The Empress Dowager's kind smile returned as she took Zhaoping's hand and said, "Good child, as long as you get through this, your good days are ahead."

Princess Zhaoping, affectionately called "Aunt," threw herself into the Empress Dowager's arms and cried, "Zhaoping was wrong. Zhaoping shouldn't have doubted that Aunt was taking care of that bandit, that she didn't care for Zhaoping or love Zhaoping anymore. Zhaoping will definitely be filial to Aunt from now on."

A hint of disdain and impatience flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes. She raised her hand and patted Princess Zhaoping's back, saying softly, "Silly child, you were raised by me. If I don't love you, who will I love? I'm only nice to her because I see her excellent medical skills and want her to make the most of them and serve my Great Zhao. You should know that there are very few people in the world who can cure the poison of the Ghost King Spider's saliva."

"Zhaoping understands, Aunt. Zhaoping knows that everything Aunt does is for Zhaoping's good." Princess Zhaoping hugged the Empress Dowager tightly, relying on and clinging to her wholeheartedly. In a coquettish and grateful tone, she said, "From now on, Zhaoping will only listen to Aunt's arrangements, and will not care about anything else."

Little Cocoon, hidden in the shadows, saw the Empress Dowager's sinister sneer and returned a contemptuous sneer before quietly leaving to carry out their scheme.

Inside the side hall.

Ji Fengyao used the array spirit shuttle and array materials she had seized from the Gu family to set up a simple defensive array before taking a bath with peace of mind.

Lin Shuang and Bai Lu put the disguised bundle aside and took out new clothes and a scented bark made by Ji Fengyao from their storage rings, preparing to change Ji Fengyao's clothes.

Xi Que lay on the edge of the bathtub, her face full of righteous indignation: "There isn't a single good person in this palace; especially that damned Empress Dowager, I really want to poison her to death!"

"I also want to slap her to death. How dare she try to make me remarry!" Ji Fengyao clapped her hands, splashing water everywhere.

"What! When did this happen?" the magpie exclaimed in surprise.

"Your Highness, did that old hag really say such things to you?" Bai Lu finished packing her things and was furious when she heard this: "She is the Empress Dowager of a country. How could she go back on her word and ask Your Highness to remarry?"

Lin Shuang walked over and squatted down behind Ji Fengyao, rolled up her sleeves and wiped her back, and slowly said: "The Empress Dowager must have taken a liking to the Princess Consort's medical skills, but she does not want to give up dealing with the Prince; so she wants to persuade the Princess Consort to remarry another prince before she touches the Prince."

The Empress Dowager previously said that the Princess Consort was worthy of any of the young princes in the royal family, which meant she wanted the Princess Consort to choose one from among the eligible princes.

“Our Lin Shuang is so clever,” Ji Fengyao said with a smile, grabbing Lin Shuang’s hand and giving it a warm squeeze. “However, after I changed the subject, she stopped the conversation. It seems she hasn’t chosen a suitable candidate yet.”

The magpie jumped up in a rage, pointing towards Princess Zhaoping's room and cursing, "Damn it, that old hag, she's utterly shameless!"

"I really don't know how she became the Empress Dowager of a country. Could it be that she relied on such despicable and filthy means?" Bai Lu's face was full of disdain, and she had no good feelings towards the Empress Dowager.

"Miss, what kind of bullshit promise does the young master have to keep, making himself look so wronged? We don't need to. Just say the word, and I'll go and beat that old hag to death right now, so she can stop causing trouble and harming people." Xi Que's short temper was completely ignited. She rolled up her sleeves, looking like she was about to rush out and fight.

Ji Fengyao smiled and looked up at Xique, saying, "If you want to hit someone, I certainly won't stop you."