However, even if she had a thousand or ten thousand reasons to be unwilling, the rules of the palace and the Empress Dowager’s will were not something she could defy. Thus, under the gaze of the people of the Capital of Great Yong, two teaching maids openly entered the Princess House to start instructing the over forty-year-old Princess Gao Yang in the rules.

Princess Gao Yang thought she had done it without anyone knowing; she never expected the Empress Dowager to find out. If she had known that the Empress Dowager had such abilities, even if some ghosts were pulling her, she wouldn’t have committed such a foolish and stupid act. But now, it was too late for regret.

She bit the bullet, tormented by two teaching old palace maids for a month, nearly losing half of her life. After personally entering the palace to plead guilty to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager finally forgave her.

However, even though she was spared death, she couldn’t escape punishment. The Empress Dowager, who had always taken care of her for the late Emperor’s sake, was now cold-hearted after this incident. She no longer treated her warmly in public or private, not even giving her the basic face of acknowledgement, and was even reluctant to spare her a glance. If not for her being the late Emperor’s only full sister, Empress Dowager Wanyan would have punished her long ago, rather than let her continue in her lofty position as the Eldest Princess.

However, even though the Empress Dowager did not punish her, her status in the aristocratic circle of the Great Yong Kingdom had undoubtedly plummeted. Offending the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, only a fool would continue to be close to them and risk offending the Emperor and the Empress Dowager on their behalf!

Princess Gao Yang suddenly became much more honest, and her arrogance waned. She locked herself in the Princess House, not leaving it for several months. Later, it was the Empress Dowager Wanyan’s birthday, and she personally intervened with plea to Empress Dowager Wanyan, who then forgave her.

From that day onwards, this once haughty and overbearing Princess became modest and restrained, no longer acting imperiously as before. Even during her birthday, she didn’t, like in past years, set up stages along the street or give out rewards in shovel baskets to the common people. Instead, she only invited a few close friends and family and hastily set up a few tables at home.

Everyone seeing the Empress Dowager Wanyan supporting her and the Empress Dowager not taking her seriously, forced themselves to attend the Eldest Princess House to celebrate her birthday. Her cherished daughter, Li Defei, also returned to celebrate her, as did another concubine daughter.

This concubine daughter was the child of Son-in-law Li Nai with Xiao Family outside, the woman whom Gao Yang crippled and disfigured. When she first discovered the existence of Xiao Family mother and daughter, she originally planned to have them beaten to death. Later, a maid at her side suggested she claim this concubine daughter under her name and betroth her to Murong Liuzun, who was likely to become the Crown Prince, as a Side Consort. In the future, when the King of Chu and Murong Liuzun competed and the winner emerged, she could then marry her biological daughter to the victor, using the concubine daughter as a substitute for the loser, thus keeping promises and ensuring her precious daughter marries the best.

Originally, she had already arranged for her daughter to be betrothed to the King of Chu, the most likely to ascend the Crown Prince’s throne. Unexpectedly, later, Empress Wanyan adopted the ninth prince, Murong Liuzun, born to Yang Cairen, and Murong Liuzun, benefiting from a mother’s rank, became the strongest contender for the Crown Prince position. To ensure her cherished daughter could marry the future emperor, Princess Gao Yang swallowed her anger and did not act against the Xiao Family mother and daughter, instead raising them well in the mansion. She raised them until Murong Liuzun was granted the title of Crown Prince, with her daughter Li Ling’er substituting for the concubine daughter to marry Murong Liuzun, and the concubine daughter substituted for Li Ling’er to marry the King of Chu, Murong Yuan.

Out of jealousy, she prepared a very modest bridal gift for the concubine daughter, all to ensure she wouldn’t have a good life at her mother-in-law’s house. She even found four gaudily dressed bridesmaids, intending for them to vie for favor in the King of Chu’s mansion.

After sending off the two daughters, she had a maid of Xiao Family steal a random poem written by Xiao Family, gave it to a servant to hold, using it as false evidence to accuse Xiao Family of adultery with that servant.

Xiao Family could not defend herself, was ordered by her to have her appearance ruined, legs broken, and was thrown out of the mansion.

Son-in-law Li Nai knew Xiao Family was falsely accused but had no power to help Gao Yang, could only whisper a few pleas on her behalf, resulting in a slap and the order to fiercely beat Xiao Family once more, dragging her into the street to be publicly shamed as licentious...

Of course, all this was in the past. Ever since the failed scheme against the Empress Dowager resulted in being taught a lesson by her in return, she dared not act so wildly again. She originally planned to disgrace her concubine daughter during this birthday feast. However, with the previous incidents, she dared not act rashly again, fearing any evidence might fall into the Empress Dowager’s hands and even the Empress Dowager Wanyan might not be able to protect her!

Nevertheless, in front of everyone, she still did not give that concubine daughter face. Because that concubine daughter, contrary to her wishes, hadn’t been worn down by the Chu King’s Mansion but instead appeared lively, glowing, dressed in the clothes of a Royal Consort, and surrounded by golden slave and silver maid, she sat brazenly at her subordinate’s left without waiting for her to grant a seat. How dare she?