The Eastern Palace rocked by storms, a late-night summons from the Palace of Phoenix Ceremony

Caiwei's knees went weak, and she looked at Chen Qinglan.

Chen Qinglan didn't look at her, only saying, "Go down."

Caiwei left, and the door closed.

Only two people remained inside the hall.

The prince gripped her wrist tightly, causing Chen Qinglan's wrist to ache.

I heard you delivered a letter a few days ago?

Chen Qinglan's breathing became shallow, but her expression remained steady. "Yes, it's a letter to Qingyuan."

What did you write?

"Casual chatter."

The crown prince's hand suddenly tightened. "Just routine?"

Chen Qinglan's fingertips trembled slightly from the pain, but she still managed to keep her voice down. " Qingyuan often attends small banquets for women. She shouldn't sing the wrong song before a birthday banquet. Was it wrong of me to remind her?"

The crown prince looked at her.

That face was too calm.

She was so calm that he couldn't find any flaws in her demeanor.

What else did you write?

Chen Qinglan lowered her head. "If Your Highness does not believe me, you can send someone to the Chen Family to retrieve the letter and see for yourself."

Prince's alveolar clench.

Now that the Jinwu Guard have sealed off the Eastern Palace and the Imperial City Bureau have arrested Zhou Yun, his men have no way to leave.

Chen Qinglan's words sounded respectful, but they stung him deeply.

" Chen Qinglan, don't think that just because Father is investigating the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, I can't touch you."

Chen Qinglan's eyes stung slightly, but she held back her tears.

She slowly raised her head. "Of course Your Highness can move."

The crown prince looked at her.

Chen Qinglan continued, "Once the side hall door is closed, whether I fall and get burned, or die from illness, it's all up to Your Highness."

The prince stopped.

Chen Qinglan looked at him. "But Your Highness just returned from Hall of Supreme Ultimate today. The Eastern Palace study has been sealed off, and Master Zhou has been taken away. If something happens to the Crown Princess at this time, the Censorate will question us."

The Crown Prince's face turned ashen. "You're using the Censorate to intimidate me?"

"Your Majesty, I dare not."

The crown prince sneered, "You dare to do that."

He shook her off.

Chen Qinglan's wrist hit the edge of the bed, and a red mark immediately appeared. She put her hand back into her sleeve and lowered her head without saying a word.

The crown prince took two steps inside the hall.

The soles of the shoes rolled over the floor tiles, the sound was not loud, but each beat resonated in my ears.

Xiao Jinghan is not dead.

Zhou Yun was arrested.

Jail Officer Wei confessed to the Hall of Proper Beauty.

The Emperor did not depose him, but the lock on the Eastern Palace gate was heavier than before.

And then there's Gu Moran.

And then there's Gu Mochen, who hasn't shown up today.

Those names lined up in his mind, each one seemingly waiting to watch him fall.

The crown prince glared fiercely at Chen Qinglan.

After a while.

He didn't ask any more questions.

He trusts no one now.

This woman in front of me is even less trustworthy.

But she is Chen Shili's daughter. The Crown Prince's Eastern Palace has been sealed, and he cannot give his father any new leverage.

The crown prince turned and walked out.

He stopped at the door, his back to her, and said, "From today onwards, two more people will be stationed in the side hall. Without my decree, the Crown Princess is not to see any outsiders."

Chen Qinglan lowered her head. "This concubine obeys."

The door was pulled open, a gust of wind rushed in, and the corner of the curtain tumbled up.

Before stepping out, the crown prince added, "Drink your medicine quickly. Don't let outsiders think I'm mistreating you."

Chen Qinglan looked at the medicine bowl on the small table. "Yes."

The door closed.

This time, the hall remained quiet for a long time.

Caiwei waited anxiously outside, but only dared to push open the door when she heard neither the smashing of the cup nor the angry rebukes.

She spotted the red mark on Chen Qinglan's wrist at a glance, and tears almost welled up in her eyes.

"Your Majesty..."

Chen Qinglan raised her hand to stop her from speaking.

Some pain is incurable even if you talk about it.

She reopened the vanity case and took out the small candy box from the bottom.

The lid was polished to a shine from being touched so much, and the bottom of the box was still covered in osmanthus sugar powder.

There are three candies left.

Chen Qinglan picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

When sugar gets damp, its sweetness dissipates more slowly.

When you hold it in your mouth for a while, the tip of your tongue tastes bitter.

Caiwei whispered, "Your Highness, His Highness wants to add more people to guard the side hall."

Chen Qinglan closed the candy box and pressed it back into the bottom of the vanity case.

"Let him be."

Caiwei looked at the dressing case, her voice even lower. "And what about the second young lady's side..."

Chen Qinglan's finger stopped on the brass clasp.

Chen Qingyuan's carefree face while eating candy flashed through her mind.

She withdrew her hand.

"Don't let anyone contact her again."

Caiwei nodded and quickly tucked the blanket around her.

Outside, the Jinwu Guard were changing shifts, and Jia Ye bumped into Jia Ye as they passed under the corridor.

Chen Qinglan leaned back on the couch.

Before she closed her eyes, all she could see in her mind was the cold light emanating from the direction of the Hall of Supreme Ultimate.

The fire in the Eastern Palace must not spread to her sister.

A palace maid's hushed gasp came from outside the door.

Caiwei hurried out, but quickly returned, her face deathly pale.

"Your Majesty, someone has come to the Empress's palace."

Chen Qinglan opened her eyes.

Outside the curtain, a Palace of Phoenix Ceremony was already standing in front of the door.

When the female official entered, Chen Qinglan glanced at Caiwei first.

Flatten the corners of the blanket.

This imperial edict came at the perfect time.

The Crown Prince had just left the side hall, the Eastern Palace study was still sealed off, and the Jinwu Guard were still patrolling the corridor when they arrived at the Palace of Phoenix Ceremony.

The Empress wants to see her.

Was it the Crown Princess or a woman from the Chen Family that I met?

She used the edge of the couch to get up.

" Caiwei, help me receive the imperial decree."

Caiwei swallowed hard and quickly stepped forward.

After the lady-in-waiting entered, her gaze first swept over her calves, then fell upon the medicine bowl on the small table.

"Your Highness, the Empress has decreed that you wish to enter the Palace of Phoenix Ceremony for a meeting."

Chen Qinglan bowed her head in greeting.

"Your Majesty, I obey the decree."

The female official tucked the imperial edict into her sleeve and said in a steady tone, "Her Majesty the Empress says that Your Highness has an injury to your leg, and the palanquin is already prepared outside. There are many people and eyes at the Eastern Palace today, so Your Highness need not say anything more on the way."

Chen Qinglan looked up at her.

This sounds like a show of concern, but it also contains a warning.

Chaos erupted in the Eastern Palace.

She can't afford to make a mistake.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

Caiwei helped her put on her coat, but she couldn't tie the belt properly even after trying twice.

Chen Qinglan pressed down on the back of her hand.

"Keep a close eye on the medicine cauldron. If His Highness the Crown Prince asks, tell him I came to the palace to pay my respects on the Empress's orders."

Caiwei opened her lips, and after a long while, she managed to squeeze out, "Your Majesty, this servant will accompany you."

"No need."

Chen Qinglan lowered her clothes to cover the bandage.

The female official looked at the two newly appointed eunuchs by the Crown Prince: "Her Majesty the Empress has invited the Crown Princess to speak; are you going to follow her?"

The two eunuchs immediately stepped back, not daring to raise their heads.

As the palanquin was lifted, the Crown Prince's angry rebuke came from the direction of the main hall of the Eastern Palace.

The conversation couldn't be heard clearly through the palace walls.

All that could be heard was the sound of a cup falling to the ground, the shattering of porcelain carried by the wind.

Chen Qinglan rested her fingers on her knees, her palms sweating.

The sedan curtains were lowered.

It's getting dark outside.

The Palace of Phoenix Ceremony is quieter than the Eastern Palace.

It was so quiet that even the sound of a palace maid's skirt brushing against the floor tiles could be heard.