After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Born with the destiny of a phoenix?

Xie Yuze was somewhat taken aback; he had never known this before.

Gu Jinglin coldly replied, "Wishful thinking. His Majesty has already betrothed Mingzhu to the Four Princes. You all understand the meaning of that perfectly well."

"The Xie family's power cannot get any greater!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xie exclaimed excitedly, "The Xie family is utterly loyal and has never harbored any treacherous intentions. Why then can't Mingzhu be made Empress?!"

Madam Xie's voice was a bit loud, and Gu Jinglin's expression changed slightly. He stepped forward and covered Madam Xie's mouth, saying, "Do you want His Majesty to hear this and hold the Xie family accountable?"

Madam Xie was stunned for a moment, but then calmed down.

With a calm expression, she said, "When Mingzhu was young, the master predicted that she would have a bright future and would surely become a phoenix in the future."

"And I am the Empress's mother."

"She will be the most distinguished lady in the future."

Madam Xie's obsession with the position of Empress Dowager disappointed Gu Jinglin. He acted as if he were meeting Madam Xie for the first time in the world and cursed, "You're really crazy."

"They actually listened to the words of some so-called master who came from who-knows-where, leading the entire Xie family to their own destruction?"

Madam Xie said calmly, "The Xie family will not bring about its own destruction. As long as Mingzhu marries the Crown Prince, the Xie family will rise to prominence."

The conversation between Gu Jinglin and Madam Xie made Xie Yuze momentarily dazed.

No wonder her father was so insistent on Mingzhu marrying the Crown Prince; it turns out it wasn't because Mingzhu liked him, but for the sake of the family's interests.

Xie Xing rested her chin on her hand, looking down.

[Xie Mingzhu's birthmark is dragon-shaped, so she must have been born with a dragon's destiny, right?] Xie Xing spoke to the system in his mind.

System: [In this era, women cannot be subordinate to men. Moreover, once it's discovered that she's a dragon, Xie Mingzhu will likely be unable to remain in the capital.]

Dragon shape?

Xie Yuze lowered his eyes and looked at Xie Xing beside him.

To maintain her balance, Xie Xing gripped Xie Yuze's clothes tightly with one hand, their figures obscured by layers of leaves.

The two, one big and one small, sat on the branch.

Xie Xing, unaware of Xie Yuze's gaze beside her, nodded: "Indeed, but seeing the dragon-shaped birthmark on her body, I thought the plot would turn into another Empress Wu Zetian, but I didn't expect her to become Empress."

[Wu Zetian was both brave and resourceful. In the story, Xie Mingzhu only has kindness and status that Luo Hanfeng can exploit. It's normal that she can't ascend the throne. If she did, the Chu Kingdom would probably perish soon.] The system's voice was indifferent, sounding like a lame joke.

[His ascension to the throne is another story altogether; blinded by love, he presented the nation to his arch-enemy.]

Xie Xing: "..."

Xie Yuze: "..." What is a love-struck brain?

However, the system is right. Mingzhu is a young girl who has had a smooth life in the first half of her life. She has everything she wants, and her elders have taught her how to establish herself in the inner quarters, manage accounts, and deal with concubines.

Compared to matters of national importance, Mingzhu is indeed only suited to remain in the inner quarters or the imperial harem.

Xie Yuze's thoughts drifted away to the idea of ​​one person unifying everything.

But he quickly realized what was happening, shook his head, and grasped the key point.

Xie Mingzhu has a dragon-shaped birthmark on her back?

This is no small matter.

Seeing that they had finished talking, Xie Yuze picked up Xie Xinglai and leaped away from Madam Xie's courtyard on the leaves.

He treated Xie Xing back to her original courtyard.

"I have something to do, so I'll head back now."

Xie Xing was completely bewildered. She nodded and turned to go back.

Xie Yuze paused in his steps, then said somewhat awkwardly, "There's no one in your courtyard. I'll send more people to take care of it."

"Where's the head nanny your mother found for you?"

Xie Xing thought for a moment and said, "My mother said that the head nanny will make arrangements for me on my wedding day."

Because Xie Xing had another unpleasant encounter with Madam Xie recently, Madam Xie simply dismissed the head nanny and personal maid that were originally intended for Xie Xing.

Xie Yuze paused for a moment, then said, "I will tell Mother."

Xie Xing didn't speak, he just nodded.

Her expression revealed nothing; she still had that innocent and naive look.

But after spending these past few days together, Xie Yuze would be a fool to think she was just an innocent little girl who didn't know anything.

His previous prejudice against Xie Xing disappeared, and after spending time with her, Xie Yuze was able to accept her as his younger sister.

He pursed his lips, his voice dry: "I didn't treat you well before, you won't hold a grudge against me, will you?"

Xie Xing glanced at Xie Yuze in surprise.

The sun comes out in the west?

Xie Yuze felt embarrassed by her gaze and looked away, saying, "What are you looking at? Just answer me."

Xie Xing: "..."

She honestly replied, "No."

But I hate you.

Xie Xing added in his mind.

Rather than saying I hate Xie Yuze, I would say I hate every single person in the Xie family.

Xie Yuze naturally heard this thought as well.

When Xie Xing first entered the manor, he did many things that were excessive and teased Xie Xing, and even said very harsh things. It is normal for Xie Xing to hate him.

Xie Yuze's expression darkened, and he said sullenly, "I admit that I didn't like you when you first entered the manor."

“But now I acknowledge you as my sister, so whatever Mingzhu has, you will have too.”

Xie Yuze promised.

Xie Xing looked slightly taken aback.

Xie Yuze should have said this to the original owner of the body, not to her.

The only one who truly wanted to integrate into the Xie family was the original owner of this body. For her, as long as she could complete the mission, whether or not she had Xie Yuze's approval was irrelevant.

However, Xie Xing still showed a bright smile: "Brother, haven't I always been your sister?"

Xie Yuze waited for a while, but didn't hear Xie Xing's thoughts, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

"I am leaving."

Xie Yuze's skirt swayed in the wind, and she soon walked out of the courtyard.

Xie Xing glanced at his retreating figure with curiosity and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why did he suddenly say he acknowledged that I'm his sister?"

Did he acknowledge the original owner of this body in the story?

No, until the original owner of this body died, no one in the Xie family liked her.

However, in the instant before they died, the three brothers suddenly remembered that they had a younger sister, the original owner of this body.

Xie Xing: ...

This oversight is quite thorough.

The original owner of this body was causing trouble throughout the story, and although she only disliked the male and female leads, she never gained the affection of her true family members despite her constant antics.

Xie Xing understood a little better where the bittersweet feeling in his heart came from every time he saw the Xie family.

Thinking of this, Xie Xing suddenly remembered Song Qingyang, whom he had met last time, and asked the system, "I met someone from the Song family last time. They were the people who raised the original owner before."

"Song Qingyang, the eldest brother of the original owner's adoptive parents."

The system was stunned: [You've encountered Song Qingyang?]

Xie Xing nodded: "Yes."

"What was his relationship with the original owner of this body later in the story?"

The system's voice was somewhat deep: "[The Song family has three sons, who were the source of the original owner's arrogance in front of Luo Hanfeng.]"