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

"Your Majesty, this steamed yogurt with sugar is specially made for you. I respectfully invite you to enjoy it."

Ciyun Palace.

Fine sandalwood burned in the Xianhe Ruichun censer, wisps of smoke curling upwards. With several brocade curtains drawn low and the windows tightly closed, the air in the hall remained stagnant for a long time, making the originally rich and gentle sandalwood incense seem suffocating.

It was a cloudy day, and the light filtering through the window paper was dim, making the ebony tables and chairs seem even more dull than usual.

The only lively thing in the room was the bright smile on Zheng Zhuyi's face.

She lifted her armor and, with her slender fingers, personally presented the Queen Mother with a freshly made dairy dessert.

Beside him, followed Yu Sujin.

He carefully opened the lid of the bowl, took the silver spoon, and fed it directly to the Queen Mother.

They were both very attentive.

The Queen Mother's expression was not as peaceful as usual, and her eyes were cold.

After looking at the two of them, especially lingering her gaze on Zheng Zhuyi for a while, she took a bite of the cheese from Yu Sujin's hand.

"Your Majesty, are you enjoying your meal?"

Zheng Zhuyi asked expectantly.

The Queen Mother half-closed her eyes, savored the taste carefully, and made no comment.

Zheng Zhuyi looked at Yu Sujin with a smile.

The cold light in his eyes startled Yu Sujin, and she quickly scooped another small sip and brought it to the Queen Mother's lips: "Try it again, this one has osmanthus honey."

The Queen Mother ate it.

Yu Sujin thanked him gratefully.

He was about to take a third sip, but the Queen Mother stopped him with a wave of her hand. "Tea."

Yu Sujin quickly put down the silver spoon, picked up the bowl of hot tea next to her and handed it over.

The Queen Mother took a sip of tea, straightened up slightly, and said, "It's too sweet. I can't get used to it. I need to drink tea to cleanse my mouth after eating it."

Zheng Zhuyi quickly apologized: "It was my negligence. Next time I make it, I will make sure Concubine Yu uses less honey. I told her this today, but she just wouldn't listen."

Yu Sujin was stunned for a moment.

He immediately showed a look of guilt and bowed his head to ask the Queen Mother for forgiveness.

The Queen Mother looked at Zheng Zhuyi and asked, "Didn't you just say that you made this bowl of yogurt yourself? How come Concubine Yu also got involved?"

Zheng Zhuyi's eyes flickered, and she smiled sweetly, "Your Majesty, I did most of it, but Concubine Yu insisted on helping, so I let her help with a few minor things. Who knew she loved sweets so much? She added a lot of honey to the dish. When I was at home, I served my grandmother, and I knew that the elders didn't like sweets, but Concubine Yu didn't listen to me. Don't underestimate her cautious and docile nature; she's quite cunning in secret!"

Although it was half a joke, it was enough to discredit someone.

Yu Sujin just lowered her head and listened without saying a word.

He agreed with Zheng Zhuyi's statement.

The Queen Mother's face suddenly darkened: "Zheng Guipin, do you admit your guilt?"

Zheng Zhuyi was startled, but her movements were faster than her mouth. She immediately put down the bowl and knelt. She knelt very politely before she spoke, "I don't know what I have done wrong, but please teach me, Your Majesty. I only ask that you please don't be angry and take care of yourself."

Yu Sujin stood beside her, looking at her carefully.

The Queen Mother's face was stern. "Noble Concubine Zheng, you slept until 6:7 this morning, and came to pay your respects to me before :. When did you make this bowl of yogurt?"

"Concubine..."

"Do you think I don't know how much work it takes to make a piece of cheese?"

"I prepared the materials last night and got up early this morning to start working..."

"What nonsense!"

The Queen Mother shouted.

Nanny Shixiang, who was serving nearby, quickly stepped forward and tried to persuade her master to calm down.

Zheng Zhuyi kowtowed and followed suit, saying, "As long as you don't get too angry and hurt yourself, you can punish me in any way you want. I'm so scared!"

Shixiang turned around and said to Zheng Zhuyi, "Your Highness, you should be terrified. This morning, you only went to the small kitchen in the backyard for a short while, barely enough time for a cup of tea, and yet you dared to claim that this bowl of yogurt was made by you yourself, and even complained that Concubine Yu put too much sugar in it. In fact, from beginning to end, it was Concubine Yu who worked up all night to make this pastry, and it was originally very good. But you went there and insisted on adding two more spoonfuls of honey. Concubine Yu advised, but you refused to listen, mocking her for being so inexperienced that she couldn't even bear to add honey. Then when you came before the Empress Dowager, not only did you try to deceive her, but once you heard the sweetness of it, you even put the blame on Concubine Yu. The credit is yours, and the fault is someone else's. The Empress Dowager is very clear-headed, so how could she not be angry?"

The more Zheng Zhuyi listened, the more frightened she became.

Obviously, he really didn't expect that the Queen Mother knew everything.

"Empress Dowager, I was confused for a moment. Please forgive me this time... It was all because I wanted to be filial to you that I lost my temper. I didn't mean to deceive you, Empress Dowager..."

The Queen Mother frowned, looking very impatient.

He waved his hands irritably and said, "I woke up with a headache this morning. Don't yell in front of me. Go away."

"Queen Mother..."

"Your Highness, please go down." Shixiang stepped forward and stood in front of Zheng Zhuyi.

In this situation, if Zheng Zhuyi did not leave tactfully, it would be extremely rude.

She had no choice but to kowtow three times seriously, sincerely expressing that she knew she was wrong, and then stood up and left.

He bent his body and kept backing away until he reached the outer door, then he dared to turn around and lift the curtain to go out.

Yu Sujin also pretended to say goodbye, but was kept by the Queen Mother.

"You are such a pitiful child! You let her bully you like this without saying a word. Come, come, sit here and talk to me."

The Queen Mother pointed to the seat next to her with a look of pity.

Yu Sujin bowed: "I have not been bullied. Concubine Zheng treats me very well. This time, she probably wants to show her filial piety too much, so..."

"Okay, don't agree with her anymore." The Queen Mother gestured for Yu Sujin to sit down again.

Yu Sujin didn't dare. Zheng Zhuyi had never sat before the empress dowager, despite her previous honors. But she didn't dare disobey the empress dowager's order. She carefully leaned over and took a seat on a chair at the bottom, repeatedly thanking her.

The Queen Mother turned to Tohka and sighed, "This child is truly pitiful to see."

Then he asked Yu Sujin, "I've been watching you coldly these past few days. You seem very afraid of Concubine Zheng? Did she force you to come to Ciyun Palace?"

"How could that be?" Yu Sujin said with a smile, "This is all my own will. I only hope to serve you and share in your blessings."

The Queen Mother said, "You're such a talker. You're a good child, I know that. And Concubine Zheng, I used to think she was very kind, so why is she torturing you in private? This morning, I heard the palace maids report that they accidentally discovered that you'd been keeping watch for her like a slave for several nights in a row. Is that true?"

"Queen Mother..."

"You don't dare admit it?"

"Concubine..."

Yu Sujin hesitated and lowered her head, neither saying yes nor no.

The Queen Mother sighed, "Your rank is lower than hers, and you're being suppressed by her. It's all because I've wrongly promoted her. But now, I can't promote you. Trapped here, I can't even punish Concubine Zheng. Okay, send a message to your sister and ask her to reprimand Concubine Zheng."

Yu Sujin was surprised.

What does the Queen Mother mean?