Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

The next day, Su Qianrou was getting ready when she asked, "Has Physician Xu and the others set off yet?"

Chunzhu was combing her hair when she heard her question and replied, "They set off before dawn. Qiulan wanted to say goodbye to you, but you were still asleep, so she left first. However, she asked me to tell you that she will definitely live up to her promise and that you can rest assured."

Su Qianrou had no worries and let her go because she trusted her abilities; otherwise, she wouldn't have sent her.

"Oh, right, Ang Lee went along too."

Su Qianrou was not surprised by this and said, "If he doesn't go, I will have to consider whether or not to hand Qiulan over to him."

"Why?" Chunzhu asked, looking puzzled.

"If someone can't even share the most basic hardships, then he's not someone you should entrust your life to."

Chunzhu seemed to understand, but not quite.

"Alright, hurry up and pack, we still need to go to Changshou Palace to pay our respects."

"Yes".

Longevity Palace

Su Qianrou entered the room, bowed, and said, "Greetings to the Empress Dowager. May the Empress Dowager enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

The Empress Dowager continued drinking her tea, ignoring the commotion as if she hadn't heard anything.

Su Qianrou didn't pay any attention and simply stood up.

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager finally spoke, angrily rebuking, "You have no respect for your elders and do not know your place. Kneel down before me."

"I don't know what my daughter-in-law did wrong, please enlighten me, Mother."

"Did I tell you to get up?"

"Didn't Mother allow it? I thought Mother's silence meant she wanted me to get up myself. After all, if rumors spread that Mother was mistreating me, it would damage Mother's reputation."

"You... what a sharp tongue you have! No wonder even the court officials listen to you. But don't forget, I am your mother-in-law. I discipline my own daughter-in-law. Let's see who dares to say anything. Kneel down!"

"The daughter-in-law did not do anything wrong."

"If I tell you to kneel, will you kneel? Or do you now disregard even me?"

"I will not kneel for no reason. Also, I would like to advise you, Mother: a kind mother is a filial son. If you have nothing else to say, Mother, I will take my leave." After saying this, she left without waiting for the Empress Dowager's reaction.

Chunzhu followed behind her, terrified.

"This is outrageous! This is truly outrageous!" The Empress Dowager casually picked up a teacup and smashed it on the ground.

Chunzhu walked to the door and was about to go out when she heard a "smack" sound. Startled, she quickly stepped out.

Su Qianrou didn't react at all, and continued walking at a leisurely pace.

After leaving Changshou Palace, Chunzhu breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't dared to breathe loudly inside the palace. She then asked, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager seems very angry. Will she punish you?"

"I don't know, maybe," Su Qianrou said casually.

"What should we do? You need to think of something quickly," Chunzhu said with some concern.

"Let's take it one step at a time and go back first."

Chunzhu followed behind her with a worried look on her face, and couldn't help but wonder if the Empress Dowager would order someone to beat the Princess Consort. She had heard that there were many ways to punish people in the palace, and what if the Empress Dowager used them on her mistress?

"Chunzhu, go find the eldest princess and ask if she is free. If she is, ask her to come to Qingxin Pavilion to dine with me."

After not hearing her reply for a long time, Su Qianrou stopped and was about to turn around when she bumped into her.

Chunzhu then came to her senses and asked, "Your Highness, why did you suddenly stop?"

"I haven't even asked you yet, what are you thinking about so intently that you didn't even hear me talking to you."

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, I didn't mean to."

"Alright, go to Luoyang Palace and ask the eldest princess if she has time. If she does, ask her to come to Qingxin Pavilion to have lunch with me."

"Yes".

Qingxin Pavilion

No sooner had Su Qianrou entered than Fanghua arrived.

"Aunt Fanghua, has the Empress Dowager given you any instructions?"

"This..." Fanghua was at a loss for words.

"Aunt Fanghua, please speak freely."

"Then I will speak frankly. The Empress Dowager said that disobedience and unfilial piety will be punished for three generations. The Princess Consort's disobedience and rebellion against the Empress Dowager is unfilial. Therefore, the Princess Consort is ordered to copy the Classic of Filial Piety two hundred times and complete it within three days." As she spoke, she handed the Classic of Filial Piety to her.

Su Qianrou accepted it, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Aunt Fanghua."

Fanghua had been in the palace for over twenty years. Although she couldn't completely see through people's hearts, she could at least discern some things. But now, she couldn't understand anything at all. The Empress Dowager was clearly making things difficult for her. With her intelligence, it was impossible for her not to see it, but she didn't react at all. She didn't know if she was too good at pretending or if she had already made up her mind. "If Your Highness has nothing else to say, this servant will take her leave first."

"Ok".

"This servant takes her leave."

A moment later, Chunzhu rushed in and asked, "Your Highness, I ran into Aunt Fanghua at the door. Did the Empress Dowager send her?"

Su Qianrou was drinking tea and responded indifferently, "Mm."

"What did the Empress Dowager send her here for?" Chunzhu asked nervously.

Su Qianrou glanced at the Classic of Filial Piety on the table and said casually, "Give me the Classic of Filial Piety."

"The Classic of Filial Piety, shouldn't the Empress Dowager punish you by making you copy the Classic of Filial Piety?"

Su Qianrou couldn't help but look at her with newfound respect, "When did you become so smart?"

"So the Empress Dowager really did make you copy the Classic of Filial Piety."

"Ok".

"How many times do you need to copy it?"

"Two hundred, to be completed within three days."

"What? Two hundred times, to be completed in three days? How is that possible? Even if you didn't eat or drink for three days and three nights, it would be impossible to complete."

"If we can't finish it, we can't finish it. It's not a big deal. By the way, what did the eldest princess say?"

"The eldest princess said she still has some homework to finish, so it might be a little late."

"Go tell her not to rush, it's okay to be late, I'll wait for her."

"Yes".

That evening, Su Qianrou went to the study, lowered her head, and wrote something earnestly.

Before long, Chunzhu came in and saw her copying. She asked, "Your Highness, are you really going to copy the Classic of Filial Piety? How long will it take?"

“I was indeed copying scriptures, but not the Classic of Filial Piety, but Buddhist scriptures.”

"Buddhist scriptures? Why is the princess suddenly copying Buddhist scriptures?"

As Su Qianrou copied, she said, "If I copy the Classic of Filial Piety, it will prove that I am wrong. But if I don't copy it, Mother will definitely not let it go. So, the best way is to copy Buddhist scriptures. First, it can pray for the people of Qingtong County. Second, it can leave Mother with nothing to say. Also, I can decide how many times to copy it."

“As expected, the Princess is indeed clever… By the way, Princess, this is a letter from the Prince,” Chunzhu said, handing her a letter.

Su Qianrou took the letter and opened it. After reading it, the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up. Then she picked up a pen and wrote back to him, smiling as she wrote. She could already imagine how furious and jealous he would be when he saw the letter.