The news that Princess Chang'an had kept Hua Yunjin at Chang'an Palace spread.
The next morning, Xue Chang'an was summoned by Imperial Concubine Yan. Imperial Concubine Yan's face was livid with anger. Before Xue Chang'an could even steady herself, she was slapped by Imperial Concubine Yan. Xue Chang'an was stunned and looked at Imperial Concubine Yan, frowning, and said coldly, "Mother, what is the meaning of this?"
Imperial Concubine Yan angrily replied, "What meaning? I want to ask you what you mean! It's one thing for you to be reckless some of the time, but now you've learned from someone to amuse yourself with male favorites. Chang'an, are you trying to infuriate me to death?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang'an looked at Imperial Concubine Yan and said, "Mother, that was not a male favorite..."
"Whether he is a male favorite or not has already spread outside. They say Princess Chang'an is of improper conduct, and it is estimated that a Censor will impeach you soon. Chang'an, I didn't ask you to help Chang Jun excessively, but you can't drag Chang Jun down either. Now Chang Jun and Prince Jing are in competition, and if something like this happens to you, Chang..."
"Chang Jun, always Chang Jun. Does Mother only have Chang Jun in her eyes? Has Mother ever considered me?" Xue Chang'an asked coldly, word by word.
"Chang'an, if Chang Jun does not ascend to that position, do you think you and I will have a way to live?"
"Mother, I have said that is your wish, and please do not force it upon me. Whether he becomes emperor or not, what does it have to do with me? I will accept this slap from Mother this time. If there is another time, Mother will have to consider carefully before slapping me."
"You... You intend to hit me back? You want to hit me?" Imperial Concubine Yan looked at Xue Chang'an in disbelief.
Xue Chang'an sneered, "Mother, how could your daughter possibly hit you? However, your daughter..."
She walked forward to Imperial Concubine Yan. Perhaps her expression was too cold, her gaze too icy, that Imperial Concubine Yan inexplicably trembled and retreated.
"You... What do you want to do? Chang'an, I am telling you, if you..."
"Mother, what are you afraid of? Are you afraid your daughter will lay a hand on you? How could that be? You are the one who gave birth to me. How could your daughter possibly lay a hand on you?"
Imperial Concubine Yan frowned and took a step back, "Chang'an..."
However, Xue Chang'an interrupted her and said coldly, "I advise Mother to support Chang Jun if she intends to, and not to always scheme against me. Mother, I am no longer a child. Do you think I would still fall for those tricks you play?"
Imperial Concubine Yan suddenly slumped to the ground, "Chang'an, you..."
"Therefore, Mother, it is best not to test my patience in the future. Otherwise, I don't know what I will do. I cannot touch Mother, but I can still do something about Chang Jun. Mother, what do you say?"
Imperial Concubine Yan trembled all over, "You... Are you crazy? That's your own brother."
"Own brother? Are there any relatives in the imperial family? Perhaps there were, perhaps there are not next moment. Shouldn't Mother understand this principle better than me? So don't tell me how good it is for him to become emperor in front of me. If he becomes emperor, will he spare my life?"
She did not believe that the fate of everything was reliably in her own hands.
Imperial Concubine Yan had never imagined that Xue Chang'an would think this way.
"Also, Mother, remember not to touch my people, nor to scheme against them. This time I won't pursue it, but it doesn't mean I won't pursue it next time. Mother, you'd better take care of yourself!"
Xue Chang'an left.
Imperial Concubine Yan slumped on the ground, still unable to believe how things had come to this with Chang'an.
"Mother, what's wrong?" Xue Changjun walked in from outside, saw Imperial Concubine Yan sitting on the ground, and quickly went to help her up.
Imperial Concubine Yan looked up at Xue Changjun, grabbed his arm, and burst into tears.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Imperial Concubine Yan's eyes were tear-streaked, "Chang'an, Mother has completely lost Chang'an."
Upon hearing this, Xue Changjun frowned, "Mother, you still have me. I will not leave you."
"Chang Jun, Mother only has you, only you."
Xue Changjun raised his head, his gaze becoming much colder.
Princess Jiu returned to Yigong and was also slapped by Imperial Concubine Yi, who was disappointed in her.
Princess Jiu covered her face, "Mother, I..."
"Don't call me Mother. Do you still have this Mother in your eyes? I don't think so, do you? Otherwise, how could you have ignored my advice and gone to find Hua Yunjin, and even offered yourself to him? Xue Changyi, do you still have the dignity of a princess?"
"Mother, I... I like him, I..."
Imperial Concubine Yi was furious and slapped her again, "Like? You are a high and mighty princess, what is Hua Yunjin to you?"
"But I don't like Sun Zihan at all, and I don't want to marry him."
"Nonsense." Imperial Concubine Yi was enraged and was about to slap Princess Jiu again, but Prince Jing, who had rushed over, stopped her.
"You..." Imperial Concubine Yi was somewhat surprised to see that it was her most beloved son, Prince Jing, who had intervened.
"Mother, Ninth Sister has already realized her mistake. Please don't be angry anymore," said Prince Jing.
"She knows her mistake? Look at her, where is the awareness of her mistake?" Imperial Concubine Yi said angrily.
"Mother, no matter what, you cannot scold Ninth Sister like this anymore. She is grown up now, and besides Changning and Chang'an, she is the only one whom Father Emperor has bestowed the title of Princess Changyi. Mother should not be too harsh."
"It's not that Mother is harsh. Look at what she has done, offering herself, taking off her clothes to... and in the end, the other party didn't want her." Imperial Concubine Yi felt too embarrassed to continue; it was truly too humiliating.
"Mother, please don't be angry. May I speak with Ninth Sister?" Prince Jing asked.
Imperial Concubine Yi sighed, "You speak!" and left.
"Ninth Sister." Prince Jing walked over.
Xue Changyi bit her lower lip, "Imperial Brother."
"I know everything that happened. Ninth Sister, your actions were a bit rash. Since you like Hua Yunjin, why didn't you tell Imperial Brother? How could Imperial Brother not help you?"
Xue Changyi lowered her head and said, "I thought Imperial Brother would scold me."
"Changyi, you and I are the closest people in this world. Even if I ascend to that position in the future, you will be the most noble Grand Princess. If you don't discuss anything with Imperial Brother, how can Imperial Brother help you?"
Xue Changyi nodded, "Imperial Brother, Changyi knows she was wrong."
Prince Jing said, "Never mind, it's all in the past. Did you tell Imperial Brother that it's because Chang'an also likes Hua Yunjin?"
Xue Changyi was startled. She instinctively looked up at Prince Jing, "Imperial Brother, you..."
"In the past, you always compared yourself to Chang'an because you felt that Chang'an was like you, born to concubines. But you forgot that Chang'an is Father Emperor's first child. You cannot compare yourself to her existence."