After the milk ball arrived, the father who had no heirs had a string of good luck.

Tang Rui was stunned: "Why would my mother do that?"

Why use this kind of drug when killing someone is just a matter of beheading them?

Having grown up under the red flag in her previous life, Tang Rui knew all too well how much disaster opium had brought to China, leaving the land that nurtured her in ruins.

She strongly disliked this drug, which resembled opium, and couldn't understand her mother-in-law's actions at all.

and also…

"Didn't Master forbid the use of this medicine? Why does my mother know how to use it?"

"Your mother already knew how; she... is Master's cousin, but unlike Master, she's skilled in making poisons and Gu poisons..."

Leng Ruohua looked at Tang Rui, whose eyes were full of disapproval, and her expression was somewhat complicated. After hesitating for a moment, she still advised, "Rui Rui, don't blame your mother. She has carried too much on her shoulders. If she doesn't use the Xiaoyao Pill, it would be nothing short of a pipe dream for her to try to overthrow the Northern Di royal family on her own."

Tang Rui clearly hadn't listened, clutching Leng Ruohua's sleeve and pleadingly asking, "But it doesn't necessarily have to be the Xiaoyao Pill, Senior Sister, can you please persuade my mother?"

Leng Ruohua sighed, "Don't worry about this. You don't know what the Northern Di royal family did to your mother. Your mother is vengeful and won't let them get away with it."

"..." Yes, don't advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering yourself.

But if you have a grudge, settle it; there's no need to drag innocent people into this with poison pills.

Now that the poison pills have flowed into Great Xia, what will happen next?

Will the Great Xia also fall?

Tang Rui felt a chill run down her spine when she recalled the heart-wrenching words and the scenes of widespread suffering that came together when she was relentlessly studying modern history, and the desperate and helpless cries of countless ancestors who were harmed by opium.

"Alright, the auction is about to start, go find your father!" Leng Ruohua couldn't bear to see Tang Rui's disappointed look, so she started to shoo her away.

Tang Rui didn't leave, but changed the subject: "Senior sister, can you take me to see my mother? I want to talk to her in person."

"Rui Rui, it's no use."

Leng Ruohua said helplessly, "To tell you the truth, your mother is the only surviving royal princess of the Southern Barbarians..."

The destruction of the Southern Barbarians by the Northern Barbarians was not enough to enrage Tang Ruiniang.

The world, after a long period of unity, will inevitably divide; after a long period of division, it will inevitably unite. This is the natural order of things.

Tang Ruiniang hated the Northern Barbarians for their atrocities of burning, killing, looting, and plundering.

The southern barbarians were treated like livestock, especially women and children, who were called "two-legged sheep" by them.

Even Tang Ruiniang was once captured by more than a dozen Northern Di soldiers…

Tang Rui's mother watched as her father was dismembered by the Northern Di people.

He watched as his mother and sisters were humiliated and killed by the Northern Di soldiers.

I watched with my own eyes as those ignorant children and vibrant young girls from the Southern Barbarians became food for the Northern Barbarians.

Tang Ruiniang escaped under the cover of her sisters, carrying the burden of a blood feud.

Simply killing all the Northern Di people was not enough to quell the hatred in her heart.

She wanted to make all the Northern Di people wish they were dead, living in constant repentance day and night.

Therefore, Tang Ruiniang refined the Xiaoyao Pill and introduced it to the Northern Di.

Nowadays, not only the royal family uses it, but many ordinary people also use it...

...

Tang Rui didn't know how she got back to the private room.

She was conscious when she was in her mother's womb and had heard her mother's voice.

She's very gentle and has high expectations for this little life of hers.

But most of the time she was sleeping, so she only heard bits and pieces of the audio.

She had no idea that her mother had carried so much burden.

Seeing her drooping head, Situ Che couldn't help but look at Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji came to his side and said a few words without making a sound.

"Oh dear, Rui Rui, what's wrong? Who upset you?" Qin Zhiyan noticed her expression, squatted down in front of her, and looked at her with concern.

Tang Rui pouted and buried her face in her arms: "Mother..."

"Mother is here, Rui Rui, be good. If anyone bullies you, tell Mother, and Mother will help you get revenge." Qin Zhiyan hugged the little dumpling, feeling extremely sorry for her.

The other stepmothers also gathered around, chattering amongst themselves.

Consort Zhu then went to ask Consort Zhang what had happened.

Zhang Ji: "..."

"I'm fine!" Tang Rui chimed in, then ran to Situ Che and looked at him expectantly, "Father, will you teach me martial arts? When I grow up, I want to be a female general and lead troops to conquer the Northern Di."

"Alright! Starting tomorrow, I will have Mingyue teach you." Zhang Ji did not hear Tang Rui's conversation with the strange woman, nor did he know what had happened.

But... that woman must be related to the Valley of Divine Healers, right?

Or perhaps it's related to Tang Rui's mother?

After all, Tang Rui's social circle is only so big, it's not hard to guess at all.

"Thank you, Father!" Tang Rui just wanted to grow up quickly and go to war against the Northern Barbarians so that her mother wouldn't have to continue spreading the "Carefree Pill."

Situ Che hesitated for a moment, then reached out and placed his hand on her head to comfort her: "You don't need to worry about the campaign against the Northern Barbarians. We just need an opportunity."

Before he returned to the capital, the Northern Di had already surrendered and voluntarily become a vassal state of the Great Xia, paying tribute annually.

It was fine at first, but in the last two years the offerings have become worse and worse.

Good horses are mixed with sick horses, and cattle and sheep are mixed with old cattle and sheep.

Now all we have to do is wait for the Northern Barbarians to continue their rampage, angering the entire court and the Emperor, and then a conflict will be inevitable.

This time, he will not give the Northern Barbarians another chance to surrender!

"Our Rui Rui is such a good girl, she already knows how to share her father's burdens."

Unaware of the truth, Consort Zhu didn't think much of it and assumed that her little darling was starting to radiate warmth again.

She rubbed her chubby belly: "Since the Carefree Pill is poisonous, then we don't need to buy anything else, right? Shall we go back to the manor?"

I'm a little hungry and want to eat some braised pig's trotters.

The dim sum at Zhencui Pavilion is also good, but the portions are too small, and it's not enough to satisfy your cravings.

Those five dishes were already completely wiped clean by her.

Li Ji objected immediately: "No way! We're already here, and I haven't even started spending the money I prepared yet. Let's wait and see before we leave."

Consort Zhu was speechless: "But I'm hungry."

"What's the big deal!" Li Ji waved her hand, signaling the guard to summon the waiter. She then recited a long list of dishes and generously tossed him a silver ingot worth ten taels each: "Here's your tip. Bring me whatever good food you can find, and make sure the portions are generous. This Zhencui Pavilion is so big, don't be so stingy."

The waiter beamed with joy upon receiving the money.

Situ Che, who was taking out his money pouch, was speechless.

He silently stuffed the purse back into his pocket.

It wasn't embarrassing, I was just a little curious about the Li family's wealth.

If the Li family ever makes a mistake, he must be the one in charge of the household; anyone who tries to take his place will face his wrath.

Money makes the world go round, and before long, the waiter brought out a large table of fine wine and food.

Consort Zhu and Tang Rui watched with shining eyes and devoured the food.

The auction officially began.

The first item to appear was a dagger inlaid with blood jade, which looked exceptionally luxurious.

The shopkeeper introduced with a smile: "This is made of celestial stone from outer space. It can cut iron like mud and sever hair with a breath."

After saying that, he had someone demonstrate it.

The demonstrator held a dagger and with a light flick, the thick iron bar in front of him instantly snapped in two, the cut as smooth as a mirror.

Everyone gasped in amazement.

Then, the shopkeeper had someone bring a strand of hair, placed it on the blade of the dagger, and gently blew on it, causing the hair to break in two and fall away.