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When Chun Xi came out, she didn’t see Susu and, having experienced a scare once before, a shadow loomed in her heart.

"Susu?"

The little rabbit noticed Chun Xi’s frightened expression and said, "Chun Xi, the young lady is just sitting on the threshold."

Upon hearing this, Chun Xi hurried to the doorway and saw a small figure sitting on the threshold, gnawing on a meat bun.

The little rabbit, looking at the young lady’s figure, said, "The young lady wants to wait here for the Crown Princess."

Chun Xi sighed, "The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have been away from the palace for too long. It’s no wonder Susu misses them so much. Fortunately, they are coming back soon, or Susu would be disappointed again."

After speaking, Chun Xi turned her head and instructed the little rabbit, "Keep an eye on her."

The little rabbit nodded, "I will."

Chun Xi then felt relieved and dove back into the small kitchen to busy herself.

Sky Prison

The Empress had come to the Sky Prison twice and thought she would not come again, yet she appeared once more.

The Empress, holding a handkerchief over her nose, watched the jailers bring Lady Chang up, then pressed her to kneel down.

Lady Chang’s body, already wounded, compounded by the torture in prison, was disheveled, long stripped of her former dignity.

Horrific whip marks scarred her cheeks, and the white prison garb had turned red with her blood, a blurry mess of flesh.

Having seen her just a day before, the Empress barely recognized the woman kneeling before her as Lady Chang.

For Lady Chang, time in this place dragged on interminably. No sooner had she arrived than Xiao Jinyu had whipped her. Seeing the Empress was like seeing a lifeline, and she clung to it desperately.

She crawled on the ground, where pride and dignity meant nothing compared to staying alive.

"Aunt, save me."

Never had the Empress despised someone so profoundly, wishing she could personally take the life of the wretched woman before her.

"You still have the face to call me aunt? I don’t have a niece as evil as you."

Lady Chang struggled to crawl forward, every movement pulling at her wounds, causing excruciating pain.

"Aunt, I know I was wrong. Save me, please save me."

The Empress watched coldly as Lady Chang desperately crawled towards her, void of any emotion in her eyes save for anger and hatred.

"My precious granddaughter almost died because of you, a poisonous woman. Do you still have the face to beg me for mercy? I wish I could kill you with my own hands."

Lady Chang wept, "Aunt, I was possessed by a moment of folly, that’s why I did it. Aunt, can you forgive me?"

After calming her emotions, the Empress continued, "Since you were a child, I doted on you, often took you to stay in the palace, and arranged your marriage to the Crown Prince, so you could become the Crown Princess.

Yet, what did you do? Time and again, you tried to harm my grandson.

For the Chang Family to have a direct daughter like you, it is a disgrace. "

Lady Chang knew the Empress would not be moved to save her; her only hope lay with her father. After all, he was a grand general, and even the Emperor had to show him some respect.

"Aunt, I wish to see my father. Please let me see him."

The Empress sneered, "You still expect General Chang to save you? I advise you to abandon that hope. Even if General Chang pleads for you, I will not let you go. Don’t think the Emperor will have mercy on you for the sake of General Chang.

Susu is the Emperor’s darling, and you dared attempt to kill his treasure, and yet you delude yourself thinking the Emperor will spare your life? "

The Empress added, "Let me tell you something more, General Chang won’t offend the throne for just your sake. Out of all your mistakes, you shouldn’t have touched Susu; it’s practically suicide."

With each word from the Empress, Lady Chang’s hopes shattered, her reluctance to die so ignobly overpowering, but there was no one to save her.

"The Crown Prince and Crown Princess will return today."

With that, the Empress turned and left.

Hearing that the Crown Prince would come back today, Lady Chang rued her actions more than ever. If she hadn’t pushed Susu into the water, she could have seen the Crown Prince, and perhaps, she might have had a chance to be granted the privilege of sharing his bed.

But now, all possibilities were gone.

Meanwhile, on the Official Road

Feng Wuyou had slept throughout the journey, but now she felt exceptionally excited. She lifted the curtain to look outside, and, seeing the city walls from a distance, she knew they were nearing the city.

It had been too long since leaving the palace; she wondered how her treasures were doing.

She withdrew her gaze and looked to Xiao Jinyan, "Do you think our treasures will still recognize us when we get back?"

Xiao Jinyan calculated the time. When he left, the treasures were not even two years old. When Xiao Jinyu left, their second birthday had yet to arrive. By now, the treasures should be two and a half.

It’s natural if they’ve forgotten after such a long period.

"It’s hard to say."

Feng Wuyou expressed her concerns, "When we return, won’t they shy away from us, not recognizing us?"