, so close that everyone else saw her as a thorn in their side. And yet, she was merely a lowly concubine, vulnerable to all bullying, and she had no choice but to obey the Empress Dowager's orders. Outside the Zichen Palace.

Jiang Lanye, dressed in court robes, strode back. When the palace maids saw him, they hesitated to speak.

However, he clearly didn't notice the expressions of those around him and simply pushed the door open.

His first glance was toward the dragon throne.

He thought Song Yi would listen to him and tidy up the dragon bed, but it's still a mess.

Jiang Lanye's face darkened for a moment as he searched around for Song Yi's figure.

The entire Zichen Palace was empty; she wasn't there.

Jiang Lanye sensed something was wrong and immediately turned around and went outside, asking the palace maid outside the door, "Where is she?"

The palace maid quickly replied, "An hour ago, a palace maid from the Empress Dowager's side took Cai Nu away."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Lanye walked straight towards Yongfu Palace.

The palace maid was taken aback.

His Majesty doesn't seem to have even changed out of his court robes.

Eunuch Cao exclaimed in surprise and asked, "What happened back then?"

The palace maid sighed, "It was a palace maid from the Empress Dowager's side who suddenly came and urged the concubine to go to Yongfu Palace. The concubine certainly couldn't refuse."

Helpless, Eunuch Cao looked up and saw that Jiang Lanye had already walked far away, so he quickly jogged to catch up.

Inside Yongfu Palace.

Song Yi knelt for a long time, feeling so much pain in her knees that she could hardly breathe. Her cheeks were also burning hot from the sun.

The Empress Dowager sipped her tea leisurely to the side, not even glancing at her.

Song Yi gritted her teeth, feeling that she did not want to suffer such injustice no matter what, and suddenly stood up unsteadily.

Xi Chun was shocked, never expecting that her maid would dare to directly disobey the Empress Dowager's order.

“Cai Nu, you…”

Song Yi stood in the courtyard, looking directly at the Empress Dowager.

Before the Empress Dowager could even notice that she had stood up, it was the palace maid beside her who suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Empress Dowager, look!"

The Empress Dowager looked over with sharp eyes and was immediately so angry that she couldn't speak. She pointed at her and stood there stunned for a long time.

"Lady Song, what do you mean by this! How dare you disobey my orders!"

Song Yi said coldly, "Your Majesty, I don't think I've done anything wrong. I've already been kneeling for an hour. Even if Your Majesty is very angry with me, shouldn't it have subsided by now?"

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table. "How dare you!"

She flew into a rage and immediately signaled several men to grab her and force her to the ground.

Song Yi knew that at least she was useful to Jiang Lanye now, and since Jiang Lanye and the Empress Dowager had always been at odds, even if she really contradicted the Empress Dowager now, if Jiang Lanye found out, he probably wouldn't side with the Empress Dowager.

What she needs to do now is to stall for time so that Jiang Lanye will realize she's gone.

If she kneels down again, her knees will be ruined!

Several palace maids rushed forward, but Song Yi, with a strength she didn't know she possessed, was unable to subdue them for a moment.

The Empress Dowager was so angry that her face turned red, and her hands trembled as she spoke: "This is absolutely outrageous! How can His Majesty tolerate such an ill-mannered woman by his side!"

Song Yi's arms ached from the clumsy movements of the palace maids, and her face contorted in pain.

Just as the situation was at a standoff, the gates of Yongfu Palace were suddenly and quickly opened.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, you cannot enter!"

(End of this chapter)