Reincarnated as the daughter of my mortal enemy, all I want is to ascend the throne.

Inside the Yuxin Palace, the lights were on.

The room was filled with people kneeling on the floor.

Consort Ling stirred the handkerchief a few times, then waved her hand, ordering everyone to leave.

The men Li Qingyan brought were capable of kicking open the gates of Yuxin Palace with a single kick; these eunuchs and palace maids were no match for them.

The second princess grasped Consort Ling's hand, "Mother, it's all my fault. I never thought that the cinnamon orchid was... grown with human blood."

Consort Ling took a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the Second Princess's face. "Don't cry, don't cry. You didn't know either."

The second princess wiped away her tears. She used to be a researcher in the beauty industry, and she was also researching women's cosmetics and face powders at the Twelfth Institute of the East and West.

Last summer, I accidentally bumped into Consort Lin. When she helped me up, I smelled her unique orchid fragrance. That's when I learned that there is a flower called Cinnamon Orchid in this area. It has a fresh and elegant fragrance and can naturally last for a long time, but it is very difficult to grow.

I finally managed to get some cinnamon orchids from someone, but only two out of the twenty-odd plants survived.

The second princess used these two flowers to develop a fragrant balm, which she found to be very effective. Therefore, she begged Consort Li to help her find a place to cultivate cinnamon orchids.

However, the second princess was only responsible for the formula and did not participate in the other processes.

Consort Ling held the Second Princess in her arms, saying, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your mother is here. Your mother will definitely be able to help you."

Anyone who wants to harm her daughter is courting death.

-----------------

Li Qingyan returned to the Qin Zheng Hall and climbed onto the bed using both hands and feet. She was wearing a bright yellow nightgown that was exactly the same as Li Yan's, except for the dark patterns on it.

Li Yan's nightgown was adorned with exquisite dragon patterns.

However, Li Qingyan's nightgown had a rough pattern of rabbits worshipping the moon, and the moon was embroidered as an oval.

Su Xue watched her dress several times. Even someone who wasn't usually talkative couldn't help but say, "How dare the people from the Clothing Bureau treat the young princess so disrespectfully."

He spoke those few words through gritted teeth, as if he could draw his sword and kill someone on the spot.

Li Qingyan glanced at the rough stitches and said, "If an embroiderer could do this, she'd starve. It's ugly."

After saying that, so as not to offend Su Xue, he told her that it was nothing and tied his own belt.

"Old Deng's men are just as awful as he is. Sigh..."

In the entire Qin Zheng Hall, she and Lai Fu were probably the only ones with good tempers.

At this moment, Lai Fu stood in a secluded spot behind the Hall of Diligent Governance, staring coldly at the few eunuchs in front of him. "I really didn't know that sweeping the young prince's misty courtyard could yield so many calligraphy scrolls."

Lai Fu waved his whisk. "They even dare to make advances on the young prince. Drag them out and beat them, and gag them so they don't dirty the young prince's ears."

Those men were gagged and dragged away by the guards behind them, and they were beaten to death without uttering a sound.

Laifu looked at his clothes and stamped his foot. "Oh dear, I need to change. The little prince's nose is sharper than a puppy's. What am I going to say if he smells this?"

As he spoke, he led several eunuchs from the Qin Zheng Hall behind him toward their quarters, as they needed to quickly change their clothes before keeping watch over the young prince.

Li Qingyan rolled around on the huge dragon bed.

Li Yan sat by the bed, leaning against the bedpost, reading a book, watching the bright yellow fleshy ball roll back and forth on the bed.

When Li Qingyan was just learning to crawl, they specially changed to a larger dragon bed to prevent her from falling. Now it seems that it was definitely worth it.

The little ball of flesh rolled around.

Li Yan slightly rolled up the book in his hand and pressed it against her forehead, "With your pig-like build, be careful you don't collapse my bed."

Li Qingyan disregarded her image, lying on the bed like a puppy and even baring her teeth at Li Yan. She still couldn't figure out what Li Yan was up to, especially since Li Yan and Yan Xu were scheming together. She was completely baffled.

But none of that matters.

"Li Yan, what do you think... what if the Duke of Rui is involved in human trafficking?"

Li Qingyan rolled over and lay on the bed in a "big" shape.

"Cut in half"

Li Yan gave a quick reply.

But Li Qingyan frowned. She was more worried about the wealth under the Duke of Rui's control. A family that had been in business for generations had countless riches and a profound influence.

Moreover, he rose to the rank of Duke through his merit in helping the emperor ascend to the throne.

Li Qingyan was even more worried that if he really died, it would affect the lives of the people.

"The Duke of Rui's family only has Consort Jian and one son. That son is frail and sickly and unable to have children. So they only have the Second Princess as their granddaughter."

Li Yan finished speaking, but Li Qingyan felt that he had only said half of what he had said.

Li Qingyan sat up, realizing she could use the Second Princess to control the money under the Duke of Rui's control.

Her eyes lit up immediately. Although it would take some time, she could slowly nibble away at it.

"Is Li Yan what I think she is?"

Li Qingyan quickly moved to his side and massaged his legs and back, acting extremely obsequious.

Li Yan glanced at her and said, "Did I say anything? Don't try to impose your bad ideas on me. I'm a good person."

Li Qingyan pouted.

A "good person"?

This word has nothing to do with Li Yan.

The fact that a Duke of Rui is as rich as a country is a disaster for the world.

Everyone wants to amass wealth from all over the world, but gaining power through business is a different story.

If it weren't for Li Yan's covert suppression, it's hard to imagine what the Rui Kingdom Guild would have done, or how many people it would have affected.

Li Qingyan fell into a drowsy state after lying in bed for a while, but then she suddenly thought of...

"Li Yan has had many opportunities to deal with the Duke of Rui over the years, why hasn't he made a move?"

"Especially in the last two years... he seems to have become complacent..."

Li Qingyan fell asleep while thinking about it.

Li Yan turned his head to look at her, patted her back, and stuffed the newly sewn cloth rabbit into her arms.

He sat down at the table, picked up Li Qingyan's silver bracelet, wrapped the thin end with red string, and then wove his own hair into it.

-----------------

Consort Ling met with her cousin-in-law.

Neither of them realized that there were four assassins hiding inside the Jade Star Palace.

"What brings Consort Ling to summon me here? Is it because of the workshop being burned down?"

Without waiting for Consort Ling to speak, she continued explaining, "I don't know what happened, but the place suddenly caught fire. No one has lived in Yu Town for years. Luckily, no one was hurt. It's just a pity about those orchids..."

Consort Ling looked at her cousin-in-law.

This cousin's wife also came from a merchant family. She married her cousin before the Duke of Rui became a duke, and she was quick-witted and capable. That's why Consort Ling entrusted the business to her.

Consort Ling set down her teacup. Her golden crown shone brightly in the sunlight, making her appear exceptionally regal today. "Does my sister-in-law know where the soil for the Flower Valley comes from?"

My cousin's sister-in-law's eyes darted around, looking somewhat guilty.

"This... how would I know? That's the gardeners' business. Besides, Flower Valley is far from the capital, and I've only been there once."

Seeing her expression, Consort Ling was furious and slammed her hand on the table. "Sister-in-law, are you still hiding things at a time like this?"

"Do you really think I care about those secrets of cultivating cinnamon orchids?"

Her cousin-in-law had some ulterior motives; she just wanted to make more money.

Even if sold separately, the cinnamon orchid is a fine specimen, costing a hundred taels of silver per plant.

Consort Ling glanced at her. "Do you know what's inside?"

Seeing her expression, her cousin-in-law sensed something was wrong. "It's not that I, as a concubine, am hiding anything from Consort Ling; I don't even know. The potting soil was cultivated by someone I asked; it's their secret."

"I dare not say it's because the soil for those flowers came from Mingyan Manor."

Upon hearing the name of the villa, Consort Ling's face turned pale.

How did this involve Duke Wencheng?

That Mingyan Manor was bestowed upon Duke Wencheng by the previous dynasty.

However, out of respect for the retired emperor, he did not take it back... as it was the private property of Duke Wencheng.