The Double-Chapter 592 - 173 Gentle

The uproar that erupted in the Golden Throne Hall reached a resolution two days later.

Assistant Head Writer Shen Yurong and Chancellor Li’s Eldest Young Master Li both resigned from their positions, and as for Princess Yongning, she was demoted to a commoner. Shen Yurong and Li Xian were alright, as they didn’t have to wait for Emperor Hongxiao to erupt and took the initiative to resign themselves. Princess Yongning’s demotion, however, was a direct command from Emperor Hongxiao, which saw her plummet from her lofty status to the mire overnight.

Upon hearing the news, Empress Dowager Liu immediately sought to plead with Emperor Hongxiao. The Emperor didn’t even see her, merely sending Eunuch Su to dismissively report his ill health. Empress Dowager Liu initially wanted to emulate the earlier concubines, waiting persistently if the Emperor refused to meet. But her physical strength was failing her, and Emperor Hongxiao had not a shred of sympathy for her. Realizing there was no turning back, Empress Dowager Liu left in indignation after waiting half a day, choosing to drop the matter.

Guards were stationed at the gates of the Princess’s Mansion, which no longer belonged to Princess Yongning. Just after having her marriage annulled with Li Xian, and unable to return to her own mansion, she was truly without recourse, homeless and destitute.

Empress Dowager Liu promptly spoke to Prince Cheng, urging him to find Princess Yongning and settle her down. Even if Princess Yongning was demoted to a commoner, Empress Dowager Liu couldn’t ignore her daughter. She thought that for now, it was crucial to appease Emperor Hongxiao, and with time, once a new ruler took over, her daughter could still return to the capital in high spirits.

Prince Cheng was also in a dilemma but had someone secretly escort Princess Yongning and gave her some silver to stay temporarily at an inn. She couldn’t stay at a reputable inn, fearing it would lead to discovery. After all, it was an imperial edict, and should she be found defying it, nobody could save Princess Yongning anymore.

Princess Yongning had never lived in such a shabby inn before and immediately demanded a change of place from Prince Cheng. Prince Cheng chastised her furiously because Princess Yongning’s outburst at the Golden Throne Hall had led to Shen Yurong’s and Li Xian’s resignations. This caused a rift between his family and the Li Family. Though Prince Cheng had appeased the Right Chancellor, could the cracks in their hearts truly heal so easily? Li Zhongnan may have said he harbored no grudges and that bygones were bygones, but who really knew what he was thinking inside? With his subordinates likely to grow estranged at such a critical time, it posed a significant problem for Prince Cheng.

Therefore, he was quite furious with Princess Yongning, the instigator of the disaster, and even blamed her, "Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant? And why did you insist on marrying Li Xian? Don’t you know the Li family is untouchable? How could you be so audacious?" freeweɓnøvel.com

"If I had told big brother, would you have granted my wish?" retorted Princess Yongning, unyieldingly, "The Emperor’s decree had already been passed, and even my mother had no way to change it, so what could you possibly do? Perhaps you would have even tried to appease the Li Family by having me get rid of the child beforehand! You talk of high and noble deeds, but you don’t understand why I ended up like this! If you had the ability, you would take that position, so Mother and I wouldn’t have to swallow our anger for so many years!"

Prince Cheng, infuriated, gave Princess Yongning a slap, and they parted on bad terms.

Since being settled here, Princess Yongning had not left the inn for even a step. Every time she went out and saw how people looked at her, she couldn’t help wanting to have them seized and beheaded. But now, with her status revoked, she could no longer act on her whims.

She became a commoner.

It was laughable, really. In the past, she had ridiculed Xue Fangfei for being nothing more than the daughter of a petty official, whose low status meant she could trample and insult her at will, yet now she was even worse off than Xue Fangfei.

Perhaps it wasn’t really so.

Princess Yongning lay on the couch, eyes closed, simply wishing that when she opened them again, someone would tell her that all of this was just a dream, and she was still the untouchable princess.

There was a noise at the door, which stirred her. She sat up and saw Mei Xiang enter from the outside.

After Princess Yongning was demoted to a commoner, the servants from her mansion no longer belonged to her. But Mei Xiang had stayed by her side throughout. Mei Xiang came in, closed the door gently, approached Princess Yongning, and whispered, "Your Highness, I just heard from outside, Lord Shen has resigned."

"What?" The previously languid Princess Yongning was jolted awake, "Why would he suddenly resign?"