After the marriage, the abstinent prince turned me on

They were of higher birth than other palace maids, and were usually a little arrogant and unwilling to show off their talents easily.

Seeing that Xie Mishuang seemed to prefer people like Xiao Shunzi who were good at "showing off", he felt even more disdainful.

Chun Ling snorted softly, curled her lips, and muttered softly: "What's so special about singing crickets? It's really..."

Xia Ye also agreed: "That's right, I don't know why the young lady likes him."

Although their voices were low, Xie Mishuang still heard them.

Xie Mishuang didn't get angry. He just glanced at them calmly and told Qing He, "Take them down and arrange some cleaning work."

Chun Ling and Xia Ye's faces turned pale when they heard this.

They didn't expect Xie Mishuang to be so ruthless and directly send them to do rough work.

They wanted to argue, but seeing Xie Mishuang's cold eyes with a hint of warning, they finally followed Qinghe and retreated obediently.

After everyone dispersed, Xie Mishuang's face gradually darkened.

She walked to the window and looked at the blooming flowers outside, but her eyes were cold.

"Qinghe," she called softly.

Qing He hurried forward, "What are your instructions, young master?"

"You need to pay more attention to Feng Zihan," Xie Mishuang said solemnly, "She was able to leave the Prince's Mansion in the first place, and she also had a certain contribution. Otherwise, how could An Man have such ability alone?"

Qing He nodded, "I understand."

A cold light flashed in Xie Mishuang's eyes. "Feng Zihan is the enemy hiding in the dark. I even suspect...she was the one who caused Ouyang Jing's amnesia!"

The shrill voice of calling out names came from far away and broke the tranquility of Yilan Palace.

"The imperial edict has arrived—Concubine Xie receives it!"

Xie Mishuang's heart was shocked, Concubine Shu?

She quickly exchanged glances with Qinghe, both of them were in disbelief.

According to convention, a new concubine entering the palace would at most start out as a noble lady; it was unheard of for her to be directly canonized as a concubine, let alone a Shufei, one of the four great concubine ranks! Could it be... Ouyang Jing recognized her?

This is impossible! She has clearly changed her appearance and even her voice.

Without time to think, she quickly straightened her clothes and knelt down with the palace maids to receive the order.

Eunuch Li, who was announcing the decree, unfolded the bright yellow imperial edict and read it in a shrill voice with ups and downs. The flattering words were endless, and Xie Mishuang sneered in her heart when she heard them.

"... I hereby appoint Chi as Consort Shu. I decree this!"

Xie Mi took the imperial edict with both hands.

Eunuch Li's face was full of smiles, but there was a hint of barely perceptible surprise in that smile.

"Congratulations, Madam Shufei! Congratulations, Madam Shufei! I have to go to another palace to announce the decree, so I won't bother you anymore. Please bathe, change clothes, and prepare to serve His Majesty."

According to the rules, new concubines entering the palace must sleep with the emperor in order, but now she is the only one in the harem, and tonight...

After Eunuch Li left, Yilan Palace returned to peace again.

Qing He could no longer suppress her worry. "Your Majesty, what should we do? If the Emperor finds out, what are you going to do..." She paused and asked cautiously, "Are you going to reconcile with His Majesty?"

Xie Mishuang looked at the blooming flowers outside the window with a complicated look in her eyes.

Get back together?

These four words set off a storm in her heart.

Everything that happened three years ago flashed through her mind like a kaleidoscope.

Xie Mishuang slowly shook her head, a trace of determination flashing in her eyes, "Qinghe, he and I are in the past. It's impossible to go back to the past. No matter how he treats me in the future, I only have one goal now, and that is to seek revenge on the Xie family!"

Qing He stared at her blankly, "What are your plans, Madam?"

Xie Mi's eyes shone, and a cold arc appeared at the corner of her mouth. "Originally, I wanted to live in the Xie family as a concubine and settle accounts with them, but now, I can only live as a concubine."

Aya, who was standing by, was horrified and couldn't help but interrupt, "Then your Majesty, are you really going to serve the Emperor tonight?"

Xie Mishuang chuckled softly, her eyes flickering with confidence, "The Emperor probably won't summon me tonight. Eunuch Li is just following the rules. Since there have never been new concubines entering the palace before, they assumed the Emperor would follow the rules. Let me bathe and change clothes first. Regardless of whether he summons me or not, I still have to pretend to do so tonight."

Qinghe and Aya looked at each other and saw worry in each other's eyes, but they nodded and followed Xie Mishuang into the house to take a shower and change clothes.

In the steamy bathtub, Xie Mishuang closed his eyes, his mind full of thoughts.

She thought of her mother's tragic death and felt a pang of pain in her heart.

Xie family, I will make you pay for your blood debt with blood!

Qinghe and Aya served carefully, not daring to make any noise, for fear of disturbing Xie Mishuang's thoughts.

They knew that the Empress had suppressed a huge hatred in her heart, and now she finally had the opportunity to release it. The only thing they could do was to support her silently.

After bathing, Xie Mishuang changed into a light purple palace dress. She looked elegant and refined, yet with a hint of imperceptible coldness.

"Qinghe, make my makeup more simple and elegant."

"Yes, your majesty." Qing He picked up the eyebrow pencil and skillfully outlined Xie Mishuang's eyebrows, making her already delicate facial features look even more cold and elegant.

Aya was carefully adjusting Xie Mishuang's clothes, her eyes filled with worry. "Your Majesty, do you really want to face the Emperor alone? Do you want me to accompany you?"

Xie Mishuang gently patted Aya's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, I can handle it. You just stay in Yilan Palace and pay attention to what's going on in the palace."

At the same time, in the imperial study, Ouyang Jing's face was gloomy, and his eyes were like knives shooting at the guards kneeling on the ground.

"I have said that I must see her alive or dead! If you can't find her, you will die!" He roared and pushed all the memorials on the table to the ground.

The memorials scattered on the ground were just like his confused thoughts at the moment. Unable to find her, his heart was like this empty palace, dead silent.

The imperial study was as cold as an ice cellar.

The guards kneeling on the ground were sweating profusely, their clothes were soaked, but they dared not make a sound.

They were already the 30th team to search for the whereabouts of the Crown Princess. Some of the people who had gone before them were tortured to death, some were burned alive, and none of them had a good end.

"Thirty batches! Thirty batches!" Ouyang Jing's roar echoed in the imperial study, filled with murderous intent. "I want living people! What did you bring back to me?!"

He kicked over the rosewood table in front of him, and the memorials, writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone on the table were scattered all over the floor. The ink splattered on the bright yellow carpet, like a blooming black mandala, enchanting and weird.

The guards trembled even more violently, and fear overwhelmed them like a tide.