After the arranged marriage, she farms and survives under the tutelage of the villainous boss.

So be it... There's no use in regretting it now. I've already chosen that path, and there's no going back now. Xiao Su was never a good person to begin with.

It's all just about barely surviving.

Looking back on my miserable life now, I find it all quite laughable.

Fortunately, he was no match for Xie Shuheng, which gave him the power to fight against the royal family; otherwise, Xiao Su's sins would have been even greater.

These things are never reversible, and the damage they cause can never be lessened.

Thinking about these things, Xiao Su felt his whole body tremble. He then composed himself and continued walking forward.

-

Jiang Zhiyun also noticed that the Imperial Guards seemed to have nothing better to do these past two days than stay and watch over Jiang Zhiyun, Granny Yu, and Deng Chan. Meanwhile, everything inside Cining Palace seemed normal; everyone was eating and sleeping well.

Everything went smoothly, and even going outside was perfectly natural as long as the Imperial Guards were with him.

The three of them would wander around the palace every day, becoming some of the most leisurely people in the entire imperial city.

Every time she returned home, the Empress Dowager found it amusing: "I don't know what to say about Xie Lin. I can only say that the way he uses his troops is rather laughable."

"How did I raise this son of mine all these years into such a scoundrel?"

“That’s how it is. When you were with him, he was always good at pretending,” Jiang Zhiyun said. “This kind of person will never think he’s done anything wrong. Empress Dowager.”

"If he stays with us like this, it would be ridiculous if Xie Shuheng and the Turks attacked together and he was completely defeated."

"This situation is very likely to happen." Actually, Granny Yu wasn't too opposed to Yunniang's matter, but she felt that Xie Shuheng was confident.

Now they can just keep stalling for time.

We'll see if there's a way to have the best of both worlds then.

Although we don't know what the future holds, as long as Xie Shuheng and Jiang Zhiyun, our two pillars of support, are still here, everything will be alright.

Granny Yu said, "Yunniang, it's alright."

"Everything will be fine."

"Well, now His Majesty wants me to prepare the food, clothes, and etiquette for the palace banquet. I've pretty much figured out the layout of the palace these past few days... I've even found several secret passages in the Cold Palace. So I've made some progress."

The three of them appeared to be wandering around aimlessly, but in reality, they were figuring out the emperor's route.

At first, Deng Chan thought it was unlikely, even like a pipe dream.

However, after this trip, they were surprised by Jiang Zhiyun's intelligence and precision; she actually managed to figure out several places. They even located several of the Cold Palaces only after Jiang Zhiyun correctly guessed their location.

And it really was!

Yunniang smiled and said, "I was half guessing and half guessing, but I was lucky."

Deng Chan was initially skeptical.

But Granny Yu said, "Yunniang and I are both very lucky people. We can find money just by wandering around the market, and we can even play cards. I even wrote a secret manual, but many people know about this manual, and only I know how to play."

"Anyone can only lose to me."

As she said this, Jiang Zhiyun nodded.

I genuinely agree; I really think what Grandma Yu said makes a lot of sense.

"Yunniang goes without saying. Who doesn't need a bit of luck to get to where they are today? Sometimes, even stepping into a puddle can kill you if you're unlucky."

Upon hearing this, Deng Chan nodded, finding it quite reasonable.

"Now that Mother says so, I've actually been lucky. I've always managed to avoid death and even managed to win by staying by your side."

Isn't this... also a kind of ability?

It doesn't even require much effort.

All I wanted to do was wander around with them.

Jiang Zhiyun laughed and said, "Now that you mention it, I feel that you actually have the best luck, so-so!"

The three of them chatted and laughed, each of them openly holding a copy of *Jin Ping Mei* and reading it.

When Emperor Xie Lin received the news, he still found it offensive: "Jin Ping Mei? They're talking about it and laughing about it?"

Even men wouldn't dare to take it out, let alone several women who were discussing it back and forth without feeling ashamed!

Xie Lin said with some disdain, "No need to watch them. And don't report to me again. Just keep a close watch on them. I don't have time to manage these three people strolling around the Imperial Garden and flying kites all day."

"Go to Consort Qing's place."

When the Emperor came over, he saw Gu Wanqing sitting in front of the dressing mirror and immediately wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Tomorrow is the day the Turks will come. I'll marry Jiang Zhiyun off then. Who told her to offend you?"

Hearing this, Gu Wanqing's face lit up with joy: "Thank you, Your Majesty. You still care about me. I don't fight or compete for anything, but this Jiang Zhiyun has really gone too far. Not only has she framed me multiple times, but she has also slandered Your Majesty!"

"Yes." Xie Lin nodded. "My beloved consort, you are all I have now. Even Mother was deceived by her. Only you, only you still stand firmly on my side. I cannot lose you."

"So even a puppet can deceive me, but you cannot."

As she said this, Gu Wanqing paused slightly, looking at the Emperor with some uncertainty about how to react: "I... Your Majesty, I have nothing to hide."

"I have a heart full of sincerity towards you."

"I know, I've known since I was young. If it weren't for you back then, I wouldn't have been able to hold on. I would have nothing..." As he spoke, the Emperor sickly embraced Gu Wanqing's waist, still clutching her jade pendant in his hand.

Gu Wanqing clenched her fists. She was terrified. What if the Emperor discovered she was a fraud?

"Your Majesty, if I were to tell you something that was a white lie, what would you do?"

Who knew that Xie Lin would look at her dangerously at this moment: "A white lie? There has never been such a thing, my beloved. A lie is a lie."

"A mistake is a mistake. If you betray someone, you'll die."

As he spoke, he gritted his teeth, looking displeased with everyone he met.

"Of course, you're no exception. You're the exception elsewhere, but not here."

"...What I know, I don't know."

"Your Majesty, you must trust your concubine."

Now that Gu Wanqing had finished speaking, she was beginning to feel anxious.

Then, she wouldn't hold back. With Xie Shuheng's unstoppable momentum, even the Emperor would be dead if he stormed in!

So at this time, Gu Wanqing wrote another letter and sent it over, saying that as long as Xie Shuheng was willing to cooperate with her, she would personally offer up the emperor's head!

There was only one condition: spare Gu Wanqing's life and live a life of wealth and luxury.

I ask for nothing more.

As for whether Xie Shuheng loves her or not, Gu Wanqing knows that there's no point in dwelling on it too much.

This kind of man isn't Xie Lin; she can't handle him.