Favored concubine deposed empress? I'll seize your throne and marry you to a powerful minister.

The altar is located on a long staircase of three hundred steps. Even the emperor had to climb to the top step by step to show his sincerity, so that he could pray for peace and prosperity for the country and good weather in the new year.

Grand Tutor Nian stepped forward, looked at Wei Rong, and sighed, "Your situation has just improved a bit, why are you arguing with His Majesty?"

It's just a matter of one person dying. Even if the evidence truly points directly to Shen Mingxiu, as long as Xiao Heng doesn't want to, Shen Mingxiu can always get away unscathed.

Wei Rong's persistence only annoyed Xiao Heng, since in his eyes, the lives of palace maids were worthless.

"The Grand Tutor knows my temperament," Wei Rong said expressionlessly, "right and wrong should be clear and distinct."

"That's why I said back then that you're not suited for the palace. In this palace, there's no right or wrong. Whoever has the most favor carries the most weight. Empress, if you can't learn to accept your fate, you'll only suffer."

Wei Rong refused to accept her fate.

As long as she's alive, her situation is temporary; she'll always try to do what she wants.

Xiao Heng's favor is nothing but a mirage to her now.

Gaining is empty, losing is also empty.

"I refuse to accept my fate," Wei Rong said earnestly to Grand Tutor Nian. "Wrong is wrong."

Grand Tutor Nian lived for seventy years and personally experienced many major events in the world, as well as many changes in the palace. Yet he never saw any woman in the palace who could make any other plans besides vying for the emperor's favor.

He was always strict, but looking at this young woman who looked just like his granddaughter today, he said, "As long as you don't regret it."

After saying this, his elderly body was helped up by his pageboy, and he climbed step by step toward the altar of Heaven.

Wei Rong looked at him, and then at Xiao Heng.

Surrounded by thousands, Xiao Heng was bathed in the bright yellow light of the sun on his dragon robe. The emperor's crown swayed with tassels, and he was supported by Shen Mingxiu, who was also dressed in the formal attire of a noble consort. It was as if they were the emperor and empress.

The steps were so high that she couldn't see the top, so she took a step.

Another level.

It was too high, and the phoenix crown was too heavy, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Qiaoyu supported her, looking at her mistress with worry, but dared not say anything.

She knew the Empress was in a bad mood.

Until my eyes were blocked by a shadow.

Although it was early spring, the midday sun was unexpectedly scorching. Wearing her phoenix crown, Wei Rong climbed a hundred steps, and beads of sweat appeared on her nose.

The shadow provided just the right amount of shade.

She turned her head and was surprised to see that always lazy and indifferent face—Ling Xianru.

The other party was dressed properly in official robes and an official hat today, with two tortoiseshell beads hanging down in front of his chest.

Every time she saw him, Wei Rong felt that he was looking at her silently and subtly, which made her uncomfortable, so much so that she straightened her back.

What was he trying to do in front of everyone?

"Why is Your Highness so nervous?" Ling Xianru played with the folding fan in her hand, opened it, and respectfully shielded her from the sun: "It's as if this humble official will eat Your Highness."

"..."

"You are joking, my dear minister. I thought you came to me to demand an explanation because of what you just saw."

The other party was sarcastic and unfriendly, and Wei Rong could not show weakness.

To everyone's surprise, Ling Xianru wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, she raised the corners of her mouth and asked, "Your Majesty, did you overhear something on New Year's Eve?"

The fox's tail has been revealed; Ling Xianru actually dared to ask directly.

His purpose was unclear, but Wei Rong did not beat around the bush: "There is one dish, which is even more delicious than the sixteen delicacies served at the palace banquet."

Talking to smart people is effortless, especially when both of them are cunning.

Wei Rong wasn't sure if he was testing her or if he knew she was in Liufang Palace at the time.

Looking back now, Ling Xianru didn't say anything out of line to Shen Mingxiu back then; if she did, it was Shen Mingxiu who revealed more of it.

Ling Xianru is too cunning; you have no idea what she's thinking.

To outsiders, it was strange that the Prime Minister was walking alongside the Empress.

These two had never interacted before, and the Prime Minister had a grudge against the Wei family. Judging from their expressions alone, it was impossible to tell what they were discussing.

Just then, Shen Mingxiu turned around and saw it, and a look of jealousy and hatred appeared in her eyes.

Ling Xianru, still with a slight smile, said, "It's a joyous occasion. Judging from Your Majesty's reaction, this must be someone's weakness, right?"

"What are you doing—"

Talking to smart people is easy, but how do you deal with smart people who are too direct?

Ling Xianru almost blurted out: "Your Majesty, are you catching me in a scandalous affair?"

Wei Rong choked, somewhat at a loss for words in front of this person: "What does the Prime Minister mean?"

As they walked up the steps talking, it was already a burden for Wei Rong, who had just recovered from a serious illness. She was panting, and then Ling Xianru made her even more confused, almost unable to catch her breath.

Ling Xianru suddenly stopped moving.

Wei Rong took two steps and, seeing that he didn't move, stopped as well, waiting for him to speak, just in time to catch her breath.

The heat caused a blush to rise on Wei Rong's face, making her lips appear brighter. Her skin was smooth and flawless, with even the fine downy hairs undulating in the sunlight.

Ling Xianru looked away and said, "Conditions."

"?" Wei Rong had never seen a kidnapper hand over a hostage without paying a ransom. After a long while, she said quietly, "The Prime Minister's deep affection is short-lived, which is truly enviable."

Shen Mingxiu was indeed exceptionally capable; both Ling Xianru and Xiao Heng were devoted to her.

Even after she entered the palace as a concubine, there were still people eager to pave the way for her.

This time, Ling Xianru paused for a moment before saying, "I just don't want Her Majesty to use this as leverage to threaten me repeatedly in the future. Given the Wei family's upright and incorruptible tradition, would Her Majesty really be trying to fleece me for nothing?"

You've placed too much hope in the Wei family's reputation. If I wanted to do something bad, you wouldn't be able to stop me.

Thinking it over, Wei Rong raised an eyebrow: "What does the Prime Minister want to offer in exchange?"

Seeing that she had stopped panting, Ling Xianru continued walking upstairs and returned the question to her: "These are the conditions that Her Majesty wants to propose."

Even after being caught red-handed, he's still quite arrogant.

Wei Rong paused for a moment and then asked, "Is my palace maid Caiyue alive or dead?"

"Dead." Ling Xianru answered without hesitation.

Although she had anticipated this, Wei Rong still couldn't help but squeeze Qiaoyu's hand tightly.

The mistress and servant exchanged a glance, and Wei Rong said, "I want to see your body even if you die."

"Heh—" Ling Xianru scoffed lightly, "Your Majesty is so ignorant of Consort Xian. You're even checking the Imperial Guards' patrol records. Do you think she can still hide this corpse?"

In order to quell the matter, Shen Mingxiu will hand over Caiyue's body in an unexpected way.

"I probably don't understand as much as the Prime Minister does," she asked bluntly, "Your Excellency said you'd borrow her east wind, could that include the matter of Caiyue?"

Did Ling Xianru contribute to Caiyue's death?

"No." Ling Xianru turned around and looked into her eyes: "I wouldn't go that far."

What he didn't say was that it wasn't necessary to kill a palace maid, or that he shouldn't have taken advantage of Shen Mingxiu's influence in this matter.

Ling Xianru didn't say anything more. As they approached the three hundred steps, he closed his folding fan and tucked it behind his back.

As Wei Rong pondered the matter, another incident occurred on the high platform.

"Marquis Jiayuan?" She looked at the couple shoving each other. "It's been a long time since I've seen Changying."

The Changying she mentioned was surnamed Lin, and the Lin family had been engaged in martial arts for generations. Lin Changying had known Wei Rong since childhood, and they had grown up together.

Two years ago, Lin Changying married into the Marquis's family and became the Marquis's wife.

The last time I saw Lin Changying was at her father's funeral. Half a year later, Lin Changying looked much more tired.

Wei Rong saw that after arguing with Lu Ziyin for a couple of minutes, Lu Ziyin shook off her hand, which bumped into the handrail of the steps.

The force must have been considerable, and Lin Changying cried out in pain on the spot.