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

"Zheng...Zheng!"

The Queen Mother spat at Zheng Zhuyi before Yu Sujin could do so.

A mouthful of bloody spit.

Zheng Zhuyi glared, "Traitor, save your energy and apologize to His Majesty. Please forgive me and leave your body intact!"

The Queen Mother half-raised herself from the ground, crawled to Zheng Zhuyi's side with difficulty, and reached out to grab her sleeve.

"You've forgotten who gave you your position as a noble concubine! Without Ai, Ai, you would have been kicked out of the palace long ago! You and your family's honor... all your glory is tied to Ai. You massaged my shoulders and back, served me tea, and swore to follow me until death, saying you wanted to be my second Ai. And you still..."

"Stop talking nonsense." Zheng Zhuyi shook off the Queen Mother's hand, her face filled with disgust and contempt. "From the first time I entered Ciyun Palace, I was just testing you! Your Majesty is the supreme ruler of Daliang, and you're dreaming of standing at the top. I want to see what you'll do behind my back!"

Zheng Zhuyi crawled a few steps on her knees, approached the emperor, and knelt in front of the dragon throne.

She raised her head, her eyes filled with tears, and looked at the emperor eagerly to plead her case.

"Your Majesty, I have never betrayed you! I don't care about the position of noble concubine at all. What I care about is the soulmate who listened to my pipa playing in this palace that night!"

She spoke emotionally, frowning slightly.

The beautiful posture that she had practiced countless times in front of the mirror was now revealed calmly.

But the emperor lowered his brows and looked disgusted.

"Your Majesty!" Zheng Zhuyi hurriedly continued to explain, "Over the past few days, I have been gradually gaining the Queen Mother's trust, hoping to make her let down her guard and reveal her true plans! Heaven rewards those who work hard, and I have finally achieved my goal. Tonight, I finally found out about the two military forces that the Queen Mother is secretly hiding: Gu Zhen and Tongming Mansion. Those were the people I asked about, not Concubine Yu!"

Finding that the emperor still had no reaction, Zheng Zhuyi panicked, "... Your Majesty, if you don't believe me, you can ask someone to interrogate Shixiang Nanny who serves the Empress Dowager. Ask her who found out about Gu Zhen, and then ask her if Concubine Yu followed the Empress Dowager all the way and said and did nothing. The only thing Concubine Yu did was to catch up and knock me down when I wanted to inform the officers and soldiers about the whereabouts of the Empress Dowager! My head is still swollen. Your Majesty, feel it, it's right here..."

She took advantage of the situation, grabbed the emperor's hand, and pulled it towards her head.

The voice also became lower and softer.

Of course, verifying the swelling is one thing, but the most important thing is to have skin contact with the emperor.

Rouyi held the emperor's hand and felt the thin calluses on the man's palm.

She suddenly remembered that the royal family, following the teachings of the Grand Ancestor, had all trained in martial arts since childhood. Indeed, the thin callus was proof that His Majesty was not only a scholar but also a warrior.

My heart couldn't help but be slightly moved.

However, the next moment, the emperor shook his hand away.

"presumptuous!"

The emperor sat on the dragon throne and kicked her away.

Zheng Zhuyi was shocked, feeling embarrassed and angry.

He fell to the ground and looked at the emperor in disbelief.

But the emperor didn't even want to look at her.

Not only was it difficult to tell the truth from the lies of this sweet-talking woman, but she was also so dirty and dared to get close to him.

How dare you touch him with your dirty hands!

Cao Bin, who was standing next to him, understood what was going on and immediately signaled the palace servants to come forward, drag Zheng Zhuyi away from the dragon throne, and place her somewhere farther away from His Majesty.

Cao Bin thought, no one can make a tearful face look good. If you don't have the talent, don't copy.

This is just a laughing stock.

“Hehe…hehehahaha…”

On the ground, the Queen Mother let out a laugh of relief, like the sound of a broken bellows, making anyone's scalp tingle.

She stared at Zheng Zhuyi with a gloating look.

It seems to be saying, this is what happens when you betray me.

"You are about to die, and I will not allow you to laugh at me!" Zheng Zhuyi glared back at the Queen Mother.

However, she didn't dare to argue with the Queen Mother any further, and turned to question Yu Sujin to prove herself: "You said you endured humiliation in front of the Queen Mother in order to gain her trust. Then let me ask you, did you volunteer to enter Ciyun Palace in the first place? Wasn't it me who brought you there?"

Yu Sujin looked at Zheng Zhuyi strangely. "Of course I didn't volunteer. Your Majesty favors me and has promoted me three levels in a row. Why should I serve the Queen Mother who is always against Your Majesty? You used my aunt's life to force me to do this, giving me to the Queen Mother as a gift to cause trouble for my eldest sister, Concubine Zhao. I was afraid that something might happen to my aunt, so I followed you into Ciyun Palace and was forced to say that it was my own will. You tortured me in Ciyun Palace, making me your slave, serving you tea and water, and keeping watch at night. Even the maids in Ciyun Palace knew about it, and the Queen Mother even blamed you for it. Your Majesty will know it's the truth once you investigate."

"Ha! That's it!" Zheng Zhuyi laughed. "Since you admit it wasn't your own will, how can you say you were deliberately lurking and enduring humiliation?"

Yu Sujin was even more puzzled. "Although I was forced to go, since I'm there, I should do something for my elder sister and His Majesty. After I discovered that the Queen Mother was a little strange, I have been acting in a low position to deceive useful information. What's wrong? Are these two things contradictory?"

Zheng Zhuyi choked.

I was speechless when asked.

Yu Sujin pressed the issue, advising her sincerely, "You've already fallen to this point. Confess your guilt. You followed the Queen Mother only out of a desire for advancement. His Majesty is magnanimous and may not sentence you to death. As long as you sincerely repent, and considering your pipa talent, perhaps His Majesty will show mercy. But if you persist in your wrongdoings and only care about accusing others, you will truly become an accomplice of the traitor. Miss Zheng Si, I don't know how you were able to secretly kill the flowers in front of my aunt's window, but you certainly can't threaten me with my aunt's life now. How about you tell me about the people you placed in my aunt's family to prove your sincerity in confessing your guilt? I promise you that the Yu family will not make things difficult for your people. How do you do that?"

Zheng Zhuyi felt a chilling chill and turned around to see that the emperor's face looked very ugly.

She was shocked to find that she had fallen into Yu Sujin's trap.

Just now, I was so anxious to prove that Yu Sujin was not hiding voluntarily that I neglected to refute the threat of using my concubine.

Now that Yu Sujin has explained it in detail, it will be difficult to explain it if I deny it again!

But he still struggled: "What do you mean by your aunt's life? What threat? I don't understand! I never threatened you."

Yu Sujin frowned and said, "You barged into my room that night, which was extremely rude. You alarmed the sisters living in the same courtyard, and they can all testify against me. You sent them away to speak to me alone, and I ended up following you here, asking Your Majesty to allow us to serve in Ciyun Palace. Let me ask you, if you hadn't threatened me, why would I follow you and why would I serve the Queen Mother?"

When Yu Sujin said this, she kowtowed to the emperor.

"Your Majesty, I had my reasons that day, so I couldn't tell you the truth. I can only say that I volunteered to serve the Queen Mother. These days, I have been thinking about you every moment, hoping that the time to explain everything to you will come soon. Today, the Queen Mother escaped from the palace, and I followed her to get more information so that I could repay Your Majesty for his kindness. I have never betrayed you. I swear to heaven, on my own life and the lives of all my loved ones, that if I say even a single lie, the entire Yu family will be struck by lightning!"

Zheng Zhuyi gritted her teeth.

I didn't expect things to come to this point.

Yu Sujin knocked her down today and almost destroyed everything she had!

This bitch actually dared to reveal the Queen Mother's two secrets before her. She deserves to be killed!

Now she can neither advance nor retreat, she is so passive!

“Hahahaha! Hahahaha…”

The Queen Mother burst into laughter again.

The one laughing was Zheng Zhuyi.

To the Queen Mother, Yu Sujin was far less hateful than Zheng Zhuyi.

If Zheng Zhuyi really intended to be an undercover agent since she was first conferred the title of noble concubine, then by now, she has been too clever for her own good and has achieved nothing!

"Hahaha!" Zheng Zhuyi felt extremely guilty and couldn't think of any words to refute for a moment, so she also laughed to appear frank.

She looked at Yu Sujin with amusement, "Your ability to flatter and flatter is no less than your sister's. You are indeed worthy of being a girl from Minister Yu's mansion. Every one of you has inherited Minister Yu's shrewdness and cunning. It's a pity that His Majesty is wise and intelligent and will not be easily fooled by you. I fell into your trap today, but in time, His Majesty will surely understand my loyalty and hard work, and will also see through your hypocrisy and calculations!"

Yu Sujin stared at her in amazement.

After a moment, he sighed softly.

"Your Majesty, I have said all I need to say. I do not wish to engage in further arguments. Your Majesty has important matters to attend to, and I dare not disturb you. I will take my leave now."

She didn't refute at all and just bowed and said goodbye to His Majesty.

Zheng Zhuyi was a step slower and was shocked to realize that her strategy of having no moves was better than having moves, and that keeping silent was better than forcing an argument.

It felt like I had lost another battle.

"Kneel down and pay your respects." The emperor looked at Yu Sujin with a gentle expression on the throne. "Cao Bin, have someone escort Concubine Yu to Concubine Qing."

"Yes." Cao Bin bowed and agreed.

After Yu Sujin stood up, she glanced toward the inner hall and pleaded softly, "Your Majesty, please have someone take good care of Concubine Zhao. My elder sister is weak and has been tortured by the Empress Dowager. I don't know what dangers she has gone through today. Please have mercy on her."

Then he nodded gently towards Cao Bin who was walking towards him, "Thank you, eunuch."

She looks sensible and polite, just like Concubine Zhao.

Then he walked out of the hall.

Zheng Zhuyi bit her lip, calmed herself down, suppressed her heart that was beating wildly with panic, forced a gentle smile, and said goodbye to the emperor.

"I am confused and shouldn't have disturbed Your Majesty for so long. I will take my leave and return another day to tell Your Majesty the details of my lurking around the Queen Mother. There are still many things I need to tell Your Majesty."

She bowed gracefully, trying to look as graceful as possible.

But above him, the emperor chuckled faintly, "If you have something to say, go to the Tiger Guards' office. Zhang Lin."

"Yes."

Zhang Lin, the commander of the Huben Guard, immediately called his men in to escort Zheng Zhuyi.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I am truly in hiding and have never betrayed you. Your Majesty is wise, please do not send me to the Tiger Guards, Your Majesty, I..."

When she was dragged out, Zheng Zhuyi screamed and shouted until her voice became hoarse.

But Zhang Lin saw that the emperor had no intention of forgiving her, so he ordered his men to block her mouth to prevent her from shouting and disturbing the nobles in the palace. Moreover, if she shouted something indecent, that would be unacceptable.

The night wind is howling in late autumn.

It was already three o'clock in the morning.

Yu Sujin had not gone far yet. She stood in the shadow at the corner of the main hall, looking at Zheng Zhuyi's embarrassed appearance as she was dragged away, and curled her lips slightly.

If her guess was correct, Zheng Zhuyi might not really be sincere in submitting to the Queen Mother.

Perhaps, it is really a different approach and a big one.

After all, Zheng Zhuyi does not have the extremely favored elder sister to support her, but is instead dragged down by the deposed elder sister.

She lost the opportunity to be favored by the emperor.

Therefore, seeking a future with the Queen Mother was her only way out.

It just so happens that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor don't get along, so this way out has to be changed. He has to rely on the Empress Dowager on the surface, but be loyal to the Emperor in secret - this is not impossible.

But, who cares what the plan is!

Yu Sujin smiled secretly.

Tonight, she picked the peaches that Zheng Zhuyi planted with peace of mind.

If Zheng Zhuyi really wanted to go and inform the police instead of looking for a place to stay, oh my, that would be such a coincidence and too thrilling.

If she had been a little slower, she would not have been able to pick the peach!

"Miss Zheng Si, have a safe journey. The Tiger Guards must be having trouble sleeping. I can't take your place tonight. I'm sorry."

Yu Sujin said goodbye silently in the direction where Zheng Zhuyi was dragged away.

Then he followed the palace maid to the harem where Concubine Qing was.

The moonlight is like silver.

A huge jade plate hangs coldly in the sky.

It has been a month since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, and the moon is full again.

When seeing Zhishu in front of Concubine Qing, Yu Sujin secretly sighed that it had been so long since Sister Ying had a miscarriage.

What happened during this period was full of ups and downs. Looking back, it was like a dream.

Who would have thought that there was music and dance at the banquet, but tonight he would survive a disaster.

These days are short and long.

Things have changed and people have changed. Everyone is different now.

……

"Queen Mother, is there anything else you want to say to me?"

In Chenqian Palace, after Zheng Yu and the others left, the emperor dismissed everyone present and called in Shixiang, the old servant of the empress dowager.

"Empress Dowager...I will help you sit up."

Nanny Tohka choked with sobs and helped her master up with heartache.

The Queen Mother could only sit up with the help of Tohka.

Holding Tohka's hand tightly, she sighed, "Aijia... in the end, you are the only one left by my side."

"I have nothing good to say to you." Facing the emperor, the empress dowager's tone became cold again.

The emperor narrowed his eyes.

His face darkened: "But I have something to say to you, mother."

The word "Mother" was called in the same affectionate tone as before, which startled the empress dowager and made her look at the person on the throne warily.

But then the emperor said, "I already know how my mother died. Mother, I am very grateful to you for choosing me. I also hate you so much that I wish you had never chosen me!"

The Queen Mother was silent for a moment.

He let out a "ha" and laughed.

"You knew already?"

"understood."

"He's a wolf cub indeed. He knows it, but he's holding back. He's secretly... cough cough cough..."

The Queen Mother was so emotional that she started coughing up blood before she could finish her sentence.

"Take care, Queen Mother, and stop talking!" Tohka patted her back anxiously to help her calm down.

Fei Wan in the inner hall closed her eyes and held her breath as she listened to the three people talking outside.

The two palace maids who served her were also dismissed just now.

The emperor doesn't want others to know what he is saying now.

But she was "sleeping" here.

It seems that the emperor's love for her has deepened.

Even if there is a risk of her waking up and hearing it, I can't bear to disturb her rest!

However, how did the emperor's mother die?

It sounds like this is the root of the rift between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager!

Fei Wan pricked up her ears to listen, but didn't hear the emperor say anything more, which made her very curious.