The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Shang Xi still noticed the subtle change. Zhong Siyu was different today. She seemed preoccupied and absent-minded while everyone was talking. She would occasionally glance at Han Muran, who was sitting next to Madam Wan. Madam Han, on the other hand, was all smiles and fawning, as if she had some good news.

Shang Xi pondered to herself that the Han family always avoided the Empress when she came to the Prince's Mansion. Why were these two people both by Madam Wan's side today? Zhong Siyu, who was usually as close as a sister to Madam Wan, seemed a little distant.

Before Shang Xi could come up with a reason, Zhong Siyu got up and said she was going back.

Entrusted by the Emperor, Zhong Siyu would stay for half a day each time she came. Although she arrived late today, she left too quickly.

Wan Baiqian joked, "Your Majesty, are you in such a hurry to go back and admire the lanterns with my uncle?"

Recalling the heartwarming scene of Wan Lianxing handing her the rabbit lantern before she left, Zhong Siyu smiled with exceptional happiness. "Before I left, the Emperor told me to go back early, otherwise he might blame me if I returned late."

Wan Baiqian smiled and took Zhong Siyu's hand, saying, "My uncle is accompanied by a group of ministers, so the Empress should keep Shang Xi and me company today!"

Shang Xi thought to herself that Wan Baiqian had gotten it backwards. If anyone should be accompanying the Empress, it should be them, the little people. Shang Xi asked Wan Baiqian, "Sister, you're not going to take me and the Empress to admire the moon, are you?"

Wan Baiqian laughed and said, "We must admire the moon, and we must drink wine!"

Zhong Siyu asked, "Where are we going to drink?"

Wan Baiqian said with a smile, "Get up wherever you fall."

Zhong Siyu was exceptionally intelligent: "Bianyu Tower?"

Wan Baiqian laughed and said, "Does the Empress dare to go?"

Zhong Siyu smiled and said, "What's there to be afraid of? But I have to send someone back to deliver the message."

Wan Baiqian pulled Zhong Siyu along and called out to Shang Xi, "Let's go to Bianyu Tower and drink until we drop."

At this moment, Madam Wan's voice rang out, "Take Muran with you when you go out for drinks."

It was clear that Han Muran wanted to go, but Wan Baiqian said, "What's the point of her, a junior, playing with us older folks? We're going to invite Lu Siniang and Madam Sha later. Muran doesn't even know them, so what's the point of her going?"

Han Muran, with her ambition, wanted to get to know anyone who could sit at the same table and drink with the current empress. After all, she was destined to become a concubine in the palace, and to help the Han family, she had to gain their favor and pave the way for their success.

Watching the Empress cherish the exquisite rabbit lantern, Han Muran was already consumed by jealousy. She believed that with her beauty and the special upbringing she received, she would gain favor as soon as she entered the palace. Today's encounter with the Empress gave her even more confidence in ascending to a higher position. In Han Muran's eyes, the Empress's gentle and virtuous nature was utterly unworthy of the title. Moreover, from Madam Wan's snippets of conversation, she learned that the Emperor didn't actually like the Empress; it was Madam Wan's support that had brought Zhong Siyu to her current position, hence Zhong Siyu's utmost respect towards Madam Wan.

Madam Wan ultimately failed to speak to her daughter. Wan Baiqian, who entered the room at the same time as Shang Xi, already knew why Zhong Siyu had a bitter smile and had made an excuse to return to the palace before Shang Xi even understood the situation.

So Madam Han and her granddaughter Han Muran could only watch helplessly as they left.

Han Muran looked at Madam Han with resentment and whispered, "Grandma, does the Empress not like me?"

Madam Han smiled and said, "Mu Ran, it doesn't matter whether the Empress likes you or not. What matters is that you make the Emperor like you."

"Grandma, will the Empress arrange for me to enter the palace?"

Madam Han flattered, "Since the old lady has spoken, this matter is practically settled. The empress has already agreed to everything the old lady said. Even the emperor has to give the old lady some leeway, let alone the empress. Didn't you hear what the old lady said? The empress is well-educated and reasonable. Your matter is nothing more than her going back and saying a word to the emperor."

After speaking, Madam Han looked at Madam Wan, and Han Muran also looked at Madam Wan. Their Han family had placed all their hopes on Madam Wan.

Madam Wan also believed that her conversation with Zhong Siyu today would definitely help Han Muran enter the palace. It was just adding a concubine to Wan Lianxing's family, nothing serious. Zhong Siyu wouldn't dare to offend her, and Wan Lianxing wouldn't dare to offend his sister-in-law either. Madam Wan was confident that Zhong Siyu would convey her words to Wan Lianxing tonight, and that Han Muran would soon be arranged to enter the palace as a concubine.

As expected, Wan Lianxing learned of this matter as soon as Zhong Siyu returned.

When Zhong Siyu returned to the palace that night with a lantern, Wan Lianxing had been waiting for her at her Wankang Palace for a long time.

Even from a distance, Wan Lianxing could smell the alcohol on Zhong Siyu. Zhong Siyu's eyes were also red, which matched the rabbit lantern in her hand perfectly, both having red eyes.

Wan Lianxing sighed, "This Baiqian really has no sense of propriety, dragging the Empress out for drinks in the middle of the night."

Zhong Siyu had drunk a lot of wine today and was already tipsy. She sniffed and said, "It wasn't just Baiqian who was drinking with us. Fourth Sister and Madam Sha were also there, as was Shang Xi."

"Has the Empress been bullied?"

Zhong Siyu sniffed and said, "No one is bullying Yu'er. Yu'er is the Empress, and everyone flatters me."

Wan Lianxing asked, "Then why are you crying?"

"I did not cry."

"Tears are streaming down your face, yet you say you haven't cried. Pearl, tell me the truth, who bullied the Empress?"

Pearl lowered her head, looking aggrieved.

Wan Lianxing immediately flew into a rage, "I dislike anyone who is subservient. If you don't tell me why the Empress is crying today, you will be punished according to palace rules."

Pearl pouted and said in a wronged tone, "Your Majesty, you are the Princess Consort of Prince Pang!"

"My sister-in-law? Explain yourself. What did my sister-in-law do to the Empress?" Wan Lianxing couldn't figure out what his sister-in-law could do to Zhong Siyu, no matter how hard he tried. In the past, his sister-in-law had always stood up for Zhong Siyu in front of him. He didn't believe that his sister-in-law would bully Zhong Siyu.

Zhong Siyu gave Zhu'er a look, signaling her not to speak, but with the Emperor sitting on the couch pressing her for answers, how could Zhu'er dare not tell the truth!

"Your Majesty, it was your sister-in-law who hurt the Empress."

"Tell the important point!"

"It's just that... it's that His Majesty's sister-in-law wants to send her brother's eldest granddaughter, Han Muran, to the palace as a concubine, and she's asking the Empress to handle this matter. She even said..."

"Don't take long breaths, say it all!"

"I told the Empress to arrange for Han Muran to enter the palace this month."

"That's all!"

He already knew that the eldest son of the Han family was going to take up an official post and that the eldest granddaughter of the Han family's eldest branch was going to enter the palace as a concubine, because Cheng Feng had already told him that Wan Lianxing did not like the ambitious Han family members!

The maidservant, Zhu'er, nodded: "Your Majesty, that's the matter. Under the pressure from Your Majesty's sister-in-law, the Empress agreed to this matter without consulting Your Majesty."

Wan Lianxing didn't pursue the matter further and instructed Zhu'er, "Go and help the Empress with her toilette."