Chapter 111 Twin

Her lifeblood were pinched between the Emperor's fingers, and now their life and death had not yet known, how could the Empress Dowager dare to show any dissatisfaction? The reason for being late was because the skirt was soiled when wading through the water, and she had to change to a new set of sacrificial clothes. The sacrificial clothes were the most luxurious dress, which need to be put on layer by layer, and more than a dozen palace maids have to work for a while at the same time.

That's why everyone in the hall waited for a quarter of an hour before they saw the Empress Dowager hurried in, and knelt down on the emperor's left side. It was unknown how the court courtiers and the imperial clans thought, but the perception must not be good. Emperor Sheng Yuan's expression was the same as usual, he raised his hand to signal the start of the sacrificial ceremony. The silent and empty hall immediately sounded a mournful music, with sublime rhythm, fast-pace gongs and drums, the Sanskrit sound resounding to the sky, creating a solemn atmosphere.

As the funeral music gradually subsided, the chanting of monks and guests slowly merged into it, reverberating in the hall and touching the eardrums. It was the first time Guan Suyi participated in such a grand and solemn scene.

After reciting a passage of scriptures, Emperor Sheng Yuan stepped onto the high platform, knelt in front of the coffin, and then recited the sacrificial eulogy word by word, attracting everyone to listen. The court courtiers thought that with His Majesty's literary talent, it would be good enough to be able to write the sentences smoothly, but they did not expect this manuscript to be so heartwarming and tear-jerking, and it was written in the form of a letter, which made it more profound.

If it wasn't for this sacrificial eulogy, they would never have imagined that His Majesty was raised by a pack of wolves, nor would they have imagined how he swept thousands of armies on the battlefield, going through life and death situation countless of times. For a person to become powerful and then worthy of the greatest admiration really need an extraordinary blessing, and even more need unbreakable perseverance. It was not easy for His Majesty to walk all the way here, and it was with Heaven's will for him to be able to ascend the throne!

The originally oppressed court courtiers, were now in awe of His Majesty, and no longer had any objection. After writing the dragon blood black and yellow*, the writing of the sacrificial eulogy took a sharp turn, recounted the mourning and farewell feelings. The most violent writing was mixed with a few soft lines, but it was not abrupt at all, instead extremely harmonious, it also slowly pulled down the high tone and sank into mourning.

The discerning people immediately realized that these few paragraphs that set the tone so delicately must be done by Madam Guan. It was precisely because she lifted her hand to press it, so that this sacrifice was not covered with the smell of blood and slaughter, but made it even more majestic and terrifying.

Good article! The most affectionate, the most tender, the most sincere and the most filial! It's another masterpiece! If this article was announced to the world, the emperor's prestige would be more flourishing, the imperial power would be more stable, and the rumor of the real dragon emperor would surely spread throughout the whole Nine Provinces! While applauding secretly, the court courtiers had to admit that only Madam Guan could set such a strong and soft tone for this article. If it were replaced by any Confucian scholar, they would not be able to write such a touching effect. Not to mention that men were naturally rougher than women, and they were not good at expressing delicate emotions. Even if they could express them, how could they say it in front of His Majesty, "How do you remember the late Empress Dowager?" Embarrassment was a small matter, if it considered making a joke, they could be charged with the crime of "great disrespect".

"Good article!" The court courtiers who were immersed in their thoughts were awakened by Master Xuan Guang's admiration, only to realize that their cheeks were already covered with tears, and His Majesty on the high platform closed his eyes tightly, choked up without saying a word, and seemed to be in extreme pain.

Even though she had cried once in the back hall before, Guan Suyi's eyes were still red, seeing the handkerchief handed by the grand princess, she quickly took it and wiped her face.

"This kid has made great progress in his literary skills! Sure enough, only Madam Guan can properly teach him. To think back then this old woman taught him to speak, and my face almost got scratched by him, but in the end he couldn't. So I had no choice but to beat him, every day beat him, repeatedly beat for a month before taming him. The first word he learned was Amu (mother), and the first thing he said to me was 'Where is Amu?'. At that time I didn't dare to answer him because I also thought he was the reincarnation of a demon, and the reason why I approached him and taught him was just for fun." The grand princess recalled the past with emotion.

Guan Suyi listened silently, feeling very uncomfortable. She still resented Hunnar's shameless action, but her resentment was much lessened. The reason why he had a tyrannical and domineering personality was due to the living environment. How could beasts reason with people? It was their instinct to rush to bite when they encounter prey. He was able to restrain this instinct and not do irreparable things in front of her could already be considered extremely attentive.

—-

At the end, the sacrificial eulogy was not burned, and it continued to be offered in front of the coffin to infuse the power of vows, and it would be buried on the day when the coffin of the late Empress Dowager was buried.

When Master Xuan Guang announced that this morning's ritual was over, the courtiers couldn't come back to their senses. They were ready to chant for day and night. It must be known that when the last emperor of the previous dynasty held a ritual for his deceased mother, he detained the monks and civil and military ministers for more than three months. How many people coughed up blood, and how many died of exhaustion, nowadays it's impossible to know the truth, but the tragic memory was still fresh.

They thought that the emperor attached so much importance to the sacrificial ceremony of the late Empress Dowager, so he had to follow that example, but they never expect him to be so lenient. Four hours in the morning, four hours in the afternoon, and they dispersed at night. If feeling that it was inconvenient to went back and forth, they could stay at Jueyin Temple, indeed very amiable and benevolent!

The ministers sent off His Majesty with gratitude, but unexpectedly he summoned everyone to the dining room to eat vegetarian food, without any imperial arrogance at all. Everyone was flattered and followed suit. Guan Suyi was held back by the grand princess and had to fall behind.

The two sat down at the table for the palace womenfolk, and when they saw the solemn expression and clear eye of Emperor Sheng Yuan, the two sneered in their hearts.

"This brat is getting better and better! In the past, everything was written on his face, and his brain is just a muscle. Now that he's an emperor, he can actually cover up some dirty thoughts." The grand princess clearly did not believe in the so-called don't talk when you eat, don't talk when you sleep rule, sneering in a low voice while taking a big mouthful of rice, her eyes slowly moved away, and landed on the women opposite.

Guan Suyi followed her line of sight, raised her eyebrows and said, "Several imperial son's consorts are very sincere, their eyes red from crying, and now they can't even eat."

Sitting opposite were the three daughters-in-law of the Empress Dowager. Since their husband had never been posthumously conferred, they could only be regarded as the imperial son's consort, and it felt like two generations lower than Hunnar. The last time they met at the flower banquet, these people were surrounded by many young children, with heavy makeup and full of arrogance, rather had the air of looking down of people, which was very different from current distraught and terrified appearance. Especially the eldest imperial son's consort, her fingers kept shaking, to the point that she couldn't even hold the bowls and chopsticks.

The grand princess snorted coldly, "What sincerity? The lifeblood is held by someone, so they have to give in. The sky in the palace has changed. Look at the Juilu' concubines, who didn't even dare to touch the side of Hunnar before, now they're all looking at him with spring in their eyes, and started getting restless. Not to mention those Han concubines, they're probably thinking how to hook him and sleep with him. People's hearts are so fickle!"

Lifeblood? Is that the imperial grandsons? Guan Suyi pondered in her heart, seeing that the Empress Dowager had not been seat at the table for a long time, she couldn't help but ask.

"Don't you know? She took the initiative to recite the scriptures for nine, nine and eighty-one days for the late Empress Dowager. She probably still knocking the wooden fish in front of the coffin." The grand princess grinned, "The sisterly feeling between the Empress Dowager and the late Empress Dowager are so deep, it's really touching, a role model for our generation!"

If people really recite the scriptures for nine, nine, eighty-one days, they could vomit blood and die, right? The little imperial grandsons were really taken by Hunnar. Guan Suyi picked up the teacup and drank slowly, without the slightest pity or intolerance in her heart. This was an inner palace battle, and had nothing to do with her. It was enough for her to keep herself and her family safe. As she lowered her eyes, there seemed to be a scorching gaze piercing over her, and when she raised her eyes, all she saw was Hunnar's serious face. She felt helpless in her heart, but also a little funny.

Just at this moment, a palace maid hurried over and whispered in her ear, "Madam Guan, the guards patrolling the outer hall caught a suspicious boy who claimed to be your stepson, please go over and identify him. So as not to hurt innocent people by mistake."

How could Zhao Wangshu run into the imperial place of worship? Did he want to die? Guan Suyi was shocked, put down the bowls and chopsticks and apologized to everyone in the room one by one, quietly went out and came to the open space in front of the hall, only to see that Zhao Wangshu was tied up and detained on the ground. She hurriedly stepped forward to intercede, and when the guard left, she dragged him to a secluded corner and asked him why he come.

Zhao Wangshu didn't say anything at first. After being threatened, he cried and said that Ye Zhen missed her sister and wanted to meet Ye Cainu. He couldn't bear to disappoint her, so he came to inquire.

"Mom, please don't tell daddy about my arrest, otherwise he will hate my mother even more. Mother has nothing left, just me and my aunt. You are so high above and everything goes well for you, please be charitable and help her out, alright? Count it as son begging you! Today, it's all son's own initiative, and has nothing to do with mother. If something goes wrong, son will take the responsibility!"

Looking at the crying Zhao Wangshu, Guan Suyi couldn't help but think of him in her previous life. He was also used by others, and he was also deep in a deathtrap. One was by his aunt and the other was by his own mother. How could he still not learn? In his heart, blood was the most important thing, right? No matter how nice others treated him, he couldn't resist a lie from a loved one.

She suddenly felt very tired and said helplessly, "Wait, I'll find someone to ask about Ye Cainu's whereabouts for you." In the end, she couldn't help but warn, "No matter who order you to come today, she shouldn't be unaware that trespassing in the imperial forbidden area is a capital offense. Think clearly before you act in the future, and don't take risks lightly."

Zhao Wangshu wanted to refute, but then remember the agreement with his mother, he gritted his teeth, "No one instructed this son, it is son who wants to come."

"Don't easily said this son, I'm not your mom." Guan Suyi left without looking back, and finally found a palace maid and asked about Ye Cainu's situation. She really thought that she would hear the news that the other person had died violently, but this woman respectfully said, "Madam wants to see Ye Cainu? She lives in the monastery, this servant will help arrange for you to meet."

Guan Suyi immediately realized that this was another good thing arranged by Hunar, he actually made a Ye Zhēn! What would happen if Ye Zhen and Ye Zhēn met? Afraid Ye Zhen's dream of returning to the palace would be completely shattered, right?

Her eyes dimmed slightly, and she followed the palace maid's words and said, "Then troubling female official to help arrange it. I want to bring a few people over, can I?"

"Of course. Madam, please go. This servant will wait here until you make the arrangements." The palace maid really agreed.

the dragon blood black and yellow*: metaphor for fierce war and river of blood.

Chapter 112 Requesting Imperial Decree

Ye Zhen never thought that Zhao Wangshu would actually find the news about Ye Zhēn. How is it possible? She followed him to the monastery like a wandering ghost, and when she saw the woman half-lying on the bed, her heart jumped. Although she was a lot older and haggard, her facial features were indeed correct.

"Who are you?" she whispered in disbelief.

"You talk, I'll be waiting outside." Guan Suyi was not interested to watch this good show. How would Ye Zhen feel when she saw herself terminally ill and on the verge of death? Ye Zhēn was the identity she really wanted, but this identity was inexplicably occupied by a woman who looked exactly like her, she should be very scared, right? Fear would be followed by deep despair, because this means that she had lost the chance to return to the palace forever.

After going around in circles, in the end, she could only be Zhao Luli's wife, and now Zhao Luli had no title. From Jieyu to a commoner's wife, this gap was no different than falling from heaven to hell. The thing she longed for the most was destroyed today…

Just when she thought like this, there was a scream from inside the room, the door slammed open, and Ye Zhen ran out while covering her face, she collapsed while shouting, "Who am I? Who the hell am I? I'm Ye Zhēn, I'm clearly Ye Zhēn…"

Zhao Wangshu followed closely and shouted anxiously, "Mother, please slow down, this is the imperial place of worship, you can't just run around!" He still couldn't figure out which "Zhēn" word in Ye Zhen's mouth.

Guan Suyi looked into the room, and saw that Ye Cainu wiped the blood from the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, and said "miserably", "Making Madam Guan laugh. I'm sick to the bone marrow, and there's not much time left. I vomited a mouthful of blood earlier, which frightened my sister. Please ask Madam to send her back, and don't let her offend the noble people." As she spoke, she coughed piercingly, as if she was on the verge of death.

Guan Suyi walked in, closed the door, looked carefully at her hairline and cheeks, pinched her chin, and finally removed the thin layer of human skin mask and put it in her sleeve pocket, then left silently. Ye Cainu, who was originally still on the verge of death, immediately locked the door rigidly and murmured, "His Majesty really has incredible foresight, Madam really took my human skin mask. What's wrong with her?"

Once getting the hang of it, she didn't find it hard to chant the scriptures every day. It seemed that in the blink of an eye, nine, nine, eighty-one days had passed. The coffin of the late empress dowager was sent to the imperial tomb, and all the womenfolk packed up their belongings and prepared to return home.

On the swaying carriage, Guan Suyi asked in a low voice, "Mother, how is the Empress Dowager?"

"Oh, it's not as good as before. After all, this time she hurts the root. If it were not for the emperor's effort to stop her, I'm afraid she would die in front of the coffin."

"The emperor is really filial." Guan Suyi covered her cheeks, feeling her teeth a little sore.

"Exactly! The emperor's sacrificial eulogy has long been known all over the world. Others say that he is the True Dragon Emperor, with dragon energy on his body, which make all the beasts surrender to him. Speaking of which, his experience is really legendary, if your maternal grandmother hear it, she would rush to Yanjing and ask to write a biography of him. Do you miss your maternal grandmother?" Zhong shi smiled and stroked her daughter's hair.

Before Guan Suyi could answer, a hearty voice came from outside the carriage window, "Sister, give your older sister a definite word, when will you reconcile? Now there is a betting table in the market, I'm just waiting for you to go back and make a big fuss with the Zhao family! "

Li shi's playful expression froze into ice when she lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw the stern face of Zhong shi, then she turned her horse's head and ran away.

"That's the sister-in-law of Marquis Zhenxi, Li shi? Sure enough, a rude one. What is this betting table? What is this waiting for you to go back and make a big fuss with the Zhao family? Could it be that you really want to reconcile? Your grandfather and father are men after all, they don't understand women's suffering, how can we talk reconciliation so lightly? Gossip aside…"

After three months of letting it settle, Guan Suyi had already figured it out. People must look ahead, even if this step was not what she wanted to take, but since she had stepped down, she could not retreat. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing the cinnabar mole on the inside of her elbow, and interrupted Zhong shi's words, "Mother, Zhao Luli and I have been married for nearly a year, and he has never touch me. He couldn't forget Ye Zhen, and wanted to keep himself clean for her. When Ye Zhen was away, there was no place for me in the Zhao family. Since she has come back, do you still want me to compromise and live alone for the rest of my life? Daughter asked myself if I made any big mistakes, why should I suffer this kind of punishment?"

Zhong shi stared at the cinnabar mole, her expression changed several times, and after a while, she said hoarsely, "Why you didn't tell mother? My poor daughter, how have you been living this past year? I thought that Zhao Luli had changed, and he would definitely treat you wholeheartedly! Old Yao, change they route, don't go to the Zhao Mansion, go to Emperor Teacher Mansion!"

She hugged her daughter and whispered through gritted teeth, "Mother will immediately let your grandfather go to the palace to ask for reconciliation! Since Zhao Luli likes Ye Zhen, then let them live together!"

Unexpectedly when the carriage barely arrive at the foot of the mountain, they met Zhao Luli who came to pick her up. His joyful expression was a little sluggish after seeing his angry mother-in-law, and when he was about to go forward to greet them, he only got scolded "bastard".

Two carriages arrived at the Emperor Teacher Mansion one after another. One of them hurried out again after entering the mansion and went into the palace; the other was not willing to leave until evening.

Zhao Luli felt that his heart had been crushed, which then turned into pus and blood, and could never be restored again. He vaguely knew what the two Mount Tai wanted to do when they entered the palace, but he was powerless to stop them. The only thing he could do was stare at the red lacquer gate in front of him, hoping that the person he had been looking forward to for a season and have thought about for a season could slowly come out and give him a lively smile.

His eyes were already red, and an indescribable sense of fear choked his throat, preventing him from making a sound.

Suyi, come out and look at me! Suyi, tell me you don't want to leave me! Suyi, I haven't even dared to go home for the past three months, I've been living at the foot of the mountain waiting for you! Suyi, the one I love is you! I finally understand that the person I love is you!

He confessed over and over again in his heart, and shouted over and over again in his heart, but he never had the courage to knock on the door, because he had a premonition that when the door opened, his dream would be broken. Thinking about how unwilling he was when he married Suyi, and how he squandered her thoughtfulness and tenderness. She smiled so shyly and sweetly under the dragon and phoenix red candle, and now when he recalled it, it still vivid in his mind, his heart was relaxed.

With just one glance, she was engraved in his heart, but because of the dust in his heart, he refused to repent…

—–

In the Weiyang Palace, Emperor Sheng Yuan was holding a grain of corn to feed a mynah bird, and when he heard the news that Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies were asking to see him, he almost knocked over the table beside him.

"Quick, quickly announce the two Mount Tai into the palace!" He waved his sleeves while correcting the table.

Even shouting "Mount Tai", Your Majesty, aren't you too impatient? Baifu felt helpless, he walked to the door of the hall and then turned back, reminding in a low voice, "Your Majesty, please seal the bird's beak first, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the two Master."

"Yes, keep your mouth shut." Emperor Sheng Yuan immediately pinched Myna's sharp beak and asked the servant to tie it with satin.

When Old Master Guan and Guan Father walked into the inner hall, they saw the emperor sitting behind the table, holding The Analects of Confucius in his hands. His slight frown and occasional flashes of realization showed that he was working hard and rather gained a lot.

"This minister has seen the emperor…" Before the two of them could bow down, they were lifted up by him, and they were brought in to sit down.

"The emperor is considering this year's exam questions?" Old Master Guan thought that he couldn't bring up the topic immediately, and made the emperor feel disgust, so he talked about other things first, and then slowly bring up the topic.

This was very painful for Emperor Sheng Yuan, clearly his heart was already anxious, he even already wrote the approval, but he couldn't take it out.

After talking about the imperial examinations, they talked about the people's livelihood, after talking about the people's livelihood they talked about water conservancy, and after talking about water conservancy, they talked about the war. He rub and rub his violently beating heart, tap and tap his restless feet, until he almost turned blue, only then Old Master Guan quietly said, "There is one matter but don't know if it should be mentioned or not…"

Mention, you just have to mention it with confidence! Zhen is ready to pick up Madam! Emperor Sheng Yuan shouted anxiously in his heart, but he pretended to be puzzled, "Oh? What is the thing that troubling Emperor Teacher? Just say it, Zhen will help you solve it."

"It's for my useless granddaughter…" Old Master Guan let out a long sigh and then explained in detail, then finally bowed down and said, "Begging the emperor, for the sake of the only seedling of the Guan family, allow her to reconcile and return home! She really can't stay in the Zhao family, otherwise I wouldn't have given up this old face to beg you."

"Please help, Your Majesty." Guan Father also bowed down deeply.

Emperor Sheng Yuan deeply felt that his sins were monstrous. If the two Mount Tai knew that the culprit who let Ye Zhen went back was him, he didn't know how angry they would be. Fortunately, he got the human skin mask from the Miao people, and covered up the bad things of that year. Now even the Empress Dowager suspected that her memory was wrong. If there were really two Ye Zhen in the world, how could others investigate it deeply?

The only question now was how to appease Madam. She seemed to be getting more angry. Thinking of this, Emperor Sheng Yuan felt helpless in his heart, but a sweet smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Originally it was Zhen's oversight, causing harm for Madam. Today, it should also Zhen who untie this knot. The two master must not be worried. In the future, Zhen will definitely show Madam the best marriage in the world." He helped the two Mount Tai up and put on a show, "You two go back first. Baifu will go to the Zhao Mansion with the imperial edict later, so that others will not humiliate Madam even a little bit."

Old Master Guan and Guan Father thanked him profusely, and kowtowed again and again. As soon as they stepped out of the palace hall door, a mynah bird flew towards the Emperor Teacher Mansion.

Zhong shi waited anxiously in the front hall, but Guan Suyi was already confident. She went back to her room to take a nap. When she woke up, she saw a mynah bird with bright eyes flying down the window sill, jumping and shouting, "When will Madam reconcile? When will Madam reconcile?"

"Why this little thing is here again? All day long it's like calling the ghost, urging you to reconcile. Wait for this servant to take rice and gag its mouth." Jinzi smiled and went to take out her purse. When she was chanting scriptures at Jueyin Temple, it was thanks to this bird that she was not suffocated to death. It flew back and forth five or six times a day, and then kept shouting reconcile, the small appearance was really stupid.

"Give it to me." Guan Suyi took the purse, twirled a piece of rice and handed it to the mynah's mouth, softly coaxing, "Be obedient, learn from me, Hunnar bastard."

The mynah bird had learned this sentence for a while, and the pronunciation had become very accurate. After repeating it once, he would ask for a bite, wait for the bag of rice was fully pecked only then it would reluctantly fly away. From a distance it could still be heard scolding "bastard, bastard".

Guan Suyi stood by the window and looked out, seeing the little black dot disappearing into the sky before she slowly sighed, "It's really a child who can be taught."

Chapter 113 Reconciliation

Having her grandfather and father's permission, Guan Suyi was instead feeling nervous, and tentatively said, "Grandfather, father, I want to bring Mu Mu back, is that okay?"

Old Master Guan pondered, "It's just an extra pair of bowl and chopstick, you can bring him back if you want. I've seen that kid before, he's very well-behaved and sensible, but he's Zhao Luli's adopted son after all, afraid the Zhao family's side will not agree."

Guan Suyi said firmly, "If a wife that reconcile wants to take away the children of her husband's family, it will be extremely difficult, but Mu Mu is not a member of the Zhao family and has no blood relationship with Zhao Luli. Although he took him in, he never took care of him even for half a day, he didn't even put him the household registration. From a legal point of view, Mu Mu just stayed in the Zhao Mansion and can leave at any time."

Guan Father frowned and said, "Zhao Luli didn't even put the child in the household registration?"

"When Mu Mu came, he was in the throes of losing his wife, where did he have the heart to take care of others, at most he just gave him a bite to eat. It was because sister-in-law couldn't stand it, so she took the child to the second house to take care of, which made him grow up safely. Now that sister-in-law is gone, Ye Zhen is also the kind of gentle on surface and poisonous on the inside character, she doesn't even care about her own children, then how about Mu Mu? If I don't bring him back, I will be restless day and night."

"If that's the case, then bring him back." Old Master Guan made a decision.

Guan Suyi was overjoyed, and then packed up and prepared to go back to the Zhao Mansion. As soon as she left the house, she saw Zhao Luli standing under the steps, his back was hidden in the twilight, looking very lonely. Hearing the movement, he suddenly turned around and said in surprise, "Suyi, are you willing to go home with me?"

"Let's go." Guan Suyi didn't say much. After saying goodbye to her family, she boarded the carriage and urged, "Still not leaving? Why are you standing there foolishly?"

Zhao Luli seemed to wake up from his trance, bid farewell to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and finally jumped into the carriage and galloped away. He thought that Madam would never come out again after entering the Emperor Teacher Mansion. Fortunately, fortunately…

The two didn't say anything, one had nothing to say, the other was worried and fearful, and it seemed a long time before they felt the carriage slowly stop.

"Master, Madam, you're finally back!" The housekeeper hurriedly greeted them with an expression of relief. He had been suffering for more than three months! He thought that Madam's housekeeping method was strict, and it was not easy to be a servant under her hands, but it was only now that he realized that strictness was thousands of times better than chaos!

"Master, madam, you don't know, wah! Late madam, no, no, it's Madam Ye. She brought back all the servants that Madam drove away before. Nowadays the mansion inner spending has increase a lot, and the monthly payment of a single servant has doubled. Not to mention, isn't the reason why those people were kicked out because of cheating and refuse to work? Now with Madam Ye's support, they're even more treacherous than before, eat from the mansion, take thing from the mansion, but refuse to work. The work is still done by we old people, but the monthly money has been divided by them. Now the mansion is full of grievances and people's hearts are scattered! This old servant said a few words to Madam Ye, but she actually cried, said that this old servant helped Madam to squeeze her out, and why our family only expelled her dowry servants, and no one else moved. This old servant is really wronged. If her dowry servants were willing to be honest, where would they be sent away! "

Guan Suyi had already expected Ye Zhen to be a demon, so she was not surprised, but Zhao Luli was shocked and angry, and hurried to the backyard.

After Ye Zhen remarried, all the servants of the Zhao family were replaced, and her original dowry servants was taken back by Ye Quanyong, and new people were assigned to come over, in order to seal their mouth. She had lived in the palace for a long time, and had not seen the faces of these people for a long time, so why talked about the relationship between master and servant? She took so much trouble to get people back, just to add help to herself.

After Ruan shi was buried grandly, in order to avoid meeting Ye Zhen, Zhao Luli went to another part of the country to discuss business. When he returned to the capital, no one knew about it. He lived alone at the foot of the mountain, so he didn't know that such a change happened in his home. In his memory, Ye Zhen was weak, kind, and indifferent to the world. Although she had changed a little after she came out of the palace, she was definitely not a cunning and treacherous person. He thought in these few month she would stay quiet, and kept to her role.

But he was clearly wrong, and still very wrong. When he left, the mansion was clean and orderly, but when he came back, it was as if time had turned back and changed into the situation before he married Madam. The servant who was once driven away by Madam was now swaying in front of his eyes again, many empty houses were abandoned, and people come and go, which made a "bustling" atmosphere.

Seeing him walking in big strides, everyone greeted him shamelessly, shouting master one after another, but when they saw Guan Suyi, they were all frowning and pouting, turning a blind eye.

Zhao Luli's anger grew stronger and stronger, he couldn't believe that this was something Ye Zhen had done. Does she want to completely erase the traces of Madam's life in the Zhao family? Why did she become so aggressive? What will Madam think when she sees these scenes? Afraid the heart that didn't consider reconciliation before would also instigated by her.

He frequently glanced at Madam's expression, but he couldn't find a trace of strangeness in her calm and beautiful face. The calmer she was on the surface, the more she suppressed the terrifying waves inside. Once it broke out, it would definitely shattered the Zhao family into pieces.

While thinking about it, Zhao Luli's heart was already cracking, and the rapid pace slowly slowed down, he didn't dare to go inside. Because of Ye Zhen's return, the house seemed to be a tomb, just waiting for him to be buried.

However, after a while, Mr. Lu, who had already been dismissed before, brought Zhao Wangshu out to welcome him, and finally made Guan Suyi, who had been silent, opened her mouth to ask, "Master Lu, are you also invited back?"

Mr. Lu sneered, "Thanking Madam Ye for the great blessing, so this old man can come back. After all, a mother is a mother and will never delay the son's future."

Hearing that the Zhao family was not implicated by the Ye family, he immediately returned to Yanjing to take his old job, but was turned away by Madam Guan. Without the accommodation and food provided by the Zhao Mansion, and he also spent a lot of money on wine every month, his life was simply miserable! Fortunately, Madam Ye hired him back again, which made him breaking through the darkness and see the light, and survived a desperate situation. Now seeing Madam Guan, he was full of resentment.

Guan Suyi ignored him and looked directly at Zhao Wangshu, "You also think I'm delaying your future?"

Zhao Wangshu lowered his head, not daring to speak. Standing behind him, the sly book boy who had been kicked away rebuked, "Whether or not you delay the eldest young master's future, Madam, don't you know yourself? Madam Ye went to the village school where the eldest young master was studying, and the place was old and broken, the house is full of children from poor families, and only a piece of dry food is provided for lunch, which can scratch the throat when swallowed. When writing, the cold wind comes in through the broken window, freezing people to the bone. Under the pressure of hunger and cold, how can you expect the eldest young master to make progress? Do you dare to touch your conscience and swear to heaven that you really doing it for the good of eldest young master?"

The book boy glanced at Zhao Luli and choked, "Madam Ye went to the village school to watch a few times in person, and she cried so hard every time. It's inevitable the future of the eldest young master would be delayed, so she invited Mr. Lu back."

Zhao Wangshu's eyes were red, and his eyes were full of resentment. He clearly was already won over by Ye Zhen and left his stepmother.

Zhao Luli was about to flare out, but was gently stopped by Guan Suyi, and she sighed, "That village school is indeed shabby, it can't compare to the Zhao family's study, but the master who teaches there is my senior brother, who can be called a great talent, and has profound knowledge. I handed you over to him, and there is no reason to worry. So what if boys suffers a little? It's to sharpen the mind and strengthen the muscles and bones. These past few months whether you benefited or not, you know in your own heart. Since you feel that Ye Zhen is your mother, I am the stepmother, she is for your own good, I am for harming you, that's alright, I can't control this family anyway."

In her previous life, she invited this senior brother to teach Zhao Wangshu in the house, so that he could make a name for himself before the age of crown (twenty). As a result, he changed his tone and slandered her for having an affair with her senior brother. In this life, she didn't want to implicate her senior brother, so she didn't invite him back. But Ye Zhen still poured a pot of dirty water by accusing her of "treating her stepson harshly". It was a sin that could not be escaped for two lifetimes.

"Madam, what nonsense are you talking about?" Zhao Luli glanced at her in a panic, and finally went to grab his son, "Still not apologize to your mother yet! Say that you will continue to go to the village school in the future, and you will no longer make trouble in your home studies!"

"Master Zhao, are you looking down on this old man? Alright…" Mr. Lu was so angry that his beard was shaking and he was about to come forward to argue when Ye Zhen came slowly with little Huai'en in her arms, smiling slyly, "Why are you all standing here? Come into the house if you have something to say."

"Madam Ye, please." Guan Suyi was too lazy to argue with everyone, so she entered first.

Zhao Chunxi was already sitting in the hall, with many account books stacked by her side, and seven or eight servants kneeling on the bottom of her feet. Seeing her coming in, a different look appeared on her face. Guan Suyi suddenly said, "This is to settle accounts after the autumn*? You gave your dowry to your mother?"

Zhao Chunxi felt bitter in her heart, and said astringently, "This is the property of the Ye family. Now that my mother is not dead, how can I not give it back?" Right now, the benevolence and filial piety customs in the Wei Kingdom was prevalent, and Ye Zhen only needed to cry a few times to make her completely defeated, where she dare to not pay back the dowry?

"The dowry servants who was kicked out has also come back? Well, that's good, everything is back to the original state." She turned to look at Ye Zhen, and said in a low voice, "Tell me, these people are kneeling here, what are they going to sue me?"

Ye Zhen opened the account book and said bluntly, "Younger sister, it's not that I can't trust you. Look, since you took over my dowry, the shopkeeper of the shop and the head of the farm have been replaced by you, and the cost of goods purchased in the shop has been several times higher. Are you planning to occupy the magpie's nest? It is true that you have taken good care of my property, but it seems that they are no longer surnamed Ye, and have changed their surname to Guan? If I don't come back, how much will my daughter get when she gets married in the future?"

Guan Suyi smiled, "How much Zhao Chunxi can get, don't you know if you ask her? If I hold on to these things, do you think the account book can be easily get into your hands? The stewards I replaced, in the final analysis, are still surnamed Ye, and they are members of your Ye family. Ask this group of rammed goods kneeling at the bottom, why they were replaced? Why is the cost several times higher? On one hand they buy inferior and fake goods at low prices, and on the other hand they sell it at high prices, and earn the difference. And most of your Ye family operates medicine shops and grain shops. If people buy fake drugs and moldy rice, afraid they will die. I controlled everything strictly and ask myself not to make mistake, if you want to use this excuse to ruin my reputation, just save your breath, I came back today not to fight with you, but to discuss the reconciliation."

The shocking news made Zhao Luli lose his soul, and Ye Zhen couldn't recover for a long time. She was just about to make a move, but the other person already waved her sleeves and left, it was like she exerted her whole strength only to punch a cotton, and she was very aggrieved.

No, today she have to tear off a layer of Guan Suyi's face no matter what, Ye Zhen rolled her eyes and was about to make a fuss, but then heard the gatekeeper made a report outside, saying there was Chief Bai who came to deliver the reconciliation letter.

In this way, all the tricks she had been brewing for more than three months were ruined by this sentence. And all of Zhao Luli's plans and hopes were in vain.

o settle accounts after the autumn*: a metaphor for waiting for an opportunity to retaliate after the fact.

Chapter 114 Reveal

Ye Zhen's hope of returning to the palace was completely shattered, so she changed her "kind and weak" persona and became stronger. She knew that if she couldn't get a footing in the Zhao family, there would be no place for her anymore. The Ye family was dead, and only she and Ye Fan were left. Originally, it would have been a great help if she could won over the other person, but she did not expect that Zhao Luli had expelled her and Mingfang for blabbing their mouth and ruined Guan Suyi's reputation, and both of them had already been sent to Cangzhou.

Ye Zhen thought left and right, in the end had to give up. While Guan Suyi and Zhao Luli were not at home, she gave the old madam some medicine, made her sick in bed and unable to manage the house, and while she suppressed her daughter and took advantage of her son, she quickly took control of the Zhao mansion from top to bottom, rehired her dowry servant.

She took back Mr. Lu who were dismissed by Guan Suyi, publicized the fact that her stepson was sent to a dilapidated village school, and then signaled the few dowry servants who had been driven away to lurking outside the door, waited for Guan Suyi to return home today, pounced on her, stopped her from making noise, and publicized the fact that she occupied the dowry of the first wife. With the two-pronged approach, Guan Suyi would definitely be beaten, and it would be much easier to negotiate with her about being equal wife again. In the future, if she was given sterilization medicine or something, this Zhao Mansion would still be her territory after all. She had a son and a daughter, so what if she didn't have her husband's favor?

But her idea was just an idea after all, and it was doomed to fail. Several dowry servants waited for a whole day without seeing Guan Suyi, but they were caught by Zhao Chunxi who was strolling, and they were immediately pulled into the house for interrogation, which what happened at this moment. Zhao Chunxi was trembling with anger, and felt even more ashamed after looking at her stepmother.

However, all explanations were blocked by this sentence from the gatekeeper. Reconciliation, in the end it came to this step.

Baifu walked in with Old Master Guan and the others, holding a scroll of imperial decree and several documents in his hand. It was rather a long night, he carefully obeyed His Majesty's order and went to the government office to change the household registration first, now Madam Guan had become Miss Guan again. He came to the Zhao family this time only to inform Zhao Luli, and brought back Miss Guan's dowry in passing.

Because reconciliation was not a good thing, the Guan family did not want to make a big fuss, so they came quietly and waited outside. Master Lu, who planned to have a good argument with Madam Guan, was very frightened and hurriedly covered his face and ran away.

"Madam, you are so cruel!" Zhao Luli took the letter and said in a trembling voice, "Even if you want to reconcile, you should tell me in advance."

"I thought you should have guessed it long ago." Guan Suyi reached out to Ye Zhen, "I'm leaving, it's not too much letting me hug little Huai'en, right?"

"Of course." Ye Zhen handed the child over to her, but she didn't expect that he would burst into tears when he was just hugged into her arms, no matter how she rocked and tempted, the cry wouldn't stop, it was as if he had run into a ghost.

Seeing the child's red nose, Guan Suyi couldn't bear it, so she had to retreat reluctantly and said sarcastically, "It's really hard on you, even racking the brain to win over a child and make him get used to the smell of your body. Alas, Huai'en is the di son of second house, you will not dare to treat him harshly. Then I can leave with ease."

When the child reached Ye Zhen's arms, sure enough, after a few sniffs he stopped crying and slowly fell asleep. In just three months, the Zhao family had changed beyond recognition, the people had changed, and their hearts had also changed. Guan Suyi could let go of Zhao Huai'en, but not Mu Mu. Zhao Huai'en was useful to Ye Zhen, but Mu Mu was useless to her, she was afraid that he would be abandoned in a corner unattended like before. She could not want anything today, but she could not do without Mu Mu.

Just thinking of this, she saw Mu Mu running in from the door with his short legs, bypassing Ye Zhen, who looked ugly, and threw himself into the arms of his adoptive mother. The little face was buried in the hem of her skirt, rubbing left and right, then said with milky voice, "Mom, everyone said you want to leave, take me with you, okay? I only want mom and second aunt, not Madam Ye."

"Alright, mom is here to pick you up today!" Guan Suyi picked up Mu Mu and pressed him tightly in her arms. Mu Mu was also a child she saved with her own hands, a responsibility she could not shirk and could not bear to shirk.

"Zhao Luli, let's talk! Mother, you go and help me pack my things, sort out my dowry, and stop by to see the old madam. I just heard from the housekeeper that she is ill. If the situation is serious, you can use my post to invite an imperial physician, don't delay. Grandfather, father, wait for me here, I'll be right back."

She handed Mu Mu to Jinzi and Minglan, and left to have a private conversation with Zhao Luli in the study.

"If you want Mu Mu, you can, but only if you stay. Reconciliation still can remarry, only need to hold one more ceremony." Zhao Luli had completely calmed down and showed a hint of determination.

Guan Suyi knew that he had grasped her weakness and would not let go easily at this time. However, when she learned about the painting that were given by the Empress Dowager, she seemed to have realized one thing – no matter how strong a person is, they will still have the most vulnerable heartstrings, just pinch it and exert force on it, then people can easily control them, easily intimidate them, or even destroy them.

"Zhao Luli, who is Mu Mu to you? Do you still care about his life and death?" She slowly pinched this heartstrings.

"Mu Mu is the son of my comrade, and also my adopted son. I regard him as my own, and of course I care about his life and death."

"Since you care about his life and death, you should hand him over to me, and don't add another sin to yourself."

"Did I leave him alone without caring for his life and death? Suyi, what do you think of the Zhao family? Dragon pool and tiger's den?" Zhao Luli refused to give in an inch.

"You said that you care about Mu Mu, but did you ever take care of him? Did you ever discipline him? Have you ever put him in the household registration? All you did was throw him in the house and give him a bite to eat. What qualifications do you have to compete with me for the right to raise him? The Zhao family may have been calm in the past, but Ye Zhen has return. For Mu Mu, it was the Dragon Pool and Tiger's Den. Do you know what Ye Zhen did? She instructed Zhao Wangshu to go spying on the imperial place of worship, he was caught by the imperial guards and almost killed on the spot! In any case she is also from a big family, so she should know that is a crime to spy on the emperor's trail. If she wants to see her twin sister, she can find you, she can find me, she can even bribe a few eunuchs or palace maids, why did she order Zhao Wangshu to go? She doesn't even care about her own son, how can I expect her to take good care of Mu Mu?"

Seeing Zhao Luli's shocked expression, she continued, "Only Zhao Wangshu is not stupid enough, he knew how to give my name, so he can save his life. He cried and begged me to let Ye Zhen see Ye Cainu, so I had to help him arrange it. Guess what, after the two met, she actually went crazy, saying that she was Ye Cainu, she should be a noble person in the palace, and then she ran crazily to the Main Hall to see the emperor. If it were not for Zhao Wangshu throwing her down and dragging her back, a crime of 'offending the Saint's face, with bad intentions' could make everyone in the Zhao family be buried together. How can I hand over Mu Mu to a lunatic? Mu Mu has never been registered in the Zhao family's household register. I take him away today, whatever you say I'm not afraid of breaking the sky, at most we will go face to face in the court!"

After speaking, she flung her sleeves and left, hurriedly went outside, and whispered, "Jinzi, quickly send Mu Mu back to the Emperor Teacher mansion, I will come back after sorting out the dowry." At this moment, Zhao Luli had lost his soul, afraid it would take half a day to recover.

He thought that Ye Zhen was powerlessly forced to enter the palace, and thought that she would definitely care about the Zhao family and the children, but through what was said just now, it's impossible for him not able to guess the truth. Ye Zhen definitely didn't leave the palace voluntarily, in order to go back, she couldn't care less about Zhao Wangshu's life and death, then she wouldn't care about the Zhao family. After seeing another Ye Zhen, she suddenly went crazy, crying and calling for the emperor, what this meant was self-evident.

How many of those so-called sacrifices and giving up were true, how many were false, or all of them were false, the answer had vaguely emerged in Zhao Luli's mind. He was desperate because of this, and then he was immersed in the emotion of losing his love until he couldn't extricate himself; he wasted years in remembrance of the past, and finally lost his present and future.

The facts only revealed the tip of the iceberg, but it was enough to destroy his beliefs. If he could regain his senses immediately, he would not be the overly susceptible to overthink Zhao Luli. Those few words were enough to trouble him all day and night, when would he go if he didn't leave now?

Guan Suyi went to see the old madam, invited an imperial physician for her, and returned the key of the warehouse and the matching card to Ye Zhen, who had been waiting for a long time, and said slowly, "You can't check the warehouse without the key. Judge other by one own's measure, you must think that I have taken away the silver from your account and coveted your dowry, right? Zhao Chunxi and the old madam have the dowry list, you should also keep a copy yourself, feel free to open the warehouse to count it, if there is even one piece missing, you don't need to come to Guan's house to ask for me, you can directly report it to the government. However, if you slander, I will send you to prison."

She looked at Zhao Wangshu with a magnanimous smile, "I've always known that you are gullible and easy to be used by others. In the future, you will open your eyes to see who is good and who is bad, and time will prove everything. I just hope that you don't have to pay a painful price by then." At the end, she patted Zhao Chunxi on her shoulder and sighed, "Look after your brother, let's say goodbye and cherish each other."

The dowry has been taken care of, and the group of people left the Zhao Mansion in a mighty way. Originally, only Zhao Chunxi was sending them off, but the old madam woke up from her coma and used a cane to chase out the door, with tears running down while bawling without end, shouting "Daughter-in-law, come back", making people's heart felt sore.

Guan Suyi wiped the corners of her eyes, looked back to take a glace, and then boarded the carriage and galloped away.

Passers-by had already guessed that Madam Guan would reconcile, and after watching for a while, they slowly dispersed. But a girl wearing a veil hat stood in front of the Zhao Mansion and did not move for a long time. Her maid reminded in a low voice, "Miss, it's getting late, it's time to go home. Isn't it just reconciliation? Madam Guan has a prominent family background, but Mr. Zhao is only a commoner, the two should have reconciled long ago. Speaking of which, Madam Guan is really an amazing talent. The last time she took the child by cutting open the stomach, I thought she would be drowned by everyone's spits. But unexpectedly she would turn it over with just one sacrifice eulogy. Now her fame is so high, even almost reaching her father's fame. After reconcile this time, perhaps she will able to get a good match and marry into a powerful family."

The voice of the girl wearing the veil hat was mellow and clear, but it contained a lot of disdain, "Amazing talent? Do you really think she turned it over by talent? It's just a stroke of luck, just a coincidence. How can such a shocking act be wiped out overnight, leaving only praise? If there was no force from the palace behind this, Guan Suyi would lose a layer of skin at the very least. In the blink of an eye, her article spread all over Yanjing, and everywhere there were Confucian students reciting the article, and some women followed behind while weeping, setting off the atmosphere to the extreme. Most people are ignorant and easily deceived. The scholars all said yes, and they naturally said yes, where would they have their own ideas, so they even laid a good reputation for Guan Suyi. How many scholars do you think there are in Yanjing City? Who has the capability to make them willing to run a campaign for a woman?"

"Miss, are you saying that Madam Guan's reputation was built with the help of the emperor? What kind of virtue is that?"

"That's why I said that she is lucky. The act of cutting open the stomach to take the child was like the late Empress Dowager, thus helping the emperor to justify her name. To build momentum for her is to build momentum for the late Empress Dowager, the emperor only doing it in passing. Although the article is good, but it praised too much, it's really stealing a name by deceiving the world." The girl shook her head and sighed, her tone contemptuous.

"Yeah, this servant has read her sacrificial eulogy, it's not on par with miss' article." The maid flattered.

The girl smiled and turned to leave, "Not on par? You this girl doesn't seems like flattering. She is as talented as me, exactly on par. She can do that kind of sacrificial eulogy, and I can do it too. However, if I face the pain of life and death, I would rather never use it for an article."

"Miss is simply benevolent and filial!" The flattering voice of the maid gradually disappeared on the street corner.

As soon as that master and servant left, a group of people arrived at the gate of the mansion. The leader handed a name post, demanding to see eldest master Zhao, and the gatekeeper took it to take a look, on it written the word "Hunnar".

Chapter 115 The Truth

When the gatekeeper handed the post to Zhao Luli, he was still immersed in thousands of thought and could not extricate himself. Although he vaguely grasped the hint, he dared not to pull the truth out, and his heart was full of confusion. Seeing the name post, he was stunned for a while before realizing that it was the name of Emperor Sheng Yuan, and his anger immediately surged up.

"Having the honor of Your Majesty's presence, to what do I owe this pleasure?" He personally welcomed the person into the door and brought him to the study. He seemed to ask respectfully.

"Sit down." Emperor Sheng Yuan took the lead sitting in the main seat, and then pointed to the seat next to him, "Zhen want to talk to you about the past."

Zhao Luli's heart tighten, and for some reason, he had the urge to grab the door and run away, but out of his will he had to sit down and said hoarsely, "Back then you promised to take good care of Ye Zhen, but I didn't expect that it was only a few years, and you abandoned her like a shoe. The Ye family was controlled by Ye Quanyong, what do those sins have to do with her? You have already seized the Ye family, why are you still not letting her off? Her temperament is weak, her body was infected with snake venom, she earn her life. Considering how much she sacrificed for you, you should also give her a good home, why did you throw her out of the palace and leave her with no way out?"

Emperor Sheng Yuan tapped on the table, and immediately a guard served a jar of spirits and two wine cups. He swatted open the clay stopper and poured the wine slowly, his resolute and handsome face gradually turned cold, as if he was considering how to answer, also seemed to be reminiscing about the past.

Where Zhao Luli had the mood to drink, he said coldly, "Have you made a good excuse for your ingratitude? Because of you I lost my first wife, and because of you I lost my second-wife. Perhaps I owe you in my last life, otherwise, why can't I escape you?"

Emperor Sheng Yuan pushed the wine cup in front of him, said with a light tone, "Drink a cup first, and let the blood heat up. After we finish what we're going to talk about, Zhen worried your heart will be so cold that you won't be able to bear it."

Zhao Luli's eyes flickered, he repeatedly clenched his fists and repeatedly released them, and finally took the wine cup and drank it all. Sure enough, it was a rare spirit, it went down the throat like a knife, scraping uncomfortably, and felt like a fire when entered the stomach, making his five internal organs churning, actually burned his heart full of confusion and doubt.

"What do you want to say?" When he spoke again, he was as steady as a mountain, and his expression was calm.

"First of all, Zhen has to clarify one point. The reason why Zhen promise to take care of Ye Zhen is for the sake of life-saving grace back then. If this life-saving grace becomes a plot of assassination, why should Zhen take care of Zhen's enemy? Zhen only released her from the palace and did not skin her alive, is already considered a mercy."

"What assassination's plot?" Zhao Luli's voice began to tremble, the hand holding the wine cup exerted its strength fiercely, and his knuckles turned white.

"Remember when Xue The Thief set up an ambush at Panyun Pass to kill Zhen, among them, there were 200 elites and dozens of experts. Zhen fought hard to break out of the encirclement, but was bitten by the poisonous snake released by the expert and rolled down the mountain stream. it was at that time that Ye Zhen, who happened to go Panyun Pass to visit you, accidentally met Zhen, then she sucked out the snake venom and placed Zhen outside the pass, thus saving Zhen's life. The expert who assassinated Zhen is now in Zhen's hands, and he also the murderer who poisoned the Zhao family and Ruan shi. Guess what? Back then, he not only took Xue The Thief's silver to buy murder, but also Ye Quanyong's silver to buy life. Xue The Thief wanted Zhen to be dead, but Ye Quanyong wanted Zhen to be half-dead, so the half-dead Zhen ran into Ye Zhen, who was greatly merciful and compassionate."

Zhao Luli stared at the man in front of him, speechless for a long time.

Emperor Sheng Yuan continued, "When Zhen returned to the army alive, Ye Quanyong that bastard even gave all his family wealth very obediently. He was in control of food, forage, medicinal materials and other necessary supplies during the war, and Zhen was so poor at the time, so where could have the reason to refuse? And because of Ye Zhen's life-saving grace, Zhen supported his caravan. However, in a few years, what he gave away was earned back, and doubled several times, this business is really a small capital but huge profit! "

He took a sip of from his wine cup, his eyes were a little empty, "Zhen arrested Ye Quanyong, but his daughter rescued Zhen, so Zhen let him go, and still protected the Ye family caravan everywhere, paid back this kindness while making profits for the soldiers. Unexpectedly after two years, Zhen actually met her again on the way to make a surprise attack in Yanjing. She just said a few more words to Zhen, and your father's advisor slandered and said with certainty that Zhen must have fallen in love with her, and asked your father to offer beauty to gain wealth. Since then you hate Zhen, and hate your father and mother, but look who that person is?"

Zhao Luli followed his fingertip to see that advisor he wanted to find and kill, but inexplicably disappeared. Standing beside him was an expert in a Miao clothing. The two of them were tied and full of scars, but because they were wearing a cloak, they had not been noticed by others.

Without waiting for Zhao Luli's interrogation, the advisor who had already suffered enough torture fell to his knees and begged for mercy, come clean with the whole story of that year, "General Zhao, please spare this one life! This little one was instructed by Ye Zhen to do that. She learned from you about His Majesty's route for the surprise attack on Yanjing, and she waited since early morning in the middle of the road, trying to use the hand of old Marquis Zhao to climb the high branch. She deliberately pretended to have an affair with the emperor, let this little one lead the old marquis to see it, and the old marquis really believed it. He hated her for being unfaithful to you, but he couldn't afford to provoke the emperor, so he sent her away!"

"Enough! Shut up!" Zhao Luli smashed the wine cup in his hand, and immediately made the man's head bleed, he then kept quite out of fear.

However, Emperor Sheng Yuan was still drinking leisurely, and when his heavy breathing calmed down a little, he said, "Since Zhen sent Ye Zhen back, how many times has she try to die? This is her old trick. Back then in Zhen's tent, she only tried to hang herself three times, saying that her chastity had been lost, and she had no face to see you. However, in fact, Zhen has never touched even a finger of her. She only had to get dressed and get on the horse, and naturally there would be soldiers who would risk their lives to send her back. But she didn't want to, no matter what Zhen said she still didn't want to."

He stared at Zhao Luli and said word by word, "Back then, as long as you come to look for Zhen and said that you want to take your wife back, Zhen would certainly granted what you wished. However, you didn't come, not only did you not come, but you also missed the war because you got drunk, causing the loss of two cities, causing rivers of blood. From then on, Zhen didn't want to explain anything to you, conveniently left Ye Zhen behind, and took the infamy of taking courtier's wife by force."

Zhao Luli pressed his hands firmly on the table, as if there was a ten thousand pounds burden on his shoulders, which would shatter his body.

Emperor Sheng Yuan poured another cup of wine, drank slowly and said slowly, "Look at how well she calculated? Everyone was sorry for her and indebted to her, so they have to give everything for her. However, Zhen don't want to be a fool anymore and sent her to you, consider it as fulfilling your wishes."

The scenes of the past were replayed in his mind, and all the unclear doubts and details were now all solved. Zhao Luli's eyes changed a few times, and he finally realized, "Your Majesty, since you already caught these two people and learned the truth long ago, you can tell me when you send her back, so that I will not be deceived, and will not be separated from Madam, but you didn't. It was only today when Madam and I were separated that you came to the door and said these words. What are you trying to do?"

"What Zhen trying to do, didn't you already guess it?"

Zhao Luli laughed lowly, "What a good comrade! I couldn't blame you for that incident back then, but today's matter, it must be you who was pushing behind the scene. Did you fall in love with my wife? Since when? Why do you always like to take things by force? Why are you always make things difficult for me? Although I have committed a lot of sins, but you can ascend to the throne, I also made great contributions."

Emperor Sheng Yuan sneered, "Take things by force? If Zhen is still Hunnar from back then, and not Huo Shengzhe today, Madam would have been taken back to the palace long ago, how can still have a chat with you here? Zhen has never forced Madam, she's not reconcile with you in order to cling to the imperial power. You should know exactly how she is, if you didn't make her heart die, if you didn't hurt her deeply, even if ten Ye Zhen came, she would not retreat. The reason why you lost her is not because Zhen was pushing behind the scene, it's because of your own sin!"

He got more angry as he spoke, and scolded, "The reason why Madam married you is because Ye Zhen instructed Zhao Chunxi and Liu shi to encourage you. If you hadn't intervened in the middle, she would have become a Zhaoyi, and now may have become the empress, the mother of the country. Where would she stay in the Zhao Mansion and be humiliated by you? Ye Zhen was supposed to be your wife, and Madam was supposed to be Zhen's empress, now just returned everybody to their position, that's all."

He stood up, pushed open the door and went out, saying as he walked, "For the sake of comradeship of that year, Zhen will give you another wake up call, Ye Zhen is not a fuel-efficient lamp. The reason why your mother seriously ill is not because of excessive worry, it's actually poisoning. The antidote is hidden in Ye Zhen's house, you can send someone to search it. Your wife, Zhen has already returned it to you, and these two accomplices are also left at your disposal. These words have been held in Zhen's heart for many years, and today finally spit them out. You can hate Ye Zhen, you can hate Zhen, but you can't hate Madam, she doesn't have the slightest thing to apologize to you. Even if Zhen never get her, still won't allow anyone to misunderstand her!"

Zhao Luli chased down the corridor and watched the tall figure of the man melt into the light gray twilight. He finally gritted the root of his teeth and shed a trace of blood. Gone, everything is gone! The beautiful memories he carefully cherished turned into malicious deception and extreme exploitation. After finally realizing the truth, without thinking of how to make up for it and try remedy it, he went straight to feeling all hope were in vain.

He thought that losing Ye Zhen was equivalent to losing everything, but he couldn't see that the most precious treasure was actually in his hands, but he smashed it again due to a moment of hesitation. Why heaven always make a fool of people? No, the only one who make a fool of people were themselves. He couldn't blame anyone for exchanging treasure for filth, he could only blame himself for his blindness.

Thinking of his mother, he did not dare to regret any longer, and immediately asked his subordinates to escort the Miao expert to Ye Zhen's room to find the antidote. The Ye family valued profit over righteousness, and Ye Zhen who had nothing else naturally was very possessive over the dowry left in the mansion. At this time, she was holding the account book to count everything carefully, and afraid she would not return until the middle of the night.

Zhao Luli who was not alarmed anyone, pushed open the door and looked around. Sure enough, he found a wooden box from the hidden compartment of the wardrobe and asked the Miao person to identify it. All kinds of tortures have been endured, and that Miao person dared not hide it. After consulting the old madam's condition, they immediately found the antidote and handed it over to the doctor who came in a hurry to check.

The doctor confirmed that the antidote was non-toxic, then let the old madam swallow it with water, and she recovered after only half an hour. She then opened her mouth and said, "I want my daughter-in-law! Quickly get my daughter-in-law back! If there is no Suyi looking after my old age, I will not be able to close my eyes when I die! You unfilial son, when Ye Zhen came back, I asked you to send her away as soon as possible, but you didn't listen, you just didn't listen! This is good, this is really good, I can immediately die here, and go down to find your father to sue your sin…"

The howl of sorrow shattered Zhao Luli's heart, and also shattered his last trace of feeling for Ye Zhen.