The Empress laughed, a chilling laugh. "Indeed! How could I not have thought of that? This child is a woman's greatest weakness." She couldn't wait to see Hongli get into trouble and Consort Xi be heartbroken.

The Empress thought of Xueying. She remembered that her niece had married Hongli. She hadn't liked her at the time and wanted to marry Xueying to Hongshi so that she could become the next Empress after Hongshi ascended the throne and continue the glory of the Ulanara clan.

Unexpectedly, Hongshi disliked Xueying's cold and arrogant nature and was unwilling to marry her. Moreover, Hongshi's first wife was still alive at the time, and Xueying would only be a concubine if she married him. Fearing that Xueying would be wronged, the Duke of Yingguo ultimately chose to let Shuzhen marry him instead.

Fortunately, Shuzhen was quite capable and managed to kill Hongshi's first wife, becoming his principal wife. If Hongshi hadn't gotten into trouble, Shuzhen might have been the next empress.

As for Xueying, it's hard to say whether it was a blessing or a curse, but she still married someone who didn't like her.

The Empress thought of Xueying. So much time had passed, and she still didn't know how Xueying was doing after marrying into the family. But no matter how she thought about it, she knew it couldn't be too good. Without her father, and with her aunt not taking care of her, there was no one else to care for her.

Thinking of this, the Empress summoned her personal maid, Yuanyang, and said, "Yuanyang, bring me paper and pen."

The Empress wanted to write to Xueying, firstly to inquire about Xueying's recent situation, and secondly to have her act as her spy to keep an eye on Hongli.

Now, Hongshi suddenly disappeared. Shuzhen didn't think much of it when she found out he was out, because Hongshi had stayed out all night before.

But this time he hasn't returned for three days, and there's been no news of him. Although Hongshi has occasionally not returned before, it never lasts more than two days, and he would send a servant back with a message to report. But now he's been missing for three days, and the servant who went with him hasn't returned either.

Shuzhen was frantic and quickly sent people out to search. All the servants in the house were sent out, but no one could find out Hongshi's whereabouts. Shuzhen was so anxious that she had no choice but to go to the palace to see the Empress.

The Empress was writing a letter to Xueying at that moment, while Fucha stood to the side, her eyes tapping intently on the letter, trying to see what the Empress was writing.

But when she was too far away, she could only stare wide-eyed, and still couldn't see anything.

Just as she was about to take a few steps toward the Empress, a palace maid entered, startling her so much that she pulled her outstretched foot back.

"Your Majesty, the Second Princess Consort has arrived."

When the Empress saw her come again, she assumed she was there to ask for money again. She put down her pen and said to Lady Fucha, "Go to the back first, I'll call you later."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Empress Fucha walked to the back, but did not go far, eavesdropping from a place where the Empress could not see her.

The Queen sighed and said wearily, "Go and call her in."

"yes."

The palace maid had just turned around when the Empress said again, "Go and get that money again."

Before Shuzhen could speak after she entered, the Empress had a maid hand her a purse containing money, saying, "Take the money and leave."

Shuzhen looked displeased; the Empress was treating her like a beggar!

Shuzhen said in a low voice, "I'm not here to ask for money. I'm here today to ask Your Majesty for help. Hongshi has gone missing. Please help me find him."

The Empress was shocked and exclaimed, "Hongshi is missing! When did this happen?"