"Jingzhao, there's no other way. Xu Xiang's side needs the assistance of the Second Princess.

But more importantly, Yan Shuai's side requires your help, my dear sister.

In the end, you and the emperor are blood siblings, sharing both glory and honor."

As she spoke, the empress personally filled a cup of fine wine and presented it to me.

The emperor also spoke at the right moment.

This time, he didn't ask for a military token.

Instead, he requested the position of the deputy marshal of the Xuanwu Army for Shen Zhi'an.

Does he know that not a single soldier in the Xuanwu Army has ever set foot on the battlefield or shed blood and suffered injuries?

Shen Zhi'an, the empress's younger brother, a seventeen-year-old frivolous young man.

He has never spent a single day on the battlefield, yet he wants to become the deputy marshal of the Xuanwu Army.

I was afraid that if I made this request, Yan Shuai would have my head.

"Sister, once the emperor firmly secures his position, we, as siblings, will no longer be at the mercy of others.

At that time, let alone the Second Princess, even Xu Xiang, I will no longer allow these people to mistreat you even the slightest bit."

I watched the play between my brother and sister-in-law, smiling without revealing my thoughts.

After the family dinner and drinking, it was getting late, and it was time for me to return to my residence.

I didn't get a definite answer, and the emperor was angry.

But the empress still put on a good facade. As I left, she smiled and asked me to take some mooncakes with me.

Leaving the palace, the cool night breeze dispelled the alcohol, leaving only a clear mind.

Lychee was angry tonight.

She couldn't hold back her anger and threw the box of mooncakes to the ground as soon as we left the palace.

I chuckled.

"Why did you throw it away?"

"Princess, those mooncakes were mixed with Qing Tea Flowers.

"The Second Princess loves Qing Tea Flowers, but if you touch them, you'll break out in a rash!"

After saying that, Lychee stomped her feet on the box, still full of dissatisfaction.

I teased her, "But this is a gift from the imperial court. You threw it away so casually. Aren't you afraid of punishment?"

"Princess! I don't recognize any emperor or imperial gifts. I only recognize you!

"How can there be such a shameless person in this world? He relies on you to ascend the throne, but at the feast, he humiliates you in front of the Second Princess.

"He punished you by confining you to your residence, and now he wants you to go ask Yan Shuai for the position of deputy marshal.

"He keeps saying that he and you are blood siblings, but every single thing he does is to use you and harm you.

"If he keeps this up, I really want to kill him!"

Lychee's final words were chilling.

I knew it wasn't just a momentary outburst of anger; she truly harbored murderous intent.

Lychee has been with me since we were young, growing up by the side of the empress dowager.

Before returning to the imperial capital, we didn't observe the formalities of the palace. We interacted not as master and servant but more like sisters.

Lychee is someone I can lie beside and gaze at the starry sky with.

She once waded through a pit of dead bodies to save me.

She can't stand to see even the slightest harm come to me.

The way the emperor treats me is simply trampling all over her bottom line.

"Lychee, do you trust me?"

"Princess?"

"From childhood until now, has anyone ever taken advantage of me?"

"No!"

After thinking for a moment, Lychee's eyes suddenly brightened, and she excitedly answered me.

"Then, let's just watch and see."