Pei Zhi lived in the Empress's palace, spending his days talking, chatting, and playing chess with the Empress.

Pei Yuanze, under the guise of visiting his sister, came to Changqiu Palace every day to pay his respects to the Empress.

It was clear that Pei Yuanze was about to kneel down, hug the Empress's leg, and cry out for his mother.

Although the Empress was a little warm towards Pei Yuance, she still did not bring up the matter of adoption.

Pei Yuance has always been impatient.

He even killed his own mother, but still hadn't achieved his goal, so naturally he was anxious.

After paying his respects to the Empress, Pei Yuance came to find Pei Zhi.

Seeing that Pei Zhi was still in the mood to read a book, Pei Yuance became even more furious.

Pei Yuanze snatched the book and threw it to the ground. "I come here every day, why doesn't the Empress mention the adoption?"

"Is there any doubt about whether she is the Empress?"

Pei Zhi thought to herself that the Empress didn't mention adoption because she saw how stupid Pei Yuanze was.

Now that the Empress is adopting a prince, she naturally needs to find a smart person, or an ally.

"I also suggested to Her Majesty the Empress that you are not young anymore, and she should take care of your marriage arrangements."

Pei Yuanze said this in the hope that the Empress would marry Pei Zhi to the Zhong family.

In that case, it would be a foregone conclusion that he would be adopted by the Empress.

Pei Zhi snorted, "Brother, I think you're a little too hasty about the future?"

"Your mother has just passed away, and you're already so eager to curry favor with the Empress. What will outsiders think of you?"

"As for me," Pei Zhi straightened her skirt, "my mother just passed away, and the Empress immediately arranged a marriage for me, which is somewhat disrespectful to her filial piety."

Pei Yuance disagreed, saying, "My mother was just a concubine. We don't need to observe mourning for her now that she's dead."

Pei Yuance said impatiently, "Let me tell you, if this doesn't work out, I don't care if you're my sister or not, I'm going to teach you a lesson."

"Right now, only my brother and I are my closest relatives. I will do my best to fulfill my brother's wish."

Pei Yuance felt a little relieved after hearing this. "Do you have any good ideas?"

"The Empress and Consort Gao are sworn enemies. If my brother wants to pledge allegiance to the Empress, he must first clarify his stance."

Pei Yuance seemed to be thinking about something. Pei Zhi was right.

He wanted to pledge allegiance to the Empress, and he needed to make sure she knew that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Pei Yuance made up his mind and left without looking back.

Pei Zhi got up and picked up the books that Pei Yuan Ce had stepped on, gently wiping away the dust.

During this time, Pei Zhi also became famous for his painting skills.

Pei Zhi had put a lot of thought into the painting she made for Emperor Pei.

Even Emperor Pei, the emperor himself, couldn't help but praise it after seeing it.

Emperor Pei hung the painting directly in his study, so that all the ministers who came to discuss matters could see it.

The Emperor Pei in the painting is majestic and imposing, and everyone praises him.

After Consort Lin passed away, the Empress only settled Pei Zhi in Changqiu Palace after Emperor Pei had summoned her several times.

Emperor Pei wore a newly made dragon robe today and sent someone to summon Pei Zhi to paint his portrait.

Pei Zhi brought her painting tools and went to the study.

Previously, when Pei Zhi painted, Emperor Pei would handle state affairs while Pei Zhi quietly painted on the side.

Unlike the painters Emperor Pei had previously hired, who required him to remain motionless for at least an hour before they could paint, this one was different.

Every time he finished painting, Pei Di felt his whole body stiffen.

Today, Emperor Pei is discussing the marriage of the fourth prince with several of his ministers in his study.

After the Third Prince committed such a disgraceful act, Consort Gao proposed marriage to the Fourth Prince.

Despite the fact that the other party was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, Emperor Pei hesitated for a moment before agreeing.

Pei Zhi paused for a moment, holding her paintbrush. She had vaguely heard about it before.

However, Emperor Pei has not yet given his approval.

We should also thank the Third Prince; otherwise, the Fourth Prince's marriage wouldn't have been so easy to arrange.

Of all the ministers in the court, the one they dared not offend the most was the Minister of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue manages the national treasury. If you offend him, do you still want to get money approved by him?

The imperial edict has been issued. Needless to say, that fool Pei Yuanze should be worried, and even the Empress should be anxious.

A palace maid served Pei Zhi a cup of tea, which Pei Zhi accepted and took a sip of.

The ministers in the study also dispersed, and Emperor Pei began to read the memorials.

"Zhizhi, come and take a look at this memorial."

Pei Zhi put down his teacup: "Your subject dares not..."

The women in the inner palace are not allowed to interfere in politics. Even if Emperor Pei asks Pei Zhi to look at something, Pei Zhi will still have to decline.

"If I tell you to look, then look."

The eunuch brought the memorial to Pei Zhi's side, and Pei Zhi took it with both hands and opened it.

When Pei Zhi saw the contents of the memorial, he was completely baffled.

Pei Zhi had already anticipated that Pei Yuanze was not a very bright person.

Such stupidity was somewhat unexpected for Pei Zhi.

Pei Zhi had previously reminded Pei Yuanze to state his position, and Pei Yuanze did so readily.

He directly instructed the Lin family, which was the maternal family of Consort Lin, and the maternal family of Pei Yuanze and Pei Zhi, to impeach Consort Gao's maternal family.

Pei Yuanze hasn't even pledged allegiance to the Empress yet, but he's already so eager to stand up and break ties with Consort Gao.

Pei Yuance never considered that if Consort Gao were ruthless, she might eliminate him, the prince.

Pei Zhi knelt down and said, "Your subject has lived in the deep palace for a long time and does not understand these things."

Emperor Pei looked at Pei Zhi, who was kneeling and kowtowing, and chuckled, "If only your brother were half as clever as you."

Emperor Pei sighed softly, "Since you don't understand, I will ask Lin Tongzheng myself at the morning court tomorrow."

The eunuch took the memorial back from Pei Zhi's hands, and Emperor Pei told Pei Zhi to stand up.

"You're not young anymore, are you?"

Pei Zhi replied, "I will come of age next May."

Emperor Pei nodded. "When your mother was alive, did she arrange any marriages for you?"

"My mother has not yet been chosen."

Emperor Pei became interested. "Do you have any ideas about your marriage?"

Pei Zhi's heart stirred slightly, realizing that Emperor Pei was testing her.

"Father is busy with many affairs of state. If Father has time to help me choose a consort, I will be very happy."

Pei Zhi paused for a moment, then continued, "If Father Emperor is not free, I would be very grateful if Mother Empress could help me choose."

"Alright, then I'll keep an eye out for you. If I can't find a suitable one, I'll have the Empress keep an eye out for one as well."

"Thank you, Father Emperor."

Pei Zhi sketched a rough draft and took the canvas back to Changqiu Palace.

For dinner, the people in the Empress's palace invited Pei Zhi to eat with them.

During dinner, the Empress asked Pei Zhi a couple of questions about being summoned by Emperor Pei.

After hesitating for a moment, Pei Zhi honestly explained the marriage between the Fourth Prince and the eldest daughter of the Minister of Revenue.

The Empress paused for a moment, her chopsticks in hand, and her face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Unexpectedly, in the end, it was Yuan Cheng who lent a helping hand to Consort Gao. How could the Empress not be angry about this?