When Ruoyun first met Xie Zhaohua, she showed a panicked expression because of Xiao Yuchen.
"She's not from a noble family. It's quite a coincidence that the Empress has the same name as the orphan girl who recently sought refuge with the Xie family. She's called Fu Yu. I wonder where she came from."
Xie Zhaohua's lips trembled, and she opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
It was no coincidence that Xiao Yuchen's empress, the woman he doted on to the core, was the orphan Fu Yu.
"Miss, I heard that the harem is in complete chaos right now. Some concubines who wanted to escape the palace are packing their valuables and waiting at the palace gate to leave. Others who want to win the emperor's favor refuse to leave and are being dragged away by the maids."
Ruoyun described it vividly.
She knew that her mistress had no feelings for Xiao Yuchen and was determined to leave the palace.
However, due to family interests, I have no choice but to stay here.
Now that Xiao Yuchen has taken the initiative to dismiss the harem, Xie Zhaohua has finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel and can stay with her beloved forever.
She was about to congratulate the young lady when she saw Xie Zhaohua collapse to the ground, her body limp.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
Ruoyun quickly went to help Xie Zhaohua.
She felt cold all over, and her forehead was covered in a layer of cold sweat.
"Miss, your hands are so cold, what's wrong? Don't scare Ruoyun."
Xie Zhaohua recovered her composure from her breakdown.
She should be happy.
Xiao Yuchen will be murdered by the rebels sooner or later, and the woman who dies with him will no longer be her, but Fu Yu.
We should be happy.
But why?
She couldn't laugh at all!
She was the one who pushed Fu Yu into Xiao Yuchen's arms. She was the one who gave Fu Yu all of this.
A strange emotion welled up in Xie Zhaohua's heart.
If Xie Zhaohua hadn't changed the plot, Fu Yu would have run into Old Madam Pei.
Despite all her scheming, Fu Yu could only ever become a favored concubine in the Pei family, with no chance of ever meeting Xiao Yuchen and becoming empress.
Xie Zhaohua even thought that if she had helped her father tie up Fu Yu that night and sent him to the bridal chamber.
Fu Yu will become her father's concubine, and when her father dies, she will be buried with him.
More than jealousy and resentment, Xie Zhaohua felt regret.
He regretted sending a woman far inferior to himself to the position of empress.
"Miss, it's almost 7 PM. Are you still going to the stables?"
Ruoyun was a little unsure, as it seemed that Xiao Yuchen's decision to establish an empress had been a huge blow to Xie Zhaohua.
Could it be that Miss actually likes Xiao Yuchen, but is just being hypocritical and doesn't want to admit it?
"Yes, of course I'll go!"
Xie Zhaohua straightened the swaying hairpin.
Regardless, what's done is done, and she has to think about her future.
Once she returns to the Xie family, her father will definitely find her a new husband.
Rather than another arranged marriage, it's better to find a man you love and spend the rest of your life with him.
Pei Jingheng is the best choice.
Xie Zhaohua freshened up and dressed herself in a new brocade robe, ensuring that Pei Jingheng would be unable to take his eyes off her the moment he saw her.
The cool moonlight shone on the man's straight back.
Xie Zhaohua walked to Pei Jingheng's side with a smile and said sweetly, "Jingheng."
Pei Jingheng turned around and saw Xie Zhaohua, whose beauty was as lovely as a peach blossom. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Zhaohua".
Xie Zhaohua couldn't hide his smugness at getting the expected response.
Looking down, she saw the pastries Pei Jingheng was holding in his left hand.
It's the "Tongxin Cake" from Yuanmingxuan.
According to popular belief, if a couple in love eats a "love cake" together and the cake breaks but doesn't fall apart, it means they are destined to be together and no one can separate them.
“Yuanmingxuan is dozens of miles from the capital, yet you did this for me…”
Xie Zhaohua's eyes filled with tears. Pei Jingheng was just like in her previous life. As long as she liked something, he would do anything to pluck it down, even if it was a star in the sky.
Xie Zhaohua opened the pastry box directly, and thus did not notice Pei Jingheng's fleeting, chilling presence.
"I'm glad you like it."
Xie Zhaohua put down the pastry box and hugged Pei Jingheng.
"How could I not like something you gave me?"
"Zhaohua, I haven't congratulated you yet on getting what you wanted."
Pei Jingheng's voice was gentle, "You can finally leave the palace and no longer be involved with His Majesty."
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhaohua paused slightly in her grip on Pei Jingheng's arm.
But in an instant, she smiled and said, "Yes, then, Jingheng, will you still accept me?"
"Of course, we've been friends since we were kids."
Pei Jingheng looked at Xie Zhaohua tenderly, then looked away when Xie Zhaohua's infatuated gaze met his.
Xie Zhaohua's smile froze on his face.
Something seemed off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
She just felt that Pei Jingheng wasn't as proactive towards her as before.
Moreover, his words neither promised to marry her nor refused her, directly extinguishing her hopes.
It's like she's being kept on hold.
No, that's impossible.
She and Pei Jingheng were childhood sweethearts, and she knew Pei Jingheng's character well.
It must have been Xiao Yuchen's sudden decision to make Fu Yu his empress that threw her into a panic, causing her to start having all sorts of wild thoughts, and even making her think of Pei Jingheng as a bad man who had started something and then abandoned it.
"By the way, Zhaohua, I heard that His Majesty dismissed the harem for the sake of Empress Fu Yu. Have you met her?"
When Fu Yu was mentioned, Xie Zhaohua's starry eyes dimmed slightly.
"Of course I've met her! She almost became my concubine!"
"Oh, is that so?"
Pei Jingheng became interested.
"Yes, the Fu family fell into misfortune. All fifty-plus family members perished, leaving only Fu Yu, an orphan girl. She tried to stay at my house because of our distant cousin relationship, but my father took a liking to her and made her his concubine."
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