After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Back then, the Chu family, with its unwavering hold on the position of Prime Minister, enjoyed immense prosperity. Its two legitimate daughters became the focus of the capital's attention. At a time when the struggle for the throne was fierce, these two legitimate daughters were engaged to the Fourteenth and Ninth Princes, the two most likely heirs to the throne. This marriage proposal became a hot topic on the streets and a major amusement in the capital.

However, fate is unpredictable and plays tricks on us. Just as everyone was filled with anticipation for this marriage, an unexpected event shattered the previously rosy situation. For unknown reasons, the prince, Zhao Junting, had angered the emperor and was demoted to a commoner and exiled to the northwestern frontier, forever far away from the bustling and bustling capital.

Fortunately, the marriage of the Chu family's eldest daughter and the Fourteenth Prince was not affected. The two married successfully, and their love blossomed. Soon after, they gave birth to a son. This fortunate child is the now-reigning Emperor. With the Emperor's ascension to the throne, the eldest daughter, through her son's influence, naturally ascended to the position of Empress. As a result, the Chu family was granted the prestigious title of Marquis of Cheng'en, a place that was bustling with activity.

Sadly, happiness is always short-lived. Not long after giving birth to the emperor, the empress succumbed to illness, leaving behind her young son. The young prince was left unattended, and his upbringing became a pressing priority. After careful consideration, the Cheng'en Marquis's family finally settled on the unmarried second daughter.

To ensure the smooth entry of their second legitimate daughter into the palace, the Cheng'en Marquis's household went to great lengths. Not only did they keep a secret the fact that the daughter had previously gone on a hunger strike and threatened to hang herself to avoid marrying the Ninth Prince, who had been demoted to a commoner, but they also fabricated the illusion of a gentle, well-educated, and docile daughter. At the same time, they fully anticipated sending their daughter into the palace, hoping she would continue to bring unparalleled glory to the family.

Finally, her efforts paid off, and the second daughter of the legitimate wife successfully entered the palace and ascended to the throne. However, surprisingly, despite her high position, she never again sought the slightest benefit for the Cheng'en Marquisate. Perhaps she was exhausted by the intrigues of palace life, or perhaps she had other plans... In short, the Cheng'en Marquisate's hopes were ultimately dashed.

Zhao Rui crouched, darting through the palace corridors like a nimble cat, each step delicate and light, fearing to draw attention. Her heart pounded like a drum, her palms sweaty, but she walked resolutely toward the palace gate, filled with anticipation and nervousness. This secret trip out of the palace was the result of much deliberation and careful consideration between her and Tang Wenshu.

Along the way, Zhao Rui's mind reeled from the Queen Mother's deeply hidden secret. As far as they knew, any servants who knew the truth had long since been dealt with by the Queen Mother through various means. Such a tight seal made uncovering this mystery increasingly difficult. After much deliberation, it seemed that only by contacting Cheng Enbo could they find a chance for a breakthrough.

After many twists and turns, Zhao Rui finally arrived at the gate of the Cheng En Marquis's residence. Gazing at the magnificent and solemn mansion before her, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner uneasiness. After the concierge announced her arrival, she slowly stepped inside, crossed the courtyard, and finally met the legendary Cheng En Marquis in the main hall.

To Zhao Rui's surprise, before she could resort to any threats or inducements, Cheng Enbo took the initiative to discuss the Empress Dowager's past. Cheng Enbo smiled, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness, as if he had already grasped the purpose of Zhao Rui's visit. Cheng Enbo, it turned out, was a man of discernment and a relentless pursuit of power and profit. Now that the Empress Dowager had abandoned the Cheng Enbo Mansion, he naturally had no scruples. Instead, he was eager to seize this opportunity to reveal the Empress Dowager's secrets to Zhao Rui, hoping to gain fame and fortune in the new situation.

At first, Earl Cheng En only casually mentioned that the Queen Mother had once discussed marriage with General Zhao. However, when it came to some of the more core and crucial details, he seemed to have his mouth sewn shut, his lips tightly shut, refusing to utter a single word.

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, the resourceful Zhao Rui spun a plan. She fabricated a story, claiming she had, by chance, witnessed the Empress Dowager having an affair with another man. Furthermore, she swore that this shocking discovery had compelled her to brave the enormous risk of secretly arriving at the Marquis of Cheng'en's residence in the dead of night to uncover the truth.

As soon as Zhao Rui uttered these words, the previously composed Cheng Enbo suddenly became as pale as paper, his face turning pale as if struck by lightning, and his body trembling uncontrollably. Then, with a dull thud, Cheng Enbo fell to his knees, waving his hands frantically as he argued incoherently, "This matter has nothing to do with our Cheng Enbo Mansion! I swear to heaven I wouldn't dare tell a single lie! In fact, the Queen Mother had already lost her virginity before entering the palace, and even secretly gave birth to an illegitimate child. But later, that poor child was secretly given away to be raised by someone else."

"Where was it sent?" Zhao Rui asked, eyes wide open, her face filled with astonishment. She had never expected to hear such a shocking scandal! For a moment, her mind went blank, as if struck by a thunderbolt. However, the deep scheming she had developed over the years allowed her to quickly regain her composure, and on the surface, she remained calm.

Cheng Enbo quickly replied in a flattering manner: "Your Majesty, it was the steward's son who went to deliver it personally. This kid has always been prudent in his work, but who would have thought that he would disappear without a trace this time and has not returned yet! This old minister is also extremely anxious, but I really don't know where the child has gone. However, in this old minister's opinion, he is just a useless and evil son who will not cause any big waves. Your Majesty does not need to worry about it." While saying this, Cheng Enbo carefully observed Zhao Rui's expression, and at the same time tried his best to please the emperor and try his best to clear himself of any relationship with the empress dowager's infidelity before marriage.

Zhao Rui nodded slightly, indicating that he was aware of the matter. Then, his face sullen, he said, "I understand. This matter ends here. Do not mention it to anyone again. If even a word of this gets leaked, there will be severe punishment!" Before he finished speaking, he turned and walked away, leaving Cheng Enbo standing there, timidly replying, "Yes, I will obey the decree."