She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Zheng Lingyi looked at the girls who had been sacrificed and who had also been "specially permitted" to enter the palace today. She thought she had received honor, but she did not expect that they were the best of the best on the altar. Caught off guard, they were all pushed back, and their faces turned pale.

She wanted to hide, but was held tightly by the person who had been holding her back. There was nowhere to hide, and her eyes were filled with tears of fear. She desperately turned her face away, afraid that Yelü Jing would take a liking to her.

She murmured with disgust, "Using their daughter's life to show their loyalty, these people are truly disgusting! The Empress Dowager and a member of the imperial clan, making a fool of themselves in front of foreigners, how laughable."

Yelü Jing's eyes were filled with disdain: "I, the Crown Prince, am not here to collect trash and scum, nor will I tolerate your continued attempts to bluff in my face! The Crown Princess will be the Empress Dowager's daughter, Princess Xinyang!"

"However, since you are so eager to offer your daughters and granddaughters as gifts to this Crown Prince, I will not stand on ceremony!"

He pointed casually.

"You! You'll be the future Crown Princess's most important concubine!"

Everyone's eyes followed the direction he pointed.

It's Cui Jingwei!

Xu Nianyin's lips curled into a sharp, triumphant smile as she bit her lip and muttered to herself, "After pretending to be a pure and innocent girl for so many years, scheming and hurting so many people through others, it's finally her turn to suffer! Concubine!"

"How ironic that someone who prides herself on being the most noble lady in the capital is going to become a concubine for a rude barbarian!"

He had to suppress it so as not to laugh out loud.

But after a few moments of relief, sorrow swept over him.

Because of her own actions, the position of Regent's Consort, which she was certain to obtain, slipped through her fingers, and she became a concubine!

She was a concubine, just like everyone else!

Zheng Lingyi was taken aback; her mind, which usually disliked analyzing things, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

She realized that the Regent was eliminating potential threats for Ningning, and also taking revenge on her behalf.

In the years before, Cui Jingwei had taken advantage of Ningning quite a bit, and Ningning, in order not to expose the fact that she was pretending to be stupid, was used as a pawn, and suffered a lot of pain and hurt!

Cui Jingwei's hair was burned and her body was burned. Although it was the Xu sisters' scheme that caused this, she will definitely hold Ningning accountable. Who knows when she will suddenly make a move and plot against her from behind!

Once the person is removed, this potential hazard will be gone!

Zheng Lingyi was somewhat dazed, but she finally understood that this was how one showed affection for someone.

Instead of calculating the other person's worth while even their affection is just an act!

"No!" Another wave of terror washed over Cui Jingwei, leaving her utterly disheveled and trembling violently. "I don't want to! How can I, a princess, become a concubine to a barbarian!"

Xu Nianyin couldn't help but want to make sarcastic remarks.

She was held down by Madam Xu, who gave her a warning glare.

Xu Nianyin felt guilty and didn't dare to speak.

He turned to look outside.

The dappled light and shadow reflected from the palace lanterns fell on people, making their faces look eerie, but when it fell on the handsome and helpless regent, it only added to his charm!

Even if she didn't say anything, some sarcastic remarks would still come out: "If a princess can marry for the sake of the Great Zhou, do you, a princess from another family, think you're more noble than a princess?"

"The officials around the Grand Tutor Cui are all eagerly offering their daughters and granddaughters to help the Empress Dowager alleviate her worries. Grand Tutor Cui is the Empress Dowager's chief minister. Over the years, you have benefited from the Cui family name and enjoyed all the riches and honors. Now it is your turn to give back to the Great Zhou!"

Then, with a "whoosh," he looked at Grand Tutor Cui, who had appeared out of nowhere.

"With such unwavering loyalty, surely the Grand Tutor wouldn't be reluctant to part with a daughter?"

Bathed in the moonlight and the shadows cast by the palace lanterns, Grand Tutor Cui's face remained composed and refined, showing no sign of anxiety or embarrassment: "If I can share the burdens of the court, what does it matter if I give my life?"

Knowing full well that it was because he and his men delayed the supply of provisions that the regent and the former general lost the officials of the sixteen prefectures, they all despised him and wished they could pack him up and throw him to the Northern Liao to be used as a stool for the princess to marry!

The Regent snapped his fingers: "Then let's do as the Empress Dowager and Grand Tutor Cui have said! Xinyang will be a princess sent for a political marriage, and Cui Jingwei will be a concubine accompanying her in her dowry!"

Navigating the filthy world of scheming, one calculation fails.

In just a few words, the Regent had set the tone for the entire situation.

No one dared to refute it.

The Empress Dowager had never been so furious. It was as if countless thunderbolts were about to erupt in her emotions, but the shackles of being the mother of the nation and her lack of power were restraining her emotions.

There was nothing that could be done about capturing Yelü Jing and the Regent!

The Empress Dowager paid a considerable price in order to keep Yelü Jing focused on the Regent's anger and insist on marrying Jiang Ruining. She was also betting that the Regent would have no choice but to hand over Jiang Ruining in order to take back the Sixteen Prefectures without losing a single soldier, thus personally sending her to her death!

Eight years ago, the war severely damaged Da Zhou, and it needed eight years to recover and rebuild. The people did not want another war.

But neither the Empress Dowager nor Yelü Jing expected that the Regent's intention would be to lead troops into battle and personally reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures!

Along the way, the people of Great Zhou did not show joy at gaining sixteen prefectures for nothing, but rather a desire to avenge their previous humiliation!

Because by joining forces with the Liang and other countries, we can not only reclaim the sixteen prefectures, but also avenge our defeat in the past and completely tear the Northern Liao apart!

Yelü Jing couldn't afford to gamble, so he didn't hesitate to go back on his word, cooperate with the regent, give up his proposal to marry the beautiful Princess Fu Ning, and tricked the Empress Dowager's faction, gaining many good things for free!

In summary, if you befriend the magistrate of Funing County, you will definitely receive preferential treatment!

Seeing the Empress Dowager's loss of composure, Zheng Lingyi let out a long sigh and sneered coldly, "The Empress Dowager wanted to scheme against others, but in the end, she schemed against both of her own daughters. One went astray, and the other was ruined. She really brought this upon herself."

Wan Yi, who had been standing by her side the whole time, finally relaxed.

In truth, she knew that her "special permission" to attend the banquet in the palace tonight was as a candidate for a marriage alliance. If the Empress Dowager's schemes against Jiang Ruining and Zheng Lingyi failed, she would have to choose a scapegoat from among her and several others.

Fortunately, the regent intervened.

"As long as the Empress Dowager doesn't fall from power, Rong'an can still enjoy a life of luxury in the capital."

Zheng Lingyi smiled, a hint of innocent mischief in her eyes: "Not necessarily!"

Upon hearing this, Wan Yi knew that she wouldn't let Rong An off easily, and things were about to get interesting!

"However, in terms of methods, Rong'an grew up in the palace and has seen plenty of cunning and ruthless people. You, a brat raised in a happy nest, are probably no match for him!"

Zheng Lingyi blinked: "But you guys are here to help me!"

Wan Yi was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled, "Alright! Since we're friends, I'll naturally help!"

The two left the hall.

After descending the steps in front of the hall, I stood in the courtyard.

Moonlight poured down, cascading onto the thick snow and reflecting a cold, white light, as if at dawn.

Although it's bitterly cold, if we just wait a little longer, we can get through the cold night and welcome the bright, warm sun!

Wan Yi rubbed a handful of ice in her palm and said, "I heard that Rong An has long had his eye on Xie Lanheng?"

Upon hearing this person's name again, Zheng Lingyi showed almost no emotional fluctuation. Having seen through him and suffered a severe injury, her heart sank into silence: "I don't know."

She really didn't know.

Whether it's true or someone deliberately leaked the news, it's none of her business anymore!

"I'm not interested in knowing."

Using the dim light and shadow, Wan Yi observed her expression: "Lingyi, are you alright?"

The once naive girl has suffered such great changes and schemes that her innocence is no longer visible.