Reincarnation and Rebirth

Chapter 235 The Secretary Reappears

The group chatted over tea, with Su Wan'er sitting there, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings. When the topic of marriage came up, she deliberately adopted a reluctant yet helpless expression.

Madam Xiao also looked hesitant. Chu Linlin smiled and put down her teacup. "Madam Xiao, I'm afraid your visit to the palace today wasn't just to catch up with me."

Madam Xiao looked nervous, but still said, "I can't hide it from you, Empress Dowager. It's like this. I heard that you and Consort Ya both really like the works of the painting master of the previous dynasty. Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to get one. However, it's just one piece, which makes me very embarrassed."

Consort Ya and the Empress Dowager exchanged a glance and said, "Madam Xiao, what's the trouble? If there are good things, we should naturally give them to the Empress Dowager first."

"Indeed, I'm getting senile. This painting is naturally a gift for the Empress Dowager. Granny, bring out the painting."

"No need. I'm old and my eyesight is failing. What use is it to me? Consort Ya, I'll give you this painting."

Consort Ya hurriedly stood up, "In that case, thank you very much, Your Majesty."

"I am tired. Please take Madam Xiao to your palace for a visit and treat her well."

"Yes."

Chu Linlin glanced at Granny Fang, and seeing her nod, she let the group leave.

Then he smiled and said, "Miss Su, what's wrong? Your wedding is coming up soon, and you'll be second only to the emperor. Are you nervous?"

Granny Guo joked, "Perhaps she has someone she likes who doesn't want to be with her."

"Shut up, how can you say such things?"

Su Wan'er promptly put on a heartbroken expression. Chu Linlin, seeing this, was secretly delighted, but her face remained serious. "Miss Su, I don't care what you think, a royal wedding is a matter of utmost importance, you..."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me," Su Wan'er said, her face pale with fright. She knelt down and said, "I had no other intentions. I hope Your Majesty will understand. I was just worried that I was not up to the task."

"Oh? So you've come to see me today, is there something you need?"

"Does Your Majesty still remember that when Ziyan invaded, it was the Beast Army that came to Ziyun's rescue?"

At this point, Chu Linlin's face darkened. "What are you trying to say?"

“I am terrified. I have no other intention than that the immortal who appeared that night told me about a book.”

"Secretary?" Chu Linlin jumped up from her chair, then quickly sat back down, realizing her lapse in composure, and asked calmly, "Is it the secretary who was taken away by the traitorous Zhu family?"

Hmph, a traitor? My master is really something, how could he have fallen for a woman like that?

Fortunately, after the situation stabilized, she took the time to send her master and the others back to the headquarters of Xuanji Sect, and unexpectedly found a treasure left behind by the previous dynasty.

Guess what? Those treasures were actually the same ones Su Wan'er took out from her spatial dimension in her previous life and gave to Zi Xingchen to help him establish his career.

Now, it has long been returned to its rightful owner and is safely stored in the space.

Su Wan'er had already planned that once Zi Xingchen stepped down and the new emperor ascended the throne, she would set aside a portion of the funds as start-up capital for the new emperor to revitalize Ziyun.

That old hag has been eyeing the treasure for a long time, and now that she knows its whereabouts, she'll definitely covet it.

"Wan'er, what did that immortal tell you?"

Seeing Su Wan'er hesitate, Chu Linlin was about to adopt the imposing manner of the Empress Dowager when she heard Su Wan'er say, "This matter should have been informed to the Emperor, but my wedding to the Emperor is approaching, and it is inconvenient for me to have an audience with him. Therefore, I implore the Empress Dowager to inform the Emperor of this matter, as it concerns Ziyun's great importance."

"Good, good, good, as expected of the future Empress Ziyun, her demeanor is extraordinary."

Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Su Wan'er got up to take her leave.

Chu Linlin held the secretary in her hands, her eyes gleaming with a determined light.

Meanwhile, after understanding Madam Xiao's meaning, Consort Ya was overjoyed. As long as the Xiao family stood by her son, there was no need to worry about the success of their great cause.

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Mingyue Kingdom was bumped into by a eunuch on the road. Just as he was about to get angry, the eunuch suddenly slipped him a note. He instinctively caught it and then stuffed it into his pocket.

Once they reached a secluded spot, the fake prince unfolded the note and was immediately shocked by its contents. Without making a sound, he destroyed the note and then headed towards the side hall.

Upon hearing the fake crown prince's purpose, Zi Xingchen flew into a rage, "Your Mingyue Kingdom is simply going too far! How dare you set your sights on my future Empress Ziyun! You have no respect for us at all!"

The fake crown prince was not afraid at all. "Your Majesty, my father sent me here with full sincerity. I implore Your Majesty to carefully consider the possibility of a marriage alliance between our two countries..."

"How dare you speak such nonsense and tarnish the reputation of my future empress! Guards, take Crown Prince Mingyue away and serve him properly."

The fake crown prince hadn't expected the Emperor of Ziyun to be so tough. "Your Majesty treats me this way, aren't you afraid that my father will launch an attack on Ziyun?"

"Hmph, do you really still think that Fu Liheng can help you?"

Upon hearing this, the fake prince's eyes flickered slightly.

The next moment, Zi Xingchen called out to the outside, and Xiao Yunting brought in Xiang Shangshu and Fu Liheng, who were bound hand and foot.

"Your Majesty, spare my life..." Minister Xiang begged for mercy as soon as he entered the room, while Fu Liheng, knowing that his death was imminent, remained expressionless.

Upon seeing this, the fake prince's legs went weak, and he was carried away.

During the morning court session, a minister advised, "Your Majesty, even if Crown Prince Mingyue's demands are excessive, placing him under house arrest may trigger a war between the two countries. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider."

"That is not true. The woman that Mingyue Kingdom is asking for is our future Empress of Ziyun. How dare they bring up something that is so disgraceful to our country? They simply do not respect the Emperor."

"But……"

"Yun Ting, what do you think?" Zi Xingchen interrupted their argument and asked.

Xiao Yunting kept his eyes down and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that the Mingyue Kingdom dares to provoke my Ziyun Kingdom because it is taking advantage of the fact that the war between my Ziyun Kingdom and Ziyan Kingdom has just ended and everything is in need of rebuilding. If my Ziyun Kingdom is strong enough, it has nothing to fear from the Mingyue Kingdom.”

"Hmph, General Xiao, you also know that the battle of Ziyun has just been quelled and the national treasury is empty."

Xiao Yunting didn't even glance at the official, and said only, "Are we just going to let Mingyue trample the Emperor's face underfoot?"

"You, you, Your Majesty, please calm down. That's not what I meant."

Zi Xingchen's eyes were filled with anger. On the one hand, he did not want to give up Su Wan'er, but on the other hand, he dared not really provoke a war between the two countries.

Just as a somber mood settled over the hall, a eunuch hurried in. Upon seeing him, Eunuch Wei glanced at Zi Xingchen and immediately rebuked him, "How dare you! How can you run around so recklessly in the imperial court?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me, but I have important matters to report."

Which palace are you from?

"The junior one is a eunuch from Yongshou Palace."

Upon hearing this, Zi Xingchen's eyes flashed. He recalled that not long ago, he had received a secret letter that pointed directly to the Empress Dowager's disloyalty. Although he did not believe it, he was still suspicious and had arranged for someone in the Empress Dowager's palace. Now that he saw this eunuch coming without regard for anything else, something big must have happened. He gestured to Eunuch Wei, who quickly went down the steps and approached the eunuch.

After whispering something, Eunuch Wei's expression changed drastically. He walked back to Zi Xingchen's side, leaned closer, and said something that made Zi Xingchen jump up from the dragon throne: "Is this true?"

"This servant dares not deceive Your Majesty."

"Retreat."

The officials were puzzled, but Xiao Yunting glanced at the eunuch and was the first to leave.