"Will the injury to Blood Cicada affect the Ninth Prince's thirst for Zhaoping?"

"This..." The Empress Dowager's question stumped even Zheng Mama.

Apart from the mute woman, none of them knew anything about the habits of the blood cicada.

"Your Majesty, even if there is an impact, it certainly won't be significant. We've all witnessed the power of the Blood Cicada. Even a cripple can become as fierce as a wolf or tiger when encountering a Blood Cicada woman, let alone someone as powerful as the Ninth Prince," Aunt Qiu quickly tried to smooth things over and comfort her.

The Empress Dowager's eyes were vacant as she spoke blankly, "As long as it's not completely ineffective, even if the effect is somewhat lacking, with the child in Zhaoping's belly, it's enough to control the Ninth Prince; otherwise, I would have raised Zhaoping, this pawn, for nothing for more than ten years."

"That's not like raising it for nothing, Your Majesty. You've forgotten, the Blood Cicada within the Princess is the third master; the mute old woman said that the lifespan absorbed by the Blood Cicada from its host can be returned to the person who consumes it. When you use the Blood Cicada within the Princess, you can extend your life by a full ten years." Aunt Qiu fawned and flattered, displaying the utterly obsequious face of a sycophant.

Although Granny Zheng appeared dignified on the surface, she was secretly unwilling to fall behind others.

Seeing Aunt Qiu's elaborate flattery, she quickly echoed ingratiatingly, "Yes, Your Majesty, she was just the daughter of a servant, yet she was fortunate enough to be chosen by you to become a noble princess, replacing your deceased niece, Princess Mengxi of the Sun family. You have doted on her for so many years, and she has enjoyed enough happiness. After dealing with the Ninth Prince, it is only right that she be made to offer a blood cicada as a tribute to you. Otherwise, it would be a waste of her time."

"Well said, reward me."

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!"

Inside the room, the Empress Dowager coldly distributed the rewards, while Aunt Qiu and Granny Zheng beamed with joy.

Princess Zhaoping, standing by the back window, covered her mouth tightly with both hands, tears streaming down her face, as if struck by lightning: So, it was all a lie!

She wasn't a princess at all; she was just the daughter of a household slave!

The reason the Empress Dowager treated her so well was because she had been implanted with a blood cicada.

They want to use the blood cicada inside her to harm the Ninth Prince!

They also wanted to extract the blood cicada from her body to prolong the Empress Dowager's life!

At this moment.

The Empress Dowager's cold, ghostly voice echoed in the room again: "Go back and take good care of her. Tomorrow, send her back to the Ninth Prince's residence. I'm sure that bandit won't let Zhaoping see the Ninth Prince, so don't force it. In a couple of days, I will arrange an opportunity for Zhaoping to meet the Ninth Prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Simeng and Siyi answered in unison.

The sound of soft footsteps retreating echoed in the hall.

Princess Zhaoping, disregarding her fear and heartbreak, hastily wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, then quickly lifted her skirt and ran back to her room, lying down as before.

But her tears flowed uncontrollably, no matter what she did.

Hearing the footsteps of Simeng and Siyi outside, Princess Zhaoping had no choice but to turn over, bury her face in the quilt, and try her best to hold back her sobs and not cry out.

Simeng and Siyi were not genuinely concerned about Princess Zhaoping.

The two walked to the bedside and glanced at Zhaoping casually. She was lying quietly with half of her shoulder exposed, and they didn't even bother to tuck her in.

Siyi spat lightly and said in a low voice with disdain, "I used to think that she was at least a real princess, just a bit weak-willed. I never thought she was the son of a servant."

"Keep your voice down, or she'll hear you. If she finds out the truth and ruins the Empress Dowager's plans, she'll skin you alive!" Simeng quickly stopped Siyi and dragged her away.