The atmosphere in the Imperial Study was solemn.

Qin Zhaoyue glanced at it and found that quite a few people had come.

Princess Qin Zhaoqiong (eldest), Princess Qin Zhaowan (third), Princess Qin Zhaoshu (fourth), Princess Qin Zhaolong (ninth), and she, the sixth princess, are all here.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a faint voice came from the head of the table, "I heard you drugged Pei Xueqiao?"

Qin Zhaoyue thought to herself, "I knew it! I didn't! Someone is slandering me!"

"What are you yelling about!" Empress Qin Minghuang coldly retorted, "Would my spies wrongly accuse you?"

"Mother Queen, I was framed and just played along. I just wanted to see who was behind it all."

"Oh?" Empress Minghuang's first reaction was disbelief.

Knowing her own daughter best, she realized that none of her children combined were as outrageous as Xiao Liu. Following the conversation, she continued, "Did you find her?"

"Zheng Huiyin is probably just a puppet who has been put on the spot. We have found a pharmacy owner and are currently investigating her further."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the imperial study looked at her with a strange expression.

Is this still the same brainless sixth brother? It shouldn't be.

The Empress pondered for a long time, as if trying to discern the truth of these words.

What they said made sense and was well-founded, but the long-standing bad impressions from the past were too deeply ingrained to be easily overturned.

Qin Zhaoyue's heart was pounding, and her throat felt sore and dry. She forcibly suppressed the urge to swallow.

At this moment, she absolutely cannot show any guilt. Whether she can completely let the matter of drugging the victim go depends on her performance this time.

"I heard you're interested in becoming the heir apparent?"

What! The abrupt turn of events startled Qin Zhaoyue. Was it really that direct?

Without even thinking, she immediately denied it, "No, absolutely not!"

【Pah! A crown princess, my foot! An empress? I wouldn't even be a dog with that title.】

Empress: ?

Who's speaking? It sounds like Xiao Liu's voice, but her lips haven't moved at all since she denied it.

Qin Minghuang was able to secure her throne because of her cunning and resourcefulness, and her deep understanding of the world.

She remained outwardly calm, but her entire focus was on Xiao Liu. "Really not?"

"No!"

[I'm perfectly content being the Empress of the Empire, why would I compete for the position of Crown Princess? Only someone with a screw loose would want to be Empress, what a waste of their time.]

It's confirmed, this is Xiao Liu's voice. Could it be... that it heard her innermost thoughts?

"Tell me why."

"I am neither good at literature nor martial arts, I am really not qualified."

Although it was true, Qin Minghuang felt that it wasn't the truth. She focused her attention but didn't hear any more inner monologues. After a moment's thought, she came up with a solution.

"Regardless of the circumstances, you have committed a grave error by drugging the prime minister's son. Since you are unwilling to tell the truth, then you shall be exiled to the frontier."

"Wait a moment!"

Qin Zhaoyue's head was buzzing.

They've just had a simple meal and are just beginning to experience the dazzling luxury of life. How can they be exiled to the frontier?

No, her life of luxury and idleness cannot end here! But...

Should I really tell the truth? I can't.

Honestly, won't my mother kill me? She definitely will, right?

But the Empress, what schemes and tricks could possibly fool her?

What should I do? I need help urgently, I'm waiting online.

What line? The Empress didn't understand, but she roughly understood Xiao Liu's concerns.

"I'll give you a chance. Speak freely and boldly. As long as it's the truth, I will forgive you."

Qin Zhaoyue was giving others another chance, but the moment she turned her back, the knife stabbed her. Isn't the cycle of fate a little too fast?

"Really? Can he really be exonerated?"

Qin Minghuang's expression remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil.

As an empress, she naturally knew many secrets, but hearing someone's innermost thoughts was something she had never heard of before.

This has never happened before, so why does it suddenly appear now?

The fact that you can only hear one person's thoughts means that the problem isn't with her. So what exactly happened to Xiao Liu?

"A promise made by an emperor is as good as gold and as precious as jade, a word that carries the weight of nine tripods."

"They won't pursue the matter afterward, and they won't secretly make things difficult for me?"

"Won't!"

Qin Zhaoyue shrugged and said, "Okay then."

“I never wanted to be the crown princess, nor did I ever dream of the throne, because… I can’t get out of bed.”

Empress: ?

The four sisters: ?

Qin Zhaoyue stared with dead fish eyes, "We have to go to court at 5 a.m. and get up at 3 a.m., but I can't get up."

[Let whoever wants to get up get up, I'm not. It's the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), I just went to bed and I'm already up, do I want to die of exhaustion?]

The Empress was puzzled; judging from his inner thoughts, what Xiao Liu said was actually true.

How could she have just fallen asleep at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM)? What was she doing all night?

"Just for this?"

"Not entirely, that's what you mean." As she spoke, Qin Zhaoyue looked at the Empress with pity in her eyes.

Thinking back to her days, the Empress was a stunning beauty, but now, in her early forties, these crow's feet...

Tsk, even makeup can't cover it up.

Empress: !!!

Beauty comes from sleep. Even though she has the best food, drink and supplies, and is treated by imperial physicians, she still sleeps too little.

I don't want to grow gray hair early; I want to stay beautiful forever.

"The Empress Dowager is too overworked. She has to get up before dawn to attend the morning court and engage in scheming and intrigue with a group of ministers."

Not only was he furious, but after court, he still had to review memorials, sometimes for several hours at a time without a break.

I'm too lazy, I can't do this.

"Also, we have to test everything we eat for poison."

After a short time, the food is only lukewarm; even the finest imperial cuisine loses its appeal.

"Furthermore, the only time one can leave the palace is during the winter, when one can only go to the temporary palace to soak in the hot springs."

"We can't go every year, otherwise those idle censors will get really excited."

"Furthermore, even the supreme ruler has to consider this and that when he goes to the harem."

Consider the political situation, their paternal and maternal families, and the need for balance.

Since she had already said it, Qin Zhaoyue realized that this might be a golden opportunity—a chance to completely become the mascot princess of the Great Gan Dynasty—so she became even more unrestrained:

Only two types of men are allowed in my backyard:

One type is a handsome man who only has eyes for me;

One type is the handsome man who desires wealth and status.

Everyone: ...

"In conclusion, whether it's the heir apparent or the throne, please don't include me. I can't do it."

The entire imperial study fell into a deathly silence.