Sure enough, it didn’t take long for Commandery Princess Xianyun to send someone to invite Ning Xueyan to her place. Ning Xueyan didn’t put up airs. She went over with Xinmei and Qingyu.

“Princess, can I meet the Empress? The Empress said there’s follow-up business about my second sister’s business. She’s still my sister. I’m also partially responsible for her current state. I’ve wronged her.”

Commandery Princess Xianyun went straight to the point the moment she saw Ning Xueyan. Her eyes were red when she spoke. She had one hand pressed on her chest, looking sorrowful.

She couldn’t hide the fact that the Empress had sent someone for her. Ning Xueyan, as Princess Yi, had an iron-grip over the backyard of the manor. Ning Xueyan was the last person she could conceal the matter from.

Her words were wrought in emotion and sincerity, as well as her guilt toward Yun Luoluo. Those who knew the truth of the matter realized that Yun Luoluo had died in her hands. If she hadn’t pulled the strings, a well-bred young lady like Yun Luoluo would never act so arrogantly in Prince Yi’s Manor and end up dying so tragically.

“Has your leg healed, Consort Yun?” Ning Xueyan glanced at Commandery Princess Xianyun’s leg, where there was a tight bandage wrapped over her thigh.

“I’m fine… I’m sure the Empress will grant me a sedan chair when I’m in the palace.” Commandery Princess Xianyun smiled wryly.

“Are you sure the Empress has the time to meet you now? The Emperor is ill and there’s so much happening in the palace that requires the Empress’ attention. Is it really fine for you to visit now? Maybe you can tell me what it is about and I’ll send a messenger over.”

Ning Xueyan spoke with a neutral expression. Her ink-like eyes were staring at Commandery Princess Xianyun without moving away.

Everyone knew that this was a critical time. Prince Yi’s appointment as the Crown Prince indicated the defeat of the Emperor. Under such circumstances, Commandery Princess Xianyun and the Empress were in two different camps. Yet, they still wanted to meet. What gave Commandery Princess Xianyun the confidence that the Empress would be happy to see her and even grant her a sedan chair?

After all, regardless of what kind of agreement they had in the past, the Emperor and Empress were at a disadvantage at the moment. This was evident to everyone. Commandery Princess Xianyun, whether she was Princess Yi or Consort Yun, was still in Prince Yi’s camp. If something were to happen between the two of them at this point, the consequences would be severe.

Commandery Princess Xianyun fell silent for a moment before looking at her legs with a wry smile. “It’s all right. I’m just a consort, so there won’t be a big impact on the situation. I’m sure His Highness hates me too. If he finds me so difficult to deal with, he should let me go home. I’m exhausted!”

“Whether it’s the title of Princess Yi, Consort Yun, or even the future imperial consort, I don’t want to fight for anything anymore.”

Ning Xueyan glanced at Commandery Princess Xianyun and saw the calm expression on the latter’s face. Commandery Princess Xianyun looked disheartened. No one could have expected the great Commandery Princess Xianyun would marry Prince Yi and become Princess Yi, only to have her husband turn her into a joke by not visiting her on their wedding night. Then, after a series of incidents, she was demoted to the consort position. Now, her leg was also injured.

For a proud daughter of heaven to fall into this state, it was indeed a big enough impact to render a person hopeless.

But that was for other people. Ning Xueyan didn’t believe that Commandery Princess Xianyun would be so emotionally fragile, especially from the fact that the latter was still trying to enter the palace. A disheartened person would never visit the palace again. Even though Lord Peace’s Manor didn’t have much influence left, it was still home to Commandery Princess Xianyun. She might have lost her sister, but she still had her mother.

The first person she wanted to see wasn’t her mother but the Empress. That was the most curious part of her behavior.

“Consort Yun, His Highness isn’t in the manor right now. I can’t decide for you. We’ll talk again when His Highness comes back,” Ning Xueyan said, rejecting her offer with an indifferent expression.

“Princess, I’ll leave the capital in the future and live on my own. No one will ever find me again. Either way, I can never win His Highness’ heart and I don’t have the strength to fight for anything anymore. I couldn’t win against you when I was ambitious anyway. Now that I’m like this, how could I hope to fight for anything? Please save me, Princess. I just want to live the rest of my life in peace.”

Commandery Princess Xianyun said, refusing to give up. She looked at Ning Xueyan with tears brimming in her eyes. Her request went from meeting the Empress to leaving Prince Yi’s Manor.

In other words, she was promising not to appear in Prince Yi’s Manor or the capital in the future. She would look for a quiet place and live the rest of her life there. She was expressing her will not to partake in the matters of the imperial family, and even her willingness to give up everything to Ning Xueyan.

After all, no matter what happened, Commandery Princess Xianyun had entered the manor as Princess Yi. Ning Xueyan, a consort-turned-princess, was bound to feel uncomfortable with her around. The change in princess and consort had never happened before. Ning Xueyan, as the current Princess Yi, was no doubt under some pressure.

It would benefit Ning Xueyan if Commandery Princess were to disappear, and on her own accord at that.

Commandery Princess Xianyun believed that Ning Xueyan would agree to her proposal because there were only benefits and no harm to her. This would leave Ning Xueyan as the only mistress of Prince Yi’s harem. Even after Ao Chenyi became the Emperor, Ning Xueyan would undoubtedly be the Empress. No one would bring her up and suggest having two Empresses and the like.

Her proposal would get Ning Xueyan out of her predicament, so she seemed calm and confident despite sounding pitiful. Any woman who wanted to dominate her husband’s backyard would agree to this proposal. It was all that meaningful when concerning the imperial harem.

“I can leave a letter for His Highness. I’ll tell him that it’s my idea to leave and it has nothing to do with you.”

She believed that these words were enough to convince Ning Xueyan right away. With this, Ning Xueyan would be able to eliminate her rival without doing anything. She would also gain a kind reputation from this.

No woman would be able to refuse this.

Ning Xueyan chuckled and stood up. “You should get more rest, Consort Yun. Don’t think about something like this,” she said politely. She turned around to leave as if she didn’t want to talk anymore.

Stunned, Commandery Princess Xianyun sat upright and stared at Ning Xueyan. “What do you mean?” Worried that Ning Xueyan didn’t understand her, she added, “His Highness is yours alone from now on. I’m not fighting with you anymore. I’m leaving the Empress title to you. Don’t you get what I’m saying?”

“Ao Chenyi has always been mine alone. When have you ever won against me? And whether it’s the future title of Empress or imperial consort, you shouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think the Emperor will hold on for much longer. You should stay out of the dangerous waters in the palace, Commandery Princess.”

Ning Xueyan looked calmly at Commandery Princess Xianyun, her expression neutral.

Her words were quite harsh. No matter what Commandery Princess Xianyun was up to, she wouldn’t let her revolt at this time and affect Ao Chenyi. These few days were a crucial time for Ao Chenyi to consolidate his forces in the court. Ao Chenyi had to establish his authority as a future monarch and gain the approval of the fence-sitting ministers.

Ning Xueyan believed that Ao Chenyi had every ability to achieve this, but it would be best if she kept the Empress and Commandery Princess Xianyun from causing trouble now. That was why she was so direct and harsh with her words.

Commandery Princess Xianyun raised her head in anger, unable to maintain her calm expression. “What do you mean?”

“Do you perhaps have a prior agreement with the Empress? Too bad, no matter what it is, you have to get it straight that you’re you and the Empress is the Empress. The Empress will always be the mistress of the palace and you’re still Prince Yi’s consort in name. You’ll affect Prince Yi if you cause trouble now. Or do you think that if something happens to you, the Lord Peace’s Manor will still be safe?”

Ning Xueyan said, her every word wrought with meaning. There was a cold smile on her face.

“Nonsense. Why… Why would I have an agreement with the Empress?” Commandery Princess Xianyun retorted loudly, her face red. She held onto the table, trying to stand up, only to realize that she couldn’t. To her surprise, several maids of the manor looked at her without doing anything. Nobody tried to reach out to support her.

She sat back down heavily.

“It’s not up to me to say whether or not there’s an agreement. You know the answer yourself. Of course, there’s nothing I can do to stop you if you’re willing to lose your life for the Empress. All I ask is that you think about the hundreds of people in the Lord Peace’s Manor. I heard that there’s your new-born nephew among them. If this angers His Highness, I’m sure he’ll kill your whole family before you can get him in trouble.”

Ning Xueyan spoke softly, looking down at Commandery Princes Xianyun. But the implicit threat in her words made Commandery Princess Xianyun shiver. She could risk her life, but the hundreds of lives in the Lord Peace’s Manor? How could she act without considering them? She believed that Ao Chenyi would exterminate her family after finding out what she had done.

Then, what was the point of all that she had done?

This was the moment where she felt true fear. What frightened her even more was, however, Ning Xueyan. Ning Xueyan looked as gentle, calm, and serene as ever. There wasn’t any hint of cruelty in her expression as if she wasn’t talking about the death of the people in Lord Peace’s Manor but a few chickens in the kitchen.

No other woman had ever made Commandery Princess Xianyun feel fear from deep within, not even the Empress, Honored Consort Ya, or Honored Consort Shu. Nobody had ever made Commandery Princess Xianyun feel submissive, not even the ruthless late Empress Dowager. She had always thought she would surpass the late Empress Dowager if she continued down the same path.

Yet, at this moment, she became keenly aware that Ning Xueyan was the truly powerful opponent. Her gentle and delicate appearance was just a facade, an illusion that the Lord Protector’s fifth daughter was a timid, useless girl.

Ning Xueyan’s appearance had deceived everyone!

And had she reached the end of the road?

A trace of jealousy and resentment flickered in her dull eyes. Ning Xueyan had come and used the Lord Peace’s Manor to threaten her. Worse of all, she had no choice but to be threatened…