Hearing those words, the Empress’s expression naturally softened as her elegant and dignified face carried a hint of warmth. “Your Majesty, what are you saying? It’s only natural for young girls to have a few quarrels. Rong’er is a good child, and I trust Sister Consort will guide her properly.”

The emperor smiled but said nothing more and just patted her hand lightly before standing up to leave, Liu Yin quickly stood as well, joining the empress in bowing to see him off.

“With you managing the affairs of the inner palace, I have no worries.” The emperor said softly. “There are still some matters waiting for me in the imperial study, so I must take my leave. Take care of your health.”

With these words, the emperor stepped out of the inner chamber while the empress, with her cheeks tinged with a faint blush, bowed gracefully and said. “Your consort respectfully sees Your Majesty off.”

Liu Yin glanced at the departing figure, her back breaking out in a cold sweat. Indeed, serving a ruler was as perilous as standing alongside a tiger. Her aunt must find being the Empress an extraordinarily challenging role.

Once the Emperor departed, the Empress snapped out of her momentary tenderness. Her phoenix-like eyes scanned the room, and instantly, all the palace staff bowed and retreated. In just a moment, the vast inner chamber was left with only the two of them.

“You!”

The Empress couldn’t help but wear a stern face as she reached out to tap Liu Yin’s forehead, feigning reproach. “Even in front of His Majesty, you have no sense of decorum. You’re getting bolder by the day.”

Liu Yin sat there, looking a little aggrieved as she clutched her forehead. Who said she wasn’t afraid? She wanted nothing more than to behave properly and be an honest and obedient person but the original owner of this body was of this personality. If she suddenly became timid, wouldn’t that draw suspicion? Moreover, that Emperor was clearly astute beyond measure. Heaven knows how scared she had been just now, to the point of not daring to pick up a single dish and eating half a bowl of plain white rice instead.

“I… I was just telling the truth…” she muttered, pouting slightly.

The empress shook her head and her gaze scrutinizing her niece with a thoughtful intensity. The girl before her still had the same delicate, charming face, her features standing out even among the most noble young ladies yet, something felt off. It wasn’t just a matter of having studied for a few days, her eloquence seemed to sharp, too sudden.

Noticing the suspicious gaze on her, Liu Yin felt her heart skip a beat. Panicking, she quickly put on an excited face, pulling a book out from her sleeve like presenting a treasure. “I got this from Crown Prince gege today.” She said enthusiastically, placing it before the Empress.

Hearing this, the Empress’s face revealed a trace of doubt. She flicked Liu Yin lightly on the forehead with a finger and said sternly “Tell me the truth.”

Looking at her niece’s attire, she was convinced that the girl hadn’t been up to anything proper today.

Liu Yin flashed a mischievous smile, carefully tucking the book back into her arms. She lowered her head shyly and murmured. “I… I went to the Eastern Palace with Cousin today, so I changed into these clothes. And, um… I got this book from Crown Prince gege, but it came at a price. I swear I promised him I wouldn’t bother him for an entire month to get it!”

When she finished speaking, the Empress didn’t reprimand her right away. Instead, she narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. Her elegant nails slowly traced along the table, and the chamber fell into silence.

Although the Crown Prince wasn’t her biological son, the Empress understood him well enough. Despite her years of overt and covert matchmaking attempts, he had never shown any compromise, even refusing to glance at this niece of hers. However, things seemed to have changed recently. She was well aware that the two had spoken after leaving Changchun Palace that day. In this palace, nothing escaped her eyes and ears. Whether it was compromise or a shift in his perception of Liu Yin, it was undeniably a positive sign.

“Aunt…”

Liu Yin waved her hand in front of the Empress’s face, her heart racing at the thought that she might have exposed herself.

Snapping out of her thoughts, the Empress suddenly grabbed Liu Yin’s hand, her face turning solemn. “You’re an adult now, so there are things I won’t hide from you anymore. The Liu family’s situation isn’t good, after all, I’m not the Crown Prince’s birth mother, and that weakens the bond between us. Too many in the court are eyeing the Liu’s position. The only way for the Liu family to continue flourishing is for you to become the Crown Princess and eventually the Empress. But as you just saw, His Majesty’s stance is ambiguous, giving no clues about his plans. And Prime Minister Liu is pushing for his daughter to become the Crown Princess, making your situation precarious. However, the upcoming Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet will be critical. Both your father and I have made preparations—we will ensure you become the Crown Princess.”

Liu Yin sat there with a complicated expression, unsure of how she should feel. She understood that the Liu family wasn’t blind to the risks and benefits of their ambitions—they simply couldn’t bear to let go of their current prosperity. Not everyone had the courage to retreat in the face of danger. They clung to a shred of hope, convincing themselves that becoming the Crown Princess wouldn’t invite suppression.

^_^