Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

An expected smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, which contained a bit of playfulness and cunning. The pride in the corner of her eyes was like a flower blooming in spring, bright and flamboyant.

"It seems that the girl had expected this?" Chunmei exclaimed in her heart, and once again caught the familiar bright smile on the girl's face.

She couldn't help but mutter to herself, this girl seemed to have the ability to predict the future and could always arrange things just right.

Especially this time, just after praying for the emperor's welfare, she received a consultation from the imperial physician. This sudden care caught Chunmei off guard.

"Girl, are you planning something behind that smile of yours?" Chunmei couldn't help but ask tentatively out of curiosity.

Zhang Tianai chuckled again when she heard that. The laughter was clear and pleasant, as if it could dispel all the haze.

"You are a thoughtful girl. However, although my cough is somewhat real, it is not completely fake. You can relax." Zhang Tianai explained lightly.

She knew that Chunmei was the closest person to her, and she didn't need to hide anything from her.

"Then why did the emperor suddenly send the imperial physician here? Could it be you, young lady..." Chunmei didn't finish her words, her eyes were full of doubts and confusion.

"Of course it's the Emperor's good intentions," Zhang Tianai interrupted Chunmei's speculation. "Perhaps he saw that my cough hasn't healed and felt pity for me. But then again, this sudden concern does make me feel a little flattered."

Chunmei nodded when she heard this and was about to continue asking questions.

Zhang Tianai suddenly changed the subject, adding a hint of joking to her tone, "You see, the Emperor has confined me here, yet he's so concerned about my health. It's really hard to understand. But then again, I'm in great shape. How can a mere cough harm me?"

After saying that, Zhang Tianai chuckled again, and there was both pride and self-mockery in that smile.

She turned to look at Chunmei, only to see that the latter had a complicated expression on her face, as if she was trying hard to digest this information.

"Okay, stop imagining this." Zhang Tianai restrained her smile and looked at Chunmei seriously. "As for whether or not to see the imperial physician, I still need to think about it carefully..."

Zhang Tianai's words came to an abrupt end, leaving the room in silence. Chunmei pondered in her heart: "What kind of deep meaning is hidden in these words?"

"Just do as I said and refuse the imperial physician's visit." Zhang Tianai's voice was full of determination as she gave orders to Chunmei.

She was determined to take another step on the road of self-exile and reject the imperial physician.

She wanted the world, especially the emperor, to see that she not only confessed her guilt verbally, but also took action to deeply reflect on her mistakes.

"I shouldn't have expected to recover. Every moment of suffering is a punishment for my past mistakes. Let the noble hands of the imperial physician not be tainted by a sinner like me." Zhang Tianai muttered in his heart, with complex emotions flashing in his eyes.

Countless times before meeting the Emperor, she had contemplated what kind of attitude would touch his heart. Would it be a calm and cool demeanor, or a charming and alluring demeanor? Or perhaps seriousness, or innocence?

But all these assumptions are ultimately no match for the real and powerful word "pitiful".

She knew that only this seemingly weak but actually tough "pity" could touch that hard-hearted person.

"Girl..." Chunmei called softly, her eyes full of confusion and worry. She seemed to want to say something, but stopped talking when she saw Zhang Tianai's firm gaze.

"I did have that thought," Zhang Tianai said slowly, interrupting Chunmei's confusion. "But then I thought, how could I, with my sinful body, trouble the Imperial Physician? Just tell them I need to rest. I feel unworthy of the Imperial Physician's kindness."

Chunmei felt mixed emotions when she heard this. She understood that her daughter was no longer the princess who was at the mercy of others, but had her own persistence.

So, she silently accepted the order and was about to leave when she heard Zhang Tianai whisper, "Tell others that I can recover after a short rest. There's no need to alert the imperial physician. For a sinful body like mine, the best fate is to quietly await divine punishment."

Zhang Tianai slowly leaned back in her chair, completely ignoring what the outside world was saying. She slowly stretched out her arms in an almost lazy posture, as if to release all the fatigue in her body.

Perhaps, it would be okay to take a short nap. After all, for a sick person, a drowsy dream is a natural comfort.

She pondered secretly in her heart, and even had a somewhat naughty idea. Before falling asleep, she wanted to cough a few times as a signal to let the outside world know her "weakness", and then convey a message to the almighty emperor.

Even though she refused the imperial physician, her hidden illness still deserves attention.

So, she deliberately coughed a few more times, then leisurely walked into the bed, gently pulled the bed curtain, stretched her limbs again, closed her eyes and rested, the noise of the outside world seemed to be isolated from this small world.

Chunmei stepped in and saw Zhang Tianai looking so relaxed and contented. She couldn't help but call out softly, "Girl."

Zhang Tianai woke up as soon as she heard the sound, and smiled like a flower.

"I really need to rest, Chunmei. You just went out. Have the imperial physicians left?"

There was a certain casualness and uninhibitedness in her words. Her attitude towards the imperial physician and the emperor's order was neither complete resistance nor blind obedience.

Chunmei said anxiously, "Miss, don't you want to ask the emperor's opinion? Those adults were stunned when they heard your refusal."

Zhang Tianai just shook her head lightly, with a smile that hid a sense of detachment: "No need to ask more questions, the world is as broad as your heart."

Chunmei secretly admired in her heart that the girl's mind was indeed extraordinary.

"Yes, only with a broad heart can one tolerate the storms of this world." She muttered silently, as if responding, but also as if encouraging herself.

On the other side, Murong Shuo was quietly waiting for his subordinates' report, holding a brocade handkerchief and wiping his fingertips elegantly. Hearing Zhang Tianai's actions, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

This former Crown Princess actually rejected the emperor's grace in such a unique way while sticking to her principles and pride.

Silence, like a heavy curtain, quietly descended.

Eunuch An was secretly surprised. He had never expected that the former Crown Princess would politely decline. This subtle move actually revealed her inner self-awareness and humility.

"You are absolutely right, Your Majesty knows what to do." Eunuch An secretly praised in his heart, but he also noticed a subtle change in the air.

Just as he was about to speak to ease the atmosphere, he saw the emperor's expression slightly restrained, as if he was displeased.

Eunuch An's eyes involuntarily followed the figure of His Majesty. His throat moved slightly, as if he wanted to call out, but he swallowed it back.

At this time, the imperial physician was still waiting outside the hall, waiting to be called; everyone in the hall also raised their drooping eyelids at the same time, and the atmosphere became subtle and tense.

"Your Majesty..." Eunuch An finally couldn't hold back anymore and called out softly again, trying to break this frozen moment.

"Since you have no interest in watching, then forget it." Murong Shuo's voice was low and powerful, without any emotion.

After he finished speaking, he turned around and left with steady steps, leaving the room full of astonishment and confusion.

Upon seeing this, Eunuch An quickly collected his thoughts and followed closely behind, walking briskly, not daring to slack off for the slightest.

The people kneeling inside the hall, as well as the servants waiting outside, all saluted in unison, watching the emperor's back gradually disappear into the distance...