Just as Yao'er was thinking this, the butler's voice was already trembling. He couldn't believe it.
"Your Highness, are you sure you're not mistaken? How could this be the Empress Dowager?"
Hearing this, the Prince of Li almost twisted the butler's head off.
"Ridiculous! Do you think I'm joking with you? What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."
Seeing his serious expression, the butler finally believed it.
But thinking of what he had just said, he felt a little scared. Would the Empress Dowager hold him accountable for this?
"Greetings to the Empress Dowager. I offended you before. I hope the Empress Dowager will forgive this lowly one."
Shi Muyuan sat down on a chair on one side on her own, then pulled Yao'er to her side.
"Do you think your disrespect to me is something I can easily forgive? Moreover, the Prince of Li is really bold. He actually sent people to treat me like this and even said he intended to make me his concubine."
These words immediately made the butler lower his head so much that it was almost touching the ground.
The Prince of Li kept shouting his innocence.
"Empress Dowager, you've misunderstood. It's all a misunderstanding. I just sent people to bring back my concubine. I didn't expect to accidentally offend the Empress Dowager. I really deserve to die."
Shi Muyuan snorted. "Of course you deserve to die. I've already sent someone to invite the Emperor here. Let's see today who gave you the audacity."
If the Emperor really came and saw what had happened here and what his subordinates had said to the Empress Dowager, I'm afraid his days as the Prince of Li would be numbered.
Thinking of this, he suddenly saw the person following the Empress Dowager and seemed to grasp the last straw of hope.
"Yao'er, you came with the Empress Dowager. Please persuade the Empress Dowager for me. You've seen how I've treated you these days. Do you still want to lie in front of the Empress Dowager?"
Yao'er frowned. She thought of the promises made to her by that young master and the Empress Dowager and finally made up her mind.
"Your Highness, did you ever think of this day when you forcefully brought me back? I'll never forget what you've done to me. Please seek justice for this commoner girl, Empress Dowager. The Prince of Li not only tried to force me but also threatened to kill my parents and relatives."
Shi Muyuan's slender fingers gently tapped on the table.
"Oh? So there's such a thing. It seems there's a lot I don't know. The Prince of Li is really bold. Let's settle all the accounts together when the Emperor comes."
Just as she finished speaking, a roar suddenly came from outside.
"The vixen? That vixen is back? Fine, you actually tried to hide it from me. Today I must skin that vixen alive."
As soon as the Princess Consort of Li came in, she saw a room full of people kneeling on the ground. Before she could figure out what was going on, she spotted Yao'er.
She rushed forward in big steps, wanting to attack Yao'er. Fortunately, the Prince of Li was sensible and ran the fastest at this moment.
Just as the Princess Consort of Li's hand was about to grab Yao'er, he stopped her.
"What on earth are you doing? It's come to this. Can't you put away your shrewish behavior?"
The Princess Consort of Li stared at him with wide eyes. Her husband hadn't spoken to her so harshly for a long time.
Tears rolled down her face as she pointed at Yao'er. "Just for this vixen, you're willing to scold me as a shrew? I'm the one who will be with you for a lifetime. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be where you are today. Don't forget, the Princess Dowager is my own daughter."
"I don't care what you did before, but not today. And, you haven't paid your respects."
The last two words were completely ignored by the Princess Consort of Li. Her eyes were blurred with tears. She only seemed to see a well - dressed and beautiful woman not far from her.
Thinking of her husband's usual behavior, she couldn't hold it in anymore and stepped forward to attack.
"Fine, today you not only brought the vixen back but also another one. It seems you don't take me seriously at all. Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Seeing that she actually wanted to attack the Empress Dowager, cold sweat broke out on the back of the Prince of Li. Shi Muyuan, however, sat there motionless.
"The Princess Consort of Li and the Prince of Li are truly a match. Their behaviors are the same. When did I become someone you can attack? It seems you don't care about the distinction between the sovereign and the subject at all. If so, I don't think this Prince's Mansion needs to exist anymore."
With just a simple sentence from her, it would be as easy as eating and drinking to crush a noble family of a prince.
The Prince of Li also felt a chill down his back because of her words and quickly admitted his mistake. "It's my fault for not disciplining my family well. Please don't take it to heart, Empress Dowager."
The Princess Consort of Li had just wiped away her tears when she saw a familiar figure. Thinking of what the Empress Dowager had just said, she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
"Empress Dowager... Empress Dowager, I was just too excited for a moment. Please forgive me. There will never be a next time."
Shi Muyuan opened her mouth and was about to say something when a bright yellow figure appeared outside.
"Mother! Mother! What's going on? I heard you were in trouble. Why are you in the Prince of Li's Mansion?"
Seeing Ji Heng, she let out a sigh of relief. There was still someone willing to protect her, and that was enough.
"Sigh, I just wanted to go out and relax. The Prince of Li sent people to capture me and this young lady and even said he wanted me to be his concubine."
As soon as these words were spoken, the majesty of the superior immediately spread out, making the people on the ground feel a little out of breath.
The Prince of Li still braved his way to explain.
"It's all the fault of my subordinates. I just wanted to bring back my concubine in the mansion. Your Majesty, please see clearly! I can hand those people over to you for punishment."
Yao'er received a hint from the Empress Dowager and knelt down beside.
"Your Majesty, this commoner girl reports that the Prince of Li has forcefully abducted commoner girls and abused his power."
Even if the Princess Consort of Li was stupid, she knew the importance of these two words. She couldn't hold back her anger and was about to pounce on Yao'er. Fortunately, the guards in the middle stopped her.
"You bitch. Have the guts to say what you just said again. Let me tell you, my daughter is the current Princess Dowager. Crushing you is as easy as crushing an ant."
Seeing that she still dared to threaten someone in front of him, the young Emperor found it ridiculous.
"It seems the Prince of Li is unworthy of his title, and the Princess Consort of Li is not worthy of the title of First - Rank Imperial Lady. Guards, from this day on, deprive them of their titles and lock them up in the dungeon to await punishment."
The Prince of Li hadn't even realized what was going on. Now he was about to lose everything. He was unwilling.
"Your Majesty, this really has nothing to do with me. Please believe me."