Chu Qianli's guess was correct. Following Feng Jinrui, Qingming and Lengji arrived soon after.
Next came Consort Jin, Yu Linglong, and the Empress Dowager.
The people from the Duke's estate were alerted, and Chu Hongtao and the Duchess also arrived.
Feng Jinrui blocked them all at the door, not allowing anyone to enter.
"Rui'er, let this empress dowager in to see Xuan'er!"
The Empress Dowager's steps were always weak and unsteady.
She had personally watched her grandson spit blood and fall into a semi-conscious state, yet he had still rushed out.
He had only gone to find Chu Qianli.
The Empress Dowager was anxious and distressed, yet she also felt a complex, indescribable emotion.
Xuan'er... seemed to truly like Chu Qianli...
Feng Jinrui supported her and said gently, "Imperial Grandmother, Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law is treating Imperial Brother. We mustn't disturb them."
"Chu Qianli has already signed the divorce letter. She is not your Fourth Imperial Sister-in-law!" Consort Jin corrected immediately.
Heaven knew how she had endured her time in the harem recently.
The Emperor had never even glanced at her. Knowing that Prince Xuan was distant from her, those opportunistic concubines in the harem immediately mocked and ridiculed her.
Even the snobbish palace maids and eunuchs dared to disrespect her!
This time, she had finally found a small opportunity to get closer to her two sons.
She absolutely could not let Chu Qianli ruin her plans again!
"Rui'er, hurry and move aside. Let Miss Yu go in and see your Imperial Brother," Consort Jin said again.
But Feng Jinrui was resolute this time. Not even the Empress Dowager could sway him.
He only knew that if Imperial Brother was injured like this and still came to find Chu Qianli, then Imperial Brother must have his reasons.
As for the people from the Duke's estate, with even the Empress Dowager present, how could they dare to say a word?
Later, Chu Huaiyu also returned.
It was said that she had been injured in the palace, and at this moment, Chu Huaiyu looked frail and delicate.
Seeing that Han Zhan was also helping Feng Jinrui block the door to Chu Qianli's room, Chu Huaiyu stepped forward, her expression melancholic and pitiful.
"Han Zhan, Xiao Qi is not Long Qianyue's daughter. Did you know about this?"
Han Zhan remained silent, only nodding.
Chu Huaiyu was surprised by his calmness.
She thought it was likely because Han Zhan himself didn't have much feeling for Chu Qianli, so whether it was Chu Qianli or not, he didn't care.
Thinking this, she felt relieved.
She opened her mouth, wanting to speak but hesitating.
She thought Han Zhan would ask what she was thinking, as he always did before.
However, she didn't expect Han Zhan to have no intention of asking.
After a long while, it was quiet outside the door, and an awkward atmosphere permeated the air.
Chu Huaiyu finally couldn't help but speak first, "Han Zhan, I... I am Long Qianyue's daughter."
"Mm," Han Zhan replied.
"You already knew?" Chu Huaiyu looked at him and bit her lip.
"Mm," Han Zhan still replied indifferently, without any other unusual expression.
"Miss Huaiyu, the Empress Dowager and Consort Jin are here!" The butler Han, who had just arrived, couldn't help but remind her.
Chu Huaiyu naturally knew that the Empress Dowager and the others were there. They were sitting nearby, resting.
Everyone was waiting for news from Prince Xuan.
However, Han Zhan's consistently cold attitude towards her made Chu Huaiyu feel very uncomfortable.
"Han Zhan..."
Chu Huaiyu glanced towards the door and said softly, "Can I go in and see what Xiao Qi is doing?"
"Miss Huaiyu, you should wait a moment longer."
"Han Zhan, are you... are you angry with me?"
"Huaiyu!" Chu Hongtao immediately came over, interrupting her conversation with Han Zhan.
The royal family was here. Huaiyu was going to marry into Prince Xuan's estate. How could she be so intimate with Han Zhan in front of the Empress Dowager and Consort Jin?
Chu Hongtao winked at the Duchess, and the Duchess immediately pulled Chu Huaiyu away.
She pulled her to the Empress Dowager, hoping to curry favor.
Unfortunately, both the Empress Dowager and Consort Jin were worried about Feng Yexuan's injuries and paid little attention.
At noon, Chu Hongtao and the Duchess ordered a simple banquet to entertain the Empress Dowager, Consort Jin, and Yu Linglong.
But the Empress Dowager had no appetite, Consort Jin was also restless, and Yu Linglong looked down on everyone in the Duke's estate.
This small banquet eventually became very awkward.
After an unknown amount of time, Chu Qianli's door was finally opened.
Chu Qianli came out.
Feng Yexuan was still unconscious, but fortunately, he was no longer spitting blood.
The imperial physicians and Yu Linglong had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Chu Qianli emerge, they immediately wanted to enter.
Chu Qianli spread her arms and blocked them. "The Prince is resting. Please do not disturb him."
"Xiao Qi... Li'er, you don't understand medicine at all. Don't delay the imperial physicians' treatment of the Prince," Chu Hongtao said immediately.
Chu Huaiyu also said, "Yes, Fifth Sister, you should let the imperial physicians examine the Prince. Whatever happens to the Prince... you can't bear the responsibility."
Chu Qianli glanced at her, wanting to laugh. "Who is your Fifth Sister? Can you stop calling me that? It sounds so affected."
What a perfect, pure white lotus!
Had she accepted her "new identity" so quickly?
Fifth Sister! Heh, this fake green tea bitch was quite convincing!
Chu Huaiyu's face turned pale. Although she didn't understand what "affected" meant, she could clearly see the sarcasm in Chu Qianli's eyes.
Chu Qianli turned and walked to the Empress Dowager, her expression serious. "Empress Dowager, please follow me..."
"Fifth Sister, no matter what bad things you want to say about your sister to the Empress Dowager, your sister will not complain, but..."
She bit her lip, looking so wronged, yet always trying to swallow her grievances.
"But with the Prince in this state, even if you hate me, you can't delay the Prince's treatment."
"Who is delaying the Prince's treatment now? Miss Chu Huaiyu, can you please stop with that pitiful expression? Have I bullied you again?"
Chu Huaiyu was stunned.
The Empress Dowager and the others' gazes were all focused on her.
Chu Qianli looked impatient. "The Prince's condition is urgent. What do you mean by repeatedly interrupting my conversation with the Empress Dowager?"
"Huaiyu, you step back first." As soon as she heard the words "urgent," the Empress Dowager became anxious.
Although she felt that Chu Huaiyu was indeed more gentle and polite than Chu Qianli.
But now, after Chu Qianli said that,
Looking at Chu Huaiyu's so-called pitiful appearance, she inexplicably felt a sense of disgust.
A disgust she couldn't quite explain.
It was a physical aversion.
Chu Huaiyu was suddenly dumbfounded. Why did the Empress Dowager look at her with such disdain?
Hadn't the Empress Dowager liked her very much before today?
"Empress Dowager..."
"This empress dowager wants to see her imperial grandson. Why are you blocking the way?"
The Empress Dowager was truly losing patience. No matter how good Chu Huaiyu was, she was still someone else's child.
She was now worried about her grandson!
"Empress Dowager, I am not blocking the way. I... Fifth Sister is right. It's all my fault. Empress Dowager, I'm sorry..."
"Enough! When did Chu Qianli say a single bad word about you?"
The Empress Dowager stood up abruptly, displeased. "These affected performances of yours, save them for men. I can't stand it. Move aside!"
After the Empress Dowager said this, even she was surprised.
She had always been cautious, dignified, and gentle, never speaking such harsh words.
But she didn't know why, seeing Chu Huaiyu like this, in her haste, the words just blurted out.
It was as if they didn't need to go through her brain.
Looking at Chu Huaiyu again, with tears streaming down her face, a look of sorrow, evoking pity...
She was clearly pitiful, but why did seeing her make her hate her even more?
She really wanted to slap her.