He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Inside the Prince Xin's mansion, there was an unprecedented sense of oppression.

The Dowager Consort's decisive and efficient methods intimidated everyone in the household.

Everyone in the house and courtyard kept their doors closed and did not go out. Even the servants walked on tiptoe, afraid of making the slightest noise.

Overnight, Jiang Bingning's status underwent a dramatic change.

The servants were noticeably more respectful to her, and when they saw her come out, they hurriedly bowed.

Jiang Bingning accepted the greetings calmly.

She knew they weren't afraid of her.

What they feared was the old concubine who stood up for her.

They were demonstrating their loyalty to the Dowager Empress.

And she, Jiang Bingning, is the best embodiment of this loyalty.

Now that she's in the Prince Xin's mansion, she's no longer an outsider who needs to be subservient to others.

She was at the center of the storm.

It was a banner personally raised by the Dowager Empress.

The first rays of morning light shone through the window.

As Jiang Bingning stepped into Liu Jingyi's courtyard, she pushed open the door, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted towards her.

Liu Jingyi was leaning against a soft pillow, her face pale and her eyes dark.

"Mother."

Jiang Bingning called softly.

Upon hearing the sound, Liu Jingyi wearily opened her eyes, her gaze instantly filled with heartache and guilt.

"Ning'er, you've come."

Jiang Bingning walked to the bedside and sat down, holding her mother's cold hand.

"Didn't Mother sleep well last night?"

Liu Jingyi shook her head, hesitating to speak.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the screen behind the inner room, where there was no one, yet it seemed as if something was hidden there.

Jiang Bingning understood.

Prince Xin, Ji Yunhan, was not present.

She must have found out what Ji Shaohuan had done and was too ashamed to face her.

Liu Jingyi forced a smile, her voice hoarse.

"Ning'er, it's all my fault for being useless and making you suffer."

"Shao Huan was just confused for a moment, don't take it to heart, and don't... don't resent your Uncle Ji."

She spoke cautiously, afraid that any word might hurt her daughter, or that it might cause a rift between her and Ji Yunhan.

Caught in the middle, she was in the most difficult position.

Jiang Bingning gently patted her mother's hand in return.

"Mother, this whole thing was Ji Shaohuan's decision from beginning to end."

"Since she chose this path, she must bear the consequences."

"I won't hold a grudge against anyone."

As soon as he finished speaking, a very soft sigh came from behind the screen.

Ji Yunhan came out from behind the house.

He was dressed in a casual dark robe, but he looked extremely haggard, with more bloodshot eyes than Liu Jingyi, as if he hadn't slept all night.

He looked at Jiang Bingning, his face full of shame and embarrassment.

He opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"Ning'er..."

He finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Uncle Ji, I..."

"It's my fault, Uncle."

Ji Yunhan interrupted her and bowed deeply to her.

"It's my fault for not raising my daughter well; I'm the one who owes you this!"

It is extremely rare for an elder to apologize to a younger generation so solemnly in a prominent family.

Liu Jingyi wanted to help him up, but he stopped her by raising his hand.

Jiang Bingning looked at him quietly, without flinching or offering any words of comfort.

She deserves this bow.

Ji Yunhan straightened up, his eyes red-rimmed.

"Shao Huan is from the family temple. Even if she comes out, I will find her a family outside the capital in a year or two and marry her off far away. I will never allow her to set foot in the capital again!"

These words were extremely harsh.

He paused, as if he had made an even bigger decision.

"And Zhao Wu."

"He's usually closest to Shao Huan, and I'm afraid he might cause some more trouble."

"I plan to send him to the military camp in the north to train for a few years in a few days."

"It would be better if he stayed in the capital and was used as a pawn, bringing trouble to our Prince Xin's mansion!"

These words stunned even Liu Jingyi.

After Ji Yunhan finished speaking, he looked at Jiang Bingning nervously.

Jiang Bingning's expression remained indifferent.

"This is your uncle's family matter, and it is not appropriate for Ning'er to interfere."

She neither accepted nor rejected it.

She neither forgave nor pursued the matter.

This distant yet polite attitude hurt Ji Yunhan more than any criticism.

The atmosphere in the room instantly froze.

Liu Jingyi's heart tightened, and she quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, why are you saying all this?"

She quickly changed the subject, looked at Jiang Bingning, and said with concern.

"Ning'er, wasn't the Dowager Consort's punishment last night a bit too harsh?"

"To directly break ties with the Lin family and announce it to the entire capital..."

"The Prince's Mansion will probably have a tough time in the court from now on."

She avoided mentioning Ji Shaohuan and only brought up the Lin family in an attempt to extricate Ji Yunhan from his awkward situation.

Unexpectedly, the name "Lin family" instantly ignited the anger that Ji Yunhan had been suppressing all night.

"Not having a good time?"

"It makes me so angry just thinking about it!"

His eyes turned bloodshot with rage.

"The Lin family is going too far!"

"Do they think the Prince Xin's mansion has no one left?!"

"Mother did the right thing! That's how it should be!"

"This matter cannot be left unresolved!"

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, pacing back and forth in the room.

"I'll go to the palace right now!"

"I will go see His Majesty immediately!"

"I demand that the Emperor judge this matter for our Prince Xin's Mansion!"

As he spoke, he actually turned around and strode out.

"Your Highness! No!"

Liu Jingyi was shocked and hurriedly got out of bed to stop him.

Once this matter reaches the Emperor's court, there will be no turning back.

The relationship between the Prince Xin's Mansion and the Lin family is one of irreconcilable conflict.

She had just taken a step when her arm was gently pulled.

Liu Jingyi turned around and met Jiang Bingning's eyes.

Jiang Bingning didn't speak, but simply shook her head gently.

Liu Jingyi's steps froze on the spot.

She watched as Ji Yunhan angrily disappeared through the courtyard gate.

The room returned to silence.

Liu Jingyi slowly turned around, looking at her daughter with a puzzled expression.

"Ning'er, why didn't you stop him?"

"Do you realize that if this matter escalates, it will do our Prince Xin's Mansion absolutely no good!"

"The Lin family is powerful; the Emperor might not reprimand a high-ranking official for the sake of a mere idle prince's residence!"

"In the end, we'll be the ones who suffer!"

She was so anxious she was about to cry.

In her view, her daughter was letting things spiral out of control.

Jiang Bingning helped her sit down on the edge of the bed again and tucked the blanket around her.

She then slowly began to speak.

"Mother."

"Do you think the conflict between our Prince Xin's Mansion and the Lin family is because of Ji Shaohuan, or because of me?"

Liu Jingyi was taken aback.

"Isn't that right?"

Jiang Bingning smiled softly.

"Of course not."

"Even without Ji Shaohuan poisoning him, there would still be Zhang Shaohuan and Li Shaohuan."

"Even if they don't use poison, they'll use other methods."

Her tone was so certain.

Liu Jingyi was stunned by her words and murmured a question.

Why?

Jiang Bingning raised her eyes and looked out at the azure sky.

"Because ever since you returned to Beidi and arrived at the Prince Xin's Mansion, the Prince Xin's Mansion and the Lin Mansion have been locked in a life-or-death struggle."