Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

The presence of supernatural forces can cause mental confusion, and combined with the effect of burning incense in the room, the second prince's deepest desires were aroused.

Duan Linglong and Jiao'e also became confused after inhaling the incense.

Hearing the door close behind her, Ying Yufu took a step and walked into the room where the insects were kept.

She looked down at the lock on the door, snorted, reached out and grabbed it, twisted it hard, and the lock snapped in two.

Anyone who witnessed this scene would be utterly astonished.

As soon as the lock was closed, the insects rushed out.

"Miss--"

The little insect was extremely anxious, and tears were welling up in its eyes.

Ying Yufu's eyes softened, and she pulled her back to the room.

"Miss, what happened? Did the Second Prince bully you?"

"I'm worried," the insect asked.

Ying Yufu grinned and said, "Of course not, little bug. There's going to be a good show later. Let's rest here for a bit first."

Seeing that her young mistress seemed quite excited and didn't appear to have been bullied, Chong'er felt relieved.

She too became curious and asked, "Miss, I just saw Duan Linglong and her maid go in through the crack in the door?"

"Yes, they went in, and there were unclean spices burning in the room."

Ying Yufu whispered.

The little insect clearly understood, its eyes widening in surprise. "Then they..."

Zao'er quickly covered her mouth, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

This is definitely going to be a good show.

But in an instant, her expression changed again.

"Miss, they were originally plotting against you!"

Anger flared in her eyes. "That's too much..."

She looked at Ying Yufu with pity, "Miss, you're just too easy to bully, that's why they dare to treat you like this."

Ying Yufu reached out and pinched her round cheeks. "Chong'er, your young lady is not the same as before. Just wait and see."

Ying Yufu and Chong'er, mistress and servant, leisurely waited to watch the excitement.

At this moment, the Empress was smiling as she spoke with Madam Duan and Shangguan Tang.

When Dewdrop returned earlier, she gave the Empress a knowing look, and the Empress's smile grew even brighter.

"I heard that Yuheng broke his leg and he's probably crippled for the rest of his life."

The Empress mentioned Princess Huaxi.

Many people in the capital knew that Feng Yuheng had broken his leg.

Because most of the students who traveled for study were sons or nephews of high-ranking officials in the imperial court.

Each one more distinguished than the last.

Shangguan Tang didn't mention that her daughter could heal the broken leg of the Crown Prince Yuheng, but only vaguely said, "Perhaps it can be healed."

A hint of mockery appeared in the Empress's eyes.

Naive.

She sighed softly, "Alas, back when my sister was still alive, you and Hua Xi, the three of you were like three suns in the imperial city, dazzling and radiant."

Others are simply far behind.

It's just a pity that fate played a cruel trick on us; my sister passed away young, and your children with Huaxi all met with misfortune.

Shangguan Tang's expression darkened slightly.

What does the Empress mean by this?

Mocking them?

The Empress noticed her unpleasant expression and felt a surge of satisfaction.

"What does Your Majesty mean by that?" Shangguan Tang asked.

The Empress smiled gently.

"I didn't mean anything by it, I'm just a little sad."

Back then, Hai Qiongzhang, relying on her status as the eldest daughter of the Hai family, acted arrogantly every day, and her relationship with Hua Xi and Shangguan Tang was like that of sisters.

However, her half-sister doesn't seem like her biological sister at all.

The Queen recalled the days when she tried to please them and join their ranks, and looking at the present, she couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Soon, Shangguan Tang's daughter asked to become her son's concubine.

She changed her mind; she would no longer allow Ying Yufu to be her son's concubine.

Let's start as concubines.

For a woman who has lost her virginity to become a concubine of a prince is an immense blessing.

Madam Duan also enjoyed watching Shangguan Tang's ugly expression with a sense of satisfaction.

Her gaze shifted, suddenly fixed on the fruit tea in her hand. "Oh dear, Your Majesty, this tea is so sweet! I've never liked sweet things!"

The Empress smiled and looked over, her voice gentle, "Oh? It was my carelessness that made me forget that my cousin-in-law doesn't like sweets."

"Dewdrop, since your cousin-in-law doesn't like it, why don't you take the tea to the wife of the Earl of Weiyuan?"

Shangguan Tang looked at the Empress with a blank expression.

Tea that others wouldn't drink was brought to her.

The Empress, these days she doesn't even bother acting anymore.

She said calmly, "Your Majesty, I do not like sweets either."

The Empress seemed not to hear her and continued, "A-Tang, try it quickly. This fruit tea contains fruits brought from the Southern Barbarians; it's very delicious."

As he spoke, he gestured for Dewdrop to pour Shangguan Tang a cup.

"Lady of the Marquis of Weiyuan, please have a taste; it's a token of Her Majesty's affection."

Spring dew appears respectful, but in reality, it is forceful.

Madam Duan's eyes were full of smiles. "Yes, Madam Weiyuan, you mustn't refuse Her Majesty the Empress's kind offer!"

The Empress smiled faintly and remained silent, looking at Shangguan Tang with innocent eyes, as if she truly meant well.

Shangguan Tang's lips were pressed into a straight line, and her eyes were gloomy.

The queen deceived everyone.

They deceived her, they deceived the late Empress, and they deceived Hua Xi.

She was too good at disguising herself among them back then.

They really thought she was a simple and kind young girl.

They all accepted her.

Although Hua Xi was always lukewarm towards her, he never rejected her.

Over the years, she has been even better at disguising herself, until now, when the Duke of Zheng's mansion has run into trouble.

Shangguan Tang picked up the cup of tea, and the Empress couldn't stop smiling.

Madam Duan also wore a mocking expression, thinking that Shangguan Tang was nothing special.

The next moment, Shangguan Tang smashed the teacup on the ground.

The Empress's expression changed instantly.

Madam Duan was also furious. "Madam Weiyuan, what are you doing...?"

Before she could finish speaking, Shangguan Tang slammed his hand on the table and slapped Lu Zhu across the face.

"You maid, relying on Her Majesty the Empress, you dared to deliberately scald me with tea! If I hadn't dodged quickly, I would have been burned!"

She suddenly had an attack.

The Empress frowned immediately.

Madam Duan was also filled with disbelief. This Shangguan Tang, how dare he!

She still thinks she has the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion backing her up?

Dewdrop covered her face, turned around and knelt down before the Empress, looking aggrieved.

"Your Majesty, it is the Lady of the Marquis of Weiyuan who has wronged me. I did not do it."

The Empress feigned embarrassment and said, "A-Tang, are you mistaken? How could a dewdrop intentionally burn you?"

Shangguan Tang coldly replied, "Is Your Majesty implying that I deliberately made things difficult for your palace maids?"

A fierce glint flashed in the Empress's eyes, then she angrily rebuked, "Dewdrop, what kind of behavior is this? How did you offend the Lady of Weiyuan? Why don't you apologize to her at once?"

Dewdrop didn't move, but turned her head slightly and said in a perfunctory tone, "Madam Weiyuan, this servant apologizes to you!"

After saying that, she turned her head away and stopped looking at Shangguan Tang.

A cold smile crept across Shangguan Tang's lips. Seeing this, Madam Duan immediately changed the subject, saying, "Oh, why haven't the two maids finished changing their clothes yet?"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in the Empress's eyes as she said, "Yes, it's been so long, and it's still not changed?"

Shangguan Tang's expression suddenly changed.

Although she believed her daughter could protect herself, the Empress clearly had planned this all along.

She immediately lost interest in pursuing anything further and got up to find Ying Yufu.

The Empress did not stop her and went with Madam Duan to search for the person.

Dewdrop led the way to the first room on the left.

Unpleasant sounds could be faintly heard coming from inside, and everyone's expression changed.

Madam Duan gasped and covered her mouth in surprise. "Miss Dewdrop," she said, "could it be that the person inside is Miss Ying the Second?"

Dewdrop feigned surprise and said, "Yes, after Miss Ying went in, she sent me away. I didn't expect that..."