"No..., not at all, it was just this old servant’s slip of the tongue. I hope the princess won’t take it to heart," Eunuch Shi stiffened, having gotten carried away in the moment, thinking that the princess was an easy target.

"Hmm, you heard that I’m looking down on the Emperor? Not only that, but also committing blasphemy against the royal family? Is that right, Eunuch Shi?" Feng Xuxu’s gaze swept over, her voice neither warm nor fiery.

To Eunuch Shi, however, it seemed exceedingly sinister, especially with that slight curve of a smile on Princess Mei’s lips, sending a chill down his spine; even her expressions were eerily similar to those of Prince Mei.

With a thud, Eunuch Shi knelt before the princess, tears streaming down as he cried, "Princess..., princess..., please spare my life. Just now, this old servant was speaking without thinking, it was an inadvertent mistake, solely focused on carrying out the Emperor’s orders. I never expected... I earnestly beg the princess for her great mercy and, on account of the Emperor, to forgive this old servant’s transgression just this once."

Feng Xuxu sneered. Using the Emperor to press her, huh? Sure enough, appropriate for the Emperor’s head steward. Had she not arrived in time, perhaps the charge of disrespecting His Majesty would have already been established. A mere eunuch dared to oppress her; she suddenly felt like a lowly weed in the dust, trampled by everyone. Touching her stomach, she knew she had to become stronger, for her child, and for the Prince Mei Residence.

"Get up. If there is a next time, even the Emperor won’t be able to save you. Read the imperial edict," she commanded, still seated, showing no intention of standing up to receive it with a bow.

Rising, Eunuch Shi wiped the sweat from his forehead and the tears from his face. He carefully glanced at the princess, and seeing she had not stood up, he felt somewhat troubled. But then he thought, even Prince Mei does not kneel before the Emperor, so he half-opened his eyes and hurriedly began to read the imperial edict.

Unfolding the edict, he started in his drake-like voice, "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees, now hearing that Princess Mei has returned to her residence... herein I trust." He handed the imperial edict to Mei Lenglei, who was attending the princess.

With a fawning look, he said to the princess, "The imperial edict has been read, Princess. The carriage is waiting outside. May I know when you are ready to leave? The Emperor is waiting."

After hearing this, Feng Xuxu lowered her crossed leg, pondering the Emperor’s reason for summoning her to the palace. After a long moment of contemplation, she decided to make the trip, as an imperial command could not be defied.

"Hmm, I’ll change into another dress and come," she said, standing up gingerly, cautious not to hurt the child in her womb with any careless movement.

"Good, this old servant will wait outside," Eunuch Shi said, bowing as he exited the grand hall, and within a few steps reached the gates of the Prince Residence.

Mei Lenglei and Yingsu supported her from either side as they walked towards the rear courtyard’s bedroom in the Prince Residence.

"Princess, this Eunuch Shi wasn’t like this back in the Crown Prince Residence. He was always cautious and meticulous in his duties. What’s different now?" Mei Lenglei wondered, recalling that the Emperor had always highly valued Eunuch Shi.

"The Emperor is throwing stones to ask the way." A cold laugh echoed inside her, pitying the sincere devotion Dugu Chen had for him.

Yingsu and Lenglei exchanged a surprised look at the princess’s words, then closed their mouths, vaguely understanding something. Seeing the princess’s unfriendly expression, they dared not ask further.

Once attired in a loose-fitting dress, covered with a sheer overlay, and finally draped with a tranquil cloak, she left the bedroom. Upon reaching the residence’s secondary gate, she boarded the carriage marked with the Prince Residence’s emblem. Without haste, the carriage left the residence, and upon reaching the main gates, it joined Eunuch Shi. The carriage ambled down the streets at a leisurely pace.

"Steward, this Princess Mei is really ungrateful. She refused the carriage prepared by the Emperor; isn’t this a blatant defiance of his orders?" After hearing this, Eunuch Shi just pursed his lips and smiled. His muddy eyes, when focusing on the carriage ahead, revealed a probing gleam.

"Little Dezi, what nonsensical talk! When did the Emperor issue an order for the princess to use that particular carriage? Be careful what you say, or you’ll be worried for your own hide," Eunuch Shi chastised while cocking a finger, feigning anger at Little Dezi.