After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

As she left the palace, Fang Xiaoran took a special look at Chaohua Hall and was filled with emotion, as if everything had happened just yesterday.

She remembered being overjoyed when she first entered Chaohua Palace, thinking that Zhao Jin had given her the best. Later, she learned that Chaohua Palace was remote and no different from the Cold Palace. At that time, she still had hope, thinking that Zhao Jin had only recently ascended the throne and the affairs of the palace had not yet been dealt with, and that he would let her out later.

But little did she know that this wait would mean she would never have the chance to go out again.

Thinking of this, Fang Xiaoran curled a pale, cold smile at the corner of her lips and slowly walked out of the palace gate.

At this moment, Fang Menghe was sitting in the courtyard, gossiping about Fang Xiaoran. She had personally witnessed Fang Xiaoran being summoned to the palace by the Empress Dowager and had not returned since. Fang Zhengyong was worried and wanted to go to the palace several times, but in the end he did not go. That was the Cining Palace, and even if he went, it would be of no use.

"It's already this late and she still hasn't returned. Could it be that she offended the Empress Dowager and can't come back?" Fang Menghe picked up some melon seeds, cracked them open, and sneered.

She actually hoped that Fang Xiaoran would be severely punished by the Empress Dowager, and preferably never return.

Just then, Fang Yunyao happened to pass by. Hearing this, she couldn't help but feel curious and walked over to ask, "Third sister, do you know how long sixth sister has been gone? If she doesn't come back soon, I'm afraid something bad might really happen to her. Will it implicate our Fang family?"

"What's there to be afraid of? She offended the Empress Dowager herself, what does it have to do with us? If we really want to punish her, we can just push her out." Fang Menghe suddenly said.

Fang Yunyao shook her head slightly, "Even if we are not implicated, it will still have some impact on us in the future. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, our Fang family is a whole, and it may even affect the careers of my elder brother and father."

"Stop talking nonsense, it's not that serious." Fang Menghe said this, but she was already worried. After all, if she was implicated, she might not even have the chance to marry into the Marquis's family.

Seeing the worry in her eyes, Fang Yunyao sneered inwardly, but said on the surface, "But Third Sister doesn't need to worry. Sixth Sister is so smart, how could she put herself in such a desperate situation?"

Fang Menghe didn't know what had offended her, but she immediately reacted, speaking in a sarcastic tone, "Smart? If she were really smart, she wouldn't be going against her sister-in-law and us, and siding with your mother. An unfavored concubine, she's just temporarily gloating. Does she really think she can control the Fang family forever?"

Fang Yunyao asked, puzzled, "Why is Third Sister making fun of me again? I don't think I've offended you recently."

"How could you not? You caused my mother to be trapped in Manchun Garden and took away her power to manage the household. Don't think that just because Fang Xiaoran took the lead, I don't know that you've been secretly causing trouble. But even if you take the power to manage the household, what good will it do? Your son is useless and will ultimately have nothing." Fang Menghe said coldly.

Fang Yunyao was very unhappy to hear this, but she did not show it. Instead, she said, "Just as Third Sister said, Mother and I can never stand in your way, but Sixth Sister is not necessarily the same. She is the only legitimate daughter of the Fang family. No matter how powerful Eldest Brother becomes in the future, she will be the one who benefits in the end, not you."

"You!" Fang Menghe was so angry that she almost overturned everything on the table. Although these words were hurtful, they were also true, which was why Fang Menghe was so angry.

"What are the sisters talking about that makes them seem so happy?"

Suddenly, a voice that made them both very unhappy came, and they both turned their heads to see Fang Xiaoran walking towards them gracefully.

Judging from her refreshed appearance, she didn't seem to have been severely punished at all. Could it be that the Empress Dowager didn't punish her? Impossible. She's been gone for so long. If she wasn't being punished, she couldn't have been invited to stay for a meal and a chat, could she? She and the Empress Dowager had no close relationship. Why would the Empress Dowager treat her so kindly?

Fang Menghe looked at Fang Xiaoran in surprise and asked suspiciously, "You came back just like that? Didn't the Empress Dowager punish you?"

"I'm sorry to have worried you, Third Sister. The Empress Dowager has already punished me, so she will naturally let me come back. Do you really want me to never be able to come back?" Fang Xiaoran raised an eyebrow, her voice unusually cold.

Hearing this, Fang Menghe became even more curious, "You offended your sister-in-law, the Empress Dowager couldn't have just given you a few words of reprimand, could she? Why would she summon you to the palace?"

"It's best not to try to guess what the Empress Dowager is thinking, sister." With that, Fang Xiaoran left leisurely, leaving Fang Meng and the two of them looking at each other in bewilderment.

This doesn't make sense. How come there's no sign of punishment at all? At the very least, she should have been made to kneel at the palace gate. Judging from how nimble her legs are, she obviously didn't kneel for very long.

Just as the two were wondering, a group of palace people slowly arrived carrying various gifts. Seeing these things, Fang Menghe was even more puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing...?"

"These are all gifts specially bestowed upon Miss Fang by the Empress Dowager, and there are more to come." As they spoke, the group carried the items to the North Residence. Then, Fang Meng and the others saw several more people arrive, each carrying an exquisite black and gold nanmu box, clearly containing valuable items.

What's going on? Fang Menghe was immediately dumbfounded. The Empress Dowager summoned her to the palace and not only was she not punished, but she was also given so many rewards. What did she do to make the Empress Dowager favor her so much?

The news quickly spread throughout the Fang family. Fang Zhengyong was shocked when he learned of it. He had been thinking about how to help her out of the predicament so as not to implicate the Fang family, but she just returned leisurely and brought back a bunch of rewards.

Fang Zhengyong was unaware of the reason behind it and found it very unbelievable, but he was too embarrassed to ask.

"What did you say? She wasn't punished by the Empress Dowager, but instead received a lot of rewards? How is that possible? The Empress Dowager clearly promised to seek justice for me." Zhou Qin couldn't accept this result. In a fit of anger, she swept everything on the dressing table to the ground, scattering a pile of bracelets and hairpins all over the floor.

Mo Lan advised, "We can't fathom the Empress Dowager's thoughts. I suppose she's using some method to win her favor. Miss, let's not hold a grudge against the Sixth Miss. She's so clever; if you befriend her, she might just become an asset to you."

“I need her help? What use are so many smart people in this Fang family? Besides, she was the one who started this trouble, so naturally I can’t tolerate her. Go get some paper and pen; I need to write a letter to my father,” Zhou Qin said coldly, clearly uninterested in Mo Lan’s attempts to dissuade her.

Ever since Fang Xiaoran entered the palace, the group of people in Beiju have been worried, especially Qinglan and Ziju, who are extremely anxious, fearing that Fang Xiaoran may never return.

Just as they were getting anxious, Fang Xiaoran returned to the North Residence with a group of palace staff. Upon seeing this, Ziju and Qinglan rushed to her, looking her over with concern, and asked, "Miss, are you alright? What happened to them...?"

"These are all gifts from the Empress Dowager. Take them to the storeroom and put the things down."

"A reward, a reward!?" Qinglan was still in shock, wondering if she was dreaming, since the girl was not only unharmed but had even brought back a reward.