The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

“Originally, this shouldn’t have been said by my daughter-in-law. Rou’er is too honest; she hasn’t eaten all day.”

Princess Qing murmured, "Both are granddaughters of the Empress Dowager, but Jing Anle is standing here with such spirit. Compared to her, Jing Anle seems unfilial."

"Poor child." The Empress Dowager looked at Jingrou with loving eyes, her gaze revealing a genuine sincerity.

Jing Anle felt nauseous looking at her. When did this hypocritical Empress Dowager develop such a deep friendship with Prince Qing?

"Grandmother." Jing Anle suddenly spoke, her voice mournful.

"Anle knew that her leg injury made it inconvenient for her to serve, so she could only kneel and pray to the Bodhisattva for protection. The Empress Dowager is a lucky person and the heavens are on her side. Now that the Empress Dowager has woken up safely, Anle can rest assured."

In her past life, Jing Anle had suffered enough. It was just a matter of talking and shedding a few tears, which she could easily do, since everyone knew she was a delicate person. In her past life, she actually disdained it, earning herself a reputation for being willful and capricious.

Upon hearing this, some believed it, some did not, but none of them refuted Jing Anle's words. Emperor Jing, however, grasped the key point, but because so many people were present, he asked, "Foot injury? What foot injury?"

“Father, Anle just twisted her ankle accidentally and is fine.”

Everyone looked at Jing Anle in confusion. According to previous examples, even a small scratch on Jing Anle's skin would be known throughout the entire palace.

But this time Jing Anle is hiding, which is definitely suspicious.

“Your Majesty, the princess may not be just being playful, that’s why…” Consort Chen couldn’t help but speak up. She had been holding a grudge for a long time about Jing Anle hitting her last time. Now that the Empress Dowager had returned to the palace, things were naturally different from before, and she had even become bolder.

Before Consort Chen could finish speaking, Emperor Jing interrupted her, asking, "Did I ask you?"

Consort Chen was frightened by Emperor Jing's cold glare and wisely shut her mouth.

Consort Li watched from the sidelines, inwardly feeling a sense of satisfaction, while the Empress Dowager was displeased. Even though she was still there, they were already giving the Chen family such unfriendly looks, clearly showing they didn't take her seriously. Though she thought this to herself, she remained outwardly composed.

"Afang!"

"This servant is here." Afang was suddenly called out by Emperor Jing, and felt as if her neck had been grabbed, which was very frightening.

"You tell me what exactly happened to the princess's foot injury. If you dare to conceal anything, you know the consequences."

Afang knelt down with a thud, prostrated herself on the ground, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this servant dares not lie. The princess's injury is... because the princess accidentally fell off the stool while releasing the Kongming lantern the night before last."

"Kongming lanterns?" Emperor Jing asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Why must Your Majesty be so strict? It’s understandable for a princess, a young lady, to be a little playful,” Prince Qing said with a smile, seemingly speaking up for Jing Anle, but actually implying that Jing Anle was playful.

Emperor Jing's expression did not change much.

"Has the imperial physician been summoned to examine her?" Consort Li finally grasped the key point, after all, Jing Anle was Emperor Jing's darling.

Afang continued, "The palace physician has come to see me and has already administered the medicine."

"That's good then. But why did the princess release a sky lantern at night for no reason?"

“Your Majesty,” Afang suddenly raised her head and continued, “My princess heard that as long as one puts the scriptures that one has personally copied into a Kongming lantern, one can pray for the Empress Dowager’s well-being. The princess cares about the Empress Dowager, which is why she did this.”

Once these words were spoken, it didn't matter whether they were true or false; everyone knew that Jing Anle was injured because she was praying for the Empress Dowager.

Emperor Jing's expression relaxed. "Your filial piety is genuine, but you shouldn't joke around with your health."

Since things have come to this point, the excitement is over, but what we see is Jing Anle's filial piety.

"It is all my fault. As the saying goes, our bodies and hair are given to us by our parents. I am guilty."

Standing to one side, Princess Qing remained expressionless, but she knew in her heart that this was nothing more than a play put on by Emperor Jing and Jing Anle. After all, she wouldn't believe the lie about praying for the Empress Dowager all night. However, what surprised her was that Jing Anle was indeed quite clever; no wonder her Rou'er had suffered such losses.

The Empress Dowager listened, her mind racing for a moment before she understood. She beckoned to Jing Anle, "Good child, come here."

Jing Anle understood and walked over, sitting on the stool by the bed. She lowered her head and said in a gentle, soft voice, "Grandmother."

Upon returning to Yongfu Palace at noon, Jing Anle immediately changed into a plain-colored cloud-patterned dress, appearing very elegant and serene. After all, the Empress Dowager was ill, and she couldn't dress too formally. The formal attire she wore this morning had been exhausting; unlike Jing Rou, she didn't have the stamina to endure until evening.

"Good child, you've really gone through a lot." The Empress Dowager said affectionately while holding Jing Anle's hand. To anyone who looked at it, it was a picture of deep affection between grandmother and grandson.

Jing Rou, standing to the side, clutched her small white jade ring tightly in resentment, only to have Jing Anle steal the spotlight once again.

"You come here too," the Empress Dowager said, nodding to Jingrou.

After Jingrou passed by, the Empress Dowager continued, "You are all good children, and all good granddaughters of your grandmother."

"Grandma..."

"Royal Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager looked at the two young girls in front of her, who were very beautiful, especially Jing Anle, who was indeed quite different from the eccentric and domineering person that Princess Qing had described.

"Seeing your filial piety, I am happy even though I am ill."

Jing Anle lowered her eyes, appearing obedient and docile, and said, "Grandmother, please don't say that. You will definitely get better."

"Yes, Grandmother, your granddaughter, like the princess, is hoping that you will get better." As she spoke, she actually lay down on the Empress Dowager.

Seeing Jingrou like this, the Empress Dowager's heart softened. "Good child, good child."

Prince Qing nodded in satisfaction and said, "Mother, your health is of utmost importance. This morning, I ordered someone to fetch the thousand-year-old snow ginseng from Changbai Mountain for you to nourish yourself."

Although ginseng is nothing special, the roads to Changbai Mountain are rugged and covered in snow all year round, let alone thousand-year-old snow ginseng. The Empress Dowager understood Prince Qing's filial piety towards her and was very satisfied. She smiled and said, "Qing'er is very thoughtful."

"Brother Qing actually possesses a thousand-year-old snow ginseng that even the national treasury doesn't have... Is that really true...?"

Hearing Emperor Jing speak in a low voice, he made a pointed remark, saying that Emperor Jing was hoarding treasures and not paying tribute. In truth, he was well aware of Prince Qing's actions, but he always remembered their childhood friendship and how Prince Qing had obediently called him "Brother Huai".

"Please don't be offended, Your Majesty. This thousand-year-old snow ginseng was only obtained yesterday and has not yet been presented to you."

Emperor Jing's previously stiff face instantly softened. "Brother Qing, do you think I don't know your character?"

"You two brothers, stop arguing," the Empress Dowager said, trying to smooth things over, and the atmosphere seemed to liven up again.

The night passed like this.