After my whole family overheard my thoughts, they went berserk.

Seeing that she was hesitant, the Empress said generously, "You and Miaomiao get along well, and I also admire your character. Please feel free to speak your mind."

"Recently, the court investigated the pharmaceutical merchants, and my husband was also involved. I know that His Majesty gave them face and did not pursue the matter. Now my husband is penniless, and I do not want to share his money with him."

When she married into the Wu family, Wu Bende was penniless. Over the years, he had been accumulating wealth and becoming increasingly arrogant. She was very worried that he would anger the emperor and bring disaster upon the whole family.

Now, he has returned to his old ways, and his behavior has become much more restrained. She would rather he continue to be an honest official as before.

"What a wonderful wife! This is not the way of thinking of the ancients. She is clearly a modern woman. It's a pity she was born in the wrong era."

The Empress was also moved by her words.

"Now that your wish has come true, you can settle down and live a peaceful life."

Fu Rufang stroked her belly, filled with eager anticipation.

"It's heartbreaking to say, but this pregnancy was purely accidental. If my husband hadn't been so confused that night and mistook me for someone else, I might not have had the chance."

The Empress was pleased. Fu Rufang trusted her completely and told her the whole story. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

The name Wu Bende called out that night, Liu Fang, was actually the Empress Dowager's real name—Fan Liu Fang.

"Actually, I've always had a secret worry: his heart is elsewhere. I've been searching for ten years, but I still can't find out who that person is."

She doesn't compete for favor, and she doesn't hide her actions. If her husband is honest with her, she will gladly accept it.

But she waited for ten years, and her husband never spoke to her about it. Over time, this matter became an obsession for her.

The more unknown something is, the more you want to know.

"Mother, if you don't tell her now, she will find out in the future. When the truth comes out, she will be divorced and eventually die from the humiliation."

"Do you really want to know who that person is?" the Queen asked.

Those who destroy other people's families should not hide in the shadows and cause innocent people pain.

Seeing the Empress's sympathetic gaze, Fu Rufang knew that her inner conflict was about to be resolved.

"There is a woman in the palace named Liu Fang. I hope you live well, raise your child to adulthood, and ensure that your position as the mistress of the Wu family will never be shaken."

Those who stand in the sun are far better than those who live in the darkness.

As long as she remains in her position as matriarch, she will not be replaced.

Back then, the Empress Dowager plotted against the Emperor, causing Rong Minzhi to become pregnant with the Emperor's child. She never revealed it, but it took her a long time to process this fact.

Now, it's time for the Empress Dowager to experience what it's like.

"Your subject obeys." Fu Rufang appeared calm on the surface, but her heart was in turmoil.

She had considered anyone, but she never imagined it would be someone who could be her mother!

What a humiliation!

The Empress could see that Fu Rufang was sad, but she was strong-willed and would not show it, so she changed the subject.

"I've been having a headache lately about the Second Prince's marriage. Why don't you help me decide which girl is a better match for him?"

Fu Rufang felt it was her duty to serve the Empress.

She glanced at the booklet, her brow furrowing: "Why is Qiu Tang in this booklet?"

Those who could be matched with the princes were naturally the children of officials of the first or second rank. How could Qiu Tang's family background possibly be worthy of the royal family?

"I believe she is registered under your mother's name," the Empress said.

Fu Rufang said firmly: "Qiu Tang is the daughter of the disgraced official Qiu Zhengze. My mother adheres to the established laws and would never make such a mistake."

"The two families were close friends. Not long after my father broke his left leg, he was convicted of treason and ordered by the emperor to execute his entire clan. The matriarch of the Qiu family entrusted her with her life, asking my father to adopt his two children. My father pleaded for three days and finally the emperor agreed."

After this explanation, Shi Miaomiao finally remembered that the book contained details about the two families.

Marquis Zhongwu was a loyal and patriotic elder. When the new emperor ascended the throne, he remained true to his original aspirations. After making military achievements, the emperor bestowed upon him the title of Marquis Zhongwu.

He broke his left leg in the fall. It was because someone tampered with the horse. The Fu family always thought it was an accident and did not investigate the cause.

The mastermind behind this was Qiu Tang's brother, Qiu Yuchen!

The Fu family adopted two children. Qiu Tang has always lived in the Fu family, but Qiu Yu Chen has not returned to the Fu family and his whereabouts are unknown.

Like father, like son; the Qiu family is corrupt from top to bottom, and the Qiu father and son are treacherous and vicious. Qiu Tang is no better.

"She knows the Second Prince, and since she is registered under the name of the Lady of the Marquis's Mansion, if she is of good character, I will not care about her background," the Empress probed.

"Qiutang is very sensible. She won my mother's favor as soon as she entered the manor. Originally, the Fu family wanted her to marry her brother, but all three of her brothers were in love with her, which caused a rift between them. Through this incident, I always felt that her behavior in the Fu family was not her true character."

"As expected, Qiu Tang is cunning. She deliberately caused the Fu brothers to turn against each other, and her approach to the second brother was not without ulterior motives. However, she has a white moonlight, someone she met when she was a child."

What's infuriating is that she had the last laugh, and it's unclear whether the author forgot to fill in the plot hole, as the author never mentioned who that person was in the end.

Empress Fu Rufang was delighted to have met someone she clicked with.

After leaving Huayao Palace, Fu Rufang stopped in her tracks.

"Madam, have you forgotten something?" asked the maid Qingxia.

Fu Rufang said, "Since I've come all the way to the palace, I'll go and say hello to the Empress Dowager."

She endured it for ten years, and with her last breath, she couldn't bear it anymore.

The Empress Dowager's complexion has been improving recently, and with Shi Qingling settling down in the capital, her mood has become much more cheerful.

"Your Majesty, Madam Wu, the Minister of Rites, has come to request an audience," reported Granny Bai.

The Empress Dowager said calmly, "Send it."

Fu Rufang stopped in front of Qingning Palace, took a few deep breaths, and then strolled over as if nothing had happened.

Although the Empress Dowager is over fifty years old, she maintains a youthful appearance. However, as the Empress Dowager, she should possess both virtue and talent, and set an example for women throughout the land.

"Fu Rufang greets the Empress Dowager and gives her best wishes." Fu Rufang bowed.

The Empress Dowager gave Fu Rufang a detached look.

As the Empress Dowager, she wouldn't care about other women, let alone Wu Bende's wife.

"Hearing that the Empress Dowager is unwell, my husband asked me to convey his regards and wish her good health."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's expression instantly softened.

She raised her head and looked at Fu Rufang: "You two are quite thoughtful to remember me. I am very pleased and will reward you."

"A reward of a thousand taels of gold," the Empress Dowager said.

Fu Rufang bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am a month pregnant and the fetus is just becoming stable, so it is inconvenient for me to bend over. I hope Your Majesty will understand."

The Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically, and she looked up at her abdomen: "You're one month pregnant?"

Wu Bende had not visited her for a month, and she had assumed that he was busy with a case in court and could not come to the palace.

She and Wu Bende had been in a relationship for ten years, but unexpectedly, in just one month, his wife... became pregnant!

Fu Rufang stood there quietly, watching the Empress Dowager's various expressions change.

Even though she's over fifty and not as devoted to love as a young girl, she's still a woman after all. After ten years of living a mundane life, her heart will inevitably be filled with turmoil.

A wave of pleasure washed over me.

Relieved.

"My wife, please retire."

She suddenly turned around and walked away with dignity.