The beloved is reborn as a substitute, and the tyrant begs for forgiveness every night.

As for the Jiang family, Xu Leyao also instigated Jiang's father.

Jiang's father had always harbored ambitions to ascend the throne and become emperor, and now that Xu Leyao was about to come of age and enter the palace, he was eager to do so.

In this way, he had a completely trustworthy inside agent in the palace.

His rebellious thoughts became increasingly difficult to suppress.

Of course, things didn't move forward that quickly.

However, under Xu Leyao's instigation, the news that Jiang Xiuxiu was the daughter of Jiang's mother's sweetheart was exposed.

Xu Leyao only found out about this by chance.

Therefore, it was impossible for Jiang's father to accept that Jiang's mother had cheated on him.

In this way, he secretly poisoned Jiang's mother.

Moreover, due to Xu Leyao, Jiang's father and Jiang Yunxue gradually drifted apart.

Just then, Xu Leyao set a trap.

After Zheng Zhihe and Jiang Xu Leyao were secretly brought into the palace, Zheng Zhihe inquired about the recent situation outside the palace from Xu Leyao's perspective.

Due to the escalating rumors in recent days, Zheng Zhihe is now reluctant to leave the palace to ensure his personal safety.

However, this also reduced his access to information.

"There's nothing unusual outside, just the same old rumors. But Your Majesty should not take those rumors to heart, lest you harm your health."

Hearing Xu Leyao's comforting words, Zheng Zhihe nodded.

However, he was still somewhat absent-minded.

Thinking of Jiang's father, that old fox, Zheng Zhihe tentatively asked.

"But has anything interesting happened in your family these days?"

When Zheng Zhihe asked about this, Xu Leyao couldn't help but sigh, pretending to be worried.

"Nothing interesting has happened these days; on the contrary, my mother and the old lady's health is getting worse and worse."

At this point, she showed some worry and looked extremely sad.

Zheng Zhihe looked at her with some confusion.

If Madam Jiang's health were to gradually decline, that would be understandable.

If he remembered correctly, Jiang's mother had always been in good health.

How could Jiang Mu have deteriorated so quickly after only a short time apart?

Unless there is another reason for this.

Thinking of this, Zheng Zhihe's expression became more thoughtful.

Seeing this, Xu Leyao smiled, but quickly the smile disappeared.

Now that internal troubles have arisen, Zheng Zhihe probably doesn't trust anyone anymore.

In this way, she could take this opportunity to expose the fact that Mr. Jiang had drugged Mrs. Jiang and the old lady.

If the ruler demands that his subjects rebel, the subjects have no choice but to rebel.

Thinking of the crimes Zheng Zhihe had once forced upon Xu Jia, Xu Leyao couldn't help but tremble.

Upon seeing this, Zheng Zhihe quickly pulled Jiang Xuleyao into his arms.

"Don't worry, with me here, I will absolutely ensure that nothing happens to your mother and the old lady."

After saying this, Zheng Zhihe sent a royal physician to the Jiang residence to examine the pulse.

To cover their tracks, even the maids got to have their pulses taken by the imperial physician.

In this way, the fact that Old Madam Jiang and Jiang's mother had been poisoned could no longer be kept secret.

Jiang's father pretended to be shocked, but secretly increased the dosage of poison.

Anyway, things have already come to this point.

Just when Jiang's father thought the matter was resolved, news of his drugging the two men began to circulate among the people.

Thinking of the message that Xu Leyao had secretly sent back, a resolute look flashed in Jiang's father's eyes.

The victor becomes king, the loser becomes villain; it's all a matter of a single thought.

Now he has no way out and can only fight to the death.

Jiang's father secretly left the city, intending to start a rebellion, but was stopped at the city gate by Zheng Zhihe's men.

On the city wall, Zheng Zhihe held Xu Leyao's slender waist and looked down at Jiang's father.

“Weiwei said before that you had treasonous thoughts, and now it seems that she was right.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang's father's eyes widened in fury.

He had considered that he might fail in his rebellion, but he never imagined that he would be betrayed by his own daughter.

Xu Leyao looked at his unwilling expression from above, a slight smile appearing on her lips before she put on a sad expression.

“Father, although I am your daughter, I am also the Emperor’s subject. You have done such a foolish thing today, so naturally I cannot be foolish as well.”

As she spoke, Xu Leyao knelt down in front of Zheng Zhihe.

“Your Majesty, my father’s health is not as good as before. It is a crime that he deserves to die for having such treasonous thoughts. But I beg Your Majesty to spare his life in consideration of my denunciation.”

Hearing Xu Leyao's plea, Zheng Zhihe gave her a deep look and finally agreed.

Jiang's father had taken back all the military power he had held.

In this way, even if he wanted to make a comeback in the future, it would be impossible.

Even with Xu Leyao's pleas, Zheng Zhihe is not a soft-hearted person.

He has never been sentimental about the past; he treated the Xu family that way back then, and he treats the Jiang family the same way now.

The entire Jiang family was executed and exiled.

Even if that were all, Xu Leyao felt it wasn't enough.

Because Jiang's father was exiled, Jiang's mother and the old lady Jiang could not obtain the antidote and naturally died from the poison.

Upon learning this news, Jiang Yunxue fell seriously ill and was demoted to the rank of Beauty.

Jiang Yunxue was naturally unwilling to accept this scene.

She made a scene several times trying to see Zheng Zhihe, but was always kicked out.

With nowhere else to turn, she took the hairpin and begged the Empress Dowager.

"You've already used this hairpin to get me to do something once before, how could you possibly use it a second time?"

The Empress Dowager looked at her with a half-smile, finding it extremely mocking.

However, Jiang Yunxue remained calm.

She gradually grew indifferent, though she didn't know when it started.

"If Your Majesty is willing to lend a helping hand, I will gladly do anything to answer your commands in the future."

Upon hearing Jiang Yunxue's words, the Empress Dowager finally gave her a proper look.

But after a moment, she shook her head.

"What I value most is equal exchange, but you have no bargaining power with me. If it's just you as a person, then don't say anything more."

After she finished speaking, the Empress Dowager saw the guests off.

However, after Jiang Yunxue left, she still sent someone to summon Xu Leyao.

Xu Leyao was fully aware that Zheng Zhihe had brought her into the palace.

Only because of Xu Leyao's meritorious report, the Empress Dowager did not take any action against her.

But now it seems that Xu Leyao has had a huge influence on Zheng Zhihe.

Jiang Yunxue was demoted, but Xu Leyao was not affected at all and was even able to stay safely by Zheng Zhihe's side.

Thinking of this, a hint of apprehension flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes.

The most important thing in the imperial harem is that one cannot be the sole recipient of the emperor's favor.

After all, being loved by one person means being resented by one person.

While the Empress Dowager was chanting Buddhist prayers, Xu Leyao was also brought along.

"You may request to leave the palace and become a nun."