But hadn’t Prince Zi kicked her out of the house already?

“I’ve never been to the royal palace before, and nobody ever told me such a rule. Everybody beats on me because I’m weak, so I thought it was a universal rule that you can beat up whomever you’re dissatisfied with.”

“That’s not entirely wrong, but this is the royal palace!” The emperor raised his voice. “Are you here to cause trouble?”

“I dare not. I’m alone and useless. How would I dare cause trouble? I was only angry that someone cursed my child. I hope that you can forgive me for protecting my child.”

Gu Bailu defended herself neither humbly nor arrogantly.

“Picking a fight isn’t causing trouble?” The emperor was pissed and glanced at Feng Qingtian. “Prince Zi, did you teach her this?”

Feng Qingtian picked up the cup on the table and said casually, “She just doesn’t know the rules of the palace. Besides, it’s normal that she’s protective of her child. If anyone cursed my child like that, I would’ve cut them apart immediately.”

A lot of things were implied in his words.

He seemed to be on Gu Bailu’s side, but he also seemed to be suggesting that Gu Bailu’s child wasn’t his.

Otherwise, that woman wouldn’t just have been wounded, but executed on the spot.

Gu Bailu, on the other hand, understood that Feng Qingtian was saying that he would deal with whoever cursed his child, and was telling her to stop making a commotion.

The emperor was about to say something else, but the empress dowager stopped him. “Okay, it’s understandable that she doesn’t know the rules. Have someone treat the wounded woman first. I don’t want my mood to be ruined.”

Gu Bailu could tell that the empress dowager didn’t want the emperor and Prince Zi to quarrel, so she decided to let it go.

“Go back to your seat. Since there was a fight at the very beginning of the birthday celebration, why don’t we play something else? I’m tired of the dances and fireworks every year.” The whole thing was now over after the empress dowager’s command.

Gu Bailu returned to her seat, not worried at all that the empress dowager or the emperor would do anything to her.

There was nothing to be scared of, with Feng Qingtian around.

It truly felt great when someone had her back.

“What do you want this year?” asked the emperor curiously.

Feng Qingtian also looked at the empress dowager. “Do you have any good ideas, grandmother?”

“Since a fight has already happened, why don’t we hold a game today and find out who the strongest expert in Southern Glory Empire is?”

Some ministers immediately agreed with the idea. “That’s a great plan, Your Highness. The annual Trial Meeting of the three countries will happen soon. This is a good chance to pick out our candidates.”

Feng Qingtian frowned and stared at the empress dowager. Exactly why was she suddenly proposing this?

It had never happened before.

He glanced at Qin Shou and said, “Tell them to hold for a while.”

“Yes.”

Qin Shou drew a minor cross in front of his chest and gave the secret order.

Since a game was underway, the party wouldn’t be over anytime soon.

Did the empress dowager know that he was going to do something, so was stalling him this way?

Feng Qingtian didn’t know the empress dowager’s thoughts, and could only delay his plan for now.

Also, Gu Bailu’s participation tonight hadn’t been part of the plan either.

However, the empress dowager had summoned Gu Bailu to the royal palace…