After being exiled with her husband and children, she returned with great power to rule the world

"What!" Concubine Rong stood up suddenly, her head buzzing as if hit by a sledgehammer.

Her face turned pale instantly, her body swayed slightly, and she almost fell.

After coming to her senses, she clenched her fists tightly, and the long armor almost pierced into her delicate palms, leaving blood marks.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and said in a deep voice, "I want to see the Emperor! I am the Imperial Concubine appointed by the Emperor himself. How can I endure such humiliation?"

There was a hint of reluctance and anger in her voice. Her former nobility and pride now seemed so vulnerable in the face of this sudden change.

Upon hearing this, Ying Xiong raised his eyes and looked at the once noble imperial concubine with contempt.

Rumors outside the palace have already spread. This person is very likely a spy for the Min An Kingdom. Once this matter is confirmed, not to mention seeing the emperor, even his life may be in danger.

Thinking of this, Ying Xiong said in a tough tone: "Your Majesty, I advise you not to resist in vain. The Emperor will not see you at this moment."

His voice was cold, without a trace of warmth, as if the Concubine Rong in front of him was no longer the most favored empress in the six palaces, but a criminal who was about to be convicted.

After saying this, Ying Xiong ignored Concubine Rong's angry face and walked out of the palace, shouting an order: "Come here, count all the people in Rongguang Palace and guard all corners outside the palace. No one is allowed to enter or leave, and no one is allowed to pass on information privately. Anyone who violates this order will be killed without mercy!"

His voice echoed in the courtyard, and every word was as cold as ice, making everyone in Rongguang Palace feel the threat of death.

When Concubine Rong heard the cold order coming from the yard, her face instantly turned as cold as frost. A trace of panic flashed in her eyes, but was quickly replaced by determination.

She will never admit defeat in this round, she still has an ace in her hand.

"Go out first and take care of the people in the palace. Don't let them lose their composure."

Concubine Rong spoke to the maid, her voice was low but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

Seeing her master so calm, the maid's panicked heart calmed down a little.

"Yes, your majesty." The maid responded, took a deep breath, tried to calm herself down, and walked out with her head held high.

She knew that the only way to find a glimmer of hope in this crisis-ridden situation was to obey the Queen's orders.

The door slowly closed with a dull sound, as if the door of fate was quietly closing.

Concubine Rong looked around and confirmed that no one else was around. Then, she lowered her voice and called out urgently to the darkest corner of the hall, "Someone come!"

In the silent space, only her slightly rapid breathing echoed.

After a while, a dark figure like a ghost quietly flashed out from the dark hiding place. With swift and silent movements, it knelt on one knee and said in a low and respectful voice: "Master."

Imperial Concubine Rong's brows were furrowed, her eyes filled with anxiety and determination. She quickly ordered, "Send someone immediately to contact Grandpa Rong as quickly as possible. Be sure to inform the First and Second Princes of the situation here in detail. Remember, not a single word can be left out. This matter is of utmost urgency!"

"Besides..." The words were on the tip of her tongue, but Concubine Rong paused, a hint of hesitation flashed in her eyes.

At this moment, every decision is a matter of life and death. She knows that once this step is taken, there will be no turning back.

But the situation was urgent, like a raging fire pressing behind her, leaving her no time to think.

After a brief silence, Concubine Rong gritted her teeth and said with determination, "Find a way to contact the Ji family. I need their support. No matter what the cost, we must make sure the Ji family stands on our side."

The new leader of the secret guards nodded slightly, his voice steady and powerful, without a trace of hesitation: "Yes, I'll do it right away." After that, his figure flashed and quickly disappeared into the darkness, as if he had never appeared.

After the secret guards left, Concubine Rong's tense nerves broke instantly, and her forced calmness shattered like bubbles.

Her body swayed, as if all her strength was drained away, and she collapsed on the couch behind her.

At this moment, her eyes were filled with desolation and loss. She stared blankly at the gorgeous yet cold palace ceiling above her head, tears welling up in her eyes uncontrollably.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty," Concubine Rong muttered to herself, her voice filled with bitterness and self-mockery, "How could you be so cruel? You wouldn't even give me a chance to explain. Are the love we've shared as husband and wife for over twenty years so worthless in your eyes? Haha... After all, I was just being sentimental and overestimating my place in your heart..."

Memories came flooding back like a tide. The more than twenty years of imperial favor, those sweet and loving pasts, were not all false.

Once upon a time, she and Emperor Zhao had a harmonious and beautiful time together. In those gentle years, she also gave her love sincerely.

If any woman were to be held in the palm of the hand and loved by the most noble man in the world, how could she remain calm and unperturbed?

If she had not later learned about her identity and the mission that came with being Princess Min'an, perhaps she would have always been immersed in the emperor's favor, becoming an ordinary concubine, taking care of her husband and children, and spending her life there.

It’s a pity that fate plays tricks on us and there is no if in the world.

As a noble princess of the Min'an Kingdom, her fate was determined from birth. Her mission was to disrupt the Zhao Kingdom, contribute to the strengthening of the Min'an Kingdom, and one day return to her homeland to leave her name in history books.

But she never expected that her identity, which she had hidden for many years, would be exposed so quickly and so suddenly, catching her off guard.

Now, the eldest prince has been ordered to leave the capital for official business, the second prince has been exiled to the northern border, and his close confidants have scattered. The only one she can rely on is the Rongguo Mansion.

Concubine Rong prayed secretly in her heart, hoping that Master Rong would not let her down.

If the Rongguo Mansion is unreliable, then she will never be merciful to these people who she once regarded as her relatives.

In this cruel court struggle and family-country game, feelings have long become insignificant. Surviving and fulfilling the mission are the most important things.

At the same time, Grandpa Rong, who was highly regarded by Concubine Rong, was trapped in the mansion of Duke Rong.

Emperor Zhao acted swiftly and decisively. As soon as Duke Rong learned the news and had no time to react, the people sent by Emperor Zhao surrounded Duke Rong's mansion and placed him under house arrest.

Mr. Rong paced back and forth in the mansion, his brows furrowed and his eyes full of worry.

He had thought that, given Emperor Zhao's fondness for Concubine Rong, even if he heard rumors, he would first launch a detailed investigation to find out who was behind the scheme, such as the crown prince he had always suspected, and then let both parties confront each other face to face.

But who could have imagined that the matter had not yet been concluded and the rumor had just started, Emperor Zhao took swift action and directly sent people to guard them, without giving them any chance to breathe or explain.

"Father," Master Rong hurried in, his face filled with anxiety and fear. "Is the Emperor going to take action against us? Our Rongguo Mansion is a high-ranking official, and after all these years, we've finally been suspected by the Emperor."