Arc 1.2

"Where is she?" the emperor's voice, full of rage, echoed throughout the hall. The eunuchs, maidservants, concubines, and consorts present all kneeled on the ground, trembling and pleading for the emperor to calm down.

How could he calm down?

He had just learned that his beloved daughter had been abusing her title these past few days.

How could he possibly calm down?

As the emperor of the country, he felt deeply challenged that the princess he had spoiled was not taking him seriously.

"Dear, dear. Please calm down, Your Majesty; this anger is not good for your health," the empress said, gently touching the emperor's chest, hoping to soothe him.

As the empress patted his chest with worry, she also thought about Chen Kei with concern.

Finally, the person in question appeared.

Chen Kei entered the hall with graceful steps.

Xu Xiexie, who was standing by the third prince's side, clenched her hands hard, seething with anger that Chen Kei showed no remorse.

Her expression darkened for a moment before she replaced it with a gentle smile. Wickedly, she thought, 'It's okay. She will feel remorse now that she has fallen out of favor with the emperor,' Xu Xiexie thought, a smile playing on her lips.

The third prince noticed her and was slightly captivated by Xu Xiexie for a moment before he snapped back to his senses.

What was he doing being fascinated by a mere maid?

Really, he was too disappointing sometimes.

Even if Xu Xiexie was truly beautiful, that was no reason to be so easily captivated by her.

It seemed like he wasn't qualified to dream of fighting for the throne if he was so easily tempted by beauty.

Both the third prince and Xu Xiexie had troubled thoughts.

Chen Kei soon arrived in front of the hall with graceful and light steps.

Her expression was gentle as she cupped her hands to show respect to the empress, emperor, and all the elders present.

"Chen Kei greets the emperor, father!" Chen Kei respectfully saluted the emperor and then turned towards the empress, who was looking at her with loving eyes.

It seemed as if Chen Kei was her own daughter and not the daughter of an imperial consort.

"Chen Kei greets the imperial mother." Chen Kei also saluted the empress with gentle movements. The people in power waited for her to finish her salutations to the other elders. The emperor finally twitched his lips, feeling very complicated.

The anger he had felt towards his beloved daughter a while ago was now dissipating.

But he couldn't just let his beloved daughter off the hook now that so many people were watching.

Letting out a heavy sigh, he asked, "Eighth princess, what is this news that I have heard? Is it all true?" There was a tone of dignity in his question, but it also seemed like he wouldn't reprimand Chen Kei after that.

Just because she had shown respect towards them?

Xu Xiexie bit her lip, a dark light flashing in her eyes, hating herself for not being strong enough to do anything about it.

The pain that suddenly spread through her reminded her that she had hurt herself.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she secretly pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and silently wiped off the blood from her palm, looking at Chen Kei, who still had that gentle smile on her lips.

Her head was buzzing.

She... She really wanted to kill this spoiled princess now.

Chen Kei, sensing the bad vibes, looked to the side, her dark eyes meeting Xu Xiexie's gray eyes, which were full of bad omens.

Her gentle lips curled slightly upwards.

It was meant to be a gentle smile, but it felt like a provocation to Xu Xiexie.

She was anxious.

As she looked at the emperor and Chen Kei, she stopped herself from making a scene.

Chen Kei chuckled silently in her mind.

As a writer and the creator of this character, Kate knew all too well what kind of person her heroine was.

She was full of justice and kindness in the eyes of those she had saved or rescued.

But Kate knew it was all done for ambition.

Xu Xiexie was very selfish; she wouldn't help those who couldn't benefit her in the future.

Of course, it was because of Kate, the writer, that the heroine's character was so twisted.

But who could blame Kate?

She was also a twisted character, so her characters should be twisted too.

The system was silent, not making any comments about this thought.

As Chen Kei cupped her hands again, her gentle voice echoed around the hall as she asked, slightly confused, "What news was it, Imperial Father? This princess does not know what kind of farce has reached your ears once again," Chen said with a smile on her lips.

The empress gasped as the emperor's eyes flickered after hearing what she said.

The servant who was said to be punished by Chen Kei widened his eyes and desperately shouted, "Your Highness! You know all too well what news His Majesty has heard!" the servant yelled wildly.

Coldness flashed across Chen Kei's imperial brothers' faces as they looked at the servant yelling wretchedly at their little sister.

Chen Kei was slightly scared after hearing the servant suddenly shout.

Her face and lips turned pale, but she stubbornly looked at her imperial father, waiting for his response.

The emperor knitted his brows as coldness spread throughout the hall.

The sight of his beloved daughter being scared really touched his nerves.

He wanted to comfort his daughter and punish the servant for scaring her, but he restrained himself because he knew too many people were watching.

He didn't want to be labeled as an emperor who only knew how to spoil his daughter.

[Even though that was very true.]

He raised his head and clenched his hands into fists before saying, in response to Kate's question, "The news that you are arbitrarily punishing servants every single day, even though they did not do anything wrong. Is that true?"

"No, it is not true, Imperial Father," Chen Kei quietly said.