Aunt Qiao was almost fully recovered, and she and her mother were at the village entrance watching the commotion. "Mother, my younger sister came back last time. Do you think it could be her?"

Before Qiao's mother could say anything, the woman in the pomegranate red dress beside her spoke up: "Second sister is neither good at literature nor martial arts, so what makes her worthy of being the empress?"

This woman was Qiao Ayun, the daughter of the original owner's second uncle, and the one who was replaced by Qiao Zhen.

Neither Mrs. Qiao nor Mrs. Qiao gave them a pleasant look.

A sound of horses' hooves and the turning of carriage wheels signaled that an army was clearing the way for the magnificent carriage. The armored leader dismounted and reported, "Your Majesty, the roads in the village are very uneven."

Qiao Zhen stretched out her fair and delicate hand, lifted the curtain and got off the carriage. The people guarding the village entrance were all surprised, especially Qiao Ayun and her parents. Seeing their incredulous looks, Qiao Zhen couldn't help but feel secretly pleased.

Everyone knelt on the ground, saying, "This humble subject pays respects to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty live a thousand years!"

Qiao Zhen stood on the carriage shaft, looking down at the original owner's second uncle's family. Finally, she shifted her gaze and was helped down from the carriage by a maid. She bent down to help her mother and sister-in-law up. "Mother, sister-in-law, aren't you taking me home? I haven't been back for three years, and I can't quite remember the way."

Who would have thought that Qiao Zhen, who was chased and beaten by Qiao's mother for half a village not long ago, would become the Empress!

Excitedly, Qiao's mother led Qiao Zhen back to the Qiao family's courtyard. "Ah Zhen, no, Your Majesty, that man you brought back the other day, he... who is he?"

Qiao Zhen looked at her mother and sister-in-law with a wicked grin, their expressions filled with apprehension. "It's His Majesty."

Qiao's mother turned pale with fright.

Qiao Zhen couldn't help but laugh. She tugged at her mother's sleeve. "Mother, don't be afraid. You saw him last time. He doesn't have three heads and six arms, and he doesn't eat people."