The cannon fodder heiress trembled with fear after being recognized as a member of her family.

Han Cuiyin had just returned from Lingdie's place, and was feeling extremely headache-prone and dizzy, so she went out to clear her head.

Pushing open the door, I was greeted by a sky full of stars, and the night was cool and refreshing.

The waning moon hangs in the sky above Mount Emei, making the scene feel even more desolate and cold.

As the spiritual energy circulated around his body, the chill dissipated, and his mind cleared up.

That night, everything seen through the butterfly's eyes yielded something.

Worldly desires enter the heart, and people become obsessed with love. From love arises fear, resentment, hatred, and sorrow...

Like moths drawn to a flame, they still rush headlong into the world of love.

What, then, is love?

Is everything Qingyun said and did correct?

Han Cuiyin was somewhat uncertain.

This body is not as strong as those in the realm of immortality, and cannot withstand the power of her soul.

Han Cuiyin could only lie in bed and think about the problem carefully.

After reaching the Divine Transformation stage in the Realm of Immortality, she could not make any further progress. Her mental state could not keep up, and her long experience in the mortal world had no effect.

Arriving here, I was deeply moved.

Consort Xu was unaware that a butterfly had witnessed tonight's events, and that these people, now in her hands, would be of great use in the future.

In the past, Consort Rui challenged her simply because she was young and plump.

He held leverage over her, but he couldn't easily reveal it. Only by delivering a fatal blow at the crucial moment could he vent his years of pent-up hatred.

Consort Xu recalled how she fell in love with Emperor Chu Yuan at first sight before she entered the palace.

It was only because her great-uncle did not make a breakthrough at that time that she failed to become empress.

My great-uncle once said that one could live a good life without entering the palace, becoming the wife of a leisurely prince, and enjoying a carefree life on one's fiefdom would be more comfortable than being confined within the palace walls.

Consort Xu recalled that time and couldn't help but sneer, "How foolish! What can love bring? Only pain!"

Emperor Chu Yuan would spend the first and fifteenth of each month with the Empress, but he didn't spend the other days alone with her.

In the changing of the guard in the harem, her position remained unshaken due to her family background, and the emperor's favor was only so-so.

I injured that area during childbirth, and each time I had to just go through the motions.

If it weren't for her captivating face, she might have become like Consort Rong or Consort Hui, forgotten in her old age, without a single child, and her once bustling palace now deserted.

Consort Xu sighed helplessly as she recalled the past events, "It was a life-or-death struggle to begin with, and Consort Rui didn't show me any mercy back then either. Consort Rui, your maternal instincts are overflowing, so don't blame me for being ruthless."

The eldest prince was raised in Consort Rui's palace for a period of time, and the two were not far apart in age.

She was not surprised at all that the two of them had ended up like this.

The eldest prince lost his mother at a young age, and it was normal for him to fall in love with Consort Rui, who had a similar figure to his mother.

These two should never have left any evidence against them.

That child was their leverage.

Those former associates of the Crown Prince's wife have dirt on them.

Since Consort Rui is courting death, she should naturally lend a hand.

As for when to use it, that depends on her mood.

"Your Majesty, the preliminary selection is tomorrow. You should rest early! What if the Empress wants to provoke you and asks you to go and offer advice tomorrow?"

Granny Xu whispered a few words of advice, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Consort Xu was wide awake at the moment. Knowing such a shocking secret, she found it difficult to fall asleep.

"Granny, I really can't sleep. Let's talk for a while."

The master and servant had supported each other for many years and had long regarded each other as their closest relatives.

"Your Majesty, if you are unsure, just give the person the medicine and send them to the Empress so she can take action."

Threatened with drugs, those people would naturally not reveal Consort Xu's identity if they wanted to live.

Over the years, Granny Xu has served Consort Xu and handled many thorny issues.

If such a shocking scandal involving the royal family is not handled properly, they may not be able to escape unscathed.

"It's not the right time yet! Sending people over there should be done discreetly. Let me think about how to handle this so that Cun'er can benefit from it."

Consort Xu had a vague idea in mind, but it was not yet mature enough to be put into action for the time being.

"Your Highness knows what's going on! It's better for Her Majesty the Empress to handle these matters than for you to get involved." Xu Mama, unaware of Consort Xu's thoughts, took a quilted cloak and draped it over Consort Xu's shoulders. "Liu Min will also be present at tomorrow's selection."

Consort Xu felt a warmth on her body. Upon hearing Liu Min's name, her brow furrowed. "With Liu Min entering the palace, I might not be the one who's anxious. I have sons and daughters, so I'm not afraid of losing favor. The one who's most anxious should be Consort Rui, and those lower-ranking concubines."

Before Consort Rui became pregnant, she was the emperor's favorite.

Now that new employees are joining, she's the one who's anxious.

These past few days, the Emperor has been going to Qinyu Palace almost every day; who knows what tricks Consort Rui will pull this time?

"Liu Min may not be able to enter the palace smoothly! Some people see her as a thorn in their side and may not let her pass through smoothly." Consort Xu has seen a lot of tricks in the palace.

This method of preventing problems before they occur has been used by others, but Liu Min is different.

“Granny, youth is fleeting, and arguing only makes us a laughingstock. I now regret sending Cun’er to the Pinglian Mountains to find medicine.”

She knew all about the affair between Emperor Chu Yuan and Liu Min over the past few days, especially with the Empress adding fuel to the fire and trying to provoke her anger.

She's not stupid! She won't punish Liu Min.

Whether Liu Min enters the palace and enjoys exclusive favor, or is easily pregnant, the Empress will be the one in a hurry.

Consort Xu felt much better after figuring this out.

Cun'er found the elixir and wanted to take it herself to take good care of her health, so that she could protect her children for a few more years.

She wouldn't accept the medicine offered by the Lu family. She had been blinded by love before, and since Emperor Chuyuan hadn't mentioned Cun'er when he sent her on this mission, she guessed that he was still wary of the Xu family's power.

The Lu family, along with the Han and Qi families, are newly powerful families and his confidants; however, the relationship between these three families is not good...

Consort Xu dared not think too much about it. "Granny, when Liu Min enters the palace tomorrow, send someone to take care of her during the process so that she is not harassed."

......

The next day.

The day was August 28th, the day of the palace selection, but it did not cause any stir in the capital.

However, a major event occurred in the capital of Changxing County.

Han Cuiyin went to bed late last night, and when she woke up it was already broad daylight.

She was awakened by the noise outside.

"Xiao Lan, what happened?" He had just woken up, his voice slightly hoarse. "Who's making a scene at the Princess's residence?"

Gao Xiaolan came in carrying a wooden basin and set out the toiletries. "Something happened in Changxing County! Yesterday, the county magistrate ordered that the account books be checked and notified the county magistrate to prepare to come out. This morning, the guards went to move the account books from all these years, but the people from the county magistrate's office ran away, and not a single grain of this year's harvest was left."

Han Cuiyin finished dressing, washed her face slightly (without applying charcoal powder), and asked, "Where did you run off to? Have you sent anyone to chase after you?"

"We don't know yet. People connected to the prefect's office have been arrested, and the princess is interrogating them. There's still no result." Gao Xiaolan quickly styled her hair into a simple updo. "The marquis said he wants you to come over and help the princess when you wake up."

"What about him?"