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He wanted to go out and search, but he was stopped by the eunuch guarding the door, who said that it was late and unsafe for him to go out, and if the Princess Consort found out, they wouldn’t be able to escape her punishment.

Li Tingqian had no choice but to return to his room. Hungry, he fetched a stool and poured himself a cup of water from the table.

The tea was cold.

He held the teacup, gulping down two cups in a row. He filled his stomach with cold tea, then crawled back into the quilt and fell into a drowsy sleep again.

Then, he was awoken by the sound of a commotion.

He rubbed his eyes and got up, hearing from outside that Mo’er had been beaten to death.

He jumped up and ran out of the room barefoot, immediately catching sight of Mo’er lying on the ground with her entire back covered in blood, staining her clothes with dark spots.

“Sister Mo’er!”

Li Tingqian rushed to her and shook her, “Sister Mo’er, what happened to you?”

Deshan explained, “Last night, this servant was caught wandering around and suffered a rebuke.”

“What did she do wrong? What right do you have to beat her?” Li Tingqian cried loudly, “Quickly, summon the Imperial Physician!”

Deshan said, “We are lowly servants and are not qualified for the Imperial Physician’s treatment. The injury is not severe, she just needs a couple of days of rest. The emperor’s eldest grandson must not disgrace himself because of a servant. What are you all standing around for? Take her into the room and spare the emperor’s eldest grandson from this unsightly scene.”

Li Tingqian became furious, went back into the room, and fetched a whip. He pointed it at Deshan and shouted, “You insolent servant, I’ll beat you to death today!”

He raised the whip to strike him.

“What’s going on with the emperor’s eldest grandson?” The voice of Princess Consort Ma came from outside the door.

She walked in unhurriedly, her face expressionless. “Mo’er disregarded the palace rules, am I now not allowed to punish her here in the East Palace? If the emperor’s eldest grandson is angry, why not use the whip on me instead?”

“Do you think I dare not?!” Li Tingqian shouted.

“Oh, the emperor’s eldest grandson really doesn’t know how to behave. He must have learned nothing good when he was with the Prince of Yu.”

As the Prince of Yu was mentioned, Li Tingqian recalled her sinister warning from the day before.

The whip in his hand drooped.

What if he really harmed his Fifth Imperial Uncle?

Ms. Ma said indifferently, “The emperor’s eldest grandson should focus on establishing proper rules. For now, it’s best not to leave the room.”

After saying that, she turned and left.

Deshan stayed behind with others to guard him.

Trapped in the East Palace, he couldn’t even go to his grandfather, the emperor, to report his grievances, let alone find someone to relay a message for him.

Besides, he didn’t dare.

A eunuch said, “Young master, Miss Mo’er has awakened.”

Li Tingqian dropped the whip and ran to Mo’er’s bedside.

Mo’er’s skin had been lacerated by the beating. Having been left outside all night without care, she was barely breathing, her face turning blue and her lips cracked.

She opened her eyes, saw Li Tingqian, and tried to speak but couldn’t.

Li Tingqian cried, “Sister Mo’er, I’m going to find the Imperial Physician.”

“Your… Your Highness…”

With great difficulty, Mo’er raised her hand and shakily searched her bosom, pulling out a paper-wrapped package and handing it to him, “I’m… I’m sorry, I came back late…”

Li Tingqian took the package, opened it, and saw crushed pastries inside.

It turned out that she was beaten for stealing a few pastries.

“Your… Your Highness… I can’t serve you anymore. You… You must find the Princess Consort of Yu, only… Only she can protect you now… Staying in the East Palace, they won’t let you off…”

After struggling to say those words, she couldn’t speak anymore. Her hand stiffened, and her eyes remained slightly open, unwilling to close, as she finally breathed her last..