As early as when she saw the hydrangea at Tianjin Port, Zhao Shu became more vigilant. Her main purpose in going to Jiangnan was to find out about her mother's affairs and Empress Yide's affairs so that she could deal with Consort Hao. Since Emperor Mingde was protecting Hao Shumei, she could not reach out to deal with her uncle's woman.

The Empress was helpless. Emperor Mingde clearly loved Empress Yide more, and consequently indulged Hao Shumei more. Empress Yide also had an ambiguous relationship with Zhao Bi.

The reduction of the power of the princes will begin, and the world will be in chaos for a period of time. She absolutely does not believe that Zhao Bi will obediently wait until the reduction of the princes is over before vying for the throne. To put it bluntly, Emperor Mingde cannot hold on for more than a few years.

Moreover, chaotic times are the best time to make achievements and establish a career. Those who let the opportunity slip away are fools, and Zhao Bi was not one of them.

Therefore, after arriving in Jiangnan, she did not visit the hermit Jiecao immediately, but chose to visit him after Emperor Mingde ordered his troops to enter the capital and before he left.

She had sensed something was wrong when she was outside the door, but since the hermit Jiecao wouldn't see her, she had no choice but to play along.

Unexpectedly, she actually met Zhao Bi. Over the years, although she had secretly clashed with Zhao Bi, there had been no direct conflict, and she did not have a deep understanding of his strength.

How could someone who could oust all the princes and the crown prince and ascend the throne be so simple?

However, she is not afraid.

There's nothing more satisfying than a sweep. Hao Shumei has something to rely on; she once vowed to seize it. As for Zhao Bi, a prince who wants to be emperor, he must have prepared a lot of silver and weapons, which are indispensable.

"Hmph, lose? Sister Ajun, do you think you've won?" Zhao Bi looked at Zhao Shu with sarcasm. The last remaining man in black tried to pick up Zhen Qizhong, but he stopped him and picked her up himself. He turned back with a cold look and said, "Didn't you want to see the Hermit? Sister Ajun, I hope you won't regret it after you see him."

"It is Fourth Prince who should regret this." Zhao Bi's words just now really angered her, and now that she had the chance, she naturally wouldn't be polite. But before she could finish her sentence, an old woman appeared at the moon gate.

The old woman leaned on a bamboo cane. Despite her age, she was neither hunchbacked nor slovenly; on the contrary, she was an extremely energetic old lady. Accompanying her was a young man in his thirties.

The young man's face bore a striking resemblance to Ouyang Ping's. He also wanted to take Zhen Qizhong from Zhao Bi's hands, but Zhao Bi refused. He carried Zhen Qizhong into the Moon Gate, and the young man gave Zhao Shu a cold look before following behind Zhao Bi. Soon after, he disappeared into the Moon Gate.

Upon seeing this young man, Zhao Shu understood everything.

"I didn't expect you to actually dare to come," the old woman said. Clearly, she was the hermit of Jiecao, but instead of offering warmth to her grandmaster Zhao Shu, she gave her a cold and unfamiliar feeling.

"The flowers are blooming beautifully," Zhao Shu said. "Are you waiting for me to ask, or will you tell me on your own initiative?" She naturally didn't have the magnanimity to greet people with a smile if they didn't give her a friendly look.

"You scoundrel! Who taught you to speak so rudely to your elders!" Jiecao Jushi scolded her angrily, his cold eyes making Zhao Shu feel chilled to the bone.

People outside said that the hermit Jiecao was a very learned man and her mother's teacher. She thought he must be an extremely kind old man.

Just now, Zhao Bi said, "Don't regret it after you see it." At this moment, Zhao Shu didn't know whether she should regret it, mock herself, or be angry.

“I used a respectful term.” Zhao Shu’s gaze fell on the ground at Heng’er’s feet. Heng’er had already passed away and her soul had returned to the underworld. The hermit Jiecao, who was said to be her adoptive mother, showed no sadness whatsoever, only silence and indifference.

Jiecao Jushi felt a sharp pain in her eyes, but she hid her emotions very well. No one noticed except herself. She stomped her cane on the ground and said, "You're just like her, just as lawless!"

Zhao Shu reflected on what she had done. Why did this old woman speak so harshly to her the moment they met? As her mother's teacher, she really didn't expect her to treat her as a disciple or a granddaughter, but she never imagined she would be so cold.

"We are both students, but you probably prefer Empress Yide to my mother. If that's the case, I can't help but suspect that you did something to cause my mother's death."

"Don't make false accusations!" The hermit Jiecao pounded the ground with his cane, as if he were extremely angry.

Zhao Shu's face was cold. All the misfortunes in her life, and her father's life, began with the death of her mother. Perhaps it was also because her father wanted to participate in the reforms, or because Jiang Yue was jealous. But if the teacher, Jie Cao Jushi, held the trump card of Empress Yide, and could have helped Emperor Mingde protect her mother, she would have been able to! A vibrant life, which should have had a carefree existence and a perfect ending, was cut short.

Of course, Zhao Shu wasn't selfish enough to blame anyone for all of this; she just wanted to know who was behind it all.

She won't let any of these people get away with it!

"If my mother hadn't died, my father wouldn't have lived such a dissolute life, and I would still have my own brothers. In those past few years, I wouldn't have been so ignorant and let others bully me." I wouldn't have died a tragic death later, and I wouldn't have foolishly become someone else's stepping stone.

In fact, many things become much better when you are young and before your values ​​are established, if someone guides and teaches you.

"Tell me whether I'm making false accusations or not. You're my mother's teacher. Please don't lie to me. It's disrespectful."