Zhao Zhe became the emperor, so Shen Youqing would naturally become the empress. It was just that the formal ceremony to confer her the status of empress hadn’t occurred yet. Right now, the harem was empty. Seeing the emperor’s growing interest in Nie Sangyu, Shen Youqing had to figure out a way to solve this problem. Wen Wan was someone that had been competing with Nie Sangyu since the beginning, so she should be someone that could help her the most.

  After hearing that Wen Wan knew a secret, Shen Youqing brought her into the palace.

  Shen Youqing was in a pretty good mood when she knelt down before the throne. “Your Majesty.”


  In contrast, Zhao Zhe was feeling very fretful. “What is it?”


  “This servant went out today and saw something. This servant wants to hear what Your Majesty thinks of this incident.” Shen Youqing slightly smiled as she said, “On East Main Street, there’s a shopkeeper that forcibly married a widow that already had a child. Your Majesty, do you this matter is absurd?”


  Zhao Zhe slightly furrowed his brow. “If a widow doesn’t have a child, it’s acceptable for her remarry. Since she had a child, how could she marry someone else even if her husband has died?”


  “This servant agrees. If a woman has a son, it doesn’t matter if she’s a widow or a divorced woman, she shouldn’t remarry.” Shen Youqing was smiling as she gestured for Wen Wan to come forward. “Wan-

  has something to report. Your Majesty, please listen carefully.”


  Original translation is from fuyuneko dot org. If you’re reading this elsewhere, this chapter has been stolen. Please stop supporting theft.

  Wen Wan took one step forward and fell on her knees before the throne. She kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty, this subject has been serving in the marquis’s estate this entire time and knows something. The marquis’s heir’s biological mother isn’t Xia.

  It’s Nie Sangyu. Nie Sangyu gave birth to the marquis’s heir, Ning Jinchen, when she was his main wife.”


  Zhao Zhe was shocked. He slapped his throne and stood up. “What did you say?”


  Wen Wan trembled in fear. She hurriedly corrected her kneeling posture. “This subject has spoken truthfully. Your Majesty, please investigate this matter.”


  There was a ferocious glimmer in Zhao Zhe’s eyes. He was extremely furious as he looked Wen Wan. He looked at Shen Youqing, who was next to her, and said, “Wen-

  , do you know that you’ll be guilty of deceiving the emperor if you’re telling a lie?”


  “This subject wouldn’t dare to lie to Your Majesty.” Wen Wan clenched her jaw. “Kangyuan

  also knows about this matter. Your Majesty, if you don’t believe this subject, you can go to the imperial prison and ask her.”


  Zhao Zhe took a deep breath. He shook his sleeve and went to the imperial prison.

  He was actually being this impulsive over Nie Sangyu? Shen Youqing almost broke her teeth with how hard she was grinding it. She waved her hand to gesture for Wen Wan to stand up. “Follow this consort!”


  “Yes!” Wen Wan tried to look as docile as possible when she timidly followed after Shen Youqing.

  —


  When Zhao Zhe arrived at the imperial prison, the head jailer was already used to handing over the key to the innermost prison cell, but the emperor’s trust follower actually took the key for Kangyuan

  ‘s prison cell.

  Kangyuan hadn’t been found guilty of a crime that deserved the death penalty. At most, she was only guilty of being too loyal to the deposed emperor, which made the current emperor uncomfortable. If he released her, who knows what she would urge her father, Marquis Yong’an, to do? So, he was keeping her confined for a period of time. He would decide what to do with her once she became obedient.

  When the door to her prison cell was opened, Kangyuan silently looked at the emperor. As soon as she saw the golden robe, her tears fell. “Is it you……?”


  She stretched her hand out wanting to touch him, but a nearby person pushed her away.

  Zhao Zhe arrogantly looked at her said, “This emperor has something to ask you.”


  Kangyuan was muddled-headed and didn’t immediately return to her senses. It took her a long time to realize that she was looking at Zhao Zhe’s face. When that happened, her eyes were filled with overwhelming disappointment.

  Even as death was imminent, that person wasn’t willing to be with her, so how could he possibly be coming here to see here? She was so stupid.

  “What question does Your Majesty have for this worthless servant?” Kangyuan scoffed.

  Zhao Zhe pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “Someone told this emperor that Marquis Moyu’s heir, Ning Jinchen, is Nie Sangyu’s biological son. Do you know about this matter?”


  “Someone?” Kangyuan harrumphed. “It’s Wen Wan, right? Of the people that knew about this, we’re the only two people that are still alive.”


  Zhao Zhe’s body stiffened. The meaning of her words meant that Wen Wan wasn’t lying?

  “Marquis Moyu has done such a good job protecting their child.” Kangyuan dreamily said, “If I had been able to become pregnant with older cousin Li’s child, it would have been great if he also protect me like that.”


  Zhao Zhe kicked the railing on the side. It was such a loud sound that even Ji Man and Ning Yuxuan, who were further in the prison, could hear this sound. They stopped talking and looked into the blackness of the prison.

  “Your Majesty, please calm down.” Wu Yong respectfully cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, if you really want that woman, this subject has a way. Please keep calm.”


  “What can you do?” It was difficult for Zhao Zhe to let go of his residual anger. “Ning Yuxuan had actually dared to lie to this emperor. He clearly hated Sangyu back then, but he stole the child back from this emperor’s hands. If it wasn’t because this emperor had been momentarily negligent because of everything that happened shortly afterwards, how could that vile spawn still be alive?”


  Wu Yong said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The better the marquis hid this matter, the more convenient it’ll be for Your Majesty.”


  “What do you mean?” Zhao Li looked back.

  Wu Yong whispered something into the emperor’s ear for a while. Zhao Zhe’s furrowed brow slowly relaxed. His eyes even slightly brightened. “That is a good idea.”


  Kangyuan couldn’t be bothered to try to eavesdrop on their conversation. After Zhao Li died, her mind had become muddled. Every day, she would see a mirage of Zhao Li’s face, but it wasn’t clear.

  Perhaps, she would be able to see him once she went to the underworld.

  “Oh, right. I still owe Nie Sangyu a secret.” Kangyuan giggled. “Just treat this as thanking her for bringing me to see older cousin Li one last time.”


  “What is it?” Zhao Zhe raised his eyebrows and partially turned his head to look at her.

  “Tell her to be careful.” Kangyuan grinned sinisterly. “Wen Wan hasn’t lost her memory. She’ll definitely give Nie Sangyu a hard time.”