Mo Lingwei rushed back to Zichen Palace, but he couldn't find Shen Ningning anywhere.
Just then, Qing Yuan returned from outside. When she saw Mo Lingwei, her face turned ashen as she came forward to beg for forgiveness.
"Please punish me, Your Highness. I failed to protect the Princess. Just now, the Emperor sent Commander Lu to forbid the Princess from staying in Zichen Palace, for fear of spoiling Your Highness's special arrangement."
Qing Yuan was sharp, and with just a few words, she explained the situation clearly.
Mo Lingwei's eyes darkened. "What's gotten into Father to come up with such a crooked idea?"
He had been wondering how Meng Wanning had even gotten permission to enter the palace. It turned out his father, the Emperor, was backing her all along.
He had been the one to invite Shen Ningning. Hearing this, Mo Lingwei could only imagine how awkward she must have felt.
"Where did the Princess go?" he asked Qing Yuan.
