[I must say, this innocent-looking woman is quite adept at creating hype and knows how to manipulate public opinion!]
Lying on the cot, Li Xingran couldn't help but mutter to herself after hearing Zhao Yunwan's words.
However, what Li Xingran said next made Li Ting and Xiao Sheng applaud in admiration.
[She's ruthless, so we must be even more ruthless. Once word gets out that she's planted opium in her Kunning Palace's small garden, she won't have time to pay attention to this cannon fodder prince anymore.]
Li Ting praised his daughter in his heart, "I, Li Ting, am truly blessed to have such a smart daughter!"
Xiao Sheng thought, "It seems like there's nothing in this world that can stump Li Xingran!"
Li Xingran continued. [The common people will have even more to talk about; who will remember how many beautiful palace maids and eunuchs the cannon fodder prince used!]
[However, this news cannot spread among the common people; it must come from the palace. This emperor seems to have a habit of talking in his sleep.]
[Furthermore, whenever the emperor encounters a major crisis he cannot resolve, he talks in his sleep. I remember in the book, when the emperor and empress were sleeping together, he talked in his sleep like this, allowing Zhao Yunwan to overhear many of the Xiao family's secrets.]
Therefore, the emperor never stayed overnight with any of his other concubines, only in the empress's palace. If we could figure out a way to get the emperor to stay overnight in one of the concubines' palaces, things would be much easier.
Li Ting knew that Zhao Yunwan, being such a smart person, must have sensed something from the scene Xiao Sheng had caused this morning.
The Li family and the Crown Prince are now bound together; their fortunes are intertwined, and their losses are shared.
If a real fight were to break out, the Li family, having been powerful regional officials for centuries, certainly wouldn't be afraid of Zhao Yunwan. Li Ting already had a perfect candidate in mind.
[Oh no, oh no, oh no! I wonder if the dark spots on my face are still there. If they're gone, the Empress will become suspicious again when she sees them.]
Suddenly, a soft "bububu" sound came from Li Xingran's cot. [How embarrassing, having to poop at this time. Humph, Zhao Yunwan, I'll cry for you!]
All the people in the courtyard could hear was Li Xingran's deafening cries. Aunt Cheng begged for mercy and quickly pushed the gurney back into the courtyard to take care of Li Xingran.
The air was still filled with the smell of baby poop. Zhao Yunwan's expression was quite beautiful. She wanted to cover her nose, but she didn't have a handkerchief in her hand.
Just as he was struggling with this, he noticed the handkerchief in Yingyue's hand and, without thinking twice, grabbed it and covered his nose.
Li Xingran's outburst completely suppressed Zhao Yunwan's previous momentum.
Li Ting then led the Empress to the main courtyard.
Along the way, they passed many artificial hills, pavilions, and towers. Zhao Yunwan examined these layouts carefully and found that they were indeed ordinary feng shui formations, created by the homeowner to pray for good fortune in his official career and abundant wealth.
After Zhao Yunwan saw it herself, she finally let her guard down. It seemed that Xu Ningyou really only had the title of "the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world," but no martial arts skills, and she had not grasped the essence of the Qianji Sect.
Upon arriving at the main hall, Aunt Cheng had already finished treating Li Xingran and then pushed her into the main hall.
There were only five or six people in the room now. Zhao Yunwan wondered what would happen if Li Ting lost his beloved daughter.
Just thinking about it makes me happy.
If the guardian deity of Nanchen Kingdom is not eliminated, it will definitely be the biggest obstacle on Ding'er's path to imperial power.
So Zhao Yunwan looked around the room to see if there were any plants that could be used as a catalyst.
But they found that the layout of the Li family's house was completely different from what they had seen last time. There wasn't a single fresh, vibrant green plant in the entire house.
If we can't rely on a catalyst, then let's plant a poison.
It just so happens that Lu Dacheng recently used a medicine cauldron to raise a kind of Gu worm. The Gu worm is like a piece of borneol, and it will burrow into the skin without leaving a mark.
After burrowing into a person's skin, it can reach the heart within 45 minutes, attach itself to the heart, and slowly gnaw at it.
While it's gnawing on the heart, it also secretes anesthetic, so the person being gnawed on feels nothing.
When the heart is eaten away beyond recognition, the person will simply collapse and die without feeling any pain.
This Gu should be used on Li Xingran. Xiao Sheng needs to be kept, otherwise who will complement her Ding'er?
Zhao Yunwan had considered killing Xiao Sheng directly, but the royal family of Nanchen Kingdom had too many rules.
One of the most puzzling points is that if Xiao Ding did not rightfully ascend the throne, then any subject with the ability could have replaced him.
Although Zhao Yunwan now has her own younger brother in charge of the northwest of Nanchen Kingdom, and her confidants in the southwest, and the general guarding the eastern pass has been replaced by a military officer from the royal family of Dayue Kingdom, the south is wealthy, and the general guarding the southern coast has yet to be bribed by Zhao Yunwan.
In a few more years, when Xiao Sheng is completely ruined, that will be the time for her Ding'er to take over.
Zhao Yunwan's mind quickly scanned the entire landscape of Nan Chen Kingdom before turning her gaze to the main hall in front of her, where Li Xingran's carriage sat quietly.
"Grand Tutor, has your daughter's condition improved?" When Zhao Yun uttered these words in a gentle and leisurely manner, the little horse standing beside her trembled.
As shrewd as Little Horse was, he instantly understood the reason.
Xiao Sheng was used to it and didn't find it strange.
Li Ting has martial arts skills to protect him, so he will not be affected.
Li Xingran, however, started cursing loudly.
[This shameless empress, coming to my house to use her seductive arts? Your seductive arts are useless on eunuchs and children, and they're useless on me too. Are you trying to bewitch my father? Don't you know what kind of person my father is? There is no man in the world with a more resolute will.]
[This lowlife is made empress? The emperor must be blind. No wonder she's destroying the foundation of the Southern Chen Kingdom!]
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