Traveling through the Tang Dynasty: The Concubine Goes to War

In the magnificent palace, Prince Rui knelt on the ground, his face as pale as paper, and begged with tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty! I beg you to have mercy and forgive Princess Rui this time! It was because of my poor discipline that she made such a big mistake. Please consider that she is your aunt after all, and forgive her!"

Prince Rui spoke with tears in his eyes while knocking his head desperately, and his forehead hit the ground with a dull sound.

The emperor, high above, sat on the dragon throne, staring coldly at his uncle who was kowtowing and apologizing below, and a trace of pity arose in his heart.

However, when he thought of how Princess Rui disregarded family affection and even endangered national security in pursuit of power, that trace of pity was instantly replaced by endless anger and disappointment.

The emperor knew that if he condoned such behavior, it would bring immeasurable disasters to the country. Therefore, he must uphold justice and never show mercy even if the other party is his own aunt.

So, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said in a firm tone: "Uncle, I understand your feelings for the aunt, but the country has its own laws and the family has its own rules. The aunt's behavior has violated the law. If she is not punished, how can we convince the people? How can we maintain the stability and order of the country?"

After saying this, he gently waved his hand, signaling the guards to help Prince Rui up. At the same time, he turned to the guards standing beside him and said in a deep voice: "Bring Princess Rui up."

Not long after, Princess Rui was brought to the palace by the guards. When she saw the emperor, she immediately knelt down and begged for mercy with tears streaming down her face: "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me! I will never dare to do it again..." Her crying was miserable and sad, which made people feel pity. However, the emperor was unmoved. He looked at the woman in front of him expressionlessly, without any sympathy or pity in his eyes.

After Princess Rui was forcibly escorted away by the guards, the emperor slowly turned his head and looked at Prince Rui who was still kneeling on the ground. His eyes flashed with a complex emotion, including disappointment, anger, and helplessness.

After a moment's silence, the emperor sighed deeply and said to Prince Rui in a heavy tone: "Uncle, you'd better go back and discipline the people in the palace. Don't make such a mistake again." After that, he turned around and left the hall resolutely, leaving Prince Rui sitting there alone.

Prince Rui returned to the palace in a trance, and from then on he closed the door and had no contact with the outside world.

He seemed to have aged a lot overnight, and his originally straight back became bent.

The prince who was full of vigor and vitality in the past is now nowhere to be seen, replaced by an old man who is as disheartened as a dead man.

In the palace prison, Ye Ling'er was released and the guards brought her to Yunxi.

When Ye Ling'er saw Yunxi, it was as if she had seen a life-saving straw. "Sister, please help me speak well in front of the emperor. I don't want to leave the palace. I don't want to be demoted to a commoner. I have worked hard from a poor peasant girl to my current position as a concubine." Ye Ling'er cried and begged.

Looking at the miserable sister of the original owner in front of her, Yunxi was filled with mixed emotions. She hated Ye Ling'er for using any means to pursue wealth and glory, and she also felt pity for the palace women living under feudal rule.

"The emperor has done you a great favor by not killing you. How can you still have the face to stay in the palace now? The emperor hates people who betray him the most," said Yunxi.

"Sister, I know I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. As long as I can stay in the palace, I will do anything!" Ye Ling'er grabbed the corner of Yunxi's clothes and refused to let go.

Yunxi felt disgusted, but she couldn't help but persuade him, "Since you have made your choice, you should be responsible for your actions. Leaving the palace may be a relief for you."

Ye Ling'er didn't appreciate it, "Humph, it's easy for you to say it now. You are just lucky and have received the emperor's infinite love and affection. But what about me? I have worked so hard for so long, am I going to give up like this?"

Yunxi didn't want to get entangled with her anymore. "You have brought this upon yourself. Take care of yourself." After saying that, Yunxi turned around and was about to leave. At this moment, Ye Ling'er suddenly stood up, walked in front of Yunxi, took off the golden hairpin on her head, and stabbed herself in the chest...

Yunxi was startled by Ye Ling'er's action. She quickly reached out to stop Ye Ling'er, "What are you doing!"

"Sister, if you don't agree to help me, I will die in front of you!" Ye Ling'er cried.

Yunxi looked at her helplessly, "Why are you so persistent? Leaving the palace may not be a bad thing for you."

"No, I don't want to leave the palace! I would rather die than lose everything I have now!" Ye Ling'er became more and more agitated.

At this moment, the emperor suddenly walked in. "What are you doing?" he asked sternly.

Seeing this, Ye Ling'er immediately threw herself at the emperor and cried, "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I know I was wrong, please don't let me leave the palace!"

The emperor looked at her coldly, "If you had known this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? I have already made the decision. You will leave the palace tomorrow."

Ye Ling'er looked at the emperor in despair, and suddenly stabbed the golden hairpin into her chest again. Instantly, blood gushed out, staining her clothes red, and she collapsed to the ground.

The emperor was so shocked by her action that he hadn't recovered yet.

Yunxi hurried forward to help her up, covering her wound and stopping the bleeding.

"Sister, if you let me leave the palace, I would rather die here!" Ye Ling'er shouted in despair again.

Yunxi looked at her, feeling a little sorry. After all, she was the original owner's sister, and looked exactly like the original owner. Although Ye Ling'er had done many wrong things, her current appearance was indeed distressing.

"Alas..." Yunxi sighed, "Your Majesty, can I help her stop the bleeding first and talk to her after she's healed?"

The emperor looked at Ye Ling'er, whose chest was stained with blood, and a trace of pity appeared on his face. After all, he once doted on her. Although he only regarded her as a substitute for Yunxi, she did have her own charm.

The emperor thought about it and said to Ye Ling'er, "Forget it. I have decided to demote you to a maid and keep you in the palace. When you recover from your injury, you will go to the palace to clean the Buddhist temple."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Ye Ling'er said, holding back the pain. As long as I can stay in the palace, there will always be a day for me to make a breakthrough in the future... Ye Ling'er thought secretly at this moment.

Yunxi helped Ye Ling'er back to Xiuzhen Palace. Since Ye Ling'er was thrown into prison, all the palace maids and eunuchs were sent to other palaces to serve. At this time, only Xiao Cui was left in the palace.