The Emperor left, not exactly cold towards Chu Feiyan, but not overly warm either.
Chu Feiyan never dared to be presumptuous in his presence.
Although the Emperor didn't appear particularly stern, he carried an aura of aloofness and distance.
It wasn't directed specifically at her; it seemed he resisted any young woman who approached him.
Therefore, Chu Feiyan didn't dare to get even half a step closer.
As he passed, the usually arrogant Chu Feiyan could only lower her head and step aside.
Only after the Emperor had gone far away did Chu Feiyan let out a heavy sigh of relief.
The pressure was immense.
"Imperial Grandmother!" As soon as Chu Jiangnan had left, Chu Feiyan immediately reverted to her usual spoiled and willful princess persona.
She rushed over, knelt beside the Empress Dowager, and clutched her leg, crying, "Imperial Grandmother, Feiyan has been bullied!"
In reality, the Empress Dowager was not her biological grandmother.
However, the Empress Dowager had no grandchildren of her own, and Chu Feiyan had essentially grown up with her.
In this regard, Prince Yu was quite thoughtful.
From a young age, he had ensured Feiyan frequently visited the palace. Indeed, the Empress Dowager showed more affection towards Chu Feiyan than towards others.
"What is it? Who dared to bully our Feiyan?"
Seeing Chu Feiyan in this state, the Empress Dowager's heart immediately ached.
"Which blind fool dared to bully you? Tell me, Imperial Grandmother will deal with him for you! Alright, alright, Feiyan, stop crying, get up and speak."
Chu Feiyan loved to hold her leg.
Because as long as she held her leg, the Empress Dowager would agree to anything she asked.
"It's that Chu Qianli!"
"Chu Qianli?" The name didn't ring any bells. She was also surnamed Chu, perhaps someone from the imperial family?
But there was no one of that name in their imperial clan.
"Who is she?"
"She's a woman my brother brought back. She's been with many men. I don't know what my brother sees in her to keep her by his side."
"Oh, Hao'er is getting married?" This was somewhat unexpected for the Empress Dowager.
"No, no! How could my brother marry such a fallen woman?" Chu Feiyan immediately denied it.
The Empress Dowager was confused. "But... he's kept her by his side all this time?"
"It's... it's just for fun, the kind you play with and then discard!"
"How could Hao'er do such a thing? That's too much for any young lady." The Empress Dowager immediately frowned.
Chu Feiyan nearly rolled her eyes.
She had come to complain, but her Imperial Grandmother was sympathizing with Chu Qianli instead?
However, her Imperial Grandmother was soft-hearted and ignorant, easily misled.
Chu Feiyan quickly said, "It's not like that, Imperial Grandmother. That woman likes my brother's power and influence. She insisted on staying by his side, following him all the way back from Beiming."
"Didn't I tell you? She's been with countless men before, so many she can't count!"
"Then isn't she... like a courtesan?"
Although the Empress Dowager had never personally visited a pleasure district, she had heard about them and had a general idea of the kind of women found there.
A woman whose arms were embraced by a thousand men, the dirtiest kind of woman.
It was truly disappointing that Hao'er had gotten involved with a courtesan.
Chu Feiyan hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "That's right, just like a courtesan!"
"A courtesan, how dare she bully you?" The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised.
Chu Feiyan quickly added, "Because someone is backing her, Imperial Grandmother. Tonight, you'll see her, and you'll know how formidable she is! Imperial Grandmother, you must help me tonight and utterly destroy her!"