Chapter 96 Stupid to Death

Emperor Sheng Yuan picked up the painting and said calmly, "If Zhen hadn't met Madam, Zhen would have never imagined that Zhen could still appreciate it so closely, without the slightest fear and despair. At the time when Zhen was the most high-spirited, the day when Zhen stomped on the entire Central Plains under one's feet, the Empress Dowager held this painting and gave a detailed account of the scene when Zhen was born."

Guan Suyi's temples began to swell, and she could almost feel the feeling of destroying the world. For a child who had been abandoned since childhood, nothing was more important than tracing one's roots. It would be fine if he didn't know it for a lifetime, but on the day that should have been the most glorious day, the bloody truth was suddenly revealed. The impact was no less than falling from a cloud into the abyss, and a destructive power of a tsunami and landslide.

Everything he hoped, pursued, and even believed in would be destroyed in an instant. If the will was not strong enough, afraid he would go crazy on the spot. Guan Suyi didn't know how he survived at that time, but she could imagine what kind of torment he was going through for more than 1,400 days and nights.

However, even in such pain and despair, he was reluctant to burn the painting, which showed how much guilt and longing he had for the mother he had never met. Did he think that if he kept this painting and used it to torture himself forever, he would be able to wash away the sin of killing his mother?

It turned out that the man who looked so powerful was hiding such a rotten and festering wound in his heart, but he never wanted to treat it, instead he dug it deeper and deeper with the knife. The human spirit was not infinitely powerful, on the contrary, it would become weaker and weaker with age. If all the strength was exhausted, there would be a time when that knife pierce the heart.

Guan Suyi closed her eyes and suppressed the surging tears, she was not qualified to cry for this man, even he himself was not, because all of this was fake! It's a big lie! The truth was indeed bloody, but it was not cruel at all. On the contrary, it's saturated with deep love and expectation.

She said while barely maintained a calm voice, "Your Majesty should have guessed it right? The reason why your mother held a knife in her hand was not to resist, nor to kill you. She had a difficult childbirth and no one was by her side, in order to save your life, she can only open her own stomach and take you out; she was afraid that the clan would not find you in time, so she cut her wrist and fed you with her own blood."

She fixed her gaze at the emperor who was showing a fragile posture in front of her, and said word by word, "So you have never been a Rakshasa, let alone killing your mother, but a treasure she exchanged with her life. Not only you are not a child that no one want, on the contrary, your birth carry more maternal love and hope than anyone else. Because she has a spirit in heaven and has always been guarding by your side, so you can survive such a difficult environment, and you can overcome the danger again and again until you reach the top. Your Majesty, for her sake, don't hurt yourself in the future, you are now the monarch of Great Wei, the ruler of the world, and your life is no longer yours alone!"

Emperor Sheng Yuan was so warmed by her words that his whole body was burning, and his heavy heart was still hard, but he opened a gap for her alone, and carefully brought her in, put it on the tip of his heart, or maybe hide it at the bottom of his heart, except for himself, no one was allowed to touch it.

He intertwined his fingers with her and said eagerly, "That's right, Zhen's life is no longer mine alone, but Madam's. Without Madam, Zhen would never have discovered the truth." On the day he received the secret report, he repeatedly chewed these four words. The truth was like a thunderbolt, which exploded in his mind, and then everything suddenly became clear.

When he went to see the paintings that the Empress Dowager worked so hard to draw, he didn't feel any guilt or fear or despair, he just wanted to cry for his mother. She must be the bravest and greatest mother in the world; just as Madam was the strongest and wisest lady in the world.

He finally let go, and was proud of it. He no longer hesitated whether to approach Madam, but immediately rushed to her side to show his identity. He was the son of Husu Liya, Hunnar, and Huo Shengzhe, the monarch of the Great Wei Dynasty. He was not a demon, so why should he hide it?

However, Guan Suyi couldn't understand his surging emotions, and turned her face away and said urgently, "Please don't say these words, Your Majesty. This subject woman can't afford it, let alone dare to ask for it. Since you have let go of the past, would you please hurry up and put on your clothes?"

Emperor Sheng Yuan saw that she seemed to be embarrassed. Although he thought it was cute, he couldn't bear to tease her too much. While putting on his robe, he confessed, "Madam, don't underestimate yourself. For Zhen, you are a unique treasure in the world. The reason why Zhen competed for the world was just to survive. Later, Zhen was stabbed in the heart by the Empress Dowager, and thought about how to sit on the throne more firmly, even if you die, you shouldn't be taken advantage by others. It wasn't until Zhen met Madam that Zhen realized that this world is not only belong to Zhen, but also belongs to the common people. Providing one side water and soil is far more satisfying than destroying a city. Now, Zhen want to be a good emperor, and Zhen want to hold your hand and together we build a peaceful world, Yellow River is clear and the sea has no waves."

Guan Suyi turned her face away, the blush slowly climbed from the base of her ears to her cheeks, and then extended to her neck. She didn't need to look at this man's warm expression, just his loving voice alone could make her heart flutter and her thoughts chaotic. She couldn't respond to him, she could only keep silent.

Emperor Sheng Yuan didn't need any response, and continued to speak, "Because had not yet guessed one's own background, Zhen was hesitant at first whether to fight for you. Every time Zhen saw an innocent child or a woman with a bulging belly, Zhen will think uncontrollably, Zhen is a Rakshasa evil spirit, will Zhen's children be like Zhen, breaking out of the body in such a bloody way? If end up hurting Madam, what will Zhen do to atone this sin?"

Guan Suyi became annoyed, turned her face and sarcastically said, "Your Majesty, we don't have any relationship, you think too much!"

"It's true that Zhen was really think too much, so Zhen immediately came to the Zhao Mansion to find you and confess Zhen's identity to you." Emperor Sheng Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said with difficulty, "Because of the fear of giving birth to another Rakshasa and letting him bear the suffering that Zhen once endured, Zhen have been keeping oneself clean all these years, and dare not get close to any woman. Zhen and Ye Zhen are not what you guessed…"

With a blushing face, he explained the stupidest thing he had done in his life to Madam in detail, he sighed, "The aide from those time that was bribed by Ye Zhen to give suggestion to the old Marquis over and over again to offer his daughter-in-law to Zhen in exchange for rich and honor has been found. The Miao expert who were instructed by Ye Quanyong to hunt and kill Zhen, who then in turn were killed by the Ye family only to survived by chance have also been found. Now they are all in prison. If Madam doesn't believe it, Zhen can bring them in front of you to retell the story again."

Guan Suyi calmed down and asked, "The murderer who killed the entire Ye family and poisoned the Zhao Mansion was this Miao man? Was Ye Zhen involve in sister-in-law's death?"

"That's right."

"What a number one beautiful woman in the Central Plains, what a very favored in the Six Palaces Ye Jieyu, her method is really exceptional!" Guan Suyi had never hated a person so much. It turned out that everything, including why she would marry Zhao Luli again, was her who played tricks behind the scene. How can a person be so shameless?

She wanted to climb another high branch, so the father-in-law became the villain who offer tributes to the powerful, and eventually became enemies with his son; she wanted to abandon her husband and her children, so Zhao Luli became a coward who needed his wife to sell her body in order to be granted a title, and since then he felt guilty and couldn't raise his head; she wanted to be a phoenix who fly to the Ninth Heaven, so Emperor Sheng Yuan became the target that being hunted down and fooled, and finally took all the infamy for her and gave her supreme glory.

Was there any woman in the world who was more "pure and kind, weak but virtuous" than her? Afraid in the last few hundred years and the next few hundred years, there would be no one like her.

"High, it's really high! The last time this subject woman met Ye Jieyu, said she's not as good as the rumors said, but it turns out it's this subject woman who has eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai*! Your Majesty, you two husband and wife, one is deceitful, and the other is utterly stupid, you should make a great pair, why do you want to harm me? In the Zhao family, I have a husband who dotes on me, a mother-in-law who protect me, although the children are not my own, they are all respectful and filial to me. Why should I leave them and be together with you, this accomplish? You are stupid, but I am not stupid; Ye Zhen is cheap, but I am not cheap!"

She suddenly lifted the thin blanket and stood up, without even bothering to put on her shoes, she ran out quickly, leaving only a sarcastic remark, "Your Majesty, after drinking so much ink, you really have made a great progress, this bitter trick almost deceived me! Let's not meet again in the future, just pretend we never knew each other!"

Emperor Sheng Yuan deceived her, teased her, and even tried to rob her, but it couldn't make her really angry, because she had suffered more sinister and uglier injuries than this. However, there was only one thing she couldn't forgive – knowing the circumstances, he shouldn't have helped Ye Zhen push her into the fire pit.

Why when he looked down on her he can willfully trample on her, and when he fall in love he want to easily redeem her? Because he is the emperor? Because he has tragic life experience? In this day and age, who doesn't have a few heart-wrenching memories? How pitiful do you really think you are?

Guan Suyi walked quickly, and when she returned to the side room, she found that the soles of her feet had been scraped with stones and had many wounds, which was very painful. Jinzi hurriedly took out the ointment and wiped it for her, while wondering, "Madam, do you know how to break acupuncture points?"

"What breaking acupuncture points? The acupoint he tapped is connected to the Tianzong acupoint. I only need to keep leaning on the back of the chair and secretly press the Tianzong acupoint, then I can use the blood to break through the blockage. You should read more books in the future, don't be like your family master, hopelessly stupid!" Guan Suyi said while gritting her teeth.

Jinzi smiled wryly, "Madam, don't put your anger on my head, this servant has only you as a master, and there is no other master! This servant's number has been revoked by the Dark Guards, and apart from military households, will never be able to return."

Guan Suyi was stunned for a while, and then she poked Jinzi's forehead with her fingertips, "Sly girl, you know how to use words to block me. Fortunately, you were sent to monitor me, so you more and less learned something, otherwise sooner or later you will be like Huo Shengzhe, stupid to death by himself."

Jinzi did not dare to refute, and secretly mourned for His Majesty in her heart. It turns out what Madam can't tolerate the most is not deception, but stupidity? That is so miserable, afraid there is no hope for His Majesty in this life.

has eyes but fail to recognize Mount Tai*: it means fail to recognize other's great talent.

Chapter 97 Empress Dowager

Emperor Sheng Yuan sat cross-legged in the room, feeling depressed. Seeing that Madam had softened her heart, she not only explained the truth of the painting for him, she also cried for him. He only needed to explain what happened to Ye Zhen, highlight how he kept himself clean, and then they could fall in love with each other. But how she end up getting angry?

He took apart every sentence and even every word he had said before, and thought about it carefully, trying to figure it out. Today's meeting was indeed a bit of a bitter trick. What kind of person Madam was, as someone who silently guarding her for half a year, even if it asked what she ate and drank, Emperor Sheng Yuan knew very well.

She was a typical knife-mouthed tofu-hearted person. She looked strong and incomparable, but she was actually the most kind, and especially liked children. Just talked about children and there wouldn't be unwillingness to compromise. That's why he slowly turned the topic to his childhood, and shared with her all the most difficult years and the most painful secrets.

However, in the process, he was slowly comforted and finally completely cured. He originally thought that the more rotten and deeper the wound, the more painful it would be when it dug up. But with only a few words from Madam, the rotten flesh disappeared and it was instantly smoothed out. She said that he was his mother's treasure, and that he should not hurt himself, how happy and moved he was.

Everything was fine, but why you become so angry? Emperor Sheng Yuan was puzzled and scolded "Ye Zhen really harmed Zhen" through gritted teeth. Without a doubt the person he hated the most was Ye Zhen, the Empress Dowager, the first prince's consort, the eldest princess and others have to step back.

Baifu was surprised by Madam Guan's skills, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty, didn't you immobilize Madam's legs? How could she run away?" If they hadn't taken for granted that Madam couldn't move, they wouldn't let their guard down easily.

"Is it the time to explore this? Why don't you go to Jinzi and ask her why Madam is angry?" Emperor Sheng Yuan waved his hand impatiently, picked up the embroidered shoes on the ground, carefully patted off the dust, and hid it in his sleeve pocket.

Baifu hurriedly went to inquire, and returned with a stiff face after a while, and whispered, "Your Majesty, Lady Jinzi asked you not to look for her in the future, she will not tell you anything about Madam. She said that she will only be the madam's girl in the future, no longer your dark guard, and her master will only be Madam." After the words finished he felt frighten and waited for His Majesty to get angry.

Although Emperor Sheng Yuan's face showed surprise, but there was no anger at all, after a while he laughed a little, and praised "good girl" while clapping his hands.

"Your Majesty, Lady Jinzi still has something to let this servant help convey." The first disaster was avoided, but more cold sweat broke out on Baifu's forehead, and he hesitated, "She said, she said that Madam thought you are stupid and asked you to read more books in the future."

"What did you say?" The smile on Emperor Sheng Yuan's face twisted for a moment.

"Your Majesty is insightful, this is not what this servant said, it was conveyed on behalf of Lady Jinzi!" Baifu knelt down with a plop, and secretly cried bitterly in his heart.

Emperor Sheng Yuan was stunned for a long time, and his tall and straight posture finally stooped down little by little. After sitting in the room for a long time, he left in a very dejected manner. When he walked to a pavilion, he saw that there were many scholars gathered inside, bent over on the desk to write rapidly.

"What are they doing? Go and see."

Baifu was ordered to investigate, and when he came back, he whispered, "They are copying Madam's "Book of Sacrifice for Sister-in-law". Because there are many people attending the ceremony today, and the literary giants of the Guan clan and the Zhong clan all participate, therefore the scholars within the capital are all flocking here and the powerful nobles are also gathering here, after they read the sacrificial eulogy, it has already swept half of the capital, perhaps soon everyone will have a copy."

Emperor Sheng Yuan paused and ordered, "Send someone to spread this sacrificial eulogy to build momentum for Madam." He smiled softly again, "Actually, there is no need for Zhen to help Madam make a name for herself, this article is so gripping and mournful, sooner or later it will become a masterpiece for all eternity."

Baifu didn't dare to delay, and hurried to do it. The efficiency of the dark guards was naturally first-class. When the imperial carriage reached the foot of the mountain and entered the city gate, Madam Guan's "Book of Sacrifice for Sister-in-law" was already in the hands of everyone in Yanjing City. Every time they moved a certain distance, they would met a few literati with red eyes reciting the manuscript paper in their hands, and women followed behind them to listen carefully, and then hugged their children and cried heartily.

The greatness and selflessness of a mother's love were rendered to the extreme by this article. Now when they talk about the Zhao Mansion and Ruan shi, people would only praise her for her bravery, and never mention any witches or devils. Even those old Confucian scholars who were sour and decay in their thinking, repented after reading the sacrificial eulogy, and burned incense candles to show their condolences.

People's words were fearful thing, and people's words were also venerable. As long as they were properly guided, they could exert unparalleled power. No wonder the people of the Central Plains have such a saying – defending people's mouth is better than defending the river*… Therefore, those who manage the river should dredge them to make it smooth; those who govern the people could only enlighten them and let them speak. To encourage the free airing of view was indeed right.

Emperor Sheng Yuan ordered the carriage to slow down and look all the way. The streets that used to be full of mercenaries have now been cleaned up, and prosperity was beginning to emerge. The faces of the people that come and go were full of smiles, although the clothes were simple but it were clean; there were children playing on the roadside, giggling and laughing, looking so carefree and innocent.

This scene made Emperor Sheng Yuan feel a lot of emotions, but also extremely satisfied, until he entered the palace gate, only then he felt that something was still missing.

"If Madam can accompany Zhen to enjoy the scenery and explore people's sentiments, how good will that be? Seeing such a prosperous scene, Madam will definitely be very happy, and she will not despise Zhen for being stupid." He walked into the Weiyang Palace and sighed with regret as he changed into his dragon robe.

Baifu didn't dare to interject at will, he could only laugh dryly, and then followed His Majesty to Changle Palace. It was the residence of the Empress Dowager. Ever since he ascended to the throne, the Emperor had never set foot here again. Although the mother and son still maintain an illusion of peace due to Confucianism's emphasis on filial piety, but who in the deep palace didn't know that the Empress Dowager hated the Emperor to the bone, and so was the emperor towards the empress dowager, and even more than that.

"Why are you here?" The Empress Dowager was surrounded by many young children, all of whom were the orphans of the eldest prince, third prince, and sixth prince, as for how the third prince died, one had to ask the saber on Emperor Sheng Yuan's waist. They were all the blood of the Empress Dowager, who originally had the most hope of ascending to the throne, but as a result, a Rakshasa evil spirit slashed with a sword, so the deep resentment in her heart could be imagined.

She took the youngest son of the old sixth into her arms and patted him gently, then scolded, "Before you come, let someone make a report, don't scare the child. What are you, don't you know?"

"Make a report? The world of Wei Kingdom was conquered by Zhen, the palace was occupied by Zhen, the dragon chair was seated by Zhen, you are all Zhen's vassals, and you can only survive by Zhen's charity, Zhen come and go, why should let people make a report? If it weren't for the fact that Zhen chose Confucianism to govern the country, and has to abide by the so-called 'filial piety' of the Han people, you as Zhen's nominal mother, do you think you can still live to this day? Before asking others what they are, bow your head first to look at yourself!" Emperor Sheng Yuan stepped into the inner hall without hesitation.

The Empress Dowager faintly felt restless under her anger. When the news of Guan shi's cutting open the abdomen to take the child out reached the palace, she began to lose sleep and couldn't eat, for fear that Emperor Sheng Yuan discover something. That painting was her only weapon to control the other person, and even kill him. If it was exposed and seen through, her situation would become very difficult and dangerous, and the imperial grandsons would have no possibility to survive.

Filial and unfilial were all said by others. As the emperor, and firmly controlling the entire forbidden palace, it was not difficult for him to do some beautiful efforts on the surface; correspondingly, it was easy to get rid of her secretly. If she was dead, what about the imperial grandsons? How could they not be abused? Especially Hunnar was that kind of vengeful character.

The Empress Dowager thought a lot, and her face became more and more pale. Several grandsons were spoiled by her too much, and their temperaments were erratic. They pointed at Emperor Sheng Yuan and scolded, "Go away, demon, don't dirty imperial grandmother's place. People come, drive him away, he is a demon, his body is full of bad luck, whoever infected will get moldy!"

Of course, there were also timid and cowardly children who have thrown themselves into the empress dowager's arms and cried, and they were also incessantly screaming demon and Rakshasa. It could be seen that ordinarily, the Empress Dowager often told them about the "legendary life" of this uncle.

In the past, if Emperor Sheng Yuan encountered such a scene, he would spontaneously avoid it, but today he sat quietly at the top, his expression indistinguishable between joy and anger. The reason why he tolerated these people before was because he was worried that he would have no children, and wanted to find a less annoying child to adopt under his knees; the second reason was to keep them torturing himself so as to atone for his sins.

But now, they were dead or alive, said what and done what, what it have to do with him? Just go to hell!

Thinking like this, he didn't bother to talk nonsense with the Empress Dowager, pointed to the things in Baifu's hand, and said slowly, "Thank you Empress Dowager for giving Zhen this picture of a goddess protecting her child, so that Zhen can understand how brave and strong Zhen's mother was, and how she loved her son dearly. When the time is suitable, Zhen will announce her existence to the world, and do nine, nine, eighty-one days rituals* for her. Over the years, she has always accompanied Zhen, protecting Zhen everywhere, let Zhen turn misfortune into blessing, Now that Zhen have ruled the world, she should be perfectly content to reincarnate. Empress Dowager, some people gave birth to a few children, and the children still die, they can't protect them even if they want to; But some people only gave birth to one, and even when he was exploited in a thousand ways, bullied in every ways, but he still able to grow up peacefully. Why do you think is that? Because those who do good have their own blessings, and those who do evil have their own retributions."

He took the painting, touched it with great preciousness, and sighed, "Zhen will posthumously confer mother as the Empress Dowager, and order the court ministers to draw up a glorious posthumous title, so as not to let her dignity and splendor be taken away by others. Empress dowager, you must take care of your health, Zhen is busy with government affairs, afraid Zhen don't have time to manage your funeral." Without waiting for the Empress Dowager's reaction, he flung his sleeves and left.

Several of the little imperial grandsons followed him and insulted him, and even picked up small bows and arrows to try to attack, but they were hurriedly thrown down and stopped by the palace maid. The emperor's words were clear enough, he wanted to recognize his mother, to justify her name, and the honor of the Empress Dowager would be taken away. After her death, not to mention adding a posthumous title and ceremonious burial, whether or not she could enter the imperial tomb was hard to say.

Apart from this cage-like Changle Palace, the Empress Dowager was afraid that there was nothing left, how could she protect a few little imperial grandsons? From then on, everyone in the palace had to learn to tuck their tails between their legs!

Back in the imperial study, Emperor Sheng Yuan let out a sigh of relief and waved his hand, "Send Ye Zhen back. Zhao Luli has been waiting for so many years. He should get what he wish for."

defending people's mouth is better than defending the river*…: the danger of keeping people from speaking outweighs the danger of clogging up the river.

nine, nine, eighty-one days rituals*: it is like the grandeur version of seven, seven, forty-nine days ceremony, but I cannot find any info.

Chapter 98 Two Wives

Having sternly rejected Emperor Sheng Yuan, Guan Suyi temporarily put the matter away and concentrated on organizing Ruan shi's funeral. She never planned to tell her family from the beginning to end, lest her grandfather and father be worried, and if she really made a fuss to the point where the monarch and ministers turned against each other and blood splattered in the court, what's the point of her reborn? Becoming another scourge for the family? If the day come when it was impossible to refuse, when they have to obey, and if grandfather and father felt they were disgraced, they could resign and return to their hometown and continue to open academies. It would be better than the whole family dying.

In this life, her biggest wish was to protect her family, not her family being implicated by her again, and have a bleak ending. Strong will be humiliated, and wisdom will be hurt, she understood that better than anyone else. Therefore, when necessary, she must learn to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens, and be able to bend and stretch.

After putting aside her distracting thoughts, she had no dream all night, and the next day before dawn, she was busy making breakfast for the children. Zhao Chunxi and Zhao Wangshu were indeed very sensible, they took Mu Mu with them everywhere they go, when they had leisure time they would visit little Huai'en, there were perseverance looks between their eyebrows.

Although Mu Mu was young, he could understand everything. He had been reluctant to talk these days, but every time he opened his mouth, there must be a crying "I want second aunt". He knew that the second aunt would never come back, and he was sad in his heart, but he couldn't express it in appropriate words.

Guan Suyi was very distressed, she took him into her arms and patted him for a while, and then put him on her lap to feed him personally, finally coax him to eat two more bites. After a while, Jinzi walked in with the crying little Huai'en in her arms and said anxiously, "Madam, the second young master is so noisy when he's sleepy, and you have to constantly rock him. We have already changed people, and after shaking for a quarter of an hour, he is still crying, The little face is red from crying! Look at this pitiful look!"

Because Zhao Huai'en's mother died before he was born, Guan Suyi inevitably felt more pity. When she was free, she would hug and pat and rock him, which made him suffer from a bad problem. When he fell asleep, his aunt must hold him and rock him, otherwise he would never close his eyes. He also gave birth to a dog nose, not the embrace of his aunt's cinnamon scent, then he wouldn't buy it.

Jinzi put him out with her own hands, and she loved him like a darling. Abandoning the military household and quitting the dark guard, one was for Madam, and the other was for this child. Although she knew that Madam was very busy recently, but she couldn't bear that little Huai'en would not sleep, so she had to bite the bullet to ask for help.

Guan Suyi was not too tired, so she handed the spoon to Mu Mu, and said softly, "You eat by yourself, mother has to spare one hand to hold your younger brother. Younger brother has just eaten and is looking at you, you can't lose to him, you have to eat two more bowls to show him. Second aunt is not here, younger brother will depend on you to take care of him in the future."

Mu Mu, who was still a little depressed, immediately picked up the bowl and said in a milky voice, "Mother, hold younger brother, I will eat. Second aunt take care of me, and I take care of younger brother."

"Good boy." Guan Suyi suppressed the tears in her eyes and reached out to hug Little Huai'en.

When Zhao Luli helped his mother enter the door, he saw that his wife was holding Mu Mu in one hand and his nephew in the other, with his daughter sitting on the left and his son on the right. She just turned nineteen in August, but she had to take care of so many children, manage the inside and outside the house, honor her mother-in-law, and when there were female guest in the front hall still needed her to handle them. Even if she was as strong as iron, she should not be able to stand it any longer, but her back was straight, her eyes were shining, her face looked determine, and didn't show any depression, which made others feel encouraged and boosted their spirits.

The dark cloud in Zhao Luli's heart dissipated immediately, and after helping his mother to sit down, he went to pick up his nephew, and said in a low voice, "I'll take him, you eat first, then we will exchange when you're finished."

Guan Suyi shook her head gently, "Just fell asleep, it will be troublesome to wake him up when he changed hands. When he is asleep, I will put him back in the cradle, you and old madam can eat first, don't worry about me. "

"Mom, I'll feed you." Zhao Chunxi took a steamed vegetables dumpling and brought it to her stepmother's mouth. Her expression was not flattering or calculating, but full of admiration. The feelings between people could be developed, Guan Suyi taught her sincerely, and she was naturally filial, after getting along for more than half a year, although there was no blood relation, the feelings had been very harmonious.

"I also feed mom. Mom likes to eat thousand-layer cakes." After Guan Suyi finished eating the steamed dumpling, Zhao Wangshu also broke off a small piece of cake and handed it over.

"Mother likes to eat steamed bun the most." Mu Mu took a huge steamed bun and stuffed it into his adoptive mother's mouth.

Guan Suyi didn't want to spoil the children's kindness, she quickly finished chewing what was in her mouth and grabbed the steamed bun.

When the old madam saw such a warm and touching scene, the sadness on her face faded a lot. While praising the children for growing up and being sensible, she reached out and took the steamed bun from her daughter-in-law's mouth to save her from choking. Zhao Luli poured a cup of hot tea and slowly fed it into his wife's mouth, with a gentle smile on the corners of his eyes.

When the children were full, they went back to change into their mourning clothes. Guan Suyi handed the sleeping little Huai'en to Jinzi, and then picked up the bowls and chopsticks to eat.

Zhao Luli asked people to reheat the few dishes and sat by the side to accompany her. He seemed calm, but in fact he was uneasy, then tentatively said, "When I see Little Huai'en, I can't help thinking, if Madam gives birth to a child for me too, how cute will it be? It doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl, as long as they pick up half of Madam, they will be extraordinary in the future."

Guan Suyi said without blinking, "It's enough to have so many children at home, I can't bear a few more."

"How could that be? It's said that the more children, the more blessings. Madam is still so young, and it's not too much to give me seventeen or eighteen more children."

Guan Suyi suppressed her discomfort and said perfunctorily, "Don't say these words at your sister-in-law's funeral, it's disrespectful to the dead."

"I was confuse, Madam please forgive. After the filial piety period is over, let's discuss the matter of extending the family." Zhao Luli felt a little regretful, but he was not in a hurry. He has a lifetime to get Madam's forgiveness. In one lifetime, forty or fifty years, even a stone could be warmed up, not to mention Madam's heart was not a stone, but a flame wrapped in solid ice.

This solid ice was originally frozen by him layer by layer, and it should also be broken by him layer by layer. If you do something wrong, you will always be punished accordingly.

However, he imagined it well, but the world always turned against him. When the mourning period came, in front of the full house of guests, a servant woman rushed in like her butt was on fire and shouted, "Master, ma, madam is back! You go and have a look, madam is back!"

After Ye Zhen left, all the servants of the Zhao family had been changed, but they also left a few useful servants, and this woman was one of them. She didn't expect the madam who climbed the high branch would come back. When she saw the visitor lift the veil hat, revealing a familiar yet unfamiliar face, she was almost scared out of her wits.

As soon as she finished shouting, Ye Zhen had already followed. Jueyin Temple was a public place, and no one blocked the door, so she walked to the mourning hall unhindered, showing her true face in front of everyone.

"Ye Cainu?" Someone recognized her.

"No, it's not Ye Cainu, it's her twin sister Ye Zhen. Don't you see a mole in the corner of her eye? Ye Cainu doesn't have one." Someone explained.

"Didn't Ye Cainu's sister drown a long time ago?"

"It never said that she was drowning, just fell into the Yellow River and washed away. Maybe at that time she had a great luck and was rescued by some kindhearted person, then she lived outside for all these years, and only been found today." The person kept explaining, as if deliberately guide the conversation.

The people around really believed it. They looked at the relatively silent couple for a while, then at Madam Guan who looked surprised, and then shook their head, thought in their hearts: the ex-wife is not dead and married a second wife, and now both are present, it's a difficult problem to choose which one to pick up which one to give up; to take both, who is high who is low is another problem.

In theory, the one who came in first should be the main wife; in terms of interest, the one with a prominent family background should also occupy the exclusive position; in terms of feeling, this must be a sure win for the ex-wife! Who in Yanjing didn't know that Zhao Luli was willing to give everything for Ye Zhen, and he fell to such a point like today was also because his feeling was too heavy thus implicated by the Ye family. What's more, he and Ye Zhen raised two children together, which were the most important bargaining chip.

A woman as amazing and brilliant as Madam Guan was helpless in the face of such situation. She could neither monopolize the position nor the husband, and a single sentence "first come, first served" could crush her to death. No matter how people say it, the original first wife who officially wed was the di wife, and even the dowry and children were kept in the house!

This time there is a big trouble, two women are fighting for one husband, let's see who wins and who loses! Everyone's mind was lively, but their faces were extremely serious.

Ye Zhen was inexplicably sent out of the palace, and when she was penniless, she had to come to her ex-husband. In the past six months, although she was demoted to Cainu, Emperor Sheng Yuan did not let the palace people to treat her harshly, but continued to serve delicious food like before, so that her face was delicate and her figure was graceful, her appearance was the same as when she left.

When she thought that this was a sign that the emperor had long been in love with her and would choose to forgive her one day, she was dragged out of Ganquan Palace by several men in black and thrown on the street at will. She finally walked to the Zhao Mansion, but found that there was no one inside. She asked the neighbors to find out that the Ruan shi had died violently, and the whole family went to Jueyin Temple.

"A'li, I'm back! I finally found you!" Seeing that Zhao Luli was just staring at her with complicated eyes, but did not rush up to acknowledge her, she had no choice but to called out tearfully. She couldn't go back to the palace, and Ye family was ruined, she couldn't find any support except her ex-husband. How high she flew back then, how much she fell right now. Looking back, the only person who could catch her was the person who was in love with her in the first place.

"You, why are you back? You're not…" Zhao Luli was in a trance, as if in a dream.

"Come in and discuss it inside!" The old madam resisted her anger and interrupted.

"The sacrificial ceremony of sister-in-law is about to begin. You family get inside to talk, and I take care of the outside." Guan Suyi waved to her mother secretly, saying that she was fine. At first, she was indeed a little surprised, but after thinking about it, she realized that this must be Hunnar's handwriting. He thought that she was too comfortable in the Zhao family, so he put Ye Zhen back, anyway, Ye Zhen's ruse had been exposed, and there was only death left in the palace, it's better to make the best use of things.

She had to admit that this was a smart move. She never liked to play those inner house tricks, and she was not good at fighting openly and maneuver covertly. If Ye Zhen wanted to be a demon, she would be too lazy to deal with her, so she could only reconcile. Maybe exposing Ye Zhen's true face in front of Zhao Luli was also a way out, but why bother? That person loved Ye Zhen for two lifetimes, might as well let him realize this dream. Whether it's bitter or sweet, you have to eat the karma you sow.

Afraid she couldn't stay in the Zhao Mansion any longer, but what should Mu Mu do? What should Little Huai'en do? These issues that she should not have to consider had now become her biggest worry.

. Strong will be humiliated, and wisdom will be hurt: it means strong people will inevitably be insulted and too smart people will get easily hurt.

Chapter 99 Posthumous Title

Zhao Luli took Ye Zhen to the inner courtyard to have a deep conversation, and the old madam also went in with them. Zhao Wangshu who was very eager for his biological mother, followed step by step, but Zhao Chunxi was very reluctant, fell at the end of the line with ashen face.

Perhaps because she thought that she would never go back to the Zhao family, Ye Zhen didn't hide much in front of her daughter, she always told her what to do, and often instilled some climbing skills and tricks in her ears. Therefore, besides the old madam, Zhao Chunxi was probably the person who knew her true face best.

She had no sincerity towards others, even close relatives were only divided into two categories in her eyes – those who can be used or those who can't be used.

Before, the Zhao family was obviously unusable, so the whole family was abandoned by her like a pair of old shoes; now she had no support, so she had to pick up that pair of shoes again. It's really hard for her to endure humiliation and condescended to those of low status, is she not afraid wearing those shoes would give her rotten feet?

Zhao Chunxi was upset, but she couldn't say anything to expel people. Ye Zhen was still her mother no matter how unbearable it was, and she had no reason to watch her mother live on the streets. Just take more precautions in the future, don't let her harm the stepmother.

—-

While Ye Zhen made up her story in the inner courtyard, Guan Suyi presided over the sacrificial ceremony in the mourning hall.

She was wearing linen mourning clothes with a white flower on her head, and every time she finished reading a passage of scriptures, she kowtowed reverently. She already agreed to kowtow for seven, seven, forty-nine days, then she wouldn't be careless about it. Mu Mu didn't like to meet strangers, so he didn't want to see Ye Zhen, and his little hand kept tugging at the corner of his adoptive mother's clothes, following wherever she went.

At a young age, he had already recited the scriptures well. When kowtowing, he tried to imitate his adoptive mother. He bowed down slowly and solemnly. After touching his forehead on the ground, he paused for a while, then stood up again, his back was straight, and his every move had begun to show an elegant style.

The relatives and friends who were sitting around the altar were paying attention to the mother and son both overtly and secretly, and they were all in awe. What was the situation of the Zhao family at the beginning, they all saw it, Zhao Luli was confused; the old madam was mentally weak; Zhao Chunxi looked smart but was superficial and restless; Zhao Wangshu was simply a demon king; and this little Mu Mu could not even speak, but now he could serve tea and water to the guests, sensible and well-mannered.

Although the main house of the Zhao family had lost the title, everyone with discerning eyes knew that with the support of a good wife and loving mother like Madam their family would rise up sooner or later. Haven't people seen that only after a few months Zhao Wangshu already has some literary reputation? There were so many literary giants standing behind the stepmother, and she was also an amazing talent. Not to mention a decaying wood, she could even extract water from a stone to irrigate the flower.

It's a pity such a good scenery got disturb with Ye Zhen mixing in. Her face looked exactly the same as Ye Cainu, and it's hard to find any excuse to deny it.

If it changed to ordinary person, they would be like an ant on a hot pot at this time, rushing around anxiously, but Madam Guan was really steady. Looking at her calm like water eyebrows, with pupils that was like ancient well with no waves*, and a good chanting sound and graceful demeanor, it created a good atmosphere for everyone!

Under her influence, the guests who were still a little distracted gradually calmed down and began to pray sincerely for Ruan shi.

There were several huge braziers placed around the hall, and servants kept throwing incense candle, paper money and other objects into it to burn, and the smoke kept billowing, running towards the sky. After a while, a lot of blue smoke also appeared outside the temple, and the more it gathered, the thicker it became, as if there was a fire somewhere.

Guan Suyi heard the commotion of the guests, and when she looked back, she found that something was wrong, so she hurriedly instructed Minglan to inquire. After a while, Minglan came back with tears in her eyes, she said while choking up, "Miss, your sacrificial eulogy has been spread all over the capital, and there are well-meaning people who admire the second madam for sacrificing her life to protect her son, and come here to offer incense to her. Because there are many nobles in the altar, they didn't dare to disturb, so they burned paper outside the temple to pay tribute, and after they worship, they left. Now there are people coming and going outside, it's an endless stream, so Master Xuan Guang ordered the monks to set up a few bronze pots for them to burn incense."

"It's good that nothing catch on fire." Guan Suyi pondered, "They are willing to pray for sister-in-law, this intention is really precious. You ask the housekeeper to open the warehouse and carry the family's surplus grain up the mountain, so in the future when there are good-hearted people who come to worship, each one will be given a handful of grain, although it's not much, but it's enough to eat for a day, which is considered to be accumulating virtue for sister-in-law in the next life."

Minglan complied again and again, and went down the mountain with the pair of cards.

When the guests saw her arranged everything, they were more and more in awe. A woman with such an outstanding temperament and virtuousness, it was a blessing to whoever family that married her. That Ye Zhen had been living outside for many years, and as soon as she came back, she wanted to occupy the position of the main wife, did she think too highly of herself? Really want to compare with Madam Guan one by one, apart from giving birth to a pair of children, she couldn't do anything.

While thinking about it, the morning sacrificial ceremony came to an end unknowingly, Master Xuan Guang chanted a Buddha verse, and asked everyone to go down to eat vegetarian meal.

Zhong shi hurriedly dragged her daughter to the side room to talk, while Old Master Guan and Guan Father sent someone to inquire about Ye Zhen's whereabouts over the years, and they followed up worriedly.

Reconciliation was certain, but Guan Suyi would not give in easily. Ye Zhen wants the Zhao family? Want to be the main wife? Want to pick up the affection that were once lost? If so, you can get for it yourself, just hope that you don't end up with nothing or end up with ruined reputation. She was indeed not good with back house's fighting and intrigues, but she was very good at digging holes and burying people. If Ye Zhen was honest, it would be fine, but if Ye Zhen insisted to make her jump into the pit, then she would push her hard instead.

She already made calculations in her heart, but Guan Suyi didn't plan to ask her family for help. She only told Zhong shi to take it one step at a time and let nature take its course.

Ye Zhen had just returned home, nothing happened yet, and it would be futile to say more, so they could only take one step at a time. Zhong shi couldn't help but sigh. Old Master Guan thought for a long time, and then made a final decision, "If you cannot stand it, then let's reconcile. Fate has dictates, the emperor will not blame."

Guan Father also nodded, "If it's not a last resort, I don't agree with reconciliation. However, now that it has come to this point, not reconcile afraid is impossible. The pearl in my, Guan Yunqi, palm will never be a concubine, let alone be an equal wife, under the control of anyone."

Guan Suyi repeatedly promised that she would not wronged herself, and if she really couldn't stand it, she would pack up and go home, so she consoled Zhong shi and others to leave first. As soon as they were out from the courtyard door, the next moment Jinzi came back and whispered, "Madam, this servant just went to the East Wing to inquire, guess what? Ye Zhen was so shameless, she said that she couldn't forget her old feelings, she begged His Majesty for a few months, and threaten to die to force him, only then His Majesty release her. Now Zhao Luli is holding her while she's crying bitterly. Old madam, Zhao Chunxi, Zhao Wangshu, and the others were all confused outside. Zhao Luli also said that he will help Ye Zhen arrange a proper story, and he will not make his family and outsiders look down on her. You see, what is this? This is the legendary love as deep as the sea!"

"Don't be a blabbermouth, isn't this drama arranged by your master?" Guan Suyi sneered, "Saying he was stupid, he immediately became shrewd and released Ye Zhen from the palace, but he never mentioned the dirty things from those year, it's clear that he wants Zhao Luli to continue the relationship with her. And now I've become redundant, and I have to leave even if I don't want to." What's more, she wanted to leave for a long time, but she couldn't bear to part with Mu Mu and Xiao Huai'en.

All kinds of worries climbed the wall of her heart, which made her frown and depressed.

Jinzi scolded His Majesty secretly and persuaded her softly, "Madam, this servant is telling the truth, don't think that this servant is helping the former master to swindle you. You shouldn't stay with this Zhao family for too long. You like children so much, but that Zhao Luli is disgusting, so why don't you hurriedly remarry while you're still young and have one yourself? After all, other people's offspring are other people's, perhaps they can be casually provoked with a few words, or some disagreement occurs, or if there is a conflict of interest, they can be separated from you in an instant. Didn't you see that Zhao Wangshu just sticks to his own mother?"

Then she poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over, "You are still young, you have a lot of time to waste, but how short is a woman's youth? When you come back to your senses and want to change your way, I'm afraid there will be no road. To have children when you're old, you should understand the dangers."

Guan Suyi said calmly, "I have my own measure in my heart, you don't have to worry for your master."

"Where are this servant worrying for His Majesty? It's clearly worrying for you. Besides, this servant have nothing to do with the dark guard now. His Majesty didn't assign any errands to this servant, but instead added more people to protect you, so as not to let Ye Zhen try to harm you. Don't you know that she bought a lot of poisons from the Miao people. Although they were all destroyed after the Ye family's accident, she gave a lot to Zhao Chunxi earlier. So you should leave the Zhao family quickly, it's dangerous here. "

"Your poison skills are no worse than the Miao people, I feel reassured." Guan Suyi unperturbedly drinking tea, and waited until Jinzi ran her mouth dry before going out to eat.

When the mourning ceremony was held in the afternoon, Ye Zhen was already standing beside Zhao Luli in a mourning clothes, holding Zhao Wangshu in one hand and Zhao Chunxi in the other, acting as the main wife. The old madam was furious in her heart, but she didn't want to show the skeleton in the closet, she could only stand with her daughter-in-law and Mu Mu. On the left was a family of four, and on the right was a family of three.

It's not good for the guests to get involved in other family's business, so they could only shake their heads secretly, pretending not to know, and were about to sit back on the praying mat to recite the scriptures, when they heard a commotion outside. After a while, Baifu walked in with a scroll of imperial edicts in both hands, followed by many guards, carrying several heavy boxes.

When everyone knelt down one after another, he began to recite the imperial decree. It was the emperor who admired Madam Ruan for giving up her life for her son, to have kindness as heavy as mountain and affection as deep as the sea, and possessing great love and selflessness. He conferred her a posthumous title in second-rank order, bestowed her posthumous name of Madam Zhenlie*, and enjoyed sacrificial ceremony of the first-rank. He also said that Madam Guan's heroic act had touch the heavens and earth, and gave the following treasures… as a reward.

Guan Suyi accepted the imperial decree calmly, but the guests murmured: "Posthumously conferred as second-rank order, enjoy the memorial ceremony of the first-rank, and even given a posthumous name, what kind of honor is this?" During her lifetime, Ruan shi didn't dare to meet people because of her ugly appearance, and she didn't dare to ask for an official order, but after her death, she bathed in such a mighty grace and found the strongest protection for her son. Even if she died a hundred times, she would have no regrets! Just didn't know why the emperor paid so much attention to a woman, and the second-rank grant order actually got double-character posthumous name, which was really rare throughout the dynasties! Was it to elevate the second house of the Zhao family and appease General Zhao at the border?

Everyone had a lot of speculation, but Guan Suyi had already understood Emperor Sheng Yuan's intentions. What he's doing now was just building momentum for his mother. First lift her sister-in-law as Madam Zhenlie, publicize her righteous deeds of sacrificing her life for her son, and made the people admire and respect her, and then reveal a little bit about his life experience, and in an instant it would become a story that captures one's imagination throughout all eternity and become a legend of the world.

After conferring Ruan shi, naturally it was also necessary to posthumously conferred the Empress Dowager, and afraid the wind and clouds in the palace would suddenly change.

ancient well with no waves*: describe inner tranquility and the emotions that are not moved by external things.

Zhenlie*: ready to die to preserve one's chastity.

Chapter 100 Teasing

What happened in the palace and the Empress Dowager had nothing to do with Guan Suyi. She held the imperial decree in front of the coffin to pay homage, and then led Baifu and the guards to the Bodhi Garden, and let them tie the filial cloth and then offer incense.

Most of these guards were from the Jiuli tribe. They have deep facial features and tall and strong physique. Standing in the room, they seemed like poking iron towers, making the originally spacious space extremely narrow, and Baifu was sandwiched in it like a chicken that fell into a group of cranes, becoming more and more shriveled and thin.

Jinzi distributed the filial piety cloth, the length that ordinary people could wrap around their waists, they could only tie it around their arms. When it reached the last person, she heard her master ask in a deep voice, "Why are you here?"

"Ah? Didn't Madam ask this servant to come?" Jinzi was puzzled, but found that Baifu and the others had left the room and stood outside the courtyard, pressing their palms on the hilt of their knife, and the fierce air suddenly filled the air. Looking at the only remaining guard, she saw his eyes shining, the corners of his mouth slightly curved, sending out His Majesty's unique deep voice, "Madam really has good eyesight, Zhen walked all the way here, but only Madam that saw the clue and flatly expose Zhen's identity."

Guan Suyi turned her face away and said coldly, "Expose your identity? Who are you? Does this madam know you?"

The tall guard took off the skin mask on his face and said with a smile, "One moment asked who Zhen was, the next moment didn't want to admit it, Madam is so willful. Madam is so gentle and kind to others, only at Zhen you furrowed your brows and send angry look, not conceal anything, just because Zhen like you."

Guan Suyi turned to look at him, and said bluntly, "Yes, I'm like this because you like me. If you feel offended, can you not like me?"

"No." Emperor Sheng Yuan walked over, wanting to hug his sweetheart but afraid of blaspheming her, so he had to circle around her twice, with a thick smile on the corners of his eyes and brows, "Zhen like the way Madam speaks bluntly, no matter what you do to Zhen, whether scolding or beating, Zhen will accept them all. There is an old saying – the deeper the love, the greater the hatred. The more Madam hate Zhen, detest Zhen, the more it showed that you already have feelings for Zhen, otherwise how can you be so calm when facing Zhao Luli? You have never bothered with him for the shitty things he did, and you never got really angry, because you didn't take him seriously. But you treat Zhen differently… …"

"Enough, can you not put gold on your face?" Guan Suyi spit fire in her eyes, she really didn't know what to do with this person. She had never seen someone more shameless than him, how could she have thought that he was simple and honest before? She was really blind!

"Look, you're angry again. If you didn't take Zhen to heart, why should you bother with Zhen?" Emperor Sheng Yuan pressed the person on the praying mat. When he saw her angry fists smashed over, the hands that had planned to let go quickly and firmly glued to her shoulders again, and he took a few hits contentedly.

"There seems to be a slang in Central Plains, what is it about beating and scolding," He loved Madam's shy and angry looks, those burning eyes could make his whole heart boiled, could make his whole body flared up. Like a drug addict, he couldn't stop teasing, "Let Zhen think about it. Ah yes, it's called 'beating is kissing, scolding is love', madam, beat two more times, scold a few more words, and let Zhen know how deep your love really is."

Guan Suyi stopped instantly, neither beating nor scolding, she could only hold her forehead and sigh. Indeed, only in front of this person, all her irritable little emotions would emerge from the bottom of her heart, and all her willful little thoughts would be put into action, she was indeed fearless, could this be called love? No, but it also showed that she treated him differently.

She didn't dare to think about it, and when she saw the skin mask being thrown aside, she couldn't help reaching for it, "What is this? It seems to be more powerful than disguising technique."

"Madam, don't touch it, this thing is dirty. Zhen will talk to you after washing face." Emperor Sheng Yuan quickly held her slender fingertips with a hint of worry in his eyes, and ordered Jinzi to quickly bring a basin of warm water to wash Madam's hands.

After a while, both of them freshen up and sat cross-legged. Guan Suyi wanted to move farther, but the praying mat was always grabbed by Emperor Sheng Yuan and was easily dragged back. Seeing that the distance was getting closer and closer, and she was almost taken into his arms, she had to stop.

She found that Hunnar, who removed the simple and honest disguise and untied his inner demon's shackles, was really difficult to deal with. If you use reason with him, he will talk about feelings with you; if you use feeling with him, he will simply plays a rogue, one move is more shameless than the other. Anyone with a thinner face would definitely lose in front of him.

"What is this?" Her curiosity had already been aroused by the skin mask, so she had to ask clearly.

"This is a mask found on that Miao person, it made of a human skin. How do you think Zhen captured him? It turns out that he was unable to make another plan, and wanted to sneak into the Zhao Mansion and continue to cast poison, so he tracked down a servant in the mansion who has similar body type with him, and wanted to kill him and peel his skin, but the dark guard Zhen sent happened to catch him. It's also because Madam's correct housekeeping method, lenient but also strict, so it was really difficult for outsiders to infiltrate the mansion. On that day, he was almost found, and had to hang on the roof for half a day, and when Ruan shi died violently in the middle of the night, and chaos broke out in the house, he found a gap to poison the dining room. Otherwise, if he succeeded an hour or two earlier, there would be countless casualties in the Zhao Mansion."

Hearing that it was a human skin, Guan Suyi had no interest at all and asked with a frown, "I almost got sidetracked by you, Ye Zhen was put back by you, isn't it?"

Emperor Sheng Yuan didn't want to mention Ye Zhen, but he had no choice but to mention it, soothed softly, "Madam, please don't blame. Zhen just want you to see clearly, no matter how good Zhao Luli is to you now, the person in his heart will always be Ye Zhen. It was indeed Zhen who put Ye Zhen back in the Zhao Mansion. She has a vicious mind and a cunning method, you try to stay away from her, but you don't need to be afraid of her, Zhen has arranged many manpower by your side, including those who specialize in poison, those who specialize in hidden weapons, and those who specialize in investigation. All of them are experts of the dark guards, and it's more than enough to guard against that woman. If Ye Zhen touch even a strand of your hair, Zhen will chop her hands off, let her feel death is better than life from now on."

He paused for a while, then patiently persuaded, "But why do you have to fight with her? It still that old saying, porcelain doesn't touch rubble, you are a treasure of heaven, she is a filth on the road, the difference between the two is like cloud and mud, it shouldn't be gathered in one place. If you feel disgusted, simply let the Emperor Teacher ask for reconciliation decree, Zhen even already written the approval." At the end, he took out a scroll of document from his sleeve pocket and handed it over eagerly.

Guan Suyi stared at his pure black pupils full of eager desire, and suddenly asked, "How did you cover up the color of your eyes?"

"Madam, can Zhen talk a serious matter properly with you?" Emperor Sheng Yuan felt that all his strength had been drained by Madam.

"I won't be able to sleep tonight if I don't understand how you change the color of your eyes, isn't this a serious matter?" Guan Suyi raised an eyebrow and asked.

Emperor Sheng Yuan really felt distressed, explained in detail the method of concealing the color of his pupils, and carefully wrote down the prescription, just as he was about to offer it with both hands, he saw Madam had already stood up and left the room, only a plain white skirt could be seen disappeared around the corner. Jinzi immediately went up to him and smiled, "Your Majesty, it's okay to hand over the prescription to this servant. The sacrificial ceremony is about to begin. You and Chief Baifu hurriedly stick the incense and go back to the palace as soon as possible."

Emperor Sheng Yuan gritted his teeth and said, "Good girl, you are so loyal." But he had no choice but to hand over the prescription, put on the mask, and strode after her.

The altar was full of relatives and friends, and in full view of everyone he couldn't show any abnormality, so he had to put on the incense stick sincerely and surreptitiously looked at Madam for a while before returning to the palace unwillingly.

As soon as the group left, Ye Zhen walked straight to Guan Suyi, who was sitting in front of the coffin, and asked in a low voice, "Younger sister, you should know me, right? Thank you so much for taking care of A'Li, mother-in-law, and my pair of children these days. Now that I am back, it coincides with the passing of sister-in-law. You're in charge of everything inside and outside, it must be very exhausting. If you need any help, just tell me, don't be polite. We are all one family, we should support each other and cross the river in the same boat."

As soon as the old madam heard this, she wanted to jump and hit her with a cane, what was this support each other and cross the river in the same boat? Where was she when her son was in his most difficult time? Where was she when the Zhao family were at the most critical moment? Wasn't she the one that brought all the hardships and disasters to the Zhao family? How dare she said such a thing in front of everyone, really not afraid being struck by thunder!

The ex-wife confronted the second wife, how could others miss such a good show? At this time, all of them looked over without blinking, so the old madam could only suppress her anger.

Ye Zhen was sure that Guan Suyi could not turn her face against herself, let alone shut herself out. She was a Guan family member and should know what it means to "Restrain oneself and return to propriety, be kind and generous". That's why it was difficult for a noble man to do anything, even if someone knocked out their teeth, they had to pick it up and swallow the blood.

Guan Suyi didn't argue with her, simply responded, "It's good that Madam Ye has return. The three father and children have been thinking about you. I do have one thing I need your help with." She pointed to the brocade box placed in front of the coffin, slowly recounted, "My sister-in-law is warm and virtuous, diligent and supple, and a rare good woman in the world, but because of her appearance, she has never enjoyed half of the glory. Now the emperor is grateful to her for protecting her son, and he specially posthumously conferred her a second-rank grant order. Then let's help her put on these second-rank court dress, and let her walk in a beautiful scenery."

Ye Zhen's gentle expression instantly distorted, but quickly converged, as if worriedly dissuaded, "I can understand the deep feeling between younger sister and sister-in-law, but life and death are different. Since you have to wait on the guests and take care of children, if you change the court dress by yourself, then catching on the death air and pass it on to others, will it be beautiful?"

Relatives and friends sitting around nodded in agreement. Changing the clothes of the dead was done by servants, and all kinds of obscurity needed to be removed afterwards. How could the mistress do it herself? This is too careless.

Guan Suyi looked at her and said bluntly, "You just came back, so maybe you don't know. I wiped the blood on sister-in-law's body with my own hands, I sewed her stomach myself, put on the clothes, shoes and socks neatly one by one. If I catch any obscurity, it would have been happened long time ago, how can still have the fortune to be posthumously conferred a grant order? Sister-in-law couldn't even close her eyes, I stroked it three times, but it opened three times, after finally rescued Huai'en and held him in front of the bed, she slowly closed her eyes and smiled. Sister-in-law have spirit in the sky, she will never harm us, but only bless us. As the saying goes, 'If the love is true, the heart is sincere, there are no taboos; if there are no taboos, all evils will retreat'. We are a family, you don't have to be afraid at all, just go in to see sister-in-law for the last time, and tell your farewell."

After hearing these words, all relatives and friends were touched by her deep friendship, and felt that she was truly benevolent, righteous, brave and unparalleled, really complied with the Grand Princess' praise, that she was the female Yao and Shun. On the other hand, with Ye Zhen whose face was pale and clearly unwilling, and still tried to find all kinds of excuses to escape, who's superior and inferior could be easily judged.

The old madam stood up and said with a sneer, "What kind of sincerity do you talk about with her? How many years has she been gone, how much feelings does she have with the Zhao family? Don't force other to do something, let us mother-in-law and daughter-in-law change the clothes by ourselves." She raised her legs and walked away, making Ye Zhen who hard to get off once riding a tiger, dripping with cold sweat.

cross the river in the same boat: obliged to collaborate towards common goals.