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

After the meal, Zheng Zhihe's displeasure dissipated.

Seeing Xu Leyao's satisfied expression, Zheng Zhihe shook his head with amusement.

This gluttonous nature is exactly like Xu Leyao's.

"Your Majesty, when shall we return?"

The atmosphere was just right, but Xu Leyao ruined it with a single sentence.

Zheng Zhihe frowned unconsciously.

Is Jiang Yuwei uncomfortable being with him? Why is she still thinking about going back?

It must be said that Xu Leyao does understand Zheng Zhihe.

Seeing that it was getting late, if she stayed overnight at the manor, Zheng Zhihe might make a move on her.

Xu Leyao was not willing to let him succeed so easily.

What you can't have will always stir your heart.

Things that are easily obtained are not cherished.

However, when faced with his stern face, Xu Leyao did offer an explanation.

“If I go back too late, I’m afraid my father will punish me by making me kneel in the ancestral hall.”

Xu Leyao sighed helplessly.

“My father never opened an ancestral hall for me to acknowledge my ancestors, but now he’s making me kneel in front of it! How ridiculous…”

At the end, Xu Leyao shook her head, a complicated expression on her face.

Zheng Zhihe listened and felt that Jiang's father was being utterly outrageous!

In the end, Jiang Yuwei is his biological daughter.

They've been searching for so long, yet they haven't opened the ancestral hall or put the family genealogy in the book.

I have no idea how he did his job!

Seeing the slight dissatisfaction on Zheng Zhihe's face, Xu Leyao subtly curled the corners of her lips.

A while ago, in order to maintain her public image, Xu Leyao had to say a few good words for Jiang's father.

But this is just too frustrating.

Xu Leyao didn't want to live such a miserable life in this lifetime.

She's back for revenge!

The Jiang family is also the target of her revenge!

Xu Leyao was quite pleased with her subtle attempt to sow discord.

Opportunities missed are gone forever.

"It's also my fault. I grew up in the countryside, so it's understandable that my parents didn't like me."

As she spoke, Xu Leyao appropriately showed a hint of disappointment on her face.

Jiang Yuwei's body is young, so she has to do things that are appropriate for her age.

Sure enough, Zheng Zhihe felt even more distressed upon hearing this.

This young girl has been wandering for many years and has suffered endless hardships.

They finally found their family, but were still met with all sorts of disdain.

He felt sorry for her when he heard about it.

Children who make a fuss attract more attention, but perhaps she was just too well-behaved.

Sensitive, thoughtful, prone to feeling wronged yet strong and self-reliant.

How could Zheng Zhihe not be moved by a woman like that?

Moreover, she looks so much like Xu Leyao.

That was his young wife!

When all the coincidences fall on one person, and no one pays attention, is it possible that someone did it on purpose?

"Don't worry, I'll have someone get justice for you tomorrow."

Zheng Zhihe looked dignified and righteous.

But he also had his own little schemes.

If Jiang Yuwei had come from a rural background, she probably wouldn't have been given a high position after entering the palace.

But if she is a legitimate daughter from the Jiang family, then it is naturally different.

Moreover, Jiang Yunxue has already been promoted to the rank of Imperial Concubine.

If both daughters of the Jiang family were in the palace, which Jiang family concubine would they support?

Once they start fighting amongst themselves, Zheng Zhihe will be able to eliminate the Jiang family just as he eliminated the Xu family.

Jiang's father harbored unwarranted expectations, a fact that Zheng Zhihe was fully aware of.

However, Jiang Yunxue's body was no longer suitable for childbearing, so Zheng Zhihe turned a blind eye and never made a fuss.

But now that Xu Leyao has appeared, everything is different.

As things stand, Jung Ji-hak still likes her.

Given this, it's natural that her future ability to conceive wouldn't be eliminated at this point.

But Zheng Zhihe is not someone the Jiang family can count on.

Since Xu Leyao cannot be harmed, then the Jiang family will suffer.

Although Zheng Zhihe's thoughts weren't exactly obvious, Xu Leyao could guess a bit of them.

She scoffed inwardly; Zheng Zhihe really knew how to use her as a raft.

All these years have passed, and he hasn't changed at all.

In addition to becoming more arrogant and self-centered.

But now that his preferences are so obvious, it saves Xu Leyao the trouble of guessing.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xu Leyao didn't stand on ceremony and readily agreed.

Throughout, she maintained a poised and graceful demeanor.

She doesn't look like an orphan girl who grew up in the countryside.

Such a conflicting background and personality, embodied in one person, has a fatal attraction for those with a thirst for the unusual.

Zheng Zhihe is exactly that kind of person.

At that moment, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

Jiang Yuwei truly fulfilled all his desires for Xu Leyao.

As for how much of this was coincidence and how much was deliberate,

Zheng Zhihe doesn't care.

In order to please him, Jiang Yuwei will continue to do so.

Even if it's an act, it doesn't matter. As long as she can keep up the act for a lifetime, Zheng Zhihe will believe her for a lifetime.

I don't care about anyone except Xu Leyao.

Thinking of her, Zheng Zhihe felt a pang of guilt.

Seeing Jiang Yuwei, who looked remarkably like Xu Leyao, softened his heart even more.

"I just can't stand seeing you being bullied."

As Zheng Zhihe spoke, he took her hand.

His little hands had such smooth skin that he couldn't bear to put them down.

Looking at the heartache revealed in those peach blossom eyes, it didn't seem fake.

But the more this happened, the more Xu Leyao loathed it.

She was fooled by Zheng Zhihe's seemingly devoted love for her!

Otherwise, the Xu family wouldn't have met such a tragic end.

Suppressing her disgust and irritation, Xu Leyao simply smiled shyly.

She perfectly captured the shyness of a young woman.

Seeing the blush on her eyes, Zheng Zhihe felt an even stronger urge.

Fortunately, he still remembered that Jiang Yuwei had not yet entered the palace.

Having made up his mind to get her into the palace as soon as possible, he now showed Xu Leyao some respect.

"I have Li Huanian escort you back. He is a trusted eunuch of mine. If you ever encounter any problems you cannot resolve in the future, send someone to him. Once he knows, I will know too."

Zheng Zhihe's voice was gentle, and every word he spoke was out of consideration for Xu Leyao.

If it were a naive young lady, she would probably have her heart ripped out by him right now.

But Xu Leyao found it disgusting that Zheng Zhihe used such methods on her.

Fortunately, Zheng Zhihe has a good-looking appearance.

Otherwise, Xu Leyao would have vomited all over his face right now.

At this moment, Xu Leyao perked up and gave him a perfunctory response.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Seemingly hesitant, after a moment, Xu Leyao seemed to have made up her mind and muttered something under her breath in the carriage.

"Your Majesty, you are so kind to me, I am very happy."

Zheng Zhihe was leaning against the carriage, pretending to doze off.

However, since he had learned martial arts since childhood, he naturally took Xu Leyao's words to heart.

Such straightforward praise made Zheng Zhihe's lips involuntarily curl into a smile.

Looking at his worthless appearance, Xu Leyao's eyes were full of disdain.