"Tang Tang! What are you doing? Let go of Tang Tang right now!"
Shen Qingqing had just stepped outside when two palace maids blocked her way. They were maids from the Empress's palace, both fierce-looking, and they seized her arms.
"Beauty Chen, you'd best not go over there. That isn't your daughter-it's a monster. Her Majesty the Empress has already consulted the Imperial Preceptor. Demonic energy permeates the harem, so there must be a demon here. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager knows about this as well."
Shen Qingqing raised her hand and slapped the maid across the face with a sharp smack. This time, she was truly furious.
"I know perfectly well whether my own daughter is a monster. Put her down this instant."
Hongguo smiled disdainfully. "My apologies, Beauty Chen, but Her Majesty has given her orders. The Empress is the true mistress of the harem."
"You..."
"You'd best stop struggling needlessly, Beauty Chen. It would be unfortunate if you were implicated as well."
Hongguo beckoned to the princesses and swaggered out of the Palace of Gathered Elegance with the others.
"Mother, I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'm not a monster. They're falsely accusing me, but I'm not scared."
Ye Tangtang flashed Shen Qingqing a smile, though inside, she was on the verge of tears.
Boohoo! That old witch of an Empress still won't leave me alone! Tomorrow, I'm drawing an Explosive Pack and blowing up her palace!
Little Useless System, how many points do I have left?
System: [Tang Tang, you go all in every time, so you don't have a single point left.]
Ye Tangtang: ...
Seeing her daughter being taken away, Shen Qingqing immediately chased after her, only to be stopped by several more of the Empress's underlings. They confined her to the Palace of Gathered Elegance, leaving her no chance even to seek out His Majesty.
"Stay obediently in the Palace of Gathered Elegance, Beauty Chen. Otherwise, you might not even be able to save yourself."
Empress!!
As Shen Qingqing watched her daughter being taken away, her heart felt as though a knife were twisting inside it. From now on, she had only one goal-to become the mistress of the harem!
And so Ye Tangtang was carried, pinned between several people, along the palace's broad avenues. At the sight of the princess in such a state, everyone fled for their lives in fright.
Damn it, I'm still a princess, aren't I? How dare you treat me like this? If my scumbag imperial father finds out, he'll tear you all into ten thousand pieces!
This is outrageous! In all my years, I've never been treated like this!
"Let go of me! Let go right now! What are you doing? I'm the Ninth Princess!"
Ye Tangtang's voice was so soft and faint that no one could hear her.
The Palace of Benevolent Peace.
Ye Tangtang was dumped onto the floor. With her Little Dinosaur Pajamas on, the fall didn't hurt too much.
She climbed to her feet. Seated in the place of honor was a kindly old grandmother with a pale complexion, dressed in an exquisitely luxurious golden brocade robe. The Nine-Tailed Phoenix Hairpin on her head gleamed brilliantly, making her look all the more regal and unapproachable.
Wow! This... this is the reigning champion from the last round of palace intrigue.
I'm doomed, I'm doomed! This woman is the biggest boss in the harem. Even the Empress, captain of the abortion squad, must be nothing compared to her!
Little Useless System, quick... draw me a Return Soul Pill! I'm about to kick the bucket!
The book didn't describe the Empress Dowager in detail, but she's the champion of the last round of palace intrigue! Her methods might be even more terrifying than that old witch of an Empress's.
System: [Insufficient points. Unable to draw. Insufficient points. Unable to draw.]
Little Useless System, can't we play nicely anymore? Can you lend me 1,000 points first? Once I survive this, I'll go hug the male lead and pay you back right away.
System: [Insufficient points. Unable to draw. Insufficient points. Unable to draw.]
Ye Tangtang: "..."
So that's how you want to play? Fine!
The Empress Dowager had never seen anything so strange. She was already ill, and the sight of Ye Tangtang like this frightened her into a cold sweat.
What was more, she had heard a voice. What was that sound? She glanced around before finally fixing her gaze on Ye Tangtang.
Was that little girl speaking?
"What... what is this thing?"
Horns on its head, and a tail behind it?
Empress Lu felt a little uneasy. This demon might even know some sort of sorcery.
The maids, guards, and eunuchs nearby all edged away from Ye Tangtang, thoroughly frightened.
A Taoist standing nearby stepped forward, a fly whisk in hand, and rebuked her sternly. "Insolent demon! How dare you wreak havoc in the harem!"
Ye Tangtang trembled in fright. "Imperial Grandmother, I'm the Ninth Princess, not a demon!"
"And you still claim you're not a demon? What is that thing on your body? You're a monster! You're bringing chaos to the harem!" Empress Lu pointed at Ye Tangtang and berated her.
"These... these are my pajamas. If you don't believe me, feel them. It's all clothing, soft and fluffy."
Ye Tangtang started up the steps, wanting the Empress Dowager to feel her Little Dinosaur Pajamas. She had barely taken two steps when several guards pinned her between them again.
"You demon! Don't move!"
Ye Tangtang nearly cried. Couldn't they play nicely anymore?
What did I do wrong? All I did was put on some Little Dinosaur Pajamas.
"Imperial Grandmother, I really am not a demon. These are just Little Dinosaur Pajamas. This is a hood-I can take it off."
Ye Tangtang pulled the hood off her head, revealing her fluffy little head.
The Empress Dowager studied the little girl's adorable face. No matter how she looked at her, she didn't resemble a demon. Had they falsely accused the child?
The Empress Dowager said unhurriedly, "Empress, this Ninth Princess looks like a person to me."
Ye Tangtang: "..."
Of course I'm a person!!
The Empress Dowager: "..."
"Empress, have you falsely accused this little girl? She doesn't look like a demon to me."
Her Majesty the Empress Dowager really can discern even the finest autumn hair! These are just pajamas. I'm even more wronged than Dou E-even snow falling in June couldn't match my injustice.
Ye Tangtang nodded repeatedly. "Imperial Grandmother, these are only pajamas. If you don't believe me, you can feel them. I really am not a monster."
The Empress Dowager spoke gently. "Put the little princess down first. Don't make things difficult for her. Come here to your imperial grandmother."
Boohoo! Imperial Grandmother is the best! I'm saved!
Ye Tangtang hurried over to the Empress Dowager on her two short little legs. The little tail behind her swayed, frightening the Empress into standing up and dodging away.
"Imperial Grandmother, feel them. These pajamas are really soft. If you like them, I can make you a set too."
The Empress Dowager felt the Little Dinosaur Pajamas Ye Tangtang was wearing. They did indeed feel like cotton. It seemed she truly had misjudged the little princess.
Empress Lu said quietly, "Mother, Ye Tangtang must be a demon. All these things were found in her room. Take a look at what they are."
All sorts of strange and unusual objects lay on the table.
Ice Skates, Floral Water, a glowing Fairy Wand, a lighter, a little mirror, a Mopping Robot, a small camera, Amoxicillin, and Liquid Foundation...
Before you continue