Chu Qianli remained standing tall.
Qin Liuyan, who was kneeling beside her, looked at her, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
"Xiao Qi, it's mother... it's mother's fault! It's all mother's fault! Xiao Qi, it's mother who harmed you!"
Chu Qianli looked at her coldly, "Hold on, you are merely a concubine of the Grand Tutor, not my mother."
A stepmother, daring to call herself 'mother' in front of her?
Qin Liuyan continued to shed tears, crying with a desolate and resentful air.
Chu Hongtao couldn't stand it any longer and roared, "Unfilial daughter, look clearly, she is your mother! Your real mother!"
"What did you say?" Chu Qianli's eyes darkened as she stared at Chu Hongtao, "Speak clearly!"
This low growl, though not loud, carried such a commanding presence that Chu Hongtao instinctively wanted to take two steps back.
Not only him, but everyone present was genuinely shocked by the girl's aura!
Why did she seem to possess a kingly presence?
This aura almost seemed to overshadow the Emperor on his throne!
After an unknown period, the Emperor's face suddenly darkened, and he roared, "Presumptuous!"
Eunuch Qing immediately began to scold, "Bold Chu Qianli, you truly are a wild and rude mad girl, to treat your own father with such an attitude!"
"Heh! A man who wishes to kill me while the Prince is in trouble, what right does he have to be my father?"
Chu Qianli's cold eyes swept over, her gaze lingering on Chu Hongtao before quickly falling on the Duchess.
The Duchess straightened her back, inexplicably feeling the pressure.
She suddenly felt a chill run through her.
She clutched her chest, feigning distress.
The Empress Dowager, being an elder, immediately showed pity and said, "Quickly, grant the Madam a seat!"
"Yes, Empress Dowager!"
A young eunuch below immediately brought a chair for the Duchess to sit and rest.
Chu Hongtao stepped forward, no longer looking at Chu Qianli, but directly at the Emperor, kneeling stiffly.
"Your Majesty, this subject's discipline is lacking, which led to the wrongdoings of those in my household! It is all this subject's fault. I beg Your Majesty to bestow punishment!"
Chu Huaiyu, who had been silent all this time, also knelt down, beside her father.
She held onto Chu Hongtao's sleeve, looking at the Emperor and Empress Dowager with tear-filled eyes.
"It is all this daughter's fault, and it has nothing to do with Father. I beg Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager for leniency. Father is not well. I am willing to bear all the mistakes!"
The Empress Dowager had a soft heart. Seeing such a kind and filial girl, how could she not like her?
She quickly said, "How could it be your fault? You are the victim in this entire matter. It is rare to see such filial piety; I am truly moved by you."
Seeing how much the Empress Dowager favored Chu Huaiyu, Nanny Jin immediately went down to personally help Chu Huaiyu up.
Unexpectedly, Chu Huaiyu shook her head and said hoarsely, "If Father is kneeling, how can his daughter stand at ease? If Father kneels, Huaiyu will accompany Father in kneeling."
These words, spoken neither too loudly nor too softly, were gentle and mild, seemingly without much force.
Yet, they were like countless knives, piercing everyone's heart.
This is what a daughter should be!
This is the attitude a daughter should have!
In contrast, Chu Qianli not only ignored her kneeling father but even spoke back!
Such a wicked attitude, such a low-quality woman, had become part of their royal family!
If Prince Xuan had the chance to ascend the throne in the future, wouldn't this woman become the Empress?
How could she possibly qualify to be an empress?