Su Wanwan held her forehead, cursing Lu Xingjian hundreds of times in her mind.

That despicable guy, he actually tricked her here!

...

Cikang Palace.

Empress Dowager Zhang glared angrily at Lady Qingyang.

"You said Zheng Jinlian was dead, so where did this new Zheng Jinlian come from? You give me an explanation!"

Lady Qingyang concealed the resentment in her eyes and replied cautiously with a forced smile.

"She is indeed dead. Several boats that were used for the wedding procession caught fire back then. Zheng Jinlian from the laundry department is probably a fake."

Empress Dowager Zhang's anger did not subside in the slightest: "Fake? How can a fake look so similar? My people have already gone to see it, and it's hard to tell the difference between real and fake!"

"The late Emperor and I have allocated funds and personnel to you over the years, and promoted you to higher positions, so that you would do your jobs well, not to fool us!"

Lady Qingyang said helplessly, "What else can we do?"

Empress Dowager Zhang had been waiting for her to say those words. She paused, a glint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes, and lowered her voice:

"Don't bother two people with one thing. Go and take care of her."

Lady Qingyang froze, looking at Empress Dowager Zhang in disbelief: "Sister, this is difficult! What if the Emperor blames us..."

Empress Dowager Zhang sneered twice, "Afraid of offending the Emperor, but not afraid of offending me?"

She sat up straight, her smile full of malice:

"We both know how the Empress's child came to be. Don't think that you can rest easy just because you've pledged allegiance to the Emperor now."

Lady Qingyang's pupils dilated as she looked at Empress Dowager Zhang in disbelief: "Your Majesty, was this your idea...?"

"What is mine?" Empress Dowager Zhang interrupted her sharply. "Did I force you to do this?"

"Isn't it because your Xia family is insatiable and can't wait for the next emperor to be born from the empress's womb!"