Qiao Zhen had just knocked out a palace maid and was about to change her clothes when she realized that the bright yellow cloth in her sleeve had not yet been given to the young emperor. She could only drag the maid to the nearby artificial hill and then return the way she came.
Just then, the young emperor was about to have his meal when Qiao Zhen suddenly appeared out of nowhere, asking, "Can't get out?"
“No.” Qiao Zhen retorted directly. Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one else in the inner or outer chambers, she handed the bright yellow cloth from her sleeve to Shen Lan. “Here, the late emperor’s edict. You can decide how to handle it.”
Shen Lan took the cloth and looked at its contents. He only gave a cold snort, "I have my own plan for this matter." His fingertips caressed the cloth, and his eyes held a deep and lingering gloom.
Qiao Zhen had no interest in how he dealt with it; even if it was destroyed, she didn't care.
Shen Lan appeared gloomy on the surface, but her heart was already churning with turmoil. This leather couldn't be destroyed by water, nor could it be burned; it was a tribute from a vassal state every year, and it took three years to produce just one bolt. "Go back."
Qiao Zhen shrugged and climbed onto the roof beam.
[Little Zero, do you have an invisibility function?]
Xiao Ling: [Yes, but you need to exchange items for them, like candy beans?]
Qiao Zhen: [=_= Why are you guys eyeing my candy beans? They're very precious.]
Xiao Ling: [Because normal hosts use points to redeem these, but you're a special case, so the system doesn't calculate points for you. Besides, the invisibility technique in your Celestial Realm is very difficult to master, right? System-issued items are all permanent. Trading a candy bean for permanent invisibility—you're not losing out!]
Qiao Zhen thought Xiao Ling was right. "Okay, Chu Chu, give it the candy."
Chuchu tearfully gave the candy to Xiaoling.
Xiao Ling then cast an invisibility spell on Qiao Zhen, saying, "[Alright, the incantation is: Invisibility. Of course, if you want a cooler, more powerful incantation, you can set your own. I'll transfer the permissions to you.]"
Qiao Zhen: [Let me wake up! The incantation is: "Guna La, God of Darkness, woohoo woohoo, little fairy, invisible! How about that? Isn't it unique?"]
Chu Chu: [Now even the Magical Dancer is here! You're showing your age! The incantation is: "Dazzling Dance, Little Fairy Duo Mi, become invisible!" How cool is that?]
While exchanging banter with Chu Chu and Xiao Ling, Qiao Zhen walked casually through the palace, remaining hidden until she got tired. Then she used her lightness skill to leave the palace and revealed herself in a deserted alley.
Xiao Ling: [Host, what should we do now? Poor Xiao Bao QAQ]
Chu Chu: [Poor Xiao Bao qaq]
Qiao Zhen: [Go check on Xiao Bao.]
(Private message) Xiao Ling: [Chu Chu, here's a candy for you.]
(Through the small window) Chu Chu, with teary eyes: [Waaah, I'm so touched, Xiao Ling, you're so kind.]
(In the small window) Xiao Ling touched Chu Chu's chubby cheeks with her virtual hand, ["Then can you pinch my cheeks from now on? They're so chubby."]
(Through the small window) Chuchu smiled shyly: 【"Okay, but you can't break it."】
(Through the small window) Xiao Ling sighed deeply: "Ah—that's wonderful."
When Qiao Zhen arrived at the Regent's Palace, Xiao Bao and Jiao Lan were still standing there, both with tears in their eyes. She ran over to them and said, "Xiao Bao, Jiao Lan, take Xiao Bao back with you and make sure you take good care of him." She lowered her voice and added, "If necessary, please protect Xiao Bao no matter what."
Guerlain nodded between sobs, "Yes!"
Qiao Zhen squatted down to look at Xiao Bao. "Xiao Bao, be good. Don't misbehave these days while you're with Aunt Lan, okay?" She hugged Xiao Bao into her arms. "If you listen to Aunt Lan, Mommy will come to pick you up."
Xiao Bao imitated Qiao Zhen and deliberately said in a very low voice, "Okay."
"Little Bao is such a good boy."
Before Qiao Zhen could say anything more, they heard the sound of horses' hooves. It was the Regent's carriage. When the curtain was blown open by the wind, Qiao Zhen saw Cheng Yao'er inside.
"Mother, please leave first. Jiao Lan, quickly take Xiao Bao inside!" Qiao Zhen instructed Jiao Lan directly, as Xiao Bao should not lose Shen Zhao's favor for the time being.
Xiao Bao wanted to say something to Qiao Zhen, but Jiao Lan forcibly took him back. Qiao Zhen took advantage of the carriage not stopping and left.
Three months later.
Through Qiao Zhen and Shen Lan's scheme, Shen Zhao's men were successfully tricked into killing the Prime Minister by mistake, causing a huge uproar and leaving everyone wondering whether it was true or not.
Only those in the court knew the truth, and whether it was true or false didn't matter. What mattered was that the one who killed the Prime Minister was Shen Zhao's man, and the evidence was irrefutable. The evidence was also something Qiao Zhen deliberately stole from the Regent's Palace; it was a token used by Shen Zhao to command his confidants.
Key point: Shenlan is also on the rise.
Thus, the ranks in the court were reorganized. On the surface, Shen Lan and Shen Zhao were evenly matched, but only Qiao Zhen and Shen Lan knew that they also had the power to command 300,000 elite troops.
"Zhenzhen, everything is ready now, except for the final push. Should we put Shen Zhao in jail? I'll listen to you." Shen Lan was increasingly convinced of Qiao Zhen's abilities, and her goodwill gradually turned into affection. However, Qiao Zhen was very insensitive to feelings for anyone other than Shen Zhao, so Shen Lan embarked on the painful path of unrequited love.
Qiao Zhen didn't hesitate for long. "Let him in!" She glanced at the young emperor. "Don't try to test me. I will never change my opinion of Shen Zhao. Anyone who dares to hurt me will be so heartbroken that he'll become a monk. Do you understand my determination?"
Shen Lan raised her hand and touched her nose, looking at Qiao Zhen with an innocent expression, "I understand."
"Issued an imperial decree to make Cheng Yao'er his empress."
"What?" Shen Lan immediately realized, "That's Shen Zhao's fiancée, I've already issued an imperial decree."
"I know, you're the emperor, your word is law," Qiao Zhen said nonchalantly, analyzing the situation in the court. "The prime minister has passed away. Who will you promote to prime minister? That's a civil official. You can only choose one from Lord Cheng and Lord An. Lord An is already one of your men. If you can get Lord Cheng to submit to you as well, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Shen Lan remained unmoved and asked directly, "You just want to put Shen Zhao down, don't you?"
Qiao Zhen rolled her eyes. "We each get what we need, and I won't cheat you."
Under Qiao Zhen's tutelage (just kidding), Shen Lan learned to be decisive and efficient, so Shen Zhao was imprisoned in just a few days. As for Cheng Yao'er... ha!
Shen Lan has already issued an edict to officially name Cheng Yao'er Empress, with the coronation ceremony to be held three months later. The young emperor has essentially seized half of the power, while Qiao Zhen also enjoys special privileges within the palace.
She received an imperial decree from the young emperor to visit Shen Zhao in his sorry state in prison. Qiao Zhen couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark, "Tsk, what goes around comes around. It's your turn now. It seems Xiao Bao is fatherless. But having no father is better than having one; at least he doesn't have a stepmother."
As for Shen Zhao, he ignored Qiao Zhen from beginning to end. Qiao Zhen was also feeling uncomfortable by herself. She pouted and said, "Fine, I'm taking Xiao Bao with me. You can continue to be aloof." She said in an extremely malicious tone, "Let's see if Cheng Yao'er will save you or kick you while you're down. We'll wait and see."
Qiao Zhen turned to leave, but just then she saw Cheng Yao'er at the corner. Cheng Yao'er clearly didn't know where Shen Zhao's cell was and needed a jailer to lead the way. "Congratulations, Miss Cheng! I just don't understand, how come it's not just Shen Zhao who's blind? In a few months, shouldn't I be addressing you as Your Majesty the Empress?"
"Shen Zhao?" Cheng Yao'er scoffed. "That ugly hag, how could she be worthy of me?"
Qiao Zhen hadn't expected Cheng Yao'er to be so easily provoked. She smiled faintly and said, "Ugly freak—?"
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