Accidentally dressed as an empress

Yunxiu returned to her room and asked the system, "System, who is that woman? Why is she so arrogant?"

Lu Xuan, daughter of the Lu family, who mine and smelt iron ore in Xiling. The Lu family practically controls the entire iron ore business in Yun Country. Oh, and they're even richer than the Ren family.

There is always someone better than you.

Yunxiu finally understood why salt and iron were nationalized in later generations. Mining iron ore and smelting iron were truly lucrative.

Iron, essential for both agricultural tools and military use, was used extensively in ancient times. Even in modern times, iron ore is still scarce in China, requiring imports. This is likely because our ancestors had already mined most of the available iron ore.

[So, this guy named Lu Xuan has the capital to be arrogant. Can we recruit him?]

The system said, [Currently hostile, cannot be recruited.]

Hostile? What does the Lu family want to do?

During the reign of the previous empress, the Lu family was a prominent and prosperous family in Lingyun City. They had produced both Grand Tutors and Grand Historians. The previous empress was said to have had an ambiguous relationship with the Grand Tutor and was extremely patronizing to the Lu family, granting them the right to mine the Xiling Iron Mine. After your mother ascended the throne, the Lu family voluntarily relocated from Lingyun City.

Your mother is responsible for sending people to Xiling to mine. The profits belong to the Lu family. However, the Lu family will provide the court with 100,000 tons of iron ore each year for weapons manufacturing. However, any excess will not be provided and must be purchased by the court itself.

[Huh? In other words, the Queen has to beg the Lu family to sell iron ore despite all the manpower and effort? The Royal Family is actually working for the Lu family? How can Her Majesty tolerate this?]

[The late emperor told Yun Se before his death that the Lu family must not be touched.]

[Once again, due to the Queen's personal preferences, she nurtured a tiger that became a threat. Over the past few decades, she has nurtured another powerful family.]

The system said, "The Lu family is very mysterious. Rumor has it that they are the source of Yun Nation's fortune. Ever since the Lu family left Lingyun City, Yun Nation has been plagued by natural disasters. It's best not to mess with them."

Huh? Anyone actually believe this? Since the Lu family is the source of Yun Nation's fortune, why don't they ascend to the throne?

[It was almost time for a daughter of the Lu family to ascend the throne.] The system spun in circles, a look of satisfaction on its face as if it had just gotten a piece of gossip. [Do you want to hear about the gossip about the late Emperor Yun Si and Grand Tutor Lu Yan?]

[It's been decades, and you can still find such trivial things? ]

[Don't underestimate me. I found a secret history of the imperial palace from fifty years ago.]

Due to the fierce struggle for the throne, the older princesses died or became disabled, leaving the youngest, Yun Si, to ascend the throne at the age of ten. She was supported by Grand Tutor Lu Yan. It turned out that Lu Yan had been disguising himself as a woman, and his appearance was androgynous. When Yun Si grew up and discovered that the Grand Tutor was a man, she began to bully him.

After Yun Si gave birth to her eldest son, she abandoned the Grand Tutor. The Grand Tutor was fifteen years older than Yun Si. As Yun Si grew up, the Grand Tutor grew older and less attractive, and he refused to see Yun Si. Feeling lonely and empty, Yun Si became involved with the Grand Tutor's younger brother, Lu Chen, and gave birth to a little daughter, Yun Qin.

Yun Qin is the younger sister of Queen Mother Yun Se, and later her Royal Highness Prince Yun who rebelled and was suppressed.

[So, are we just going to skip the middle part? Who is Yun Se's father?]

[I don't know. The author didn't include this part. The author wrote too much about the two Lu brothers serving the Empress together.]

Yunxiu was shocked. When did Tongjie develop such a hobby? [Tongjie, stop watching this kind of thing. You are not pure anymore!]

[Humph, the host himself revels every night, yet he doesn't allow everyone to read some novels for entertainment. Double standards.]

Yunxiu held her forehead and thought, they have all grown up and are no longer obedient.

Zhong Yi arranged the rooms for the guards. When he returned to his room, he saw Yun Xiu holding her forehead and asked with some concern, "Do you have a headache?"

Yunxiu laughed and shook her head. Zhong Yi then came over and massaged her temples with his fingers.

Zhong Yi was always so considerate when ironing, and the strength was just right. Yunxiu felt so comfortable that she wanted to sigh.

At this time, the waiter at the door called out, "Sir, you've been waiting for a long time. The food is here."

The inn prepared the meal. Yunxiu asked the system if there was anything wrong with the food. The system said, "The innkeeper was quite honest and didn't add any ingredients."

Yunxiu sat down and had dinner with Zhongyi. Yunxiu didn't have a good appetite and didn't eat much.

After the food was cleared away, they prepared to rest. Zhong Yi bent down and took off Yunxiu's shoes. Yunxiu enjoyed his service with peace of mind.

At the door, Su Da knocked on the door and said, "Master, I want some hot water."

Zhong Yi said, "Come in."

Zhong Yi poured some hot water and washed Yunxiu's feet. He was really good at taking care of people.

Yunxiu took off her outer robe, wearing only her inner garment, and lay down on the bed in the inn. She couldn't sleep and was used to the bed.

Zhong Yi climbed onto the bed and hugged Yun Xiu, "Ah Xiu, are you tired?"

Yunxiu nodded and buried her face in Zhongyi's shoulder.

Late at night, smoke was blown into their room and the system sounded an alarm.

Sure enough, it was a shady shop. The city gate guards had deliberately sent them to the north of the city to get them into this shady shop.

Yunxiu quickly took an antidote, pretended to be asleep, and asked the system to monitor the people who were causing trouble outside, an innkeeper and another strange thin woman.

"Have you finished? How much silver did you find out about this caravan? Are they some fat sheep? Should we slaughter them?"

"What fat sheep? They're just slicked up with horse shit. The boxes they carry their treasures are filled with rocks! The most valuable things are those carriages and horses. They're probably just some broke people trying to make a fortune. There's not much money to be made. Let them go."

Yunxiu asked the system to continue eating melons.

"They brought three good-looking men with them. They were all drugged and sent to a den of prostitution."

"The most beautiful one is already taken. I'm afraid that woman won't let this go easily."

How dare he be so bold as to set his sights on her son Zhong Yi.

"No matter if he has an owner or not, if we fail to complete this mission, how are we going to report to the master?"

"We can't just rob people openly like this. Those people came from Lingyun City. If they have any connection with the imperial court, we'll all be doomed once the garrison arrives."

"Well, listen to me and do this..."