Since the Liu family took over the entire battle of Nanguan, the Black Sail Army was transferred back to Dongyi City, and Song Lin and Ye Fan simply stayed in Yong'an City.

After Liu Zhang captured Nanguan City, he submitted petitions many times requesting to send more manpower to attack Fengming City, but they were all rejected. Even his request for food and fodder was withheld.

This was largely due to the contributions of Censor Xu and Jiang Yulou, who were in desperate need of a defeat to prove that the Liu family was incapable of leading troops so they could take back the military power of the 400,000 Western Wilderness Army.

Lord Liu was so anxious that he fell seriously ill and refused to see guests for many days.

Murong Yao not only did not care about his uncle's illness, but also repeatedly accused his uncle of ignoring the court and the political situation when he was not in the court.

This move caused dissatisfaction among the Liu clan members. They privately said that His Majesty had betrayed his mother's family and had become traitors. They all ran to Empress Dowager Liu to complain.

Empress Dowager Liu scolded Murong Yao for being bewitched by a vixen. However, because Xu Wanrong was now in great favor, it was inconvenient for her to break up with her directly. So she openly and secretly instigated Ye Xueruo to make Xu Wanrong uncomfortable.

Ye Xueruo didn't want to cause trouble, so she simply told Murong Yao the Queen Mother's plan on how to deal with the Queen. She also provided the Queen Mother with the Emperor's plan on how to fight back.

The purpose is to make her confess to anyone who catches her.

Just as Shen Xu said, she was a noble concubine, and behind her were the Ye family, a noble clan of the Yulin Guard, and the Guangcheng Marquisate. Both Empress Dowager Liu and Murong Yao knew that she was an important weight in balancing the scales, and neither dared to touch her.

On the contrary, Murong Yao, who was originally arrogant, had a subtle change in his attitude towards her. He would occasionally come over to pretend to be flattering and ask about her well-being.

Ye Xueruo knew very well that this man's mind was not on her at all. The more flattering she was, the more he felt it was natural.

So she simply handed in her position in the West Palace and volunteered to copy books and chant Buddhist scriptures.

It is said that the previous dynasty had no queen, so the West Palace was asked to assist in managing the harem. Now that there is a queen in the harem, it is natural that the power to assist in managing the harem should be given to the queen.

Pushed it all away.

Fengxi Palace.

Xu Wanrong was sitting in front of the dressing table, being helped by palace maids to dress and put on makeup.

Ever since she was favored by the emperor, Murong Yao brought her into the palace. A few days ago, he even canonized her as queen and announced it to the world.

Her dream of being with Song Lin was completely shattered.

And all this was thanks to Ye Wanqing's kick.

The female official in charge came to report: "Your Majesty, I have heard that the Guangcheng Marquis' son has been going to General Ye's residence almost every day recently, and sometimes he even stays out all night."

Xu Wanrong listened to the maid's report and slammed her hand on the dressing table, gritting her teeth in hatred. "I knew that if that vixen wasn't dead, nothing good would happen!"

The maid in charge gently reminded, "General Ye has sent you some supplements. Tell Her Majesty to let you know if she has any instructions."

The maid combing Xu Wanrong's hair paused, accidentally combing out a few strands of her hair. She glared back at the maid behind her fiercely. The head maid immediately understood and winked at the two maids beside her. Before the maid could even plead for mercy, the two maids dragged her away.

At this time, Murong Yao walked in. He glanced at the palace maid being dragged out and ordered in a cold voice: "Just leave her alive. Don't let my queen be known as a murderer."

When Xu Wanrong saw him come in, her already unhappy face turned even colder.

Murong Yao didn't care about her bad expression at all and sat down on the couch very naturally. Seeing this, the palace maids around him tactfully retreated.

"The Queen lost the bet with me. Liu Zhang has truly captured Nanguan City. Now, my arrogant father, Prime Minister Liu, is about to ride on our heads."

Xu Wanrong said coldly, "Is this the reason you dragged me into this?"

"You don't even want to be the queen, do you want to become an immortal?

Your father has already chosen a side, don’t you want to seek some benefits for your Xu family?

The Guangcheng Marquis's son is a mediocre talent, with nothing but martial arts skills. Apart from being good at fighting, who can he defeat in the court? If you want to covet his skin, then my skin is no worse than his.

Besides, he has no feelings for you at all, so a forced melon won’t be sweet.”

Xu Wanrong didn't say anything, but her heart was filled with resentment. She had been scheming for so long, even hiring someone to kill someone, but in the end she failed to achieve her wish.

Wouldn't all her previous plans and sufferings become a joke?

"Your Majesty, you know that a forced melon is not sweet. You have so many concubines in your harem, why must you have me?"

"They are all vulgar women, not as charming as you. If you don't like it, I will not go to other concubines from now on."

Xu Wanrong stood up and said with contempt, "Oh? If you like me so much, wouldn't it be easier if you just killed them all?"

"Who has offended you again, Concubine Ye? You are the queen now, and you have the Xu family's support. It's harmless to act a little willfully and assert your authority in the harem."

Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "Don't you want me to take action and restrain the Queen Mother?"

Murong Yao stood up, hugged her from behind, and whispered softly in her ear, "I just don't want you to suffer any more."

Xu Wanrong snorted softly, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes falling on the ginseng box on the table. Her gaze wandered, and her tone was light, "Your Majesty, what do you want to bet with me this time?"

Murong Yao sniffed her hair and rubbed her waist with his hand. "Just be my queen and be a good girl. Your father will take care of the affairs of the court."

Xu Wanrong turned around, her soft almond eyes meeting those charming peach blossom eyes, her tone tinged with anger, "So, I am no longer useful to Your Majesty. Why do you still want to keep me trapped in the palace?"

Murong Yao smiled wickedly, "How can it be useless? I still want to grow old with you."

"Do you want to use me to control Ye Fan? To control the Xu family? Or to check and balance your uncle?"

"Have you ever thought that I really love you?"

Xu Wanrong said with an expression that said, "Don't come on, I've seen your moral character in two lifetimes." "We just need to know each other's purpose."

"What was the Queen's purpose, to die on this tree that is so obscure as the Guangcheng Marquis's son? But you are already my Queen, you have no chance."

He pinched her jaw, moved closer to her, narrowed his eyes and threatened: "Since you can't have him, why don't I destroy him for you."

Xu Wanrong raised her lips and smiled, and said jokingly, "Okay, now do you dare to touch Guangcheng Marquis Mansion?"

"Please wait and see, Queen." Murong Yao let go of her and walked away.

Xu Wanrong's eyes were bloodshot as she stared fiercely at his back. She raised her hand and picked up the ginseng box on the table, gritting her teeth and saying, "Murong Yao, who do you think you are? Without your uncle, you are nothing!"

She called her personal maid, handed her the ginseng box and a letter, and instructed her, "Take the ginseng and honor my father. He will understand what to do after reading this letter.

Also, go see Ye Fan and tell him that I have a rare disease that can only be cured by drinking his sister's blood."

Looking at the female official's departing back, Xu Wanrong's eyes flashed with cruelty.

"Ye Wanqing, let's wait and see."