USWHC -Chapter 470 Escape (Part 10)

“Father Emperor, it’s all my fault. I failed to notice anything unusual about my younger sister!” Seeing that the emperor was about to lose his temper, Zhu Jie quickly put on a remorseful expression.

The empress, however, deliberately softened her voice and said, “What fault is yours? If she was determined to run away, how could you possibly control her?”

Then she suddenly paused and changed her tone. “But if one must say you’re at fault, then it’s for setting a bad example for your younger sisters!”

Oh, so now she’d become a negative role model? Zhu Jie secretly sneered, but still kept up her obedient act. “Yes… it is my fault.”

“Of course it’s your fault!” Consort Duan immediately snapped in anger.

At that moment, the emperor let out a cold snort. “What fault does she have? It’s clearly you, as her mother, who failed to teach your child properly!” he said, glaring fiercely at Consort Duan.

Startled, Consort Duan lowered her head at once, then began to cry pitifully. “My poor child! Where on earth have you gone? Why don’t you come back and explain yourself, leaving your mother to bear all this blame for nothing? I’m the one who’s been anxious to death! I can’t eat or sleep, worrying about you. Yet no one shows me any sympathy—everyone just keeps blaming me!”

Her voice was soft and mournful, her performance so convincing it rivaled an opera singer. And sure enough, it worked. The emperor’s previously cold expression softened, and he sighed. “Enough, enough. Let’s find her first and talk later.”

This old man simply couldn’t withstand a display of gentle tears. Zhu Jie glanced at the emperor and saw a trace of pity in his eyes. Consort Duan’s act was flawless—despite the emperor’s words, she continued to sob quietly, deliberately suppressing her voice as if filled with endless grievance.

In contrast, the empress’s eyes were full of disgust—she practically wanted to claw Consort Duan’s face. But with the emperor present, she could only hold it in.

Just then, an excited and loud voice suddenly rang out from outside. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Princess Lanyi has been found!” A eunuch rushed in, his face brimming with excitement.

Everyone widened their eyes at once. Found?

Even the emperor grew visibly stirred. “Bring her in—quickly!”

But the eunuch hesitated, looking awkwardly at the emperor. “Reporting to Your Majesty… Princess Lanyi wishes to return to her palace first to freshen up before seeing you.”

Seeing his hesitant expression, the empress immediately smiled. “What is this, Eunuch Du? His Majesty and I have been so worried. As a daughter, she doesn’t come to pay her respects first, but instead wants to tidy herself up? What—has she done something she can’t let others see?”

Hearing this, Eunuch Du instinctively glanced at Consort Duan. At this moment, Consort Duan also began to feel uneasy. What had happened to Princess Lanyi? Why did she need to return to her palace first?

The emperor, too, grew suspicious. “Who found Princess Lanyi? And where?”

“It was Lord Zhao Xuguang who found her on the outskirts of the city,” Eunuch Du replied in a low voice, then added, “the northern outskirts.”

At this, both Princess Lanxin and Zhu Jie felt a jolt in their hearts. The northern outskirts—that was the infamous slum area, a place where refugees and drifters gathered. It wasn’t just dirty and chaotic—it was full of all kinds of dangerous people.

But the emperor and empress, who lived deep within the palace, had no idea that their capital was already divided into strict social tiers. The emperor merely said coldly, “She ran quite far.”

The empress, however, put on a concerned expression. “Since she’s safe, let her come see His Majesty first. How can we keep him waiting?”

Seeing the empress insist, Eunuch Du could only comply and withdrew. Though Consort Duan felt something was wrong, she couldn’t object. Setting aside filial duty, with the emperor’s status, it was indeed improper to keep him waiting.

But not long after, when Princess Lanyi stumbled into the hall, everyone froze in shock.

Her clothes were in tatters, her face smeared with dirt. Her hair was disheveled, half tangled and hanging loosely behind her. Her eyes looked like those of a panda, her once-perfect makeup completely ruined. Her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows had nearly disappeared, and the dimples that used to make her charming now seemed filled with grime.