The sadness she had felt from their breakup had dissipated, and she pushed him away.

"I know everything you've said, but my decision remains unchanged, Huo Zhan. I will not go back to Dongwu with you."

Furthermore, I am not young anymore, and having experienced a miscarriage, I am no longer capable of having children.

He is now the emperor; how could he possibly marry a woman who cannot bear children?

Huo Zhan was startled. "Didn't you say everything was fine? Could it affect your lifespan? No, I need to ask a doctor to take a look at you."

He immediately realized that he had been too self-centered, so he asked again, "Shall I ask a doctor to take a look at you?"

He has completely changed from his usual domineering self, becoming unlike Huo Zhan at all.

Yin Jiuniang shook her head, "Thank you for your kindness, but my life is not in danger. There's no need to look anymore. You can go back now."

After saying that, he went inside.

In fact, Doctor Su did not say that she could not have children; it was just an excuse she used to appease Huo Zhan.

Her aloofness pierced Huo Zhan's heart again, and he realized that Yin Jiuniang was truly determined to leave him.

He gritted his teeth and caught up with Yin Jiuniang. "If I can't have children, then I won't. But I can't live without you. If you don't come back with me, I'll come to Dayuan."

I really can't afford to lose face anymore.

Yin Jiuniang was not used to Huo Zhan like this.

So I simply sat cross-legged in meditation.

This is Dayuan, the Marquis's residence. She has Zhen'er to protect her, and Huo Zhan won't tear off her clothes anytime, anywhere like he did in Dongwu.

Thinking of this, a shiver ran through her heart again. Yin Jiuniang quickly gathered her thoughts and focused on circulating her internal energy.

Huo Zhanyi sat cross-legged opposite her, and several times he couldn't help but pull her into his arms.

He missed her so much.

But fearing that if he did that, he would never be able to enter the Marquis's mansion again, he had no choice but to endure it, staring blankly at the scene.

I couldn't help but reflect on my past again.

The more I reflect, the more I feel like I'm not a person.

Ye Zhen was worried about his master and had been sending people to keep an eye on the place. He was relieved to learn that the two were safe.

On the same day, the Ye siblings were executed. Ye Zhen did not go to watch, but sent the meticulous Fu Guang and Yin Yue to keep an eye on them.

She discovered that the child was actually Ye Yunheng's son, and Li Heng was using Ye Yunheng's wife and children to blackmail him.

However, Ye Zhen observed Ye Yunheng yesterday and concluded that he might not be able to withstand the punishment over the next 29 days.

Seeing that the emperor had not caused trouble for the prime minister and that Physician Feng was treating Li at his residence every day, the students who had been causing trouble stopped.

The emperor's cold response made the prime minister's faction complacent.

During the days that Li Heng was recovering from his injury, the Chancellor's faction began to slack off and become lazy in their duties. Several officials involved in agricultural affairs even took leave directly.

The Great Wei had just given the Great Abyss seeds and other supplies, and the court was at a crucial juncture in developing agriculture. Their request for leave caused many things to fall into disarray.

The Prime Minister's faction, which had been hiding in the shadows in the past, has gradually emerged and is now working together to put pressure on the emperor. This can be considered the official start of the contest between the Prime Minister and the emperor.

These past few days, the emperor has looked extremely anxious during the morning court sessions, which has convinced them that they have won the first contest.

His Majesty cannot leave the prime ministers for the time being, nor can he replace them all.

When Ye Zhen went to see the Empress, the Emperor was also there. He said to Ye Zhen, "I've heard that there are still some unfavorable rumors about you among the common people. You should endure it for a few more days."

The Empress also said, "His Majesty wants to take advantage of the Prime Minister's illness to bring forward the spring examination so that the newly successful candidates can replace some officials."

According to the booklet your elder sister gave you, sweet potatoes and potatoes are planted in April and May. If the government were to change its personnel earlier, the planting of grain would not be delayed.

But Li Heng has been in charge of the imperial examinations for years. If he knew the examinations were being held earlier than planned, he would surely guess His Majesty's purpose and might even carry out the duties while ill.

At that time, they would still be able to gain a good reputation for disregarding their health and devoting themselves to the court, which would make the emperor and empress want to vomit.

Ye Zhen said, "Does Your Highness want Li Heng to be injured again?"

The Empress nodded. "Ideally, the injury should be so severe that the patient can't get up. Could you ask your father for help?"

Li Heng is afraid of being assassinated, so he has now planted many skilled people around him, both openly and secretly. The emperor sent people to try and kill him, but they failed.

The Empress then thought of Shi Yan's abilities.

After Ye Zhen returned to the manor, he told Shi Yan, and Shi Yan agreed, "Where do you want to hurt him?"

He doesn't get involved in other countries' affairs, but he's been wanting to take action against Li Heng for a long time because Li Heng wanted to harm his daughter.

Ye Zhen replied, "I'll do it myself."

As night fell, Ye Zhen put on boots and shoulders, disguised himself as a man, and changed into night clothes with Shi Yan, then reappeared in Li Heng's room.

This time, the moment they appeared, the guards in the room noticed them. "There are assassins!"

At this shout, more than a dozen men in black appeared in the room, all of whom were much more skilled in martial arts than the previous ones.

Li Heng has spent a lot of money cultivating his personnel over the years.

Shi Yan nodded slightly to Ye Zhen. As they had agreed beforehand, Shi Yan would deal with the guards, while Ye Zhen would injure Li Heng.

The father and daughter worked together seamlessly, and Li Heng could only watch in horror as the long sword pierced his abdomen.

Once the deed was done, Shi Yan fled, also kidnapping the steward of the Prime Minister's residence. When no one was around, he used teleportation to take Ye Zhen and the steward away from the Prime Minister's residence.

Early the next morning, someone discovered that the steward of the Prime Minister's residence had been hanged at the gate of the Lin family mansion...