Palace.
When Chu Liuyue followed Chu Ning over, Emperor Jiawen and the Empress were already waiting in the palace.
Rong Jin and Situ Xingchen were also seated there.
There was still another person on the other side—Rong Jiu.
Chu Liuyue had already heard about what previously happened from Chu Ning, so she wasn't surprised by Rong Jiu's presence.
Her eyes quickly darted across the few people in the palace.
Emperor Jiawen had no expression on his face, but his gaze was grave.
Compared to the previous time she saw the Empress, the Empress looked much frailer. It was as though she had aged a lot in a moment. It was clear that the recent happenings had tortured her.
When Rong Jin saw Chu Liuyue, a complicated look flashed across his face.
He held a hairpin in his hands.
Chu Liuyue guessed that it was Rong Zhen's hairpin, which they had claimed to have found in her backyard.