in his ear, "Try me again"Whoever has had enough, he's had his fun, so get lost.She came here for the banquet to give him face. Don't really think she can't live without him, or that she treasures th...Feng Lingxi looked at Shu Taifei's eyes full of love and softly said, "Mother concubine, thank you. You have always been so tolerant of me."

The Pingbei Princess' dissatisfaction stemmed from wanting to help Dugu City take a concubine, allowing her niece to enter. The empress dowager had blocked her, though she had initially agreed. After all, this year, the princess hadn't given birth to a son or daughter for Dugu City, yet the empress dowager still treated her so well. Truly, she was an excellent mother-in-law.

"Silly child, your mother treats you like family, of course she's good to you. Thinking back on how I treated you before, I admit I was a bit biased. Thankfully, I woke up in time and it didn't affect our relationship."

Feng Lingxi nodded, "Mother Concubine can understand. This shows that Mother Concubine truly treats me as one of her own."

"Mother, Xi'er's previous attitude was excessive. I hope Mother can understand."

"Understood."

Shutai smiled and patted her hand back, they looked at each other. "It's all in the past, let's not dwell on it," she said softly.

Feng Lingxi responded with a nod, looking at Shutai's kind smile. Thinking about the Empress Dowager's gift earlier today, she spoke, "Mother concubine, the Empress Dowager suddenly invited you to the palace banquet today. You must be careful in your dealings."

The smile on Shu Taifei's face gradually disappeared, her expression becoming serious. "Xi'er, today at the banquet, Empress Dowager's actions must be something you've already guessed. Although Cheng Er's triumphant return this time is no different for him than usual, in the eyes of the court, it is different."

Feng Lingxi nodded. “Xi’er understands, this time it’s for the imperial court to go on an expedition. In the past, it was always for the previous emperor, and also for himself.”

獨孤城 did all this, simply because he didn't want to cause more trouble during this turbulent time. The court stabilized him, and he stabilized the court. The deal between the Empress Dowager and her was all connected. Everyone had their own thoughts. How could she not understand

Some things, you can't argue about, can't forget but have to.

Shutai advised, and Jian Fengling nodded. She finally relaxed her breath, the cold glint in her eyes subsiding.

A carriage entered the palace, and Feng Lingxi and Shu Taifei went to Shou'an Palace to pay their respects to Cen Taihou. Looking at the bustling scene inside Shou'an Palace, Feng Lingxi and Shu Taifei couldn't remember how long it had been since they had seen such a lively scene.

Lan Fei sat beside Empress Cen, watching her caress her abdomen. That flat abdomen was somehow giving the impression of imminent childbirth. Feng Lingxi's eyes swept over the scene and then quickly withdrew.

After paying respects to Empress Cen, Feng Lingxi and Shu Taifei sat down in their designated places.

"Your Highness, the gifts bestowed upon you today—are they still to your liking"

Then Empress Dowager Cen spoke, and Feng Lingxi hurriedly replied, “Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty. I am very much pleased.”

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager truly favors you. Even my gifts pale in comparison to hers."

Mo Huilan spoke, her beautiful eyes raised slightly, scanning Feng Lingxi's face. The look made Feng Lingxi feel uncomfortable all over; she didn't like this new version of her.

"Lan Fei, I am not pleased with your words. I didn't give Si Wangfei much, and you picked out all the good things for her. How, are you still unsatisfied"

Empress Dowager Cen’s tone was slightly cold, carrying a hint of blame that caused Mo Huilan's face to change abruptly. She hurriedly shut her mouth.

Feng Lingxi, seeing how the Empress Dowager was standing up for her, smiled and said, "Empress Dowager, would you like to bestow some rewards upon the Empress"

Today, there hasn't been any wind or rain in the evening, and I don't know what Empress Dowager is thinking.

"This Empress naturally distributed rewards according to the proper etiquette. To be honest, your reward is not much, after all, the portion belonging to Imperial Noble Consort Shu is also included in it."

Mo Huilan's face grew increasingly ugly. This period, after she became pregnant with the dragon son, the Empress Dowager had been extremely kind to her. However, she hadn't expected that in front of Feng Lingxi, she would still be treated worse.

Cen Taihou, seeing Mo Huilan's displeasure, spoke, "Lan Fei, do you think this old woman's actions are inappropriate"

Mo Huilan didn't expect the Empress Dowager to call her name. She quickly concealed the displeasure on her face and softly replied, "Your servant dares not."

Cen Taìhòu let out a cold snort, her gaze swept over Mo Huai’lan's eyes that concealed their careful thoughts, and said, "This empress sees that your face is full of displeasure. This empress has to remind you, don't think that after becoming pregnant with the emperor's child, you have forgotten your own identity in this palace."

Mo Huilan was publicly scolded by Empress Cen, her face turned pale with shame and humiliation. However, she gritted her teeth and hastily stood up to apologize, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know I was wrong."

"Go back to Zhaoyang Palace and rest. There will be many people at the evening banquet, and it's a mixed crowd. It would be best for you to stay in Zhaoyang Palace and take good care of yourself."

Mo Huilan's eyes were welling up with tears, but all she said to Feng Lingxi was a few words before Empress Cen revoked her invitation to the banquet and punished her to stay in Zhaoyang Palace for confinement. All her grievances turned into tears swirling in her eyes.

Feng Lingxi looked at Mo Huilan's tears, the words she had about to say were swallowed back into her throat. She wanted to speak but stopped, Shu Taifei tugged on her sleeve, signaling her not to speak rashly. This was clearly intending to use her as a scapegoat. This Mo Huilan must have held a grudge against Xi'er. If Xi'er explained herself now, it would only deepen the hatred.

Mo Huilan stood up, "This concubine takes her leave."

Mo Huilan was supported by a palace maid as she walked out of Shou'an Palace. As she passed Feng Lingxi, she glanced at her, her tear-filled eyes suddenly turned cold, then filled with hatred, leaving Feng Lingxi feeling utterly innocent.

She did nothing wrong, yet she was held a grudge against her. It seems like it's impossible for her to have a friend.

"Does the Fourth Princess think that this imperial consort's tone towards Consort Lan was too harsh"

Suddenly, Empress Cen spoke. Feng Ling Xi came to her senses and looked at Empress Cen's half-closed eyes, nodding slightly.

"Her mistake was that she shouldn't have been arrogant and spoiled, forgetting her own status."

This, as if reminding Feng Lingxi, although she is the Saint Lord of Yao Clan, she is after all the Fourth Princess of the Great Yuan Dynasty. She should remember her own identity.

The Empress said so.

Feng Lingxi said in a low voice, she hadn't entered the palace this time, so she didn't know what had happened in the palace. However, judging from Mo Huilan's attitude towards her just now, it seemed that Mo Huilan had changed. Considering her connection with Pingbei Princess, it wasn't hard to guess.

Empress Cen looked at Feng Lingxi's such courteous behavior, her brows furrowed slightly, "What's the matter today You seem unhappy and talk so little"

Feng Lingxi shook her head, "I just don't know what to say."

"Do you miss Dugu City"

Feng Lingxi, hearing the Empress Dowager's words, stood up and said, "No, my lady, I was just thinking about something, but I didn't know how to speak it, so I felt very conflicted."

When Empress Cen heard this, she looked at Shutai, who was sitting below. "Shutai, today I invited you to the palace banquet, and I hope that you can live in the palace afterwards and have a place ready for you…"

The Noble Consort Shu hurriedly rose and paid her respects, saying, "Your Majesty, I have lived in the Fourth Prince's Mansion for so many years, and I am accustomed to life there. I do not wish to enter the palace."

When Empress Dowager Cen heard that Consort Shu had refused, she didn't get angry. Her understanding expression made Consort Shu feel like she was being misunderstood.he matter of military power with you again."Trapped here, unable to leave. Feng Lingxi isn't afraid of facing the situation, but she fears that the Emperor will force Du Gu Cheng to hand over his mili...