Dethroned the Crown Princess? Then she became your mother

"Brother Prince, how is your injury?" Zhang Tianci's heart instantly rose to his throat, and his eyes were full of concern and anxiety.

"Brother Crown Prince, why are you leaving so hastily? Could it be that you haven't truly forgiven me yet?" Her eyes were red, and her voice was choked with sobs. "I thought that since you didn't leave immediately and let me get close to you, you meant you were no longer angry with me. But now this sudden change has left me completely at a loss."

Zhang Tianci's heart was filled with confusion and puzzlement. She had no idea why the Crown Prince had changed so drastically.

Thinking back to the prince's previous instructions, her thoughts became more and more confused.

"Her Majesty the Crown Princess." The voice of the palace servant sounded outside the door at the right moment, interrupting her thoughts.

Zhang Tianci suddenly looked up, a hint of displeasure flashed in her eyes. She waved her hand to signal the palace servants to leave. At this moment, her mind and eyes were full of the departure of her brother, the prince, and she had no intention of dealing with others.

But the palace attendant seemed unaware of her displeasure, still kneeling on the ground, whispering a reminder: "Crown Princess, you haven't put on your shoes yet, and you are only wearing your undergarment."

Zhang Tianci suddenly realized that she had rushed off the bed without even putting on her shoes in order to catch up with the Crown Prince. She felt annoyed. The Crown Prince must have noticed her loss of composure and perhaps even become more disappointed in her because of it.

Thinking of the prince's brief but meaningful look, she became more certain of her suspicions. However, what chilled her heart was that the prince did not care for her or protect her as he had in the past, but instead left her standing here alone.

In the end, she could only helplessly let the palace servants help her back to the couch, secretly thinking about her next plan.

"Help me in and we'll talk after we've packed up. Prince, is he really gone?" There was a hint of uncertainty in her voice, as if she was still expecting something.

"Yes, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has left." The palace servant answered respectfully, not daring to look up and look her in the eye.

On the other side, after Murong Shen walked out of the room, the pain from his wound surged like a tide, but he endured it without showing any abnormality. Seeing this, the guards and eunuchs hurried forward to support him and asked about his injuries with concern.

"Your Highness, the sedan chair is ready." The eunuch said cautiously, fearing to anger the noble Crown Prince.

Murong Shenxing said nothing, his face pale and beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. He knew in his heart that his injuries had not healed, but at the moment, he had no time to care about them.

"Your Highness, do you need to call the imperial physician for treatment?" the eunuch asked cautiously again, his eyes full of worry.

Murong Shenxing glanced at him coldly, as if to say, "Why did you ask the imperial physician to come? Do you want more people to know about my injury?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuch fell silent, not daring to say another word. He lowered his head and carefully helped Murong Shenxing onto the sedan chair, followed by the guards.

After returning to his study, Murong Shenxing sat alone for a long time, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Finally, he made up his mind and sent someone to inform the Crown Princess and the other women in the Eastern Palace.

"Crown Princess, please take good care of your health in the future. Don't leave the Eastern Palace, and don't see anyone. Leave the affairs of the Eastern Palace to the concubine." His voice was cold and resolute, as if without a trace of emotion.

After saying this, he ordered people to promote the status of the palace maids who accompanied him back to the capital from the enclosure to Baolin, and gave some items to the other women to appease them.

In this way, the East Palace temporarily returned to peace.

After Zhang Tianci received the order from the Crown Prince, her face turned pale as paper. She couldn't believe her ears. The Crown Prince was so heartless!

"Brother Crown Prince, how could you do this to me!" She roared in her heart, wanting to rush to find Brother Crown Prince to argue again. However, when she reached the door, she found that someone was already there, preventing her from leaving.

"Prince brother! Prince brother!" She cried desperately, but the only responses she got were the cold walls and the guards at the gate.

Meanwhile, a different drama unfolded elsewhere in the Eastern Palace. Those palace maids favored by the Crown Prince accepted their rewards and promotions with trepidation, while Concubine Zhang, having gained the power of the Crown Princess, felt a mixture of emotions.

She sent someone to inquire about the Crown Princess's situation, and upon learning of His Royal Highness's decision, she couldn't help but feel secretly relieved. However, when she thought of what the Crown Princess had done in the past, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.

She knew that the Crown Prince's treatment of the Crown Princess was definitely because she had done something to anger him. The reason why the Crown Prince didn't depose her directly was perhaps because he still remembered their old friendship, or perhaps because he didn't want to cause too much trouble.

Thinking of this, Concubine Zhang became more determined. She wanted to take this opportunity to show herself well and strive to gain more favor and trust from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

The people in the harem were also closely watching the changes in the Eastern Palace. They inquired about the outcome of the Crown Prince's treatment and the Crown Princess's recent situation, trying to find some clues to guess the Crown Prince's intentions.

After personally inquiring about the details, the Queen Mother couldn't help but sigh at the Crown Prince's growth and changes. She recalled the loving times between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, and felt a pang of regret. However, she also understood that the Crown Prince was no longer the innocent and kind-hearted boy he once was; he had grown into a shrewd and resourceful emperor.

"The Crown Prince seems to have made up his mind and is ruthless enough to deal with the Crown Princess." The Queen Mother sighed, "He used to dote on her so much, but now he can be so decisive. It's really touching."

After saying this, she thought of the former Crown Princess, and her heart became even more complicated. She knew that the pain in the Crown Prince's heart might never heal. However, she also understood that as members of the imperial family, they must learn to let go of the past and embrace the future.

At this moment, Zhang Tianci was still immersed in despair and pain. She didn't understand why the prince had suddenly become so heartless. She didn't understand what she had done wrong.

She only knew that she had to find the prince as soon as possible and explain everything to him. However, reality told her that all this was no longer possible.

Inside Kunning Palace, however, the atmosphere was somewhat tense. The palace maids congratulated the Empress, saying, "Your Majesty, the Concubine is now the ruler of the Eastern Palace. If the Crown Princess doesn't step forward, the Eastern Palace will be ruled by the Concubine."

Upon hearing this, the Empress simply smiled softly, a smile that seemed to conceal endless profound meaning: "So what? After all, she's just a concubine."

Indeed, no matter how noble the status of a concubine is, it can never be compared with that of a Crown Princess. However, in this deep palace, identity and status are not so easy to define.

The Empress's thoughts drifted away, and she thought of her niece. If the Crown Princess was deposed, her niece might have a chance to become the new Crown Princess. Or, if the Crown Princess wasn't deposed but remained imprisoned, then once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, her niece might be crowned Empress, never again having to submit to anyone.

Thinking of this, a hint of determination flashed in the Queen's eyes. She knew very well that in this deep palace, power and status were the most important.

"Crown Princess, can you ever get back on your feet?" The Empress whispered to herself. "Once you've fallen into this quagmire, being ignored by the Crown Prince, and him granting power to his concubines, rewarding palace maids, and confining you, it would be truly wonderful if the Crown Prince continued like this."

This was the Empress' true thought deep in her heart. She longed to see the Crown Princess completely lose everything, while her niece would take advantage of the situation and rise to become the new ruler of the palace.

The maids and palace maids beside them couldn't help but speculate in their hearts when they heard this. They felt that as long as the Crown Princess had no chance of turning things around, the Concubine would indeed be more favored by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

"I hope so." The Queen said softly, her tone full of expectation and determination.

However, how easy is it to make the Crown Princess completely lose her chance?

"Your Highness." The maids and the palace maids felt uneasy when they saw the Queen's silence. They didn't know what she was thinking, but they didn't dare to disturb her.

The Queen didn't need them to guess her thoughts. She only needed to quietly observe the changes in the situation and wait for the best opportunity to come.

"It all depends on whether the Crown Prince still has feelings for the Crown Princess." The Queen thought to herself, "Even if he still has feelings, I have to find a way to make him give up completely."

The other women in the harem were also discussing the matter. They were shocked and curious about the Crown Prince's order to change the layout of the Eastern Palace. Some wanted to go and congratulate the Empress, hoping to use this opportunity to curry favor with the powerful.

Meanwhile, Nanny Li had already heard about the changes in the Eastern Palace. She hurried back and informed her master of the Crown Prince's will.

Zhang Tianai's face lit up with a bright smile when she heard this. She sat up straight, feeling extremely happy.

"Master." Seeing her master so happy, Nanny Li couldn't help but feel a little excited. She wanted to know what her master was going to do next.

However, Zhang Tianai didn't say much. She just sat quietly, thinking about her next move.

Chunmei also came over and looked at her master excitedly: "Master, what you said really came true!"

Zhang Tianai glared at Chunmei, scolding her for being too excited. Chunmei, however, didn't care. She continued, "My Lord, the Crown Prince has now issued this order. The Crown Princess is no longer in charge of the Eastern Palace. She is under house arrest and cannot see anyone. The Eastern Palace is now under the control of Concubine Zhang, and will be in charge of palace affairs from now on. Luo Liangyuan and Fu Liangyuan will also be favored by the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianai just nodded slightly. She had already expected such an outcome.

"Master," Chunmei spoke again, "if something happens to the Crown Princess again, the Crown Prince will definitely not release her, right?"