Chapter 1509: Still Dare to Slander the Princess?

Qingmei quickly shook her head.

Disregarding her own well-being, she pulled out a handkerchief to gently wipe the blood from the corner of Chu Ping’s mouth.

"You’re hurt!"

There weren’t many people from the Xiu Luo Envoy, but they still managed to gain the upper hand through their exceptional skills.

Nonetheless, Chu Ping still was wounded.

His temper flared, and he cursed harshly, fought fiercely, causing the group of Imperial Guards to beat him mercilessly.

Fortunately, Chu Ping was not one to be trifled with, and the Imperial Guards suffered even more injuries on their side!

He only had a bruise at the corner of his eye and spat out a few mouthfuls of blood.

Seeing Qingmei’s worried and bloodshot eyes, Chu Ping held her face, his voice gentle and calm as he reassured her, "It’s nothing, nothing at all! Just a minor injury. Didn’t I survive when my bones were broken for Guoguo before? Don’t worry, don’t scare the child in your belly."

Qingmei leaned into his embrace, the two sharing a deep bond.

Cai Ying, being an unmarried maiden, blushed and silently moved aside.

The Commander of the Imperial Guard, firmly pinned to the ground by Lei Hu, loudly pleaded with Bai Xilie —

"Emperor! I have offended the Princess, a crime punishable by death, but I was only trying to investigate the matter thoroughly! Perhaps my words were disrespectful, but my loyalty to you is absolute!"

Bai Xilie regarded him with a stern expression: "Loyalty is allowed, but that does not mean loyalty grants you the right to overstep boundaries and act wildly in Ruizhu Palace on my behalf! The Princess is my lifeline, and my bottom line! If you oppose her, you oppose me!"

"I asked you to investigate, not to overstep!"

The Commander gritted his teeth, knowing that a harsh punishment awaited him.

Resolutely, he cast aside his fears and spoke again: "Emperor, I actually suspect that Qingmei and Cai Ying harbor resentment towards the Imperial Concubine, and this suspicion is not unfounded. I even suspect that Princess also knows, but you are unaware!"

"Outrageous! How dare you slander the Princess?" Bai Xilie’s eyes widened with fury.

The Commander hastily said, "Several times, during our patrols, we Imperial Guards overheard Qingmei speaking ill of the Imperial Concubine to Chu Ping. Qingmei even said that the Princess does not truly like the Concubine, but only accepts her out of consideration for the Emperor!"

Bai Xilie looked back: "Qingmei, did you really say that?"

Qingmei immediately stepped forward, kneeling to report, "Emperor, indeed I did say so."

Chu Ping was greatly shocked and hurriedly knelt beside Qingmei: "Emperor, please see clearly, Qingmei only spoke out of concern for the Princess. Her careless speculation, I will sternly admonish her and never let her make such a mistake again."

If not handled properly, Qingmei could very likely bear the charge of incitement.

Chu Ping felt deep regret.

When he and Qingmei were walking on the palace road, discussing the topic of the Concubine without restraint, he should have stopped it in time.

Now that it has been overheard with malicious intent, if Qingmei is punished and harmed as a result, it will truly be a cause for deep regret!

Bai Zhi’er was about to step forward to help Qingmei justify herself, but then saw Qingmei straighten her back and clearly explain —

"The reason I said that is because I have cared for the Princess for thirteen years, and I have seen how much she misses the Empress."

"When the Princess was young, at the banquet held in Yangjin Garden by the ladies of Mingyang Academy, all the heads of families came to network for their daughters, but the Princess did not attend. The Princess said her mother was too busy, and when I asked if she was sad, the Princess replied that the Empress was devoted to the happiness of thousands of families in the world and therefore could not be by her side, so she understood and wasn’t sad!"

"But, at that time the Princess was only six years old, and when she saw the happy parents of others, how could she not miss her own mother?!"