The whole family of villains listens to my heart, the Regent Prince treats me dearly.

Zhai Sangjie met Master Gu's gaze and replied in a deep voice, "I was alone in danger, but fortunately the Regent sent people to rescue me. I am extremely grateful."

Master Gu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing his answer.

He didn't point out Xiruo's shortcomings, so he was still a decent man.

Jun Ce glanced at Zhai Sangjie with some surprise, a hint of admiration welling up in his dark eyes.

If he reveals that he and Gu Xiruo were in danger together, the Gu family, for the sake of their daughter's reputation, would have no choice but to marry their daughter to him, no matter how dissatisfied they were with the Zhai family.

But he didn't.

Although Master Gu's attitude was clear, his primary concern was still Gu Xiruo's reputation.

Such a person is loyal and righteous, and does not seek personal gain or take advantage of others' misfortunes; he is indeed a promising talent.

Jun Ce nodded, his voice less cold than usual, "General Zhai has been frightened."

"Go back to your residence and rest well."

The eunuch standing to the side stared wide-eyed.

This is the first time I've heard the Regent show concern for his court officials...

After expressing his gratitude and taking his leave, Zhai Sangjie caught up with Master Gu, "Uncle Gu!"

Upon hearing the address, Master Gu paused with his cane.

He turned around, looked at Zhai Sangjie with an ambiguous expression, and asked, "General Zhai, is there something you need?"

"I came here to tell you that my feelings for Xiruo are genuine, and I hope you can grant us your blessing," Zhai Sangjie said sincerely.

Master Gu seemed to have thought of something, and his expression instantly turned cold.

Seeing that he remained silent, Zhai Sangjie stepped forward nervously and said, "The feud between you and my father should not involve your children."

"Xiruo and I are in love. I will do everything in my power to protect and take care of her. Please believe me."

Master Gu snorted and said, "Your Zhai family made all those vows, but in the end, you still couldn't protect your beloved?"

"How could you believe it so easily!"

After saying that, he turned to leave.

Zhai Sangjie called out from behind him, "I'm serious, and I'll prove it with time!"

"Please give me a chance, Uncle Gu!"

Mr. Gu paused for a moment, but ultimately did not refute.

……

Xianning Palace.

Consort Shu, dressed in a royal blue Shu brocade palace dress with intricate floral patterns, leaned against the chaise longue, supporting her head with one hand.

Chunlan knelt beside her and massaged her feet.

Qiu Jin stood beside her and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Wu'an Marquis's residence has been searched and confiscated, and the Wu'an Marquis has been sentenced to be executed tomorrow."

Consort Shu opened her eyes, her expression twisting for a moment.

"Such a useless person, just kill him!"

She remembered that she had promised Jun Yinghuai to go to the Minister's mansion to break off the engagement, and closed her eyes with a headache.

"One move off guard."

"It's just a pity for my Qing'er, she'll be overshadowed by that Crown Prince again."

At this moment, a maidservant brought in water for washing feet.

"Your Majesty, the flower petal water is ready."

She lowered her eyes, carefully placed the basin of water on the ground, and then knelt down to the side to reply respectfully.

Consort Shu closed her eyes slightly and waved her hand.

Chunlan immediately stopped what she was doing and, together with Qiu Jin, helped Consort Shu sit up from the couch, one on each side.

Consort Shu opened her eyes, put her feet into the basin, and inadvertently glanced at the little palace maid. Her eyes instantly filled with coldness!

With a swift movement, he kicked the basin of water at the palace maid with a loud thud!

"what……"

The palace maid was drenched in foot-washing water, and a blood clot appeared on her forehead from being hit by the basin of water, turning her face blue and purple.

She collapsed to the ground, sobbing.

"You lowly servant!" Consort Shu roared.

"Here comes someone!"

"Strip her clothes off!"

Qiu Jin and Chunlan were startled. After taking a closer look, they realized that the palace maid was wearing the same blue dress as Consort Shu.

Although the two shades of blue are quite different, they displeased the Empress, so she had no choice but to accept it.

A eunuch rushed in, took the order, and began to tear at the palace maid's clothes.

She cried and begged for mercy, struggling to avoid the eunuch's hands, her eyes filled with fear.

"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"

"This servant didn't mean it..."

"This servant was wrong... Please, Your Majesty, have mercy! Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!"

Despite her fierce resistance, the eunuch stripped her down to only her undergarment.

She was soaking wet, and hugged herself with a sense of humiliation, her thin body trembling uncontrollably.

Consort Shu gave her a look of disgust.

Upon seeing this, Chunlan immediately said, "Hurry up and throw her into the woodshed!"

The eunuch obeyed, stuffed the maid's mouth with a piece of clothing, and dragged her away.

He locked her in the woodshed and walked towards her with ill intent...

Qiu Jin said to Consort Shu, "Your Majesty, please calm down."

"This young palace maid was just transferred here and doesn't know the rules, which is why she offended Your Highness."

"Your Majesty shouldn't let her upset you."

The sinister look in Consort Shu's eyes intensified. "We just got rid of one vixen, and now another blind, lowly maid has arrived."

"I find Xianning Palace increasingly distressing!"

Qiu Jin and Chunlan immediately knelt on the ground, not daring to utter a sound.

"Go and call Qing'er here!"

*

When Jun Yiqing arrived at Xianning Palace, he found the entire palace lifeless and the Consort Shu's face was also pale.

He immediately closed his fan and stepped forward, asking, "What's wrong, Mother?"

Consort Shu glanced at him and sighed, "Qing'er, you should cancel your marriage with the Minister's family on a chosen day!"

"What did you say?!" Jun Yiqing sat down beside her anxiously and took her hand. "Why are you asking me to annul the engagement?!"

"Mother, are you getting senile?"

"No, I don't agree!"

This was the first time Consort Shu had heard him disobey her, and her expression immediately darkened. "I told you to go and return it, so go!"

"Are you still thinking about Zhai Muling?"

"What's so great about those women outside? How dare you speak to your mother like that!"

Jun Yiqing then realized that he had spoken without thinking, and quickly lowered his posture, speaking softly and gently, "Mother, please don't be angry. I was confused by my anger and didn't know how to keep my mouth shut."

"Son, slap yourself!" he said, then slapped his own face a few times.

Seeing this, Consort Shu immediately pulled his hand down and said with heartache, "You child, I only said one sentence to you and you're already like this. Are you trying to make your mother angry to death?"

She sighed, a trace of sorrow appearing on her face.

“If you don’t break off the engagement, I’m afraid my mother won’t live much longer.”

Jun Yiqing was greatly surprised and quickly asked questions, which allowed him to understand the general outline of the matter.

"How dare Jun Yinghuai plot against my mother like this!" he said through gritted teeth.

"Mother, please don't upset yourself. Your son will go to the Minister's residence right away."

He stood up, opened his folding fan, and walked outside.

But the light in his eyes shone even brighter.

Jun Yinghuai, I, the King, will not let you have your way!

It's just a broken engagement. As long as he wins Mu Ling's heart, why should he care about this piece of paper?

Fine, I'll back out then!

Just you wait!

……

Prince's Mansion.

An aide reported: "Your Highness, the Sixth Prince went to the Minister's residence today to annul the engagement."

Jun Yinghuai slowly opened his half-closed eyes, turned around, and a sinister smile crept across his face.

"That Consort Shu is quite sensible."

"Have you found any leads regarding the Qi family's affairs?"

"Your Highness, it was Second Miss Zhai who broke the formation." The advisor hesitated before finally stating his guess, "Grand Tutor Qi seems to have discovered something."

Jun Yinghuai's expression instantly turned fierce and wary.

A tremendous sense of crisis gripped him.

Having been given a second chance at life, I am in control of everything.

But Zhai Rongyu repeatedly thwarted his plans!

This person must not be allowed to live!

"Send a team of men to Yunshan..." he whispered the order, his voice like a ghost's.