"Alright, alright, I've already said all this, it's a bit much for you to keep giving me that cold look."

No one expected the old emperor to say such a thing in public.

After all, he was the emperor of a country!

The other party was just a minor county magistrate's wife, a nobody whose background hadn't even been investigated.

The newly arrived ministers, except for Yu Qianhua, were all shocked by what they had seen and heard that day.

However, since they were able to stay by the old emperor's side, none of them were fools; they all kept their eyes down and pretended not to see anything.

Since the Emperor treats this woman so well, she must have something special about her!

In conjunction with the earlier incident where the old emperor tried to place a man in Huang Dehai's household, only for Huang to resign and then run away with his wife, this incident highlights the previous events.

This shows just how formidable this woman is!

In this era of strict etiquette and the current situation where men are considered superior, Huang Dehai has perfectly embodied the fear of his wife, even to the point of making no attempt to hide it.

Huang Dehai, a high-ranking official of the imperial court and the head of a county, was a man who could transform wasteland into a treasure trove. Why would he be so afraid of his wife? These officials wouldn't believe there wasn't some inside story.

Considering the old emperor's behavior today, the ministers had some suspicions: was the credit for governing Yuhai County actually mostly due to this inconspicuous woman?

"Your Majesty, since you've put it this way, I'll speak frankly as well!"

Seeing the old emperor's sincere attitude, Lin Xue stopped hiding her intentions.

After all, her plan needed the old emperor's support to be implemented.

We can't afford to offend people too much, in case they make things difficult for us later. I'm not afraid of them, but my family is!

Thinking this, Lin Xue softened her expression and looked at the old emperor for the first time.

"I've been waiting for you to say this for a long time. Speak, and I will not refuse as long as it is within my power!"

Hearing that Lin Xue had finally relented, the old emperor straightened his clothes, sat up straight, and listened attentively.

"Your Majesty, I've always been used to a carefree life, and at home I'm always the one in charge, my word is law, and I'm quite assertive. I'm sure someone has already told you this!"

Lin Xue sat in her seat, but to show respect to the emperor, she did not sit fully on the seat, but only on half of it.

"I know, Yu Qianhua already told me!"

The old emperor didn't understand what Lin Xue meant by those words.

However, he wasn't in a hurry. Since the other party was willing to make demands, there was room for negotiation.

"I imagine the Emperor and my husband have had a very pleasant discussion these past few days, and they know that many of these things were my doing!"

We've given you so much time; if you still can't find anything, you're unworthy of being the ruler of a country.

"Your Majesty, I've always been a straightforward person and don't like all those roundabout ways!"

If the Emperor dares to send people to her family again, then don't blame her for washing her hands of these messy affairs. At that time, there's nowhere in the world that Lin Xue can't go.

"If you want me to take action, you must give me certain authority, at least enough to command my subordinates!"

She can't be a lone commander; she needs to have plenty of people to do the work.

"Moreover, I'm a rather easygoing person, and I do things entirely based on my mood. Sometimes I'm also not very good at reading other people's expressions!"

Anyway, whoever makes me unhappy, I'll make them miserable.

I work so hard for you guys, and you still exploit me? That's just too much!

Either you all pamper me, indulge me, and spoil me, or you all get out of here!

Lin Xue thought to herself with a touch of pride, although it was a bit shameless to say these words, but as the saying goes, thick skin means a full stomach, and thin skin means being bullied.

Lin Xue never cared about other people's opinions, nor did she value her reputation.

What she wants is to do what she wants to do, not to be forced to do things by others.

"According to my investigation, Lady Lin must have fled from the south to Donglin County during the famine, right?"

The old emperor did not answer Lin Xue's question immediately, but instead started talking about other things.

"Yes, something must have happened on the way to escape the famine. I don't remember much about the past!"

Although she didn't know why the old emperor asked that question, Lin Xue answered truthfully.

Because she truly has no memory of the original owner in this regard, she doesn't know what her current body's identity is.

"I once had a younger sister who went to Jiangnan with her husband to take up a post, but she never returned!"

"I heard that my younger sister gave birth to a daughter in Jiangnan, but unfortunately, when the famine struck, a group of rebels stormed into my sister and brother-in-law's house and slaughtered most of the 58 members of their family!"

"My brother-in-law was once a brilliant scholar in the capital. His ancestors included several famous scholars, great Confucian scholars, and renowned ministers!"

As the old emperor finished speaking, he looked Lin Xue up and down.

As the old emperor began to tell his story, Lin Xue had a bad feeling. Could it be that the original owner of this body was still connected to the royal family?

“The people we sent out at the time did not find the body of my sister and brother-in-law’s daughter. Now my sister’s family only has a boy left. I have sent people many times to try to bring my nephew to the capital, but he has refused every time!”

"When I last saw you, Madam Lin, I noticed that you look a bit like my brother-in-law and a bit like my sister. So I sent people to Jiangnan to bring my nephew and the old folks from the manor to the capital!"

“The person arrived some time ago. Since Madam Lin has lost her memory and doesn’t remember anything from before, why don’t you come with me? If you are my sister’s orphan, then we’ll be family!”

After the old emperor finished speaking, he didn't give Lin Xue a chance to object. He got up and led everyone away from Lin Xue's house, heading to a residence not far away.

As soon as everyone entered, a tall, slender man stepped forward and bowed.

"uncle!"

Upon seeing the large number of people following the old emperor, the man realized he had misspoke and immediately changed his form of address.

"Jintong greets Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!"

The man's name was Lin Jintong, and he was the son of the old emperor's youngest sister.

"Jintong, no need for formalities, let's sit down and talk!"

As the emperor finished speaking, Lin Jintong looked up and examined the emperor and the ministers who had come with him, before finally fixing her gaze on Lin Xue.

That one glance was enough to make Lin Jintong unable to look away.

"Little sister!"

Upon seeing the woman in front of her, Lin Jintong instinctively called out.

"Um?"

Lin Xue's mind was filled with countless questions. Could she really have a connection with the royal family?

That shouldn't be the case. If the original owner of this body was a member of the royal family, how could she have kept quiet all this time?

Based on the original owner's personality, this is completely inconsistent with her character!