After I died, the scumbag prince cried down the city wall

Zhao Xianer raised her head and looked at Madam Zhao with dissatisfaction: "Is mother here to lecture me again?"

"I'm not here to teach you a lesson, but I have something important to tell you."

Madam Zhao looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with anger and heartache. "While you were abandoning yourself here, the girl from the Cui family had already won the favor of the Queen Mother. Look at what you have become now!"

"Didn't you say you wanted to fight her? Are you admitting defeat now?"

Zhao Xianer's eyes widened in disbelief: "How could the Queen Mother..."

The Queen Mother caught a cold a while ago and was bedridden. When the imperial doctors in the palace were at a loss, it was the clever and intelligent maid of the Cui family, Cui Rong, who brought a secret family recipe into the palace. In just a few days, the Queen Mother's condition improved significantly.

The Queen Mother praised her medical skills highly. Not only did she allow her to continue to stay in the palace to recuperate, but she also relied on her in her daily life and regarded her as her right-hand man.

Madam Zhao looked deep in her eyes and said to Zhao Xian'er earnestly, "Do you know that the Queen Mother is not only recovering, but has also regained control of the harem. The future situation is unpredictable. If you continue to be depressed like this, won't you be handing over all the opportunities to others?"

Zhao Xianer closed her lips tightly, with resentment and resentment condensed between her brows.

Mrs. Zhao's eyes were indifferent and deep, and she said softly: "You have to think clearly about the future path."

After saying that, Zhao Xian'er seemed to be aroused. She lowered her head and swallowed her dinner fiercely until her belly bulged. Then she slowly stopped, with a determined light flashing in her eyes: "I will never let that cunning man suppress me!"

She knew very well that the current predicament was only a temporary cloud. As long as she could win the favor and trust of the Queen Mother like Cui Rongrong, then the desire and dream in her heart would eventually come true.

As night fell, new hope ignited in Zhao Xianer's heart.

The next morning, the sun shone through the clouds and shone on the glazed tiles of the palace. Cui Rongrong walked into the empress dowager's bedroom as usual. When the empress dowager saw her, she smiled from ear to ear and waved to her affectionately.

Cui Rongrong approached gently, and the Queen Mother smiled and whispered, "I heard that when you left the palace yesterday, His Highness actually waited outside the palace gate for a long time."

"That day, snowflakes were flying and the wind was freezing, but he was willing to endure the cold just to see her. Such deep affection and friendship are truly rare." The Queen Mother's words were full of expectations for the young couple.

Cui Rongrong responded with a smile. She was not surprised by the empress dowager's indirect questioning. After all, she and Song Yanyi had a royal engagement, so it was reasonable for the empress dowager to be suspicious.

However, this was not the first time the Queen Mother had tested her. Cui Rong had long been accustomed to handling all kinds of subtle court struggles with ease, just as she calmly listened to Fang Fei's report on trivial matters in the harem.

At this moment, the Queen Mother finally asked about this matter directly. How could she miss this opportunity to make her position clear?

"Your Highness's love for me is too much for me to bear."

Cui Rongrong answered sincerely, "I am currently focusing on the peace of the border and the stability of the country. The Queen has also mentioned many times that I can marry Your Highness as soon as possible and share the responsibility of state affairs. However, I always put state affairs first and declined the Queen's kindness. If Your Highness is eager to get married, there are many women of noble birth, talent and beauty in the capital. Many of them have deep respect and admiration for Your Highness. For example, it is rumored that the young lady of the Zhao family is infatuated with Your Highness, and there are even many stories circulating in the market about her unrequited love for Your Highness."

The Queen Mother heard this, her eyes flickered, as if considering, and then asked: "Then who do you think is more suitable for Your Highness?"

Cui Rongrong maintained a proper smile and replied, "I dare not make any comments. Your Highness's lifelong affairs should be carefully considered by the Emperor and the Empress to make the most appropriate decision."

There was no need for much words between the two of them, as they already understood each other's feelings.

At this time, Fang Fei hurried in to report: "Empress Dowager, Miss Zhao came to pay her respects. Would you like to see her?"

Cui Rongrong raised her eyebrows slightly, knowing in her heart the purpose of Zhao Xianer's greeting. It was obvious that she knew that she was often by the side of the empress dowager and wanted to take this opportunity to win her favor.

She lowered her head, hiding the amusement in her eyes, and silently wished Zhao Xianer good luck.

The Queen Mother thought for a moment, and then she remembered what Cui Rongrong had just said, and nodded to Fang Fei: "It's rare for Miss Zhao to come to the palace, so please bring her in."

"Yes." Fang Fei responded and led Zhao Xianer in.

Cui Rongrong noticed that the fatigue on Zhao Xianer's face could not be concealed even by the makeup. It was obvious that she had not been having a good time recently.

Zhao Xian'er tried her best to deal with Song Yanyi but failed, so she was naturally not in a good mood.

"Your servant pays respects to the Queen Mother." Zhao Xian'er bowed gently, and when she raised her eyes, she saw Cui Rongrong standing beside the Queen Mother. A hint of cruelty flashed in her eyes, but when her eyes met Cui Rong's, she quickly returned to her usual gentleness.

"It turns out that my sister has been accompanying the Queen Mother. No wonder I failed to see her when I visited Cui's house this morning." Zhao Xian'er tried to hide her inner turmoil with a gentle tone.

Cui Rongrong responded with a smile, with a bit of courtesy in her tone: "I have been staying in the palace to serve the Queen Mother all this time, and I never thought that my sister would come to visit suddenly."

"Sister Zhao seems to have seldom gone out recently, and she doesn't look well. Is she feeling unwell?" Cui Rongrong asked with concern.

Zhao Xianer's eyes flickered slightly, and she quickly calculated in her mind, thinking secretly: If Cui Rong knew about the entanglement between her and Song Yanyi, would she be unable to bear the pressure and give up the engagement with Song Yanyi?

This thought made her a little dazed, but then, Song Yanyi's warning echoed in her ears, making her shudder.

If Song Yanyi finds out that he has accidentally leaked the secret, the consequences will be disastrous!

Zhao Xian'er suppressed her reluctance, and forced a smile, saying to Cui Rongrong: "Thank you for your concern, sister. It's just that I didn't sleep well last night because of the wind outside the window, so I look a little tired."

"If you are really sick, how dare you disturb the Queen Mother's peace? If you infect her, it would be disrespectful."

She changed the subject and looked at the Queen Mother flatteringly. The Queen Mother chuckled and replied, "I know that you are so filial. You usually accompany the Queen and other sisters. Since you have paid your respects today, I will not keep you any longer."

Zhao Xian'er heard this and quickly said, "It is important to communicate with the ladies, but it would be my honor to entertain the Queen Mother. If the Queen Mother does not mind my clumsy words, I am willing to follow Sister Cui and serve her together."

Cui Rong watched this scene calmly, knowing in her heart that this was another test from the Queen Mother.

Zhao Xianer's anxiety was too obvious, and the Queen Mother, with her many years of experience in the harem, naturally knew how to weigh the interests involved. Every move Zhao Xianer made was within the Queen Mother's expectations.