"Concubine Min, seeing that His Highness the Crown Prince is safe, you should also return to Shu Ming Palace quickly. Your task now is to protect the imperial dragon son." Her Majesty the Empress Dowager interrupted Concubine Min.
His Highness the Crown Prince was slightly startled. "Mother Consort, you are with child."
Concubine Min blushed upon hearing this. "Yes, the imperial physician diagnosed it this morning."
"Mother Consort, you must rest well!"
Concubine Min's eyes welled up. "Rest assured, even for the sake of the Crown Prince, I will take good care of myself."
"Father Emperor, Imperial Grandmother, why are you both here? Did something happen?" the Ninth Princess asked, looking at the Emperor and the Empress Dowager.
Who else could the woman walking out of the Crown Prince's sleeping quarters be but the Ninth Princess?
"Little Jiu, you... why are you here?" Seeing the Ninth Princess, the Empress Dowager froze. If earlier she had thought the Crown Prince might have said it intentionally to exonerate that commoner, now that the real Little Jiu stood before her, she couldn't help but believe it. Had Little Jiu really not gone against her plan?
"Imperial Grandmother, I've been here all along?" The Ninth Princess approached the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager looked her over meticulously. This was indeed the Ninth Princess.
"Little Jiu, it's good that you are alright. I was worried to death about you," the Empress Dowager said, holding the Ninth Princess's hand with concern.
"Imperial Grandmother, you worry too much. This is the imperial palace, the Emperor's territory. Who would dare disrespect this princess?" the Ninth Princess said proudly.
The Emperor also said, "Mother, you are truly worrying unnecessarily."
In this situation, the Empress Dowager knew she could not pursue the matter further. It seemed she would have to go back and thoroughly question the Ninth Princess about what exactly had happened.
"Little Jiu, come back to my palace with me. I am a bit tired," the Empress Dowager said slowly, pulling the Ninth Princess along.
"Mother, today is your birthday banquet. You must at least see it through before returning," the Emperor said to the Empress Dowager in a low voice.
The Empress Dowager glanced at the Emperor and said coldly, "I am feeling unwell. Let's cancel this birthday banquet."
The Emperor's expression darkened slightly, but seeing the Empress Dowager's unyielding stance, he had no choice but to concede. "Yes, I understand."
"Little Jiu, come back with me." The Empress Dowager grabbed the Ninth Princess, about to leave.
The Ninth Princess heard this and said, "Imperial Grandmother, my chess match with Miss Feng is not yet decided. Why don't you go back first, and I..."
"You wish to play chess? My Cui Zhu plays an excellent game, one that even your Father Emperor praises highly," the Empress Dowager said to the Ninth Princess with a hint of meaning.
As the Ninth Princess was about to speak again, Xue Xingyue interjected, "Your Highness Ninth Princess, if you wish to play with this commoner, you can do so back at the Song Manor. This commoner will always be available."
Hearing this, the Ninth Princess said with some disappointment, "Alright then!"
The Empress Dowager looked up at Xue Xingyue, her gaze surprisingly sharp.
Xue Xingyue met the Empress Dowager's gaze calmly. The Empress Dowager then smiled at her, her smile carrying a deep meaning.
"Let's go, Little Jiu!" The Empress Dowager held the Ninth Princess tightly, as if afraid she might leave.
The Ninth Princess nodded and followed the Empress Dowager out of the Crown Prince's sleeping quarters. As they left, she seemed to glance back at Xue Xingyue and Song Xiuyuan, her gaze filled with as much longing as could be.
However, everyone present was accustomed to it. After all, the Ninth Princess was deeply fond of the Prime Minister. Now, unable to be with him and having to endure him being with his future fiancée, how could she be anything but unhappy?
"Let the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet conclude here!" the Emperor waved his hand. The officials, having seen the cause and effect, understood what was happening and left one after another.
The Emperor then escorted Concubine Min away in the imperial carriage.
At this moment, only three people remained in the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace: His Highness the Crown Prince, Xue Xingyue, and Song Xiuyuan.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Xue Xingyue looked at the Crown Prince, then at Song Xiuyuan. She really wanted to call Song Xiuyuan and leave, but her current status was that of a commoner, and it seemed she couldn't leave. She could only place her hope on Song Xiuyuan.
Song Xiuyuan seemed to understand her intentions. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, my fiancée has caused you trouble."
The Crown Prince said faintly, "Prime Minister worries too much. I am also a lover of chess. Seeing my sister and Miss Feng play like that was quite exhilarating." He then turned to look at Xue Xingyue and continued, "If there is an opportunity in the future, how about I play a game with Miss Feng?"
Xue Xingyue bowed. "This commoner is deeply honored."
"I shall not disturb His Highness the Crown Prince any further," Song Xiuyuan said after bowing, then stepped forward, took Xue Xingyue's hand, and walked towards the door.
Xue Xingyue was stunned. She clearly hadn't expected Song Xiuyuan to walk out from in front of the Crown Prince like this.
She saw the Crown Prince smile gently at her.
After arriving at a slightly secluded part of the palace, Song Xiuyuan let go of her hand and asked, "Where is the Ninth Princess?"
Xue Xingyue was startled and asked in surprise, "You knew that person wasn't the Ninth Princess?"
Song Xiuyuan nodded. "I'm afraid Her Majesty the Empress Dowager also knows."
"Then what should we do? Can Feng Yun escape?" Xue Xingyue became worried.
Earlier, she had found Feng Yun and decided to have Feng Yun impersonate the Ninth Princess. The real Ninth Princess might still be in a coma. But she hadn't expected the Empress Dowager to find out? Feng Yun's impersonation of the Ninth Princess was flawless.
At least, she couldn't see any flaws. In fact, she was holding onto a sliver of hope. Even if discovered by the Empress Dowager, with Feng Yun's skills, she should be able to escape smoothly.
However, Song Xiuyuan's few words extinguished her hope. "Impossible," Song Xiuyuan said.