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In Lady Chang’s eyes, Xiao Jinyan was not the type to disregard etiquette and propriety, even if Xiao Jinyan didn’t wish for herself to become the Crown Princess, she would not joke about the face of the Royal Clan.

The Emperor and Empress were both waiting in the Jinluan Hall, so Xiao Jinyan dared not do anything that defied the Emperor’s orders.

Xiao Jinyan must have been delayed by something; that was why she was late.

Lady Chang comforted herself with this thought.

At this moment, in the Crown Prince’s chambers

Eunuch De and Eunuch Li, both old servants in the palace, had been urging the Crown Prince to rise early since the predawn hours, but they were intercepted by Liu Xi.

"Your Highness has been working on cases all night, busy to the point of confusion, without even time for a drink. Just now, he took a brief rest. The eunuchs should wait a little longer."

"This is not something we can afford to wait for. Today is the great day of the Crown Princess Ceremony, it would not be good to miss the auspicious time."

At that moment, Xiao Jinyan came out from inside and glanced at the crowd in the courtyard, most of whom were from the Ministry of Rites.

He was calm and composed, "This palace is fine, we can head out once this palace has tidied up."

Eunuch De’s voice carried a sense of urgency, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, then let us help you bathe and dress first. Any later and we’ll be too late."

"No need." Xiao Jinyan dropped this remark and turned back to go inside.

Those in the courtyard were stunned.

Eunuch De was frozen for a while before reacting, "What does His Highness intend to do?"

Eunuch Li was extremely anxious, stepped forward, and called out, "Your Highness, today is an extremely important day, you can’t be careless!"

"Your Highness, the Emperor, the Empress, and all the civil and military officials are waiting, you must think it over!"

Liu Xi replied with a kind smile, "His Highness is the Crown Prince; he knows well what’s more important, everyone, please stay calm and don’t be impatient."

Eunuch De had such an anxious face that turned red, "How can we stay calm when it’s so urgent?"

Dressed in dark court robes, Xiao Jinyan walked out from the inner room, glanced at Eunuch Li and the others, "Let’s go."

Having said that, he strode off in the lead.

Liu Xi followed closely behind, carrying his dust whisk.

Eunuch De and Eunuch Li looked at each other, still not reacting, "Why is His Highness wearing court dress?"

The Emperor and Empress also realized that something was amiss.

The Emperor turned his head and quietly asked the Empress, "The auspicious time has come, why is there no sign of anything yet?"

"Your Majesty, let’s wait and see." The Empress was also puzzled, occasionally looking out of the hall, on such an important day, the Crown Prince could not be perfunctory.

With hurried, small and quick steps, Qing Ying approached with an anxious look, whispering into the Empress’s ear, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has not arrived yet, Lady Chang stands there alone, waiting."

The Empress frowned, "What’s the matter?"

"This servant is also not clear. Someone has already gone to the Crown Prince’s chambers," said Qing Ying.

After pondering for a moment, the Empress turned her head toward the Emperor, "Your Majesty, there must have been a delay on the Crown Prince’s side."

The Emperor said displeased, "On such an important day, why didn’t he deal with matters beforehand?"

The most embarrassed was still Lady Chang. She had been waiting there since it was not yet daylight, and now the sun was slowly rising.

The sky was cloudless and the weather was clear.

Yet Lady Chang felt a chill throughout her body, certain that Xiao Jinyan acted this way to humiliate her.

Her hands clasped together, she squeezed the palms tightly, fearing that she couldn’t withstand the unusual gazes.

Until, she saw from afar Xiao Jinyan walking towards her, her fingers loosened, her heart also lightened up.

With a slight curl of her lips, she thought, Finally, you’ve come; I knew you wouldn’t dare miss such an important day.

Some sharp-eyed people noticed something wrong with Xiao Jinyan’s attire.

"Why isn’t His Highness wearing ceremonial dress?"

"Exactly, on such an important day, how can one not wear ceremonial dress?"

Only when Xiao Jinyan approached did Lady Chang notice that he was not in ceremonial dress, her eyes full of confusion.

With her makeup delicately done looking at Xiao Jinyan, her beautiful eyes filled with concealed grievance, "Your Highness, have you been delayed by some matters?"

Xiao Jinyan, looking at Lady Chang all dressed up, spoke coldly, "Indeed there was a delay, otherwise I wouldn’t have learned that Lady Chang is unworthy of the position of the Crown Princess."

Lady Chang’s complexion turned unsightly; she tried her best to control her demeanor and asked, "Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"

"If you don’t want people to know, you shouldn’t do it yourself."

After dropping these icy words, Xiao Jinyan strode toward the Jinluan Hall.

Lady Chang stood rooted to the spot.

The auspicious time had passed, and both the Emperor and Empress were growing impatient.

Eunuch Li came running in to report, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has arrived."

The Emperor said angrily, "He still has the nerve to come. On such an important day, even the Crown Prince can create a scandal; in my view, he is also not fit to be the Crown Prince."

At that moment, Xiao Jinyan entered, stepping forward to pay respects, "Your son pays respects to Father Emperor and Mother Empress."

The Emperor was already furious, and seeing the Crown Prince in court dress made him even angrier, "Crown Prince, do you know what day it is today? Why are you still wearing court dress? And why have you entered the Hall alone?"

Xiao Jinyan said word by word, "Father Emperor, Lady Chang is immoral, envious, and has colluded with the Imperial Doctor to frame Concubine Xu and Lady Shen for false pregnancies. She is not fit to be the Crown Princess."

Both the Emperor and Empress were taken aback.

The Emperor said gravely, "Crown Prince, everything requires proof. Do not make groundless accusations."

Xiao Jinyan bowed his head in agreement, "Your son has been up all night investigating this matter, and has gathered both testimonies and evidence, without falsely accusing Lady Chang."

The Emperor and Empress exchanged glances, an issue concerning the inner confines of the Imperial Palace. After communicating with their eyes, the Emperor ordered, "The Crown Princess Ceremony will be postponed. We will choose another auspicious day."

After Eunuch Li read the Emperor’s decision, the civil and military officials were in an uproar, not understanding what had happened.

Until the news reached Lady Chang’s ears, her legs weakened, and if not for the two Mammies supporting her, she would have fallen to the ground.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing, seeing the Jinluan Hall not far away. Wasn’t the matter already settled – then why the postponement?

Why?

As Lady Chang was lost in confusion, Qing Ying came over, "Lady Chang, please follow this servant to Fengyi Palace."

Seeing Mammy Qingying, whom she had been close with from childhood to adulthood, Lady Chang couldn’t control her emotions, "Mammy Qingying, wasn’t today the auspicious day selected by Master Lu? Why has it been postponed?"

Qing Ying sighed, seemingly with regret, "Lady Chang, once you arrive at Fengyi Palace, you will understand."

Lady Chang felt weak, yet recalling the Empress and her maternal family’s backing, she assumed the issue couldn’t be too serious.

Lady Chang comforted herself with this thought.

Fengyi Palace

The Emperor sat on the throne above, the Empress sitting on a chair at his right.

Xiao Jinyan stood tall and straight in the center of the Grand Hall.

Lady Chang, still dressed in ceremonial robes and encumbered by their weight, was helped in by two mammies.

As soon as she stepped in, Lady Chang noticed something off about the atmosphere in the Hall. She cautiously approached, curtseyed, and said, "Your concubine greets Your Majesty, and greets the Empress."

Looking at Lady Chang in her lavish ceremonial dress, the most eye-catching presence in the hall, the Emperor’s voice was heavy, "Lady Chang, the Crown Prince says you are scheming and envious, that you have colluded with the Imperial Doctor to frame Concubine Xu and Lady Shen with false pregnancies. Is there any truth to this?"