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

"Your Majesty, do you really intend to bring my maternal niece into the palace? If she makes a move, I fear that in the future..."

Jiang Yunxue looked at Zheng Zhihe, her beautiful eyes filled with tears.

Seeing her like this, Zheng Zhihe couldn't help but touch his nose guiltily.

"Although she is your niece, she is also a candidate for the next imperial concubine selection. Therefore, it would be reasonable for her to enter the palace."

Hearing Zheng Zhihe reaffirm his stance, Jiang Yunxue understood that he was not going to change his mind for her sake.

At this moment, even she couldn't help but feel a little disheartened.

Jiang Yunxue believes that she has been by Zheng Zhihe's side for so long, and even if she has not made any great contributions, she has certainly worked hard.

Moreover, if it weren't for her, the Jiang family wouldn't have supported Zheng Zhihe in the first place.

But now that Zheng Zhihe has Xu Leyao, he has completely neglected her.

How could Jiang Yunxue possibly be willing to accept this?

Seemingly noticing Jiang Yunxue's sadness, Zheng Zhihe offered words of comfort.

"I know you are unwilling, but I am the Emperor. Besides, no matter how many more women enter the palace afterward, you will always be the one and only Imperial Concubine."

Hearing Zheng Zhihe's words, Jiang Yunxue forced a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I understand."

Seeing that she was no longer bothering him, Zheng Zhihe nodded in satisfaction.

"I still have some memorials to process. You should return to the palace first."

"Okay, I will send your Majesty off."

Zheng Zhihe nodded, and then led Li Huanian, who had returned, toward the Imperial Study.

Watching his departing figure, Jiang Yunxue's eyes were filled with complex emotions.

If we were to blame Xu Leyao, that wouldn't be entirely unreasonable.

Ultimately, the reason for this matter lies with Zheng Zhihe.

After all, as he himself said, he was the emperor.

Even if Xu Leyao is unwilling, what can she do?

When the emperor speaks personally, it becomes an imperial edict.

However, there is one person above the emperor.

Jiang Yunxue's eyes flickered slightly, then she gave an order to her personal maid, Caidie.

"Now it is time for the Empress Dowager to have her meal. You may come with me to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager."

After hearing this, Cai Die roughly understood Jiang Yunxue's thoughts.

"Your Majesty, wouldn't going now disturb the Empress Dowager?"

Hearing Cai Die's question, Jiang Yunxue, who was about to take a step, stopped herself.

What she said is true; it would indeed be inappropriate to disturb the Empress Dowager.

Don't end up losing both your wife and your army.

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Yunxue shook her head and then ordered the troops to return to the palace.

So what if I don't personally go to Cining Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager?

If she sends just one item over, the Empress Dowager will surely want to see her.

After returning to the palace, Jiang Yunxue instructed Caidie to retrieve a jade hairpin from her private treasury.

The jade hairpin was entirely emerald green, clearly made from the finest jade.

However, this hairpin is not the style worn by women.

The jade hairpin, carved with auspicious cloud patterns by skilled craftsmen, is simple in design yet quite valuable.

Upon seeing the hairpin, a moment of disorientation flashed in Jiang Yunxue's eyes.

This hairpin was not worn by the woman, nor did it belong to her; she had only obtained it by chance.

To her, the hairpin was not important, but it was a cherished memory of the Empress Dowager.

But favors can't be used too often.

The Empress Dowager helped her this time by giving her the hairpin, so she probably won't give it to her so easily again in the future.

After all, the Empress Dowager and Zheng Zhihe were originally adoptive mother and son.

Ever since Zheng Zhihe ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager has secluded herself in the Cining Palace and refused to leave.

On ordinary days, not only did she handle the affairs of the six palaces, but she also sent out batch after batch of palace servants from Cining Palace.

She only asked one question: she didn't want too many people to wait on her.

For as many years as Zheng Zhihe ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager observed a vegetarian diet and chanted Buddhist scriptures.

"Cai Die, take this to the Empress Dowager."

Jiang Yunxue put the jade hairpin back into its original box and handed it to Caidie.

Cai Die took the box, nodded, and silently headed towards the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace.

Watching her departing figure, Jiang Yunxue felt a sense of loss.

If that person had ascended the throne, her situation might be better now.

Suppressing the thoughts that shouldn't be in her mind, Jiang Yunxue silently began to do her embroidery.

What she was just thinking about was a crime that could cost her her head.

If this gets out by accident, not only will the Jiang family be unable to survive, but Jiang Yunxue herself will also be in grave danger.

Putting aside the thoughts in her mind, Jiang Yunxue pretended that she had never thought about it at all.

She was embroidering, but her mind was elsewhere.

The moment the needle pricked my fingertip, blood immediately gushed out.

Looking at the bright red blood, Jiang Yunxue couldn't help but sigh.

It seems like nothing is going smoothly today.

I wonder if Cai Die delivered Jiang Dongxi to the Empress Dowager.

Cai Die, whom Jiang Yunxue was thinking about, was currently knocking on the door outside Cining Palace.

However, there were already few palace servants in Cining Palace, and it was dinnertime, so many people were serving the Empress Dowager.

The butterfly knocked on the door, but it took a long time before anyone came to open it.

"Miss Cai Die, have you come to see the Empress Dowager?"

The palace maid who opened the door also recognized Cai Die.

After all, there are only two or three high-ranking concubines in the palace now.

They knew all the senior and junior palace maids who were close to them.

If you don't know you've offended someone, how will you know how you died?

Upon hearing the palace maid's question, Cai Die nodded.

However, the palace maid looked somewhat troubled the next moment.

"Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has just finished her dinner and it is time for her to go to worship Buddha. I suppose even if I inform her, Miss Caidie may not be able to see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Upon hearing this, Cai Die calmly nodded.

"Please convey my message for me, sister."

Seeing this, the palace maid said nothing more.

She told Cai Die to wait there while she went inside to announce her arrival.

However, the expression on the little palace maid's face when she returned already told Cai Die the answer.

Cai Die showed no sign of being upset and simply handed the wooden box in her hand to the little palace maid.

"Please give this wooden box to the Empress Dowager and tell her that it is a special gift from our Empress Dowager. She will surely like it."

Seeing that Cai Die was being so polite, the little palace maid couldn't refuse.

She accepted the wooden box, then hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and going in again to announce her arrival.

This time, the Empress Dowager was willing to see her.

"Miss Cai Die, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager invites you in."

The young palace maid returned to the entrance of Cining Palace once again and invited Caidie inside for a chat.

Following her steps, Cai Die entered the main hall of Cining Palace.

"Your servant pays respect to Her Majesty the Queen Mother."

The colorful butterfly knelt on the ground and kowtowed in respect.

"Raise your head and let me see you."

The Empress Dowager's voice above was cold and clear.