Just now, he had already stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute, making such a grand gesture that there was no way to pretend nothing had happened.

However. No need to panic.

The Minister of Revenue didn’t even pause, raising his voice: “Your Majesty! I believe that Prince Consort, who hasn’t even grasped the timing of farming, shamelessly claims that Princess is holding him back, which is... utterly disgraceful! And to falsely accuse Princess because of this—Your Majesty, I believe Prince Consort must be severely punished!”

Prince Consort swallowed a few dry gulps of air, looking at the Minister of Revenue, his teeth itching with both anger and a sense of inexplicable grievance.

What did I ever do to offend you! Why are you so eager to step on me!

＊

With a nod from the old emperor, the guards surged forward and forced Prince Consort to kneel on the ground. The old emperor, suppressing the impatience in his eyes, turned to Princess Grace: “What do you think?”

This was the last chance.

The old emperor thought, if this daughter remained so stubborn and insisted on pleading for Ian Lewis, then he’d just lock them up together and let the lovebirds have their wish.

Princess Grace was silent for a moment, then gently closed her eyes and said, “Prince Consort has wronged me. I ask Father to make the decision.”

The old emperor burst out laughing.

Ian Lewis’s face turned pale, filled with shock and fear, and he almost blurted out, “Princess, didn’t you—didn’t you always say you’d love me forever?”

Princess Grace gave a faint, mocking smile, suddenly finding it all absurd.

So he did know she liked him. As Mr. Foster had said, he was well aware of her feelings, and so acted without restraint.

His claims of unrecognized talent were false, his noble character was false, his suffering in silence was false! Everything was false! Then what had she been feeling guilty and enduring for all these years!

“Father, I’m tired. I’d like to return to the palace and rest for a few days.”

With permission granted, Princess Grace turned and left. As her skirt swayed, a jade pendant slipped from her waist, unnoticed by her, but Prince Consort saw it.

After that, Princess Grace vaguely heard Prince Consort seem to pick something up, shouting things like “It was you,” “Lantern Festival night,” “little girl,” “ten years ago,” “mistaken identity”... But as she walked farther and farther away, the sounds faded and she could no longer hear them.

＊

The next day, at court, Evan Foster and Princess Grace exchanged glances.

Princess Grace was dressed in official robes, her dazed face full of anxiety.

Evan Foster was utterly surprised: “Princess Grace?”

Why is she here?

Princess Grace lowered her head slightly, raising her sleeve to half-cover her face, and said helplessly, “Father said, the emperor’s word is golden. Yesterday he appointed me as an assistant in the Ministry of Revenue, so at the very least I should go to the office for a few days. That’s why, at the fifth watch, he had someone wake me up.”

The fifth watch was between 3 and 5 a.m.

Evan Foster looked at her sympathetically.

Congratulations, welcome to the ranks of the overworked!

Noticing her pallor, he asked, “Did you not sleep well last night, Princess?”

Princess Grace rubbed her sore eyes and nodded: “I didn’t sleep a wink.”

Speaking of which, she was full of resentment.

No matter how disappointed she was in Prince Consort, it was still a proper heartbreak. She had been brooding, sad, and miserable in her own chambers, grieving by moonlight, weeping at the sky, unable to sleep for a long time. Suddenly, a group of palace maids burst in, saying, “Your Highness! His Majesty wants you at court!” She was completely thrown off.

In the chaos, she had to put on official robes, tie up her hair, don her official hat, and stumble through most of the inner palace, barely making it to the court room in time, out of breath.

All her sadness and gloom vanished; she was just exhausted and now only wanted to lie in bed and sleep.

Evan Foster felt even more sympathy, but said nothing, only silently cupping his hands in salute.

After the court session began, Evan Foster turned his head and saw that Princess Grace was struggling to stay awake, but didn’t dare to sleep.

[This Princess is really honest, actually forcing herself to stay awake.]

Evan Foster couldn’t help but sigh.

[We’re at the back of the ranks, pretty well hidden. If you’re really that sleepy, just close your eyes for a bit—no one will notice. And don’t worry about missing anything; these court sessions mean nothing to minor officials like us who just handle paperwork. In earlier dynasties, anyone below the fifth rank didn’t even have to attend regular court. The old emperor just couldn’t stand officials sleeping in, so he expanded the number required at court!]

Princess Grace looked at him with tears in her eyes, thinking: You really are a good person.

Not only did he help her resolve her feelings for Prince Consort, he was now teaching her how to slack off!

But, with him saying this out loud, everyone in court could hear, so she dared not sleep even more!

So, during the court session, Princess Grace struggled to keep her eyelids open, and as for Prince Consort... compared to sleep, he was no longer important.

Evan Foster didn’t sleep either, but was skillfully zoning out, waiting for the eunuch to announce the end of court.

Then, both of them were startled awake by the same voice—

“I heard that His Majesty imprisoned Prince Consort Lewis yesterday on the grave charge of treason. I have something to say.”

“First, Prince Consort is the husband, Princess is the wife; the husband is the head of the wife. If Prince Consort mistreated his own wife, how can that be considered treason?”

“Second, if it is not treason, then the case of the entire Song Guogong family should be reconsidered. They should not have been stripped of their titles and exiled. This is a light crime with a heavy punishment, undermining justice.”

“Third...”