Qin Fei was shocked and frightened, her face pale. She hated Lu Mingyu so much that she gnashed her teeth.

At this time, Empress Dowager Zhao also realized that she had said the wrong thing.

No matter how many faults Empress Qiao had, she couldn’t be deposed just because she had the support of the Qiao family.

The rage of Emperor Yongjia was visible to the naked eye. Empress Dowager Zhao did not dare to make a fuss anymore and wanted to say a few soft words to appease her son: “Your Majesty, calm down. I just said it casually and didn’t mean anything else…”

Before she finished speaking, Emperor Yongjia interrupted Empress Dowager Zhao with a sullen face: “Mother, don’t say anything! I am not a three-year-old child whom you can coax casually. Do you think I am a fool?”

When Emperor Yongjia got really angry, Empress Dowager Zhao lost her confidence and said aggrievedly: “I was wrong. I admit my mistake now. Is that not enough?”

Emperor Yongjia was filled with rage, but he could not direct it at his own mother, so he directed it all at Qin Fei: “From today on, Qin Fei will be demoted to a Jieyu, and will be confined to the palace for half a year to reflect on herself. She is not allowed to leave the palace. I will personally issue an order to inform all the palaces.”

Qin Fei was shaking all over and collapsed to the ground.

Jieyu was one level lower than Zhaorong.

This was a three-level demotion!

Not to mention that the Yongjia Emperor personally issued an imperial decree. Once this matter spread, Qin Fei lost all her dignity. Even the Shouning Palace lost face.

Empress Dowager Zhao’s expression changed, and she moved her mouth.

She looked at Emperor Yongjia’s gloomy face, but she didn’t dare to speak. Naturally, all her anger was directed at Empress Qiao and Lu Mingyu.

Empress Dowager Zhao glared viciously at the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law who were kneeling on the ground.

Empress Qiao shuddered slightly subconsciously.

Lu Mingyu looked calm and reached out to help Empress Qiao. Empress Qiao quickly turned her head and asked softly, “Can your body handle kneeling like this?”

Lu Mingyu replied softly, “I’m fine, don’t worry, mother.”

Emperor Yongjia recovered from his anger and said to Empress Qiao, “You and Lu Shi go back first.”

Empress Qiao responded, holding Lu Mingyu’s hand with her backhand, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law stood up and left together.

…

Perhaps because she had been kneeling for too long, Empress Qiao’s legs felt weak. The moment she walked out of the main hall, the bright light pierced her eyes.

Empress Qiao closed her eyes, then opened them quickly. Her gaze had returned to clarity and calmness. She whispered to Lu Mingyu, “Follow me back to the Jiofang Hall.”

Lu Mingyu nodded.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law actually had different personalities and had maintained a polite distance from each other before. However, after what happened today, the two of them became much closer than usual.

After walking a few steps, a familiar figure came towards me.

It was Li Jing.

Emperor Yongjia suddenly stopped the morning court session and left the Jinluan Palace in a hurry. Li Jing was surprised, but without thinking much, he went to Shouning Palace alone.

However, Emperor Yongjia was furious, and no one dared to enter Shouning Palace to pass on the message. No matter how anxious Li Jing was, he could only wait outside Shouning Palace. After waiting for a long time, he finally saw the appearance of Empress Qiao and Lu Mingyu.

The moment he saw Lu Mingyu, Li Jing felt more and more uneasy.

He opened his mouth and asked Lu Mingyu: “You were staying well in the Lu Mansion, why did you suddenly come to the palace? What happened in Shouning Palace? Are you okay?”

Lu Mingyu glanced at Li Jing soothingly and said, “Let’s go to the Jiofang Hall first. We can talk later if there’s anything else.”

After an incense stick of time, the three returned to the Jiofang Hall and sat down.

Empress Qiao was still in shock, and Lu Mingyu told her in a few words what had happened in Shouning Palace.

The anger in Li Jing’s eyes gradually accumulated: “What a Qin Fei!”

The barking dog bites. Qin Fei looked gentle and kind, but in fact, she was dark and vicious. She was deliberately instigating Empress Dowager Zhao to annoy Lu Mingyu, deliberately preventing Lu Mingyu from resting and taking care of her pregnancy.

Lu Mingyu smiled faintly: “Now you are no longer the Xianfei, you have to call her Qin Jieyu from now on.”

This time, Qin Fei lost more than she gained. She didn’t get to eat the mutton, but she got herself into trouble. The newly acquired title of Xianfei hadn’t even warmed up yet, but she was demoted three levels in the blink of an eye. She will have to rank behind Su Fei from now on. She would also have to stay in the palace for half a year to reflect on herself!

Li Jing’s eyes flashed with coldness, and he snorted.

Empress Qiao calmed down and said, “This matter ends here. It concerns the dignity and reputation of Shouning Palace. No matter how angry or upset your father is, he will never want to hear anyone mention this matter again. I will also issue a strict order that no one in the palace should talk nonsense.”

Lu Mingyu and Li Jing looked at each other and agreed together.

Empress Qiao let out another long breath: “It’s almost noon, I’ll have someone serve the meal. You two, please accompany me to have lunch before returning to the Lu Mansion!”

…

No matter what, Empress Qiao could at least have lunch.

Qin Fei was helped back to her bedroom, her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

Not to mention eating, she even felt like hanging myself.

Upon hearing the news, the Fourth Prince rushed over. Seeing Qin Fei’s miserable appearance, he felt distressed and anxious: “Mother, what happened?”

“Didn’t you go to Shouning Palace to accompany the Empress Dowager in the morning? Why did my second sister-in-law suddenly enter the palace? Why did the eunuchs go to the Jinluan Palace to deliver a letter, and my father even stopped the morning court? Now you have been severely punished and even your rank has been reduced to that of a concubine? What is going on?”

Every word and sentence was like a sharp blade, piercing Qin Jieyu’s heart. It was like a hole was pierced in her internal organs, and a cold wind blew out.

Qin Fei clutched the Fourth Prince’s arm tightly, crying breathlessly.

The Fourth Prince was so anxious that he almost cried: “Mother, what’s going on? Stop crying and tell me quickly! You are driving me crazy!”

Qin Fei cried for a long time, her eyes and nose were red, and when she opened her mouth, her voice was hoarse as if she had been crushed by sand and stones: “Ah Xian, I was too careless. I thought that since Lu Mingyu was pregnant, the Empress Dowager should make things difficult for her and not let her be so proud. Who knew…”

Qin Jieyu cried as she spoke, her words were intermittent and her meaning was not clear.

However, they were biological mother and son after all, and that was how it was.

The Fourth Prince also understood it.

The Fourth Prince’s head was about to explode. He rubbed his forehead and sighed, “Mother, I told you before. The second sister-in-law is so difficult to deal with. Don’t provoke her easily. Why don’t you listen to me!”

Now, look what has happened. You have shot yourself in the foot.

Qin Fei’s eyes were as red and swollen as peaches. “I just wanted to make a few provocative remarks to vent my anger. I never thought that your grandmother would get angry and make such a fuss.”

The Fourth Prince sighed again, lowering his voice a bit: “Mother, you always instigate behind my back, and the royal grandmother obeys you. Royal Father has seen it and has been dissatisfied for a long time. This time, Royal Father is taking advantage of the situation and severely punishing you.”

“I know that you feel wronged and sad. However, under the current situation, you can only hold your anger in. Stay in the palace and reflect on yourself. When my Royal Father calms down, we can find a way to lift the house arrest order. You must not make any more noise now.”

(End of this chapter)