The Valued Lady is Truly Dominant

”No wonder Xia Houzhe suffered such a big loss at his hands. You saw it too, this poise, this calmness, this temperament—is it something a Xia can compare to?”

Emperor Chu exited the Heavenly Prison, took a long breath of frustration, and began to complain to Song Zhiyuan beside him.

To be honest, engaging in straightforward verbal sparring is less infuriating, but facing someone like Chu Ze, who is impervious, makes you want to roll up your sleeves and go straight to fighting.

Song Zhiyuan opened his mouth, nearly blurting out that barking dogs don’t bite, but swallowed his words back.

Can’t curse, because one curse would involve this brother too, and they are blood brothers.

”If Xia Houzhe hears you, he would be furious.”

Emperor Chu sneered, ”Let him see for himself, otherwise he won’t know how foolish he is.”

Song Zhiyuan muttered, ”I’d rather he be foolish, as it’s easier to deal with compared to this person.”

Emperor Chu fell silent.

That’s true; if Xia Houzhe had Chu Ze’s temperament, he wouldn’t have lost before fighting today.

”He seems to disregard life and death, presumably won’t admit he was aware.”

Song Zhiyuan chuckled faintly, ”Whether he admits it or not doesn’t matter—what he knows, Shang Meiniang likely already knows.”

Emperor Chu raised an eyebrow and snorted.

”Emperor.”

A eunuch bowed, approached, and reported while kneeling, ”Emperor, that person wants to go to Liuli Palace to see the sinner Xia.”

Emperor Chu, hands behind his back, said, ”Take her there.”

”Yes, sir.”

Song Zhiyuan watched the eunuch walk away and said, ”As for the Commandery Prince, proper identification is needed so people don’t keep referring to him as ’that person’.”

”Let’s observe for now.” The dignity of the Imperial Family must be maintained to some degree.

The two walked and talked, turning out from the side gate of the east and west six palaces, when they noticed someone being crowded away. They paused slightly before continuing forward.

The people on the other side saw the imperial procession and quickly stopped, kneeling.

Princess Consort Min kneeled at the side of the pathway, ready to let the imperial procession proceed first, but unexpectedly, that bright, imperial yellow came close.

”Princess Consort?”

Princess Consort Min prostrated on the ground, paid respects by performing a grand bow, ”This servant greets the Emperor, long live the Emperor.”

”Why are you entering the palace?” Emperor Chu toyed with the yellow jade bead necklace in his hand.

Princess Consort Min replied, ”In response to the Emperor, the Dowager was shocked and suffered a stroke, and I came to request an imperial decree.”

”A stroke?”

Emperor Chu raised his brow and asked, ”What does the Imperial Physician say?”

Princess Consort Min repeated her conversation with Empress Dowager Wang and looked up to request a person from Song Zhiyuan.

Song Zhiyuan looked at Emperor Chu and seeing him nod in agreement, said, ”Doctor Lin is my mother’s physician, but isn’t formally a Guest Elder or house doctor of Song Mansion. Princess Consort, please return to the mansion and wait. After returning, I will speak with my mother to see Doctor Lin’s willingness.”

”Thank you, Prime Minister Song. Once back at the mansion, I will send someone to wait at your mansion’s east corner gate. If she is willing, she will be escorted there.” Princess Consort Min paused and added, ”The corresponding consultation fee will also be offered from the Prince’s Mansion.”

Song Zhiyuan smirked slightly, folding his hands.

Emperor Chu, with great interest, looked at the woman on the ground and asked, ”Your elder brother, who posed as the Commandery Prince before, being your half-brother, what are your thoughts, Princess Chongyang?”

Princess Consort Min was taken aback, lowered herself again, and said, ”The Xia family has committed treason. This servant deserves ten thousand deaths and requests punishment.”

Emperor Chu stared at her for a while, chuckled, didn’t say a word, and walked away.

Princess Consort Min lay on the cold bricks until the imperial procession was out of sight before being helped up by the eunuch. Only then did she stand up, her feet numb and aching, with a cold wind that pierced the bones.