Chu Zhiyan could tell from her insincere look that she was just saying something casually to placate him. A surge of anger welled up inside him, and he said sharply, "Then tell me what you did wrong!"
Di Lanmo was utterly confused.
What the hell? Dude, where did that look like you've been cuckolded come from? I haven't done anything! I've been painstakingly treating your illness these days, and this is the attitude I get in return?
"The prince says I'm wrong, so I must be wrong," she replied nonchalantly.
She was supposed to be here to apologize, yet she acted as if he was being unreasonable. That brat, apart from sweet - talking her with "Sister, hello" all day long, was good for nothing. He was just a pretty boy, not as reliable as him at all. And Di Lanmo didn't even care about the rumors and had stayed in the same room with him several times.
If she had just stepped out, she would have known what the servants were saying about her. He had given her so many hints, but she still refused to repent. What did this mean? It meant that she simply didn't care about her identity as the Princess of Qin.
Well, after all, theirs was just a cooperative relationship. How could it compare to her deep affection for the Third Prince!
Overwhelmed with anger, Chu Zhiyan coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Chu Zhiyan, what's wrong with you? Is your old illness acting up again? Lie down quickly. Let me take a look," Di Lanmo cursed herself silently. She had been so mouthy. People who were ill were naturally more suspicious, and she had even made him vomit blood. Looking at his hurt eyes, she felt inexplicably guilty, as if she had committed some heinous crime.
She reached out her hand to support him, but Chu Zhiyan shook his head and took a step back, leaving her hand awkwardly hanging in the air.
"Qiao Yan, escort the princess into the palace and protect her well," Chu Zhiyan said with his usual sneer, his back turned to her. "Di Lanmo, I'll grant your wish!" With that, he left without looking back.
This is so absurd! Di Lanmo was seething with anger. What a mess! What on earth had he been imagining in his head? How did this turn into a tragic love story?
But when she saw Lan Jiao rushing to support him and he didn't refuse, Di Lanmo suppressed her annoyance and grievance and stepped out of the door.
"Fine, I'll leave. Well, if this place doesn't want me, there must be somewhere that will!"
The so - called husband and wife went their separate ways, moving in completely opposite directions.
Qiao Yan sighed at the strange atmosphere between them but finally said nothing.
Suddenly, the sky turned gloomy. The pattering raindrops fell continuously, splashing on the ground. Although the palace servants held umbrellas for her, the dampness still clung to Di Lanmo, making her even more irritable.
The deep red walls, the gray tile roofs, and the exquisitely carved palace buildings seemed to have had their colors washed away by the rain at this moment. The whole world was shrouded in a gray mist.
Looking at the dense white net formed by the rain, Di Lanmo suddenly felt a strong aversion to this rainy day.
"The princess has arrived. The Empress Dowager is waiting for you inside," the eunuch said in a shrill voice and then left.
Qiao Yan could sense the disrespect in the eunuch's words. He was about to stop the princess from getting angry. After all, this was the palace. Insulting someone here would be an affront to the royal family, so it was better to be cautious.
However, Di Lanmo seemed not to hear it. She simply replied coldly, "Okay," and then walked in.
Qiao Yan stood guard at the door nervously. What should he do? The princess seemed even more terrifying. And that look in her eyes was just like the prince's. What if the princess started a fight or, worse, killed someone inside? Was it still too late to inform his brothers to retreat?
Inside the Empress Dowager's palace.
There were only a few people in the room: the Empress Dowager, herself, and Chu Xiuqi.
"Di Lanmo, you are the legitimate Princess of Qin, and the Prince of Qin has treated you well. Why did you do such despicable things?"
Di Lanmo glanced at her and then bowed her head, performing the courtesy in a precise but highly sarcastic manner. Every movement exuded an air of arrogance.
"I'm stupid, Your Majesty. I don't know what crime I've committed that has caused you to go to such great lengths."
"Di Lanmo, I'm not an unreasonable person. As long as you tell the truth, we'll plead with the Emperor on your behalf, and you'll suffer less. You have such delicate skin. I don't want to send you to the Surveillance Department."
This was clearly a combination of threats and inducements. If she were still a novice, she might have believed them. But now, no matter what they said, she couldn't admit it. Once she did, the Emperor would have a hold on Chu Zhiyan. She couldn't let the great plan he had been working on for so long be ruined because of her.
She lowered her body even more. "I really don't know."
The others couldn't see her expression, but they could sense her fear and trepidation from her trembling voice.
The Empress Dowager received the news and rushed over.
Seeing Di Lanmo in this state, she felt pity and couldn't help but say, "Empress, forget it. These rumors must be unfounded. I think they make a good couple. Let's not interfere."
The Empress took a sip of tea from her cup and said calmly, "Mother, you probably don't know. This Princess of Qin just had a fight with Zhiyan, and I heard that Zhiyan even vomited blood. I've already sent the imperial physician there."
The Empress Dowager's expression changed. She had only given Di Lanmo some face because of Zhiyan. But now, she thought Di Lanmo was so malicious. Maybe she had already contacted the Third Prince and was just waiting for Zhiyan to die so she could inherit his property and fool around with that pretty boy.
The Empress Dowager snorted and left with a flick of her sleeve. But since the truth was still unknown, she secretly sent someone to find the Prince of Qin.
Di Lanmo sighed. She finally understood what it meant to be in a difficult situation. This "fraught feast" was even more challenging than she had thought.
Chu Xiuqi sensed that the situation was getting out of hand.
"Mother! I have a clean relationship with Di Lanmo. We've never done anything improper."
The Empress felt a headache coming on. It was all her fault for protecting her son too well. At this moment, he should have been adding fuel to the fire without hesitation. Di Lanmo's mother was secretly a Qiang person, and the Prince of Qin had high prestige in the army. She mustn't let these two join forces. They had to be eliminated as soon as possible to avoid future troubles.
"Qi'er, Mother knows you're innocent and don't understand the evils of the world. But I'm afraid some people will take advantage of your innocence and do something beastly."
Di Lanmo stared back at her fearlessly. The Empress's hand trembled involuntarily. She actually felt fear from this young girl. She had sat on her current position with many lives on her hands, yet she was afraid of a young girl because of a look in her eyes. This was a great humiliation.
She composed herself, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"Qi'er, Mother asks you, did Di Lanmo invite you to her room?"