The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

"Master, you go to sleep first. I... your servant will stay here with you."

Yu Sujin had no choice but to bow her head under the eaves, accept Zheng Zhuyi's humiliation, and put on a meek smile.

Zheng Zhuyi reached out and lifted her chin with her fingers.

"You're such a good pretender, just as disgusting as your sister! I know you wish I were dead right now, but unfortunately, if you resist, you'll be the only one to die, but your aunt will be the first to die."

Yu Sujin lowered her eyes, not daring to meet her gaze, and said in a panic, "I dare not..."

"Of course you wouldn't dare." Zheng Zhuyi laughed softly, her delicately made-up face full of sarcasm. "I advise you to be willing to join me. Your future will be yours. If you say one thing and mean another, and act two-faced, it will be too late to regret it later!"

She pinched Yu Sujin's jaw hard and ordered her to help her remove her makeup and wash up before she went on duty at night.

"The young lady and the noble concubine have a very good relationship."

The palace maids serving outside saw Yu Sujin bringing water in and didn't let them follow, saying that she and Zheng Zhuyi wanted to help each other wash up, so she said casually.

Yu Sujin smiled, closed the door, and started doing what a maid should do.

I helped Zheng Zhuyi lie down to sleep.

After covering the candlelight, Yu Sujin sat on the footstool beside the bed, keeping watch like a palace maid.

Behind the curtain, two people, one inside and one outside, were thinking about their own things.

Zheng Zhuyi secretly smirked at Yu Sujin's submission to her, trapped in Ciyun Palace as a hostage. If she offered Yu Sujin to the Empress Dowager, she would gain even more trust in her. Her future was just around the corner.

Yu Sujin lowered her eyes, wondering why Zheng Zhuyi had forced her to come to the Cining Palace. Was it to deal with her elder sister? This method was too despicable. Was Zheng Zhuyi's purpose really that simple? Impossible...

So why?

The shadowy candlestick cast a faint light, the flame dancing, and Yu Sujin's shadow trembled slightly as she sat with her knees hugged. The carved beams and painted buildings were cloaked in darkness, dim and mysterious.

……

"Zhao Fei's sister, has she requested permission to enter Ciyun Palace to perform her filial duties?"

When Concubine Yue heard Linglong's report on the latest developments in the palace, she was really puzzled for a long time.

She hated Yu Sujin for sending her to the Palace Administration Office, and thought that she was a man of deep thoughts, but this action... She really couldn't figure out what Yu Sujin was thinking.

"It seems that Concubine Zheng coerced her. The concubines who lived in the same palace with Concubine Yu said that Concubine Zheng even beat her." Linglong said.

Concubine Yue pondered for a moment and frowned, "I don't think she is someone who can be easily coerced. She has some annoying little cleverness, much like Concubine Zhao."

Linglong nodded: "Then I will ask more people to inquire and keep an eye on the movements of Ciyun Palace."

Concubine Yue naturally agreed.

Now she pays attention to everything related to Fei Wan.

Linglong went out to tell the others to do their work, then returned to feed her master some soup. Concubine Yue lay sprawled on the couch, her whole body aching from lying there. She was so tired of not being able to leave the bed to recuperate, and she only drank a couple of sips before stopping.

He asked impatiently, "You guys are the only ones serving us all the time, why don't you let us go?"

"Yes... I sent someone to the Palace Administration Office this morning to inquire. Without His Majesty's order, they dare not release anyone. But there is nothing to interrogate anymore, so they are just pretending to do so until His Majesty's order comes down. Because Concubine Hui forbids arbitrary torture, our people have been imprisoned but have not suffered much. I took the initiative and gave the Palace Administration Office another sum of money to ask them to take good care of our people in the palace."

Concubine Yue asked, "Have you taken care of the people in Chunxi Palace?"

"……forget."

"What did you forget? I think you are becoming more and more stubborn."

Concubine Yue's face darkened, and Linglong quickly knelt on the ground.

Concubine Yue rebuked her, "I've said many times that since Concubine Zhao was willing to sacrifice herself to save me, all previous grudges are over. If you refuse to befriend her, then you should also take the blame for me once!"

Linglong kowtowed to the ground and apologized in a low voice.

She explained carefully, "It's not that I'm disobeying Your Majesty. I've been with You for so many years, how dare I act on my own? You know, Your Majesty, the old lady and Madam Liao have both sent word to warn you. They're afraid that because of Your Majesty's affection for Concubine Zhao, you've let your guard down. The old lady and Madam Liao are both old and discerning, and they're all for Your Majesty's own good, so I dare not help but be wary of Concubine Zhao."

Concubine Yue asked her to stand up: "Am I really that scary? I kneel down just because I'm told to. I'm not Concubine Hui."

He also taught her earnestly: "You should be vigilant and keep it secret. Why don't you work hard in public? If you can help the Palace Administration Office, then help Chunxi Palace with it. My Changle Palace is not short of that little money! It will also let Concubine Zhao see that I will repay a favor."

Linglong had no choice but to apologize and said that she would ask someone to go to the Palace Administration Office to take care of it again later.

However, he doubted whether his master could remain vigilant against Concubine Zhao.

It's clear that Her Majesty is preparing to open her heart to Concubine Zhao.

The Queen has had many loyal servants around her since she was a child, and many of them have protected her from danger. Why is it that this time, the Queen has such a deep memory of Concubine Zhao's help?

She couldn't figure it out.

In the midst of confusion, he heard his master's order: "Tell the palace again that the matter of instigating people to report Minister Yu should be withdrawn."

"I already told you last time."

"Tell you again, make sure you withdraw your hands!"

"Yes……"

"No one in the mansion is allowed to do anything that is detrimental to Concubine Zhao in secret from now on."

"Yes……"

After Concubine Yue gave repeated instructions, she closed her eyes tiredly and rested for a while.

Although she was very weak after the injury, Fei Wan was able to go out and walk around. Although she was carried by Concubine Hui, she was still better off than her.

Concubine Yue was annoyed that she was not feeling well yet.

It would be great if I could go to Chunxi Palace someday. When I recover, I'll have a drink there and celebrate my survival with Concubine Zhao!

Concubine Yue is here thinking about Fei Wanshi.

Her father, the Duke of Zhenguo, was slandering Feiwan in front of the emperor.

"Your Majesty, it's absolutely true. I've verified it. Lu Guinian did indeed have an affair with Concubine Zhao. The jade pearl flower his wife wore on her head was given by Concubine Zhao. The cook who worked for the Lu family said that Madam Lu treasured the pearl flower very much. She usually kept it locked in her dressing box and rarely showed it to anyone. She only took it out and wore it once, on her birthday two days ago."

The emperor listened to the Duke of Zhenguo's chatter for a while.

He smiled faintly: "What do you want to say?"

The Duke of Zhenguo bowed, "Your Majesty, since Lu Guinian is colluding with the imperial concubines, any of his reports to the court must have had ulterior motives. He has recently brought people to hold me captive, and I'm afraid he has ulterior motives. I was ordered to inspect the capital, and he distorted the facts and reported me, showing that he doesn't take Your Majesty seriously. Forgive me for being frank, but he comes from a humble background and has limited vision. He may have had some innocent intentions at first, but after gaining Your Majesty's favor, he has now clearly become impetuous. Impetuousness is fine, but I'm afraid he has been bewitched and has ulterior motives!"

The emperor raised his eyebrows: "Who bewitched you? Concubine Zhao?"